Deck 1: Managing Human Resources Today

Question 1

Which individual in an organization is responsible for accomplishing the organization's goals by planning,organizing,staffing,leading,and controlling personnel?

A)manager
B)generalist
C)marketer
D)entrepreneur

Answer 1

A
Explanation:A)The manager is the person responsible for accomplishing an organization's goals by planning,organizing,staffing,leading,and controlling the efforts of the organization's people.An entrepreneur may manage people or may hire a manager to do so instead,but entrepreneurs are defined as individuals who start their own businesses.

Question 2

________ is the right to make decisions,to direct the work of others,and to give orders.

A)Leadership
B)Authority
C)Arbitration
D)Bargaining

Answer 2

B
Explanation:B)Authority is the right to make decisions,to direct the work of others,and to give orders.Arbitration refers to settling a disagreement through a third party.

Question 3

In the management process,which activity is part of the staffing function?

A)developing rules
B)maintaining morale
C)evaluating performance
D)setting production levels

Answer 3

C
Explanation:C)The staffing function involves evaluating the performance of employees.Developing rules is a planning function,and maintaining morale is a leading function.Setting standards such as production levels is an aspect of the controlling function of the management process.

Question 4

A manager is best described as a person who is responsible for ________.

A)teaching new employees basic skills
B)accomplishing the organization's goals
C)communicating with stockholders
D)delegating authority to subordinates

Question 5

All of the following are activities performed within the staffing function of the management process EXCEPT ________.

A)evaluating performance
B)providing training
C)recruiting employees
D)maintaining morale

Question 6

Which basic function of management includes developing rules and procedures?

A)planning
B)organizing
C)leading
D)staffing

Question 7

Which activity is part of the controlling function of the management process?

A)recruiting prospective employees
B)training and developing new employees
C)developing departmental rules and procedures
D)comparing employee performance with standards

Question 8

Which of the following terms best describes firms such as IBM,Apple,and Google?

A)bargaining unit
B)work council
C)organization
D)open shop

Question 9

Amini,a sales manager with a commercial real estate firm,uses sales quotas to assess the performance of his staff members,and he then develops strategies for corrective action.Which function of the management process is Amini most likely performing?

A)planning
B)staffing
C)controlling
D)organizing

Question 10

Which function of the management process includes delegating authority to subordinates and establishing channels of communication?

A)organizing
B)motivating
C)leading
D)staffing

Question 11

What specific activities listed below are part of the planning function?

A)giving each subordinate a specific task
B)training and developing employees
C)developing rules and procedures
D)establishing quality standards

Question 12

John primarily spends his time giving tasks to subordinates and establishing departments.He is performing what function of management?

A)leading
B)planning
C)organizing
D)controlling

Question 13

Which function of the management process involves setting standards such as sales quotas and production levels?

A)planning
B)organizing
C)controlling
D)leading

Question 14

Human resource management is best defined as the process of ________.

A)controlling and orienting new employees
B)organizing and scheduling work activities for teams
C)outsourcing and offshoring clerical jobs to foreign countries
D)acquiring,training,appraising,and compensating employees

Question 15

________ is the process of acquiring,training,appraising,and compensating employees,and attending to their labor relations,health and safety,and fairness concerns.

A)Human resource management
B)Career planning
C)Behavioral management
D)Job evaluation

Question 16

Which of the following activities is related to the organizing function of the management process?

A)giving each subordinate a specific task
B)recruiting prospective employees
C)developing rules and procedures
D)establishing quality standards

Question 17

Which of the following represents the five functions of planning,organizing,staffing,leading,and controlling?

A)strategic management
B)adaptability screening
C)succession planning
D)management process

Question 18

Which basic function of management involves maintaining employee morale and motivating subordinates?

A)planning
B)leading
C)organizing
D)developing

Question 19

The basic functions of management include all of the following EXCEPT ________.

A)staffing
B)planning
C)organizing
D)outsourcing

Question 20

Celeste spends most of her time at work establishing goals for her staff of fifty employees and developing procedures for various tasks.In which function of the management process does Celeste spend most of her time?

A)planning
B)organizing
C)motivating
D)staffing

Question 21

In most organizations,human resource managers are categorized as ________,who assist and advise ________ in areas like recruiting,hiring,and compensation.

A)staff managers;line managers
B)line managers;middle managers
C)line managers;staff managers
D)functional managers;staff managers

Question 22

Which of the following focuses on using centralized call centers and outsourcing arrangements with vendors as a way to provide specialized support for certain HR activities?

A)transactional HR groups
B)corporate HR groups
C)embedded HR units
D)HR consulting firms

Question 23

Planning,organizing,staffing,leading,and controlling are the five basic functions of the management process.

Question 24

In general,how many human resource employees would be on staff for a firm with 500 total employees?

A)1
B)2
C)5
D)10

Question 25

All of the following are examples of human resource specialties EXCEPT ________.

A)job analyst
B)training specialist
C)EEO coordinator
D)financial advisor

Question 26

Which of the following human resource management specialties would most likely require extensive travel?

A)labor relations specialist
B)training specialist
C)job analyst
D)recruiter

Question 27

Setting standards such as sales quotas,quality standards,or production levels is part of the leading function of human resource management.

Question 28

Communicating is one of the five basic functions of the management process.

Question 29

Larry is a line manager at a large sporting goods store.Which of the following is LEAST likely to be one of Larry's HR responsibilities?

A)training new employees
B)interpreting company policies
C)sharing financial advice
D)disciplining employees

Question 30

Line authority is best defined as a manager's right to ________.

A)use flexible decision-making powers
B)advise other managers or employees
C)advocate on behalf of his or her department
D)issue orders to other managers or employees

Question 31

Roberta Whitman has recently been hired by Jackson Pharmaceuticals as the senior vice president of human resources.Jackson Pharmaceuticals has a history of problems within its HR department including high employee turnover,EEO violations,inadequate training programs,and benefit enrollment difficulties.With years of experience transforming HR departments in other firms,Whitman believes she can correct the problems at Jackson Pharmaceuticals. Which of the following best supports Whitman's idea to develop a transactional HR group to handle benefits administration?

A)Extensive training has been provided to line managers so that they fully understand the different insurance options available to employees.
B)Lower insurance premiums would eliminate the need for outsourcing medical services and improve employee health coverage.
C)Outside vendors specializing in all aspects of benefits administration would provide improved support to the firm's employees.
D)All employees are currently required to participate in health screening and drug tests to eliminate high risk employees from the benefits plan.

Question 32

Nicole works as a job analyst at a computer firm.Which of the following most likely describes Nicole's duties in her current position?

A)searching for qualified job candidates
B)processing employee benefits programs
C)collecting information about job duties
D)planning and organizing training activities

Question 33

Personnel management involves recruiting prospective employees,setting performance standards,and monitoring production levels.

Question 34

Roberta Whitman has recently been hired by Jackson Pharmaceuticals as the senior vice president of human resources.Jackson Pharmaceuticals has a history of problems within its HR department including high employee turnover,EEO violations,inadequate training programs,and benefit enrollment difficulties.With years of experience transforming HR departments in other firms,Whitman believes she can correct the problems at Jackson Pharmaceuticals. Which of the following best supports the argument that Whitman should create embedded HR units and assign relationship managers to each department within the firm?

A)Employees frequently complain about the inconsistent assistance they receive from the HR department due to its large size.
B)The global nature of the firm makes it difficult for the HR department to effectively communicate corporate messages to employees scattered around the world.
C)Centralized call centers would enable the HR department to provide specialized support on daily transactional activities.
D)Line managers want to implement additional screening and evaluations to improve the quality of their subordinates.

Question 35

An HR generalist at Wilson Manufacturing has been assigned to the sales department to provide HR management assistance as needed.Which of the following best describes the structure of the HR services provided at Wilson Manufacturing?

A)transactional HR groups
B)corporate HR groups
C)embedded HR units
D)HR centers of expertise

Question 36

The planning function of management includes establishing goals and standards and developing forecasts.

Question 37

All of the following are a line manager's responsibilities for effective HR management EXCEPT ________.

A)advising upper management
B)controlling labor costs
C)developing employees
D)orienting new employees

Question 38

Which of the following best explains why HR management is important to all managers?

A)Economic challenges facing the world call for advanced cost-cutting and streamlining.
B)Investing in human capital enables managers to achieve positive results for the firm.
C)An enthusiastic labor force is likely to provide financial support to local unions.
D)Technological changes and global competition require clear organization charts.

Question 39

Which of the following has historically been an integral part of every line manager's duties?

A)establishing dress codes
B)developing annual budgets
C)addressing personnel issues
D)creating personnel policies

Question 40

Staff managers are authorized to issue orders to subordinates and are directly in charge of accomplishing the organization's basic goals.

Question 41

Which term refers to exporting jobs to lower-cost locations abroad?

A)compensating
B)benchmarking
C)offshoring
D)warehousing

Question 42

According to experts,recent economic conditions have challenged organizations with ________.

A)attaining adequate cash and credit
B)recruiting within a growing labor force
C)getting the best efforts from their employees
D)creating efficient manufacturing facilities

Question 43

What is human resource management? Why is human resource management important to all managers? What is the role of line managers in human resource management?

Question 44

What duties are required of most HR managers? How have the duties of HR managers changed from 30 years ago?

Question 45

Which of the following describes the most significant demographic trend facing the U.S.workforce?

A)decreasing number of contingent workers
B)increasing number of blue-collar workers
C)decreasing number of bilingual workers
D)increasing number of older workers

Question 46

Which of the following statements best explains why employers are expecting a severe labor shortage in the next few years?

A)More people are retiring than are entering the job market.
B)One-third of single mothers are not in the labor force.
C)People are living longer because of better health care.
D)Increasing taxes have forced businesses to globalize.

Question 47

In most large firms,human resource managers assist line managers with hiring,training,evaluating,rewarding,counseling,promoting,and hiring employees.

Question 48

List and explain five personnel mistakes you do not want to make as an HR manager.

Question 49

Which of the following is NOT a trend facing human resource managers today?

A)increasing age of the workforce
B)increasing diversity in the workforce
C)decreasing number of temporary workers
D)decreasing number of college-educated workers

Question 50

In a brief essay,compare the role of human resource management in small businesses and in high-performance work systems.

Question 51

________ refers to the tendency of firms to extend their sales,ownership,and/or manufacturing to new markets abroad.

A)Market development
B)Globalization
C)Export growth
D)Diversification

Question 52

What are many employers doing to fill openings left by retiring employees?

A)increasing the retirement age
B)offering night shifts
C)hiring more women
D)rehiring retirees

Question 53

Extensive travel is required of recruiters,compensation managers,and job analysts.

Question 54

Firms of all sizes are required under employment laws to have at least one full-time human resource manager on staff.

Question 55

Human resource management is the sole responsibility of human resource managers,so line managers and staff managers rely heavily on HR specialists to hire the best employees.

Question 56

Transactional HR groups focus on assisting top management in big picture issues such as developing a firm's long-term strategic plan.

Question 57

IBM isolates HR functions into silos,which enables teams of HR specialists to focus on the needs of specific groups of employees.

Question 58

According to one study,many U.S.employers are hiring ________ workers due to overall projected workforce shortfalls.

A)full-time
B)traditional
C)foreign
D)white,non-Hispanic

Question 59

What are the five basic functions of management? Explain some of the specific activities involved in each function.Is one function more important for human resource management?

Question 60

An embedded HR unit focuses on using centralized call centers and benefits advisors to provide specialized support.

Question 61

Which of the following best describes a nontraditional worker?

A)entrepreneurial workers
B)workers with multiple jobs
C)service industry workers
D)workers near retirement age

Question 62

Which of the following terms refers to workers who hold multiple jobs or are part-time employees?

A)short-term
B)seasonal
C)temporary
D)nontraditional

Question 63

Why are demographic trends important to HR managers?

Question 64

Which of the following is a trend in the US.?

A)increasing number of service industries
B)decreasing number of Hispanic workers
C)increasing number of goods-producing industries
D)decreasing number of Asian workers

Question 65

According to a study of 35 large global firms,what is the primary concern of HR managers?

A)technological changes
B)talent management
C)offshoring risks
D)health care costs

Question 66

Most modern employers expect HR managers to do all of the following EXCEPT ________.

A)create high-performance work systems
B)participate in strategic planning activities
C)take an integrated talent management approach
D)utilize transactional relations to ensure corporate success

Question 67

What is globalization? How has globalization affected employers and HR management?

Question 68

The purpose of the H-1B visa program is to allow ________.

A)U.S.employers to hire skilled foreign workers for jobs overseas
B)U.S.employees to work for foreign firms based in the U.S.
C)U.S.employers to hire skilled foreign workers for jobs in the U.S.
D)U.S.employees to work for foreign firms based overseas

Question 69

The H-1B visa program allows U.S.employers to hire foreign workers to fill workforce shortfalls for hourly positions that require only limited skills.

Question 70

What changes in the business environment have led to HR managers playing more strategic roles in organizations? As a result of these changes,what competencies are now required of modern HR managers?

Question 71

Which term refers to an agreement that reduces tariffs and barriers among trading partners?

A)offshore facility
B)co-working site
C)deregulation
D)free trade area

Question 72

Explain the difference between line authority and staff authority.What type of authority do human resource managers have?

Question 73

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,between now and 2020,the number of workers classified as "white,non-Hispanic"will decrease and the number of workers classified as Asian will increase.

Question 74

What term refers to the knowledge,education,training,skills,and expertise of a firm's workers?

A)tangible assets
B)human capital
C)human resources
D)intellectual property

Question 75

Globalization has boomed for the past 50 years,mainly due to ________.

A)decreasing workforce
B)increasing workforce
C)changing economic and political philosophies
D)changing innovation and creativity philosophies

Question 76

Which of the following factors LEAST likely drove U.S.economic growth between 1960 and 2007?

A)leveraging
B)diversifying
C)globalization
D)deregulation

Question 77

When companies export jobs to lower-cost locations abroad,this is referred to as ________.

A)co-working site
B)indebtedness
C)downsizing
D)offshoring

Question 78

Edith and her sister Ruth share a clerical position at Bowman Industries.Edith works from 7:00 a.m.until noon,and Ruth works from noon until 5:00 p.m.Edith and Ruth would best be described as ________.

A)independent contractors
B)telecommuters
C)temporary employees
D)nontraditional workers

Question 79

In today's business environment,what is a firm's main source of competitive advantage?

A)technology
B)human capital
C)financial structure
D)creative advertising

Question 80

By 2020,service-providing industries in the U.S.are expected to account for ________ of wage and salary jobs overall.

A)53%
B)64%
C)72%
D)87%