Deck 8: Human Resources

Question 1

The normal time to perform a job is calculated by dividing the elemental average by the standard time.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Work sampling is a technique for determining the proportion of time a worker or machine is idle.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

In a time study, the normal time is computed as

A) the elemental average time multiplied by the rating factor.
B) the elemental average time divided by the rating factor.
C) the elemental average time minus the rating factor.
D) the elemental average time plus the rating factor.

Answer 3

the elemental average time multiplied by the rating factor.

Question 4

A time study is a statistical sample distribution, where the number of cycles is the sample size.

Question 5

How many cycles should be used in a time study in order to be 95% confident that the time-study average job cycle time is within 5% of the true average job cycle time? Assume that the average job cycle time was 2.67 minutes and the standard deviation of the sample was 0.72 minutes.

A) 36 cycles
B) 72 cycles
C) 98 cycles
D) 112 cycles

Question 6

In a time study, the standard time is calculated as

A) the normal cycle time plus the allowance factor.
B) the normal cycle time minus the allowance factor.
C) the normal cycle time divided by (1 + allowance factor).
D) the normal cycle time multiplied by (1 + allowance factor).

Question 7

As part of its quality-improvement program, a company is conducting a time study for a particular job. The time study encompassed 10 job cycles, and the results include the following cumulative times and performance rating factors for each element: The standard time for this job, using an allowance factor of 16%, is

A) 1.809 minutes.
B) 2.098 minutes.
C) 1.530 minutes.
D) 2.233 minutes.

Question 8

Rating the worker's performance is typically an objective, easy task which can be done by any employee.

Question 9

As part of a time study, a particular job was analyzed. The study included 20 job cycles and the following cumulative times and performance rating factors for each element were reported: Assuming an allowance factor of 15%, the standard time for this job would be

A) 4.35 minutes.
B) 3.67 minutes.
C) 2.712 minutes.
D) 2.358 minutes.

Question 10

Work sampling is an easier, cheaper, and quicker approach to work measurement than the time study.

Question 11

Determining the length of time it takes to do a job is known as work measurement.

Question 12

Workers often do not like to be the subject of a time study and are sometimes unwilling to cooperate.

Question 13

The allowance factor is a percentage increase in the normal cycle time.

Question 14

Under normal circumstances and conditions, the time required by an "average" worker to perform a job once is referred to as the cycle time.

Question 15

The basic principle underlying an incentive piece-rate wage system is that workers produced more if they were paid for the additional output.

Question 16

As part of its quality-improvement program, a company is conducting a time study for a particular job. The time study encompassed 10 job cycles, and the results include the following cumulative times and performance rating factors for each element. An allowance factor of 16% is assumed. The normal cycle time for this job would be

A) 1.809 minutes.
B) 2.098 minutes.
C) 1.530 minutes.
D) 2.233 minutes.

Question 17

The normal times for basic, generic micro motions developed by an outside organization in a laboratory-type environment are referred to as

A) standard times.
B) normal times.
C) predetermined motion times.
D) elemental times.

Question 18

___ time is the time required by an "average" worker to perform a job under normal circumstances and conditions.

A) Stopwatch
B) Standard
C) Allowance
D) Average

Question 19

Work sampling tends to be more disruptive on the workplace than time studies.

Question 20

Advantages of using a predetermined motion time system include all of the following except

A) worker cooperation and compliance are not required.
B) ignores job context within which a single motion takes place.
C) workplace is not disrupted.
D) eliminates the need for subjectively determining performance ratings.

Question 21

How many observations should be taken to be 90% confident of being within 2% of the actual time a machine is busy if it is believed that the machine is in use 70% of the time?

A) 2,021 observations
B) 1,421 observations
C) 789 observations
D) 365 observations

Question 22

Discuss contemporary trends in human resources management.

Question 23

What is work sampling and what is its primary use?

Question 24

List the basic steps in a time study.

Question 25

List the steps in the work sampling.

Question 26

Explain different methods of employee compensation.

Question 27

In work sampling, why should we periodically recalculate the number of observations.

Question 28

Discuss current issues relating to employee diversity, including examples of diversity initiatives.

Question 29

Briefly discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a predetermined motion time system.

Question 30

For a particular time study a company would like to be 90% confident that the average job cycle time is within 5% of the true average job cycle time. Assume that the average job cycle time was 15.76 minutes and the standard deviation of the sample was 3.2 minutes. The number of cycles that should be used in this time study would be

A) 45.
B) 93.
C) 127.
D) 236.

Question 31

Work sampling determines

A) a sample of finished work on a given day.
B) the average time required by a sample of workers to perform a job once.
C) the proportion of time a worker spends on activities.
D) None of the above

Question 32

Discuss the basic principles of human resources management that quality-focused companies follow.

Question 33

For a particular time study, a company would like to be 95% confident that the average job cycle time is within 2% of the true average job cycle time. Assume that the average job cycle time was 6.53 minutes and the standard deviation of the sample was 1.26 minutes. The number of cycles that should be used in this time study would be

A) 174.
B) 358.
C) 463.
D) 864.

Question 34

Management believes a critical piece of equipment is busy 85% of the time. How many observations should be taken if management wants to be 98% confident the estimate is within 2.5% of the actual proportion of time the equipment is in use?

A) 250 observations
B) 525 observations
C) 757 observations
D) 1,108 observations

Question 35

How many observations should be taken to be 95% confident of being within 5% of the actual time a machine is busy if it is believed that the machine is in use 75% of the time?

A) 1,200 observations
B) 772 observations
C) 364 observations
D) 289 observations

Question 36

How many cycles should be used in a time study in order to be 98% confident that the time-study average job cycle time is within 4% of the true average job cycle time? Assume that the average job cycle time was 4.25 minutes and the standard deviation of the sample was 0.65 minutes.

A) 55 cycles
B) 70 cycles
C) 80 cycles
D) 95 cycles

Question 37

Work measurement and time study were introduced by

A) Henry Ford.
B) Frederick W. Taylor
C) Frank and Lillian Gilbreth.
D) Frederick Herzberg.

Question 38

A work sampling study is being conducted on a loading machine in a warehouse. How many observations should be taken if management wants to be 95% confident the estimate is within 6% of the actual proportion of time the loader is busy if management believes the loading machine is in use 70% of the time?

A) 125 observations
B) 175 observations
C) 225 observations
D) 275 observations

Question 39

Explain the history and principles of scientific management and subsequent employee motivation theories.

Question 40

As part of a time study a particular job was analyzed. The study included 20 job cycles and the following cumulative times and performance rating factors for each element were reported: Assuming an allowance factor of 20% the standard time for this job would be

A) 10.08 minutes.
B) 12.10 minutes.
C) 14.73 minutes.
D) 16.58 minutes.

Question 41

Scientific management divides jobs into their most elemental activities to simplify job design.

Question 42

Empowerment involves giving employees the authority and responsibility to innovate and act on their own.

Question 43

Job rotation often requires cross training of employees.

Question 44

With total quality management, employees receive broad job training making them more flexible in where they can work.

Question 45

With total quality management, employees are usually given precise directions to achieve narrowly defined objectives.

Question 46

Studies have shown that the success of Japanese companies is due to management practices.

Question 47

Among the disadvantages of task specialization are high output, high costs, and extensive training.

Question 48

Successful quality-oriented firms recognize the importance of their employees when developing a competitive strategy.

Question 49

For most industrialized countries the difference between a company's success or failure is dependent on the capability of its human resources.

Question 50

Use learning curves for measuring work improvement, planning, and scheduling.

Question 51

Studies have shown that the success of Japanese companies is due to cultural factors.

Question 52

Motivation refers to the willingness of an employee to perform as needed to attain a goal or objective.

Question 53

Companies with a quality focus generally give their employees the power to make decisions that will improve quality.

Question 54

Use a process flowchart, a worker-machine chart, and motion study to examine how work is done.

Question 55

Because services are labour intensive, human resources is becoming a more important strategic factor for service companies.

Question 56

Scientific Management involves breaking down jobs into elemental activities.

Question 57

Achieving strategic quality goals for quality and customer satisfaction often requires teamwork and group participation.

Question 58

Flexibility has traditionally been used as a measure of job efficiency.

Question 59

The objective of ergonomics is to make the best use of employees' capabilities while maintaining the employees' health and well-being.

Question 60

Describe factors that must be considered in good job design.

Question 61

Determining worker capabilities and responsibilities for a job is known as worker analysis.

Question 62

The elimination of racism, sexism, cultural indifference, and religious intolerance cannot be mandated by higher management or managed by financial incentives.

Question 63

According to the Conference Board of Canada, only very few new immigrants are needed in the future to stabilize the workforce and ensure economic growth.

Question 64

In a piece-rate wage system, pay is based on the efficiency of the overall process.

Question 65

A piece-rate wage plan rewards employees for attaining company goals and objectives.

Question 66

One of the prerequisites to job rotation is cross training.

Question 67

An alternative workplace is a combination of nontraditional work locations and practices that supplements or replaces the traditional office.

Question 68

The formal study of the individual human motions used to perform a task was developed by Frank and Lillian Gilbreth.

Question 69

Job design includes determining the characteristics a worker needs to meet the job requirements.

Question 70

The interface of workers with machines is probably the least important aspect of job design.

Question 71

While still an important issue, diversity issues in North American companies is on the decline.

Question 72

The motivation for companies to create alternative workplaces is primarily financial.

Question 73

Globalization has resulted in an overall reduction in diversity-related issues in the workplace.

Question 74

A worker-machine chart illustrates the amount of time a worker and a machine are working or idle.

Question 75

One advantage of an individual piece-rate system is that it provides strong incentives to ensure high quality.

Question 76

By managing diversity a company can gain a competitive edge because all employees are given an opportunity to do their best.

Question 77

Fitting the task to the person in a work environment is known as job analysis.

Question 78

A graph that reflects the fact that repetition of tasks improves worker performance is referred to as a learning curve.

Question 79

A worker-machine chart determines whether worker and machine tasks are strategically aligned.

Question 80

A process flowchart is a graph showing the steps of a job or how a set of jobs fit together into the overall flow of the production process.