Cecilia is observing assembly line workers performing their tasks. She’s watching to see
who they interact with, what machines they use, and how much they are supervised.
Cecilia is most likely conducting a:
A) work flow analysis.
B) performance appraisal.
C) job redesign.
D) job analysis.
A standardized benefits package is most likely best for a:
A) new company with a highly diverse workforce.
B) firm that employs a homogeneous workforce.
C) firm that wants to provide employees with choices.
D) new company that wants to decentralize benefits.
Additional Case 12.1
The HR Director of The Camera Center is leading the executive team through a review
of the company’s benefits plan. He begins by explaining how the firm funds the benefits
plan. After a few questions on that matter, he moves on to clarify what they must offer
by law and what benefits the firm would like to provide.
A highly entrepreneurial, performance-driven company, The Camera Center provides an
excellent profit-sharing plan and one of the best retirement packages in the industry.
The firm commits a high portion of compensation funds to the benefits plan. The
workforce tends to be college-educated, young professionals who are just starting their
families.
The CEO wants the total benefits plan reviewed and repackaged, if necessary, to align it
with The Camera Center’s business culture and strategy. He also wants to contain costs
as much as possible and simplify benefits
administration.
Refer to Additional Case 12.1. This company’s benefits mix:
A) matches the firm’s culture and objectives.
B) is almost the opposite of what the firm needs.
C) would be better if it included variable pay as well.
D) violates federal law because the firm doesn’t offer health care.
Which of the following HR strategies would most likely be appropriate for a firm
implementing an overall cost leadership business strategy?
A) Encourage innovation
B) Recruit only from external sources
C) Use performance appraisal as a control device
D) Develop broad job classifications for work groups
Additional Case 1.1
Managers at Caplin Company are having a strategic planning session with the director
of HR. They are discussing the fit between the company’s overall management
philosophy, organizational structure, organizational culture, and the firm’s current HR
strategies. During the meeting, the management team asks the HR Director for a profile
of the current workforce. The HR Director reports that the workforce used to be 85%
white, 50% male. Now it is 50% white, 50% minority with twice as many women as
men. Supervisors still tend to be white males.
The management team discusses how to control costs, improve quality, and create
distinctive capabilities. Several ideas are raised, discussed, and tabled; some topics are
assigned to an individual for further exploration. Managers comment that some workers
arrive at start time, take 30 minutes before initiating any work, and begin to pack up for
the day 30 minutes before quitting time. Managers also indicate that employees do not
seem concerned about working hard or about building quality products.
As the meeting draws to a close, the team briefly discusses the firm’s commitment to
the surrounding community. As a cost-cutting measure, the firm eliminated its support
of an adult literacy program last year. Company facilities were used for conducting
reading classes. The management team decides that the firm should reinstate the
program and appoints the HR Director to notify the local literacy council.
Refer to Additional Case 1.1. Caplin’s discussion of costs, quality, and capabilities
shows that the firm is trying to address the:
A) organizational challenge of competitive position.
B) environmental challenge of rapid change.
C) individual challenge of matching workers with jobs.
D) market challenge of changing customer needs.
All of the following are uses of Haz-Map EXCEPT:
A) filing complaints about hazardous chemical usage.
B) determining substance toxicity levels.
C) identifying occupational diseases.
D) preventing toxic exposures.
Wilton Carpet and Flooring supports local children’s sports teams by providing
uniforms and practice gear. Which of the following terms best describes the activities of
the firm?
A) Outsourcing
B) Egalitarianism
C) Empowerment
D) Social responsibility
Tyrone is an African-American freelance music composer. He has not held a regular job
due to mental stress since his involvement, as a reservist, in the Persian Gulf War. He is
seeking a jingle-writing position with an advertising firm. While Tyrone does read and
write, he composes by ear. He cannot read music, he records his songs on a tape, and
his wife transcribes the recorded music into sheet music. The central requirement of this
job is that the composer be able to read music because the employee must work with
client ideas and music ideas from other staff. Tyrone is not hired because he cannot read
music. Has management made a decision that makes the firm legally liable for
discrimination under the ADA?
A) Yes, because a major life function is impaired and that impairment prevented him
from receiving the job.
B) No, because no major life activity is impaired. He cannot read music, but he can
read.
C) Yes, because the company could have rewritten the job description to accommodate
his disability.
D) No, because the requirement to read music is a secondary requirement of the job.
Which of the following is a true statement about office romances?
A) Most workers disapprove of office dating.
B) Only a small percentage of firms have no-dating policies.
C) Over half of all employees report having had an office romance.
D) The majority of companies have a formal written policy about office dating.
Which of the following is most likely true regarding compensation systems?
A) Nonmonetary rewards tend to predominate in companies concerned with external
equity.
B) External equity is easier to manage in decentralized pay systems.
C) The nine issues discussed in the text regarding compensation are interdependent with
minimal influence on one another.
D) Centralized pay systems work best in large, diverse organizations.
Layne has noticed high turnover among recent hires at her company. During exit
interviews, several employees said that their job responsibilities simply weren’t what
they had expected and that this was their basis for leaving. In order to avoid this kind of
problem in the future, Layne should most likely:
A) revamp employee orientation.
B) initiate a realistic job preview program.
C) provide diversity training.
D) provide cross-functional training.
Beau, an agent for the EEOC, has just received a complaint filed by Samar against
Universal Pharmaceuticals Corp. What is Beau’s first step in processing the complaint?
A) To attempt to resolve the case through conciliation
B) To inform Universal Pharmaceuticals Corp. of the complaint
C) To begin an investigation of the complaint
D) To issue a right-to-sue letter to Samar
What is the primary concern about physicians receiving incentives from pharmaceutical
firms and state governments?
A) Doctors and nurses lacking time to see the most needy patients.
B) Doctors placing financial gain ahead of patient care.
C) Private health insurance becoming unaffordable.
D) Medicare and Medicaid running out of money.
The selection process can help a firm contain costs as demonstrated by the ________
per year savings the federal government enjoys via ability testing for entry-level
employees.
A) $500,000
B) $1 million
C) $1.5 billion
D) $15 billion
Both the MAA and the Hay Guide Chart Profile Method share:
A) the same compensable factors.
B) the use of a scale of numbers and degrees.
C) an emphasis on experience over other factors.
D) the same job hierarchy.
A study conducted by the U.S. Postal Service regarding drug testing:
A) showed that drug testing is a valid predictor of job performance.
B) showed that drug testing does not correlate with on-the-job performance.
C) revealed that most job candidates can “beat” a drug test.
D) has been struck down by the Supreme Court.
Employee earnings:
A) correlate directly with employee job satisfaction.
B) are the most important factor in job acceptance.
C) are relatively easy for organizations to manage.
D) affect employees economically and psychologically.
Which of the following is the most likely result of customer service training?
A) Increased retention rates
B) Improved literacy skills
C) Enhanced work ethics
D) Improved diversity
Which of the following requires employers to inform employees of impending layoffs?
A) ERISA
B) Title VII
C) EO 11426
D) WARN Act
Chambers Enterprises employs 200 workers in its Illinois offices. Louisa, a Chambers
employee, was recently assaulted by her husband in a domestic dispute. Which of the
following is Chambers required to do?
A) Change Louisa’s phone number
B) File a complaint in Louisa’s name with the police department
C) Temporarily move Louisa to another work station in the building
D) Provide Louisa with an escort to and from the company parking lot