Deck 11: Retail Organization and Human Resource Management

Question 1

Reporting relationships among employees within a retail firm from the lowest levels to the highest levels are described in the ________.

A) hierarchy of authority
B) job description
C) management by objectives
D) management by exception

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Centralization of management is practiced in which retail organization form?

A) chain store
B) separate store
C) equal store
D) main store control

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which retail institution type has the simplest organization structure?

A) branch location
B) diversified retailer
C) independent
D) variety store

Answer 3

C

Question 4

A product classification for a greeting card retailer would classify jobs into which of the following divisions?

A) Hallmark, American Greetings, and Gibson
B) main store and branch store locations A, B, and C
C) buyer, sales personnel, store manager, and assistant store manager
D) greeting cards, gifts, wrapping paper, and school supplies

Question 5

In specialization,each employee is responsible for ________.

A) a clearly defined position
B) a limited range of functions
C) the tasks outlined in his or her job description
D) the quality and quantity of his or her work

Question 6

The hierarchical relationships within the firm are displayed in a(n)________.

A) modern version of the Mazur plan
B) management-by-objectives grid
C) job description
D) organization chart

Question 7

The four functional areas in the modern version of the Mazur plan are ________.

A) merchandising, communications, store management, and financial accounting
B) merchandising, store operations, accounting, and finance
C) product, price, promotion, and distribution
D) buying, selling, store operations, and accounting

Question 8

A major advantage of a flat organization is ________.

A) top management's frequent contact with employees
B) quicker response time to the handling of important problems or opportunities
C) the existence of many levels of supervision
D) fewer employees reporting to each manager

Question 9

A major advantage of a tall retail organization is ________.

A) close employee supervision
B) the large number of employees reporting to one manager
C) quick responsiveness to problems/opportunities within the organization
D) excellent communication between high-ranking and low-ranking employees

Question 10

A functional classification for a car dealer would classify jobs into which of the following divisions?

A) subcompact, compact, and SUV
B) sales promotion, repairs, car sales, and store operations
C) new car, new truck, used car, used truck
D) main dealership and branch dealership locations A, B, and C

Question 11

A job description contains an outline of ________.

A) jobs that are classified through product classification
B) job title, objectives, duties, and responsibilities
C) superior/subordinate reporting and communication relationships
D) job objectives mutually agreed upon by employee and superior

Question 12

The ________ method of job classification places store-based personnel under the direct control of the branch manager.

A) functional
B) interdivisional
C) geographic
D) product

Question 13

Buying and selling is under the control of the ________ in the modern version of the Mazur plan.

A) buyer
B) marketing manager
C) merchandising manager
D) product manager

Question 14

Branch store executives are directly responsible to main store retail executives in which form of retail organization?

A) equal store
B) diversified retailer
C) main store control
D) separate store

Question 15

In a flat organization,________.

A) a large number of subordinates reports to one supervisor
B) communication is impeded by the large number of organizational layers
C) too few employees generally report to one executive
D) an organization may appear impersonal to employees

Question 16

In the main store control organization,________.

A) decentralization is practiced
B) centralization is practiced
C) merchandise managers are placed in branch stores
D) each branch has autonomy for merchandising and operations

Question 17

Under the modern version of the Mazur plan,which executive has responsibility for reaching profit goals?

A) buyer
B) store operations manager
C) publicity director
D) director of sales

Question 18

A retailer structures and assigns tasks,policies,resources,authority,responsibilities,and rewards through ________.

A) a retail organization
B) human resource management
C) an organization chart
D) job enlargement

Question 19

A major advantage of specialization is ________.

A) the need for fewer employees
B) the generation of broad-based potential managers
C) less employee boredom
D) reduced training

Question 20

A disadvantage of delegating a retail task to another party is ________.

A) that the designated party may be able to automate the task
B) that the target market may not desire the task
C) the loss of control over the activity
D) that the designated party may conduct the same task for noncompeting retailers

Question 21

Which employee compensation plan has no fixed-cost component?

A) straight commission plan
B) straight salary plan
C) salary plus commission plan
D) compensation cafeteria

Question 22

Which job selection technique requires that a job candidate score above a minimum cutoff as a pre-condition for being hired?

A) goal-oriented job description
B) application blank
C) weighted application blank
D) job analysis

Question 23

Buying is centralized and selling is managed locally in the ________ organization format.

A) modern version of the Mazur plan
B) separate store
C) equal store
D) main store control

Question 24

The distinct needs of branch store customers are most recognized in which form of retail organization?

A) equal store
B) multiline retail organization
C) main store control organization
D) separate store

Question 25

Which form of retail organization separates responsibility for buying and selling?

A) equal store
B) separate store
C) main store control
D) modern version of the Mazur plan

Question 26

A major disadvantage of extreme task specialization is ________.

A) poorly defined employee expectations
B) difficulty in hiring personnel with suitable training
C) high training costs
D) poor personnel morale

Question 27

Transferring stock between branches is most difficult in which form of retail organization?

A) equal store
B) separate store
C) main store control
D) multiline retail organization

Question 28

A problem with extreme specialization of tasks in retailing is ________.

A) high training costs
B) difficulty in hiring personnel with necessary skills
C) employees not being aware of the importance of their tasks to the retailer's overall goals
D) the difficulty of clearly defining job-related tasks

Question 29

Which compensation plan allows executives to choose among bonuses,deferred bonuses,stock options,and other fringe benefits?

A) straight commission plan
B) straight salary plan
C) salary plus commission plan
D) compensation cafeteria

Question 30

The gathering of information about the functions and requirements of each job is referred to as ________.

A) a traditional job description
B) a goal-oriented job description
C) job analysis
D) the hierarchy of authority

Question 31

A disadvantage of extreme job specialization is high ________.

A) training costs
B) personnel boredom
C) salary expectations
D) need for supervision

Question 32

Which of these statements about desired goals is correct?

A) Desired goals relate more to the job than to the work environment.
B) A motivated employee requires fulfillment of only dissatisfiers.
C) A fair compensation package is an example of a desired goal.
D) Desired goals can generally influence motivation in only one way-negatively.

Question 33

A retailer decided to outsource its logistics operations to FedEx after studying its resources.This illustrates which stage in setting up a retail organization?

A) integrating positions through an organization chart
B) classifying jobs
C) dividing the tasks among channel members
D) grouping the retailer's tasks into jobs

Question 34

Which activity comprises the recruitment,selection,training,compensation,and supervision of retail personnel?

A) store operations
B) human resource management
C) store management
D) pre-training

Question 35

Which of these factors is a form of dissatisfier (minimum expectations)?

A) achievement
B) work conditions
C) responsibility
D) advancement

Question 36

Which form of retail store organization seeks to achieve the benefits of both centralization and decentralization?

A) modern version of the Mazur plan
B) separate store
C) equal store
D) main store control

Question 37

A retailer can determine which criteria are best correlated with job success through the use of a(n)________.

A) application blank
B) weighted application blank
C) goal-oriented job description
D) job analysis

Question 38

The main store control organization works best when ________.

A) customers in the branch stores have localized buying preferences
B) the retailer seeks to advertise specialized goods in each market
C) there are few branches and the buying preferences of branch store customers are similar to the main store's customers
D) too little attention has been given to each branch location

Question 39

The review of company policies and history,as well as a job orientation,are important components of ________.

A) training programs
B) pre-training programs
C) the job description
D) the weighted application blank

Question 40

A retailer can overcome problems with extreme task specialization by ________.

A) job rotation and job enlargement
B) raising employee salaries
C) developing a child care center
D) reprimanding employees for lateness

Question 41

The equal store organization is a form of ________.

A) geographic classification
B) product classification
C) functional classification
D) combination organization chart

Question 42

A span of control refers to the number of subordinates reporting to one manager.A firm with a large span of control utilizes a ________ organization.

A) tall
B) flat
C) functional
D) centralized

Question 43

Which form of organization results in close employee supervision?

A) flat organization
B) tall organization
C) modern version of the Mazur plan
D) separate store organization

Question 44

In comparison to chain retailers,the organization structure of an independent is most likely to be ________.

A) flat
B) tall
C) functional
D) decentralized

Question 45

A separate store organization should be utilized when ________.

A) branches are small and customer tastes are similar
B) branches are large and customer tastes vary by location
C) buying and selling functions need to be differentiated
D) stock needs to be transferred among branches

Question 46

The buyer form of organization within a department store is a form of ________.

A) geographic classification
B) product classification
C) functional classification
D) combination organization chart

Question 47

The most complex form of retail organization is found in ________.

A) independents
B) centralized chain retailers
C) decentralized chain retailers
D) diversified retailers

Question 48

Employees receive a relatively homogeneous cluster of work tasks when ________.

A) specialization is used properly
B) specialization is used to an extreme degree
C) specialization is used too little
D) a firm has clear reporting responsibilities

Question 49

A retailer uses different buyers in its main store and its suburban branches so as to better reflect each target market.This illustrates which job classification method?

A) geographic classification
B) product classification
C) functional classification
D) combination classification

Question 50

The retailer most likely to have a tall organization is a ________.

A) small independent retailer
B) centralized retailer
C) decentralized retailer
D) main store control-format retailer

Question 51

The most expensive form of organization for a department store with several large branch stores is ________.

A) separate store
B) equal store
C) centralized plan
D) main store control format

Question 52

The overall hierarchy of authority in a retail organization is most clearly described in the firm's ________.

A) organization mission
B) corporate culture
C) job descriptions
D) organization chart

Question 53

The modern version of the Mazur plan most closely corresponds to which method of classifying jobs?

A) combination organization chart
B) product classification
C) geographic classification
D) functional classification

Question 54

Which recruitment source involves the least degree of screening of potential job candidates?

A) advertisements
B) employment agencies
C) former employees
D) other channel members

Question 55

A major disadvantage with the modern version of the Mazur plan is that ________.

A) the distinction between functional areas may be unclear
B) the distinction between line and staff executives may be unclear
C) salespeople report to a buyer who is not on the selling floor
D) it is generally implemented through a tall organization

Question 56

Which form of organization is most in accord with the notion of motivation that argues that the average worker dislikes responsibility and prefers to be led?

A) flat
B) tall
C) functional
D) decentralized

Question 57

A retailer uses a functional classification system for jobs; in addition,some employees may be placed in special teams.An employee with two bosses (the functional boss and the team leader)________.

A) is in an equal store organization
B) is in a flat organization
C) is in a tall organization
D) does not have a clear hierarchy of authority

Question 58

Which form of organization is most in accord with the view of motivation that stresses participatory management?

A) flat
B) tall
C) functional
D) decentralized

Question 59

Which form of branch department store organization has the greatest overall customer orientation?

A) centralized
B) separate store arrangement
C) equal store arrangement
D) main store control format

Question 60

Which form of branch department store organization has the lowest overall costs?

A) decentralized
B) separate store arrangement
C) equal store arrangement
D) main store control

Question 61

Flat organizations are characterized by good communication between top managers and lower-level employees.

Question 62

A firm determines that job candidates for part-time cashier positions that have B or better averages are three times more likely to successfully complete six months with a firm than those with averages less than C.Where in the human resource management process should the firm use this information?

A) job description
B) goal-oriented job description
C) application blank
D) weighted application blank

Question 63

Low experience of retail personnel,long store hours,and high variations in customer demand all contribute to the difficulty in managing retail personnel.

Question 64

The separate store organization form minimizes problems associated with a blurred image across retail units of a chain.

Question 65

The retail training method which involves no active participation by trainees is ________.

A) case study
B) programmed instruction
C) lecture
D) behavior modeling

Question 66

The minimum expectations/desired goals concept is most closely in accord with ________.

A) the notion that only economic inducements really motivate employees
B) the notion that employees can be self-managers and assigned authority
C) high-task specialization
D) a tall organization

Question 67

A major disadvantage of a straight commission plan in comparison to a straight salary plan to the retailer is the ________.

A) lack of management control over an employee's performance of nonselling tasks
B) higher possible overall compensation costs
C) greater incentive to increase productivity
D) ability to attract better employees due to security

Question 68

The main store control form of organization is the preferred form of retail organization when the buying preferences of branch customers closely resemble those at the main store.

Question 69

A retailer with a supervisory orientation that assumes that the average worker lacks ambition and dislikes responsibility would most likely employ a ________.

A) loosely structured supervision style
B) tightly structured supervision style
C) flat organization
D) policy of promotion from within

Question 70

The simplest form of retail organization is most likely to be found in independents.

Question 71

A firm that has separate managers responsible for buying and selling uses the product method of classifying jobs.

Question 72

According to the minimum expectations/desired goals concept,a high salary results in ________.

A) a motivated worker
B) an absence of job dissatisfaction
C) job dissatisfaction
D) job satisfaction

Question 73

A retailer seeks input from employees at weekly meetings.Data on store performance is shared with employees and employees are rewarded on the basis of sales per square foot and a store's net profit as a percent of sales.This best illustrates ________.

A) minimum expectations
B) desired goals
C) dissatisfiers
D) a tall organization

Question 74

The major difference between an application blank and a weighted application blank is that the weighted application blank is ________.

A) scored to determine if a job candidate meets the minimum cutoff point
B) verified by the use of a polygraph
C) completed by the interviewer
D) verified by checking listed references

Question 75

The major difference between pre-training and training is that pre-training is ________.

A) oriented toward giving personnel human relations skills
B) related to communicating an organization's culture and policies
C) remedial in nature
D) useful for low-level personnel only

Question 76

A retail customer cannot perform any tasks in a retail channel of distribution.

Question 77

Extreme specialization can result in employee boredom.

Question 78

The modern version of the Mazur plan is a geographic method of classifying jobs.

Question 79

An advantage of a compensation cafeteria for top executives is the ability for executives to ________.

A) increase their total compensation
B) tie earnings to productivity
C) receive bonuses that supplement their salary versus salary increases
D) limit their state and federal income taxes through deferring benefits

Question 80

The most complex organization forms are found in diversified retailers.