Organizational Behavior, 17e (Robbins)
Chapter 17 Human Resource Policies and Practices
1) Which of the following is most likely to be used for preliminary “rough cuts” to decide
whether an applicant meets the basic qualifications for a job?
A) drug test
B) application form
C) HR interview
D) written test
E) technical interview
2) Charlie Woods started working for E-Z Freeze, a major frozen food company, as a college
intern. Most recently, Charlie had held the position of VP Marketing. Now however, as a result
of a change in corporate leadership, Charlie finds himself unemployed for the first time in
decades. Looking for a new job has been an eye-opening experience for Charlie. He has been
especially frustrated with his lack of success in getting even a call back for the applications he
has completed online. Which of the following best describes why Charlie may not be getting the
initial feedback he thinks he should be receiving?
A) His online applications don’t have the right keywords.
B) His background checks have been negative.
C) He is unwilling to relocate.
D) He lacks cross-company experience.
E) He lacks cultural diversity.
3) Which of the following is a form of background check?
A) aptitude test
B) offer letter
C) letters of recommendation
D) application form
E) work-sample test
4) Performance-simulation tests have lower face validity (which measures whether applicants
perceive the measures to be accurate) than written tests.
5) In assessment centers, candidates are evaluated as they go through several days of exercises
that simulate real problems they would confront on the job.
6) Some of the most effective recruiting techniques include internal referrals, internship
programs, and other methods that give potential applicants enough information to adequately
evaluate the roles they may be occupying.
7) Stefan is looking for a job. Today he went to the Web site of Qriosity Inc., where he filled out
an online application and attached a copy of his resume. In which part of the selection process is
Stefan?
A) physical selection
B) job offer
C) initial selection
D) contingent selection
E) substantive selection
8) Which of the following is most likely to be an initial selection device?
A) technical interview
B) drug test
C) written test
D) background check
E) work-sample test
Scarlett has received authorization to add an assistant manager to her department. This person
will be working closely with Scarlett and must have excellent interpersonal as well as technical
skills. Scarlett wants to make certain that she maximizes the chance of choosing the correct
individual and is trying to decide on the most appropriate selection device.
9) Which of the following is most likely to be used by Scarlett during the initial selection stage to
check if an applicant meets the basic qualifications for a job?
A) assessment center
B) drug test
C) application form
D) work-sample test
E) integrity test
10) The goal of initial selection is to determine the most qualified applicants from among those
who meet basic qualifications.
11) Letters of recommendation are a form of background check.
12) Define initial selection and identify the devices used during the initial selection stage.
13) During a selection process, the ________ selection stage immediately follows the initial
selection stage.
A) cognitive
B) associative
C) analytic
D) behavioral
E) substantive
14) Between the late 1960s and the mid-1980s, the use of written tests declined because they
were characterized as ________.
A) unprofessional
B) discriminatory
C) unreliable
D) invalid
E) mathematically flawed
15) Which of the following have/has proven to be a particularly good predictor for jobs that
include cognitively complex tasks?
A) intelligence tests
B) integrity evaluations
C) work sampling
D) drug tests
E) behavioral assessment
16) Written tests are used during the ________ stage of the selection process.
A) cognitive
B) associative
C) analytic
D) substantive
E) initial
17) Performance-simulation tests have higher ________, which measures whether applicants
perceive the measures to be accurate.
A) nominal validity
B) nominal reasonability
C) face cognitivity
D) face validity
E) face legitimacy
18) Elaborate sets of performance-simulation tests specifically designed to evaluate a candidate’s
managerial potential are ________.
A) less effective than work sampling
B) administered in assessment centers
C) similar to personality tests
D) considered drawbacks of some management development programs
E) likely to skew the results of behavioral samples
19) Assessment centers are typically used to evaluate a candidate’s ________ potential.
A) linguistic
B) technical
C) cognitive
D) managerial
E) analytical
20) Which of the following tends to have a disproportionate amount of influence on employee
selection decisions?
A) interview
B) written test
C) performance-simulation test
D) work sampling method
E) personality test
21) Applicants describe how they handled specific problems and situations in previous jobs in
a(n) ________ interview.
A) behavioral structured
B) audition-type
C) performance-simulation
D) problem-solving
E) reflection
22) Which of the following statements is most likely to be true regarding behavioral structured
interviews?
A) They are most useful when interviewing knowledge workers.
B) They increase an interviewer’s reliance on his or her “gut feelings.”
C) They are conducted in a similar manner as audition-type interviews.
D) They are useful only for interviewing nonskilled workers.
E) They increase the effectiveness of the interview technique.
23) The behavioral structured interview is built on the assumption that ________.
A) past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior
B) technical knowledge and skills are the best predictor of job performance
C) personality is the best predictor of job performance
D) personality and mood are highly correlated
E) technical knowledge and job performance are highly correlated
Scarlett has received authorization to add an assistant manager to her department. This person
will be working closely with Scarlett and must have excellent interpersonal as well as technical
skills. Scarlett wants to make certain that she maximizes the chance of choosing the correct
individual and is trying to decide on the most appropriate selection device.
24) In order to assess the management skills of the applicants, Scarlet should ________.
A) use an assessment center
B) verify the applicants’ job histories
C) conduct a medical test
D) conduct a drug test
E) conduct a behavioral assessment test
25) Which of the following is a common contingent selection method?
A) IQ test
B) interview
C) interest inventory
D) drug test
E) work-sample test
26) Drug testing is controversial. Which of the following is an argument used against drug
testing?
A) The results of drug tests can be faked easily.
B) Drug use is a private matter.
C) Drug tests are costly.
D) Drug tests are generally inaccurate.
E) Drug tests are injurious to a person’s health.
27) Due to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, job applicants ________.
A) can be subjected to a drug test only if they are being considered for senior-level management
positions
B) are never required to submit to a physical exam for a job
C) cannot be subjected to a work-sample test after a contingent job offer
D) cannot be subjected to behavioral assessment tests before a contingent offer
E) may be required to undergo a medical examination after they receive a contingent offer
28) Which of the following statements is true concerning international selection practices?
A) Structured interviews are popular in all countries.
B) Beliefs about how one should conduct an interpersonal interview are consistent across
countries.
C) The use of educational qualifications in screening candidates seems to be a universal practice.
D) Employee selection policies and practices do not require modification from one country to
another.
E) Individuals are typically much more effective at selecting candidates than groups.
29) Substantive selection methods are the heart of the selection process and include written tests,
performance tests, and interviews.
30) A test that measures factors such as dependability, carefulness, responsibility, and honesty is
referred to as a task variability test.
31) Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, firms cannot require employees to pass a medical
exam before or after a job offer is made.
32) Describe and discuss three substantive selection devices used to assess job candidates once
they have passed an initial screening.
33) Briefly explain any three types of written tests that are typically used in the employee
selection process.
34) Describe and discuss work-sample tests and assessment centers and the contexts in which
they can be used effectively.
35) Describe disadvantages of the selection interview.
36) Compare and contrast unstructured interview and behavioral structured interview.
37) Describe the contingent selection stage in the selection process.
38) Most training is directed at upgrading and improving an employee’s ________ skills.
A) financial
B) technical
C) problem-solving
D) interpersonal
E) social
39) By training employees on how to be better listeners, organizations attempt to improve their
________ skills.
A) ethical
B) technical
C) problem-solving
D) interpersonal
E) cultural
40) Lewis is a sales representative for his company. He is attending a company training program
about the types of expenses that are considered legal deductions for tax purposes and how to
distinguish between personal expenses and business expenses. Lewis is attending training to
improve his ________ skills.
A) literacy
B) problem-solving
C) interpersonal
D) ethical
E) technical
You are involved in training and development for your division at Dunder Mifflin Inc. You want
to target some specific organizational problems through training.
41) Your organization is situated in an urban area where many students do not finish high school.
You will probably first have to address the skill category termed ________ skills.
A) basic
B) technical
C) interpersonal
D) problem-solving
E) managerial
42) Your organization has reduced layers, flattening the organization. Your employees now need
to perform a wider variety of tasks. As a result, you need to provide employees with training to
help develop their ________ skills.
A) basic literacy
B) technical
C) interpersonal
D) problem solving
E) communication
43) You are introducing self-managed teams and implementing quality-management programs. It
would be important to conduct training in ________ skills.
A) basic literacy
B) technical
C) interpersonal
D) problem-solving
E) interdependence
44) Dunder Mifflin Inc. is considering implementing employee ethics training programs. Some
members of senior management are opposed to these programs. Their opposition is most likely
based on which of the following beliefs?
A) Ethics training is very expensive.
B) Ethics change from country to country.
C) Individual value systems are fixed at an early age.
D) Integrity cannot be taught by example.
E) Ethics training does not help employees to recognize ethical dilemmas.
45) ________ training involves employees helping each other out at the workplace in an
unplanned and unstructured environment.
A) Formal
B) Ethics
C) Interpersonal
D) Informal
E) Classroom
46) Which of the following is an on-the-job training method?
A) live classroom lectures
B) apprenticeships
C) public seminars
D) podcasts
E) self-study programs
47) Which of the following is an off-the-job training method?
A) job rotation
B) formal mentoring programs
C) Internet courses
D) job enlargement
E) apprenticeship
48) Which of the following is most likely to be the fastest growing training medium?
A) job rotation
B) live classroom lectures
C) apprenticeships
D) formal mentoring program
E) e-training
49) You have just been appointed as director of your company’s corporate training division. The
CEO of your company has been displeased with your company’s prior training programs, so you
are tasked with rehauling the entire training division. You convene a meeting of all training
division managers to decide on the types of training that the division will implement. One of
your managers is a firm supporter of e-training programs for employees in your company’s
international offices. He touts the benefits of e-programs by stressing that ________.
A) e-training approaches have been proven to result in higher levels of knowledge assimilation
B) e-training is highly flexible and employees can complete the training at their convenience
C) many employees find solitary learning to be highly motivating
D) online learners are less susceptible to distractions
E) e-programs are inexpensive to design and implement
50) Technical training has become increasingly important because of changes in organizational
design.
51) Most formal training involves employees simply helping each other out.
52) A formal mentoring program is an example of an off-the-job training method.
53) Examples of incivility include being ignored, being blamed for others’ mistakes and
receiving no credit for your achievements, having your reputation undermined in front of others,
and experiencing other situations meant to demean or disparage you or others.
54) Describe the four general skill categories addressed by most employee training activities.