Additional Case 17.2
Golden Rod is an electronics firm based in Detroit with subsidiaries in several countries
including Indonesia, Egypt, Argentina, and Thailand. The top management positions in
these subsidiaries are filled by U.S. citizens. Golden Rod is planning on creating a new
expatriate assignment in Egypt. The firm has created a selection board of expatriates to
choose the best person for the job. In the past, Golden Rod has experienced a high
turnover rate among repatriated managers, so executives hope to solve this problem.
Refer to Additional Case 17.2. In order to increase the likelihood of Chyna’s success in
Egypt, Golden Rod should most likely:
A) make sure her position in Egypt is slightly lower than her position at home.
B) not provide her with cross-cultural training to prevent establishing stereotypes.
C) spend more time on developing her technical abilities than her cross-cultural
sensitivity.
D) make sure that this assignment will be a stepping stone for her advancement in the
company.
Career development tools such as psychological testing, assessment centers, and
performance appraisals are also used in:
A) retraining programs.
B) employee selection.
C) socialization.
D) orientation.
In a bargaining session, management’s representative explains that if the union accepts
job reductions, the company can pay higher wages and modernize the plant. This will
enhance the company’s competitiveness and helps ensure its ultimate survival.
Management’s strategy is an example of:
A) distributive bargaining.
B) integrative bargaining.
C) union substitution.
D) bargaining power.
When an employer discharged two women during and shortly after they returned from
maternity leave, the women sued. The court found that the employer had:
A) acted in good faith.
B) acted legally but had violated a psychological contract.
C) made a legitimate exercise of employment-at-will powers.
D) wrongfully discharged the women and fined the employer.
What is the first step in the union grievance procedure?
A) An employee submitting the grievance in writing
B) An employee discussing the grievance with the union steward
C) Management and labor discussing the grievance in a formal meeting
D) Management and labor selecting a neutral arbitrator to settle the grievance
Damen is reviewing the results of an employment test his company has been using. The
scores do not relate well to applicants’ actual job performance once hired. This test is
most likely subject to a:
A) reliability error.
B) validity error.
C) contamination error.
D) deficiency error.
Jake needs a communication tool that will allow the integration of voice, text, and
video. His best choice of tool would be:
A) multimedia technology.
B) the Internet.
C) electronic mail.
D) teleconferencing.
Crisis training would most likely include all of the following EXCEPT:
A) investigative techniques.
B) stress management.
C) conflict resolution.
D) team building.
Which of the following is NOT a principal EEOC regulation?
A) Executive Order 11246 interpretations
B) Sex discrimination guidelines
C) EEO in the federal government
D) Equal Pay Act interpretations
Connor wants to develop interpersonal trust between himself and his subordinates.
Which of the following would most likely help Connor do this?
A) Sharing credit with employees for successful projects
B) Conducting regular employee performance appraisals
C) Scheduling weekly meetings with employee groups
D) Setting challenging expectations for employees
Additional Case 7.3
In a training session for managers, you state that performance improvement is the most
important part of the performance appraisal process. During the session, you explain
how the group of supervisors can manage employee performance more effectively.
During the ensuing discussion, Chris, a middle manager with 20 subordinates, explains
that he has a finely tuned ability to discover the causes of performance problems.
According to Chris, employees either lack motivation for the job or lack the skills and
knowledge to perform the job.
Another supervisor, Gena, says that after she determines the cause of a performance
problem, she creates a supportive environment and works in partnership with the
employee to solve the problem. While Gena strives to show acceptance, she also finds it
effective to point out to subordinates how their negative personality traits affect their
work performance. Gena states that by giving employees all the time needed and
offering suggestions, performance improvements typically occur.
Refer to Additional Case 7.3. In this training session you should most likely state that to
improve performance, managers need to begin by:
A) exploring the causes of the performance problem with the employee.
B) directing communication towards performance and situational issues.
C) empowering workers to solve their own performance problems.
D) directing attention to solutions for the problem.
Which of the following best explains why many managers do not participate in
employee coaching?
A) Managing too few workers
B) Feeling inadequate for the task
C) Tightening departmental budgets
D) Experiencing burnout and job stress
The Foreign Corruption Practices Act was initiated by:
A) Walmart underpaying child laborers in Honduras.
B) Nike bribing the Indonesian government.
C) a U.S. firm bribing the Honduran government.
D) a Chinese firm complaining about toxic batteries.
If labor demand exceeds labor supply, HR needs can best be met through:
A) worker training.
B) work sharing.
C) severance pay.
D) internal transfers.
The offer-to-acceptance ratio at Central Manufacturing is 6:1. How many offers will the
firm need to make in order to fill 80 positions?
A) 120
B) 240
C) 480
D) 540
Which of the following is a true statement regarding family-related benefits?
A) The U.S. government requires that most firms provide day-care support.
B) In Germany, women must return to work after 4 weeks of maternity leave.
C) In Sweden, parents are guaranteed a one-year leave of absence after childbirth.
D) The British government operates state-run day-care centers for minimal fees.
Random drug testing:
A) has been ruled unconstitutional.
B) has largely been stopped by employee groups.
C) is required by law for professions where safety is critical.
D) is required by federal law for all employers with more than 15 employees.
Healthy living incentives most likely benefit employers in all of the following ways
EXCEPT by:
A) lowering health insurance premiums.
B) reducing absenteeism.
C) receiving tax breaks.
D) reducing worker stress.
A company is involved in business process reengineering when it is:
A) examining how work creates or adds value to the ongoing business processes.
B) rethinking and redesigning its work processes to improve quality.
C) reviewing the responsibility levels of specific jobs.
D) gathering and organizing information about tasks.
Retraining is often necessary when job requirements change and employees must learn
how to perform new duties. With the change to automation in many businesses:
A) retraining is unnecessary since automation requires less-skilled workers.
B) companies disregard retraining because technology makes up for a limited skill base.
C) more highly skilled workers are needed by businesses.
D) simulation training in conjunction with retraining is essential.
Dixon Enterprises needs to reduce its long-term workforce. The firm wants to reduce
the scale and scope of its business to improve financial performance. The company is
most likely:
A) conducting a layoff.
B) downsizing.
C) buying out the workforce.
D) rightsizing.
Which of the following factors is LEAST relevant to a training needs assessment for
expatriates at a global firm?
A) Assignment characteristics
B) Cross-cultural differences
C) Worker characteristics
D) Industry standards
Corrine is doing an exercise in her career workbook that involves rating the importance
of security, power, money, and family in her life. This exercise is most likely a(n):
A) values clarification exercise.
B) interest inventory.
C) skills assessment exercise.
D) psychological test.
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act does which of the following?
A) Prevents employees from taking benefits from one company to another when they
change jobs
B) Allows employees to continue health insurance coverage after their employment has
ended
C) Requires employers to contain health-care costs through regular auditing practices
D) Provides comprehensive medical services for employees through Medicare
The labor relations process has three distinct phases: organizing, bargaining, and
administering. Discuss briefly the key elements of each phase and how they work
together.
What are some of the problems faced by disabled employees?
________ is an organization-wide approach to improving the quality of all the
processes that lead to a final product or service.
A(n) ________ is a health-care plan that provides comprehensive medical services for
employees and their families at a flat annual fee.
An approach to managing international operations in which subsidiaries are managed
and staffed by personnel from the host country is the ________.
________ is harassment that occurs when sexual activity is required in return for
getting or keeping a job or job-related benefit.
A legally binding promise between two or more competent parties is called a(n)
________.