Test Bank
107
CHAPTER 1—INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
TRUE/FALSE
1. Most people have actually been involved in some form of HRD.
2. As late as the 1920’s a person apprenticing in a law office could practice law after passing the state exam.
3. The core of all HRD efforts is reading
4. The Human Relations movement began as an ‘anti–factory’ movement due to poor working conditions in many factories.
5. Job performance is at the core of all HRD efforts.
6. In a survey the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) estimates organizations spend under $100 Billion on
employee learning and development.
7. The definition of Human Resource Development includes training for both past and present job skills.
8. Yeomanries were the forerunners of modern labor unions.
9. Scientific Management recognized that people are more important in efficient production than are machines.
10. The first documented Factory School began at Hoe and Company in 1782.
11. The show, tell, do and check training method began in World War I and is still in use today.
Chapter 1— Introduction To Human Resource Development
108
12. ASTD stands for the American Society for Training & Development
13. In 2010 ASTD has approximately 40,000 members in 100 plus countries.
14. HRD functions are now involved coaching and problem solving.
15. Line authority should have no role in the HRM function.
16. Traditionally, HRD Departments have Staff Authority.
17. McLagan identified the four primary HRD functions.
18. According to Bernthal business strategy should be at the center of all HRD efforts?
19. In order to more fully integrate HRM with the strategic needs of the organization to two types of alignment are needed: External
and upward alignment
20. HRD executives should contribute ideas, information and recommendations during strategy formulation.
21. The learning strategist focuses on entry level employee training.
22. In the organization change agent role the HRD manager advises management in the design and implementation of change
strategies.
23. Over the past 20 years the HRD profession has become better connected to the academic community..
Test Bank
109
24. Increasing diversity in the workplace means racial, ethnic, gender and age diversity.
25. Diversity is always a catalyst for improved organizational performance.
26. In the U.S. only about 20% of the jobs require at least a High School education.
27. HRD professionals need to develop a solid understanding of learning theory.
28. ASTD has not yet developed a code of ethics..
29. Evaluation is an important phase of the HRD process but is often over emphasized..
30. Specific training objectives are normally developed in the needs assessment phase.
Chapter 1— Introduction To Human Resource Development
110
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A set of systematic and planned activities designed by an organization to provide its members with the necessary skills to meet
current and future job demands is:
a.
Organization design
c.
Human resource development
b.
Organization development
d.
Human resource planning.
2. HRD – Human Resource Development is best defined as:
a.
A set of systematic and planned activities designed by an organization to provide its members with the
necessary skills to meet current and future job demands.
b.
A set of systematic and planned activities designed by an organization to provide its members with the
necessary skills to meet past job demands.
c.
A fancy name for being a Personnel Manager
d.
Just another form of apprenticeship training
3. The largest HRD professional organization is::
IPMA
TDAPHR
SHRM
ASTD
4. The origins of HRD can be traced to:
a.
Factory schools
c.
Apprenticeship training programs
b.
Universities
d.
Boston’s first technical school
5. A ‘yeomen’ is a person who:
a.
Sails a ship
b.
Has not been admitted to an apprentice program as yet
c.
Has mastered a few skills
d.
Has mastered all the apprentice skills
6. The first privately funded vocational school in the US was founded by:
a.
Jon Werner
c.
George Washington
b.
DeWitt Clinton
d.
Donald Kirkpatrick
7. The first privately funded vocational school in the US was founded to:
a.
Train university graduates in a skill
b.
Train the sons of wealthy people
c.
Train new managers in machine operation
d.
Provide occupational training to young people who were unemployed or had criminal records
Test Bank
111
8. A main distinction between training and development is that developmental activities are generally:
a.
more focused on specific job skills
b.
less expensive than training activities
c.
becoming less common as organizations deal with their changing business environment
d.
more focused on long-term or future responsibilities
9. The first privately funded vocational school in the US was founded in:
a.
1809
c.
1872
b.
1917
d.
1907
10. The first documented factory school was founded in:
a.
1809
c.
1872
b.
1917
d.
1907
11. An ongoing process where an individual progresses through a series of stages, with each stage addressing unique issues, themes
and task is described as:
a.
human resource intervention
c.
career development
b.
tactical career planning
d.
career planning
12. The introduction of the model T assembly line impacted training in what way?
a.
Made it less important
b.
No impact
c.
Who needs training – anybody can work on an assembly line
d.
Increased the need for training
13. The Smith-Hughes Act of 1917 granted funds to the states to:
a.
Build highways
b.
Training Managers
c.
Build new universities
d.
Train people in agriculture, home economics, industry and teacher training
14. The two significant historical events that impacted the training of unskilled and semiskilled workers were:
a.
The introduction of the Ford model T and World War I
b.
The introduction of the Ford model T and World War II
c.
The introduction of the Steam engine and World War I
d.
The introduction of the Cotton Gin and the Civil War
15. Which of the following function is NOT for a large HRD department?
a.
management training & development
c.
organizational development specialist
b.
skills training administrator
d.
compensation and benefits specialist
Chapter 1— Introduction To Human Resource Development
112
16. The HRCI offers which of the following designations upon passing a written exam and having 2 years exempt-level HR
experience?
a.
PHR, Professional in Human Resources
b.
HRDP, Human Resource Development Professional
c.
HRE, Human Resources Executive
d.
AHR, Administrator in HR
17. Diversity in the workforce includes what groups of employees?
a.
Older workers
b.
Women
c.
Workers of different ethnic and racial backgrounds
d.
All of the above are considered diverse groups
18. A four-step, sequential process used to design HRD interventions is called:
a.
PDAC (plan, do, act, check)
b.
PDCA (plan, design, check, assess)
c.
ADImE (assess, design, implement, evaluate)
d.
SADIE (survey, access, develop, implement, evaluate)
19. HRD interventions can be evaluated using a variety of “hard” and “soft” measures. Which of the following would NOT be a
“hard” measure?
a.
immediate, post training, employee survey
b.
cost-benefit analysis
c.
reduced employee turnover
d.
increased customer satisfaction and retention
20. Which of the following is NOT viewed as a primary human resource management (HRM) function?
a.
HR planning
b.
Designing performance management and performance appraisal systems
c.
Staffing
d.
Compensation and benefits
21. The Smith-Hughes bill was passed in:
a.
1809
c.
1872
b.
1917
d.
1907
22. The four step instructional training method introduced in World War I used the following steps:
a.
Show and tell
c.
Show – tell – do and check
b.
Tell – do and check
d.
Show – tell and do
Test Bank
113
23. During World War II the TWI (Training within Industry) was established by the:
a.
Federal Government
c.
US Chamber of Commerce
b.
State of New York
d.
General Electric
24. An undesirable by-product of the factory system was:
a.
Higher taxes for the factory owners
c.
The creation of labor unions
b.
Abuse of unskilled workers and children
d.
Lack of strong government regulation
25. The Human Relations movement began in the:
a.
Late 1930’s
c.
Late 1940’s
b.
Late 1890’s
d.
1950’s at Harvard
26. ASTD stands for:
a.
The Alaskan Society for Training & Development
b.
The American Society for Training & Development
c.
The American Society for Teaching Drama
d.
The American Society for Technical Development
27. Which of the following is not a primary function of HRM?
a.
Compensation and benefits
c.
Health and safety
b.
Staffing
d.
Performance Management
28. Which of the following is a secondary function of HRM?
a.
Compensation and benefits
b.
Labor relations
c.
Health and safety
d.
Performance Management and performance appraisal systems
29. A staff organization generally:
a.
Gives direct orders to workers
c.
Directly produces goods and services
b.
Advises and consults
d.
Does not include the HR department
30. Which of the following is not a typical T & D function?
a.
Employee discipline
c.
Technical training
b.
Employee orientation
d.
Coaching
Chapter 1— Introduction To Human Resource Development
114
31. Strategic management involves all of the following except?
a.
Strategy formulation
c.
Strategy recording
b.
Control
d.
Strategy implementation
32. A challenge currently facing the HRD field is:
a.
Increasing workforce diversity
b.
Competing in a global economy
c.
Eliminating the skills gap
d.
All of the above are challenges HRD faces
33. The work force is:
a.
Getting younger
c.
Getting older
b.
Staying about the same age-wise
d.
No one really knows
34. What is true about a Learning organization?
a.
HRD people do not like the concept
b.
Over 90% of HRD executives think it is important for organizations to become a learning organizations
c.
It is now required by federal law.
d.
It is something an organization can achieve by passing a certification exam
35. According to the Upjohn institute what percent of hourly employees lack some basic skills?
a.
75
c.
3-5
b.
25–40
d.
about 10 percent
36. According to the ‘new learning & performance wheel’ what is true about Business Strategy?
a.
It should be at the hub or center of HRD efforts
b.
It should not be a part of the wheel
c.
It is included in the ‘upper right spokes’
d.
It is included in the ‘lower left spokes’
37. In the needs assessment phase the gap can be:
a.
A current deficiency
c.
Both A & B above are gaps
b.
A new challenge that demands change
d.
None of the above are a gap
38. The core of all HRD efforts is
a.
Profit
c.
New skills
b.
Learning
d.
Reducing costs
Test Bank
115
39. Apprenticeship training
a.
Began in the 1920’s
c.
Has been used only for skilled trades
b.
Has been used to train skilled workers and even
physicians
d.
Is no longer used
40. Training semi-skilled workers to use machines after the Industrial Revolution was done by:
a.
Factory Schools
c.
Yeoman Training
b.
Corporate Universities
d.
Apprentice programs
41. The two events that lead to the development of company training programs for unskilled and semi-skilled workers were
a.
World War II & the Industrial revolution
c.
The Model T & World War I
b.
World War I & the Industrial revolution
d.
The Model T & World War II
42. The Human Relations movement highlighted
a.
The need for more factory schools
c.
The importance of well trained managers
b.
The importance of machine efficiency
d.
The importance of human behavior on the job
43. In Chester Barnard’s book ‘The functions of the executive’ he emphasized the integration of
a.
Machines and efficiency
c.
Efficiency and employee training
b.
Traditional management & behavioral science
d.
Training & development
44. In the 1980’s ASTD’s focus looked strongly at
a.
The strategic role of HRD
c.
High performing work systems
b.
Performance Improvement programs
d.
All of the above
45. Which of the following is not a primary HRD function as identified in McLagan’s original HR wheel?
a.
Training and development
c.
Career Development
b.
Organizational development
d.
On the job training
46. When comparing Training to Development
a.
Development has a longer term focus than training
c.
Training involves only skills, development involves
everything else
b.
Training has a longer term focus than development
d.
Development focuses mostly on upper level
managers
Chapter 1— Introduction To Human Resource Development
116
47. Which of the following is true about organizational development?
a.
It emphasizes macro changes
c.
In OD the HRD professional functions as a change agent
b.
It emphasizes micro changes
d.
They are all true
48. For HRD to play a more important role in the strategic plan of an organization all of the following are necessary except:
a.
The must contribute ideas and information to
strategy formulation
c.
Training must be budget conscious
b.
Education & training must support strategic
management
d.
Training must be linked to the organizations goals
and strategies
49. The 3 areas of foundation competencies needed by HRD professionals include all of the following except:
a.
Personal skills
c.
Interpersonal skills
b.
Team skills
d.
Business/management skills
50. A primary role of the HRD Executive/Manager is to
a.
Stay within the budget
c.
Plan lots of programs each year
b.
Offer only programs that trainees really like going to
d.
Promote the value of HRD programs to senior
managers
51. The Organization design consultant produces which of the following outputs?
a.
Alternative work designs
c.
Education and training programs
b.
Lesson plans
d.
Quality management programs
52. Certification for HRD professionals is
a.
Offered by SHRM
c.
The certified professional in Learning and
performance
b.
Scheduled to begin in 2010
d.
Offered by the US Government
53. The Human Resource Certificate Institute offers all of the following except:
a.
Professional in Human Resources
c.
Senior Professional in Human Resources
b.
Master Professional in Human Resources
d.
Global Professional in Human Resources
54. The Link of ASTD to the academic community includes:
a.
Offering University courses
c.
Allowing academics to be certified
b.
Offering more academic courses to members
d.
A research journal – the HRD Quarterly
Test Bank
117
55. The purpose of the Benchmarking forum is to
a.
Share ideas, both good and bad
c.
Share all HRD research
b.
Compare wages for HRD executives
d.
Learn about ‘best practices’
56. What is true about the skills gap?
a.
Both Germany and Japan have done a better job of
teaching basic skills than has the U.S.
c.
The U.S. has done a better job of teaching basic
skills than has the Germany.
b.
The U.S. has done a better job of teaching basic
skills than has the Japan.
d.
There is no skills gap for basic knowledge in the
U.S.
57. Lifelong learning means:
a.
The same learning for all employees
c.
Skills training for all employees
b.
Continuing education for all employees
d.
Different things for different employees
58. Identifying training needs involves all of the following except?
a.
Examine the organization
c.
Looking at job tasks
b.
Looking at educational standards in the local area
d.
Looking at individual employee performance
59. Scheduling a training program is:
a.
Not as easy as it appears
c.
Not very important to think about
b.
Always easy to do
d.
Important only if you use an external trainer
60. Evaluation allows managers to make better decisions about?
a.
Continuing to use a method of training
c.
How to allocate scarce resources
b.
Continuing to offer a program
d.
All of the above are factors for managers
Chapter 1— Introduction To Human Resource Development
118