Deck 17: Human Resource Policies and Practices

Question 1

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.

Answer 1

A
Explanation:A)Many human resource departments, faced with an overwhelming number of electronic submissions, are using software to prescreen candidates based on keyword matches between applications and the qualifications for the job.Their software often seeks to screen out unacceptable candidates rather than select potentially good ones.

Question 2

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

Answer 2

A
Explanation:A)Of all the selection devices organizations around the globe use to differentiate candidates, the interview remains the most common.It also tends to have a disproportionate amount of influence.The candidate who performs poorly in the employment interview is likely to be cut from the applicant pool regardless of experience, test scores, or letters of recommendation.

Question 3

Letters of recommendation are a form of background check.

Answer 3

True
Explanation:Letters of recommendation are a form of background check.

Question 4

Performance-simulation tests have lower face validity (which measures whether applicants perceive the measures to be accurate)than written tests.

Question 5

Written tests are used during the ________ stage of the selection process.

A)cognitive
B)associative
C)analytic
D)substantive
E)initial

Question 6

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

Question 7

The goal of initial selection is to determine the most qualified applicants from among those who meet basic qualifications.

Question 8

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.

Question 9

Define initial selection and identify the devices used during the initial selection stage.

Question 10

In assessment centers, candidates are evaluated as they go through several days of exercises that simulate real problems they would confront on the job.

Question 11

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

Question 12

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

Question 13

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

Question 14

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

Question 15

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

Question 16

Assessment centers are typically used to evaluate a candidate's ________ potential.

A)linguistic
B)technical
C)cognitive
D)managerial
E)analytical

Question 17

During a selection process, the ________ selection stage immediately follows the initial selection stage.

A)cognitive
B)associative
C)analytic
D)behavioral
E)substantive

Question 18

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

Question 19

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

Question 20

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

Question 21

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

Question 22

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

Question 23

Describe and discuss three substantive selection devices used to assess job candidates once they have passed an initial screening.

Question 24

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

Question 25

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.

Question 26

Substantive selection methods are the heart of the selection process and include written tests, performance tests, and interviews.

Question 27

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

Question 28

A test that measures factors such as dependability, carefulness, responsibility, and honesty is referred to as a task variability test.

Question 29

Compare and contrast unstructured interview and behavioral structured interview.

Question 30

Describe and discuss work-sample tests and assessment centers and the contexts in which they can be used effectively.

Question 31

Describe the contingent selection stage in the selection process.

Question 32

Most training is directed at upgrading and improving an employee's ________ skills.

A)financial
B)technical
C)problem-solving
D)interpersonal
E)social

Question 33

Describe disadvantages of the selection interview.

Question 34

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.

Question 35

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, firms cannot require employees to pass a medical exam before or after a job offer is made.

Question 36

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

Question 37

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

Question 38

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.

Question 39

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

Question 40

Briefly explain any three types of written tests that are typically used in the employee selection process.

Question 41

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.

Question 42

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

Question 43

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

Question 44

Provide a workplace example of informal training for technical skills and another for problem-solving skills.

Question 45

Treating co-workers with respect, making constructive suggestions, and saying positive things about the workplace are a part of the ________ behavior that constitutes performance at work.

A)citizenship
B)counterproductivity
C)social loafing
D)deviant workplace
E)satisficing

Question 46

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

Question 47

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

Question 48

Researchers now recognize three major types of behavior that constitute performance at work. Which of the following are these three major types of behavior?

A)task performance, productivity, tenure
B)productivity, efficiency, absenteeism
C)task performance, citizenship, counterproductivity
D)citizenship, counterproductivity, personality
E)leadership, knowledge, efficiency

Question 49

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

Question 50

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

Question 51

Technical training has become increasingly important because of changes in organizational design.

Question 52

A formal mentoring program is an example of an off-the-job training method.

Question 53

Compare and contrast between on-the-job training and off-the-job training.

Question 54

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

Question 55

________ 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

Question 56

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.

Question 57

Imagine that you are a manager of a multifaceted manufacturing operation with a new crew of twenty arriving for training. The crew is comprised of different types of learners. Describe a training program comprised of three different sessions that would cater to four different individual learning styles. State whether each of the training sessions would be on-the-job or off-the-job training and whether it is formal or informal.

Question 58

Discuss e-learning and its advantages and disadvantages.

Question 59

Describe the four general skill categories addressed by most employee training activities.

Question 60

Most formal training involves employees simply helping each other out.

Question 61

Marcel hates the annual review process he has to do for the employees in his department. Although he is fully aware of some of his employees' faults, he is reluctant to discuss them in person, and is only comfortable writing them in an unsigned report that his supervisor will review. Marcel's behavior demonstrates ________.

A)provision of due process
B)inflated assessment of employee performance
C)organizational citizenship behavior
D)managerial sincerity
E)fear of confrontation

Question 62

The concept of ________ can be applied to appraisals to increase the perception that employees are treated fairly.

A)selective evaluation
B)due process
C)multiple raters
D)selective retention
E)counterproductivity

Question 63

Which of the following evaluation methods focuses the evaluator's attention on those behaviors that are key to executing a job effectively?

A)forced comparison
B)critical incident
C)graphic rating scale
D)behaviorally anchored rating scale
E)written essay

Question 64

Which of the following is a forced comparison method of performance evaluation?

A)written essays
B)trait evaluations
C)group order ranking
D)critical incident method
E)graphic rating scales

Question 65

________ refers to actions that contribute to the psychological environment of the organization, such as helping others when not required.

A)Citizenship
B)Counterproductivity
C)Satisficing
D)Social loafing
E)Groupthink

Question 66

Which approach to performance evaluation rank-orders employees from best to worst?

A)individual ranking
B)group order ranking
C)paired comparison
D)straight ranking
E)associative ranking

Question 67

________ ranking requires the evaluator to place employees into a particular classification, such as top one-fifth or second one-fifth.

A)Individual
B)Group order
C)Paired
D)Fractional
E)Percentile

Question 68

Which of the following terms refers to the actions that actively damage the organization, including stealing, behaving aggressively toward co-workers, and being late or absent?

A)citizenship
B)counterproductivity
C)task orientation
D)satisficing
E)groupthink

Question 69

If a manager uses critical incidents as a method of performance evaluation, then ________.

A)the employees generally receive poor ratings
B)the evaluator's writing skills become the determining factor of the evaluation
C)the employees are more likely to become motivated to achieve their goals
D)the focus of the evaluation will center on key behaviors
E)the cost of the evaluation is likely to be incredibly high for the organization

Question 70

Which of the following, if true, will strengthen the company's decision?

A)The majority of the company employees have only a basic level of education.
B)The company recently instituted a technical skills improvement program for shop floor employees.
C)A top recruitment agency recently sent the company details of prospective college candidates.
D)Several top performing entry level employees have received offers from rival companies.
E)A majority of the company's employees are reaching the age of retirement.

Question 71

The approach to evaluation that uses feedback from those who have daily contact with an employee (everyone from mailroom personnel to customers to bosses to peers)is termed ________.

A)critical incidents
B)360-degree evaluation
C)assessment center
D)multiperson comparisons
E)downward evaluation

Question 72

Which of the following performance evaluation methods is often used in recommending students to graduate schools?

A)written essays
B)critical incident analysis
C)BARS
D)group order ranking
E)graphic rating scales

Question 73

Which of the following, if true, will weaken the company's decision?

A)The majority of the company's employees have only a basic level of education.
B)The company recently instituted a technical skills improvement program for shop floor employees.
C)The existing shop floor employees have high potential and personal ambition to rise in their careers.
D)Sirius Corp. just opened a new manufacturing facility in New Mexico.
E)Several top performing entry level employees have received offers from rival companies.

Question 74

________ involves evaluating one's performance against the performance of one or more others.

A)BARS
B)The critical incident method
C)An assessment center evaluation
D)Forced comparison
E)Likert analysis

Question 75

Which performance evaluation method requires no complex forms or extensive training to complete?

A)written essays
B)critical incidents
C)graphic rating scales
D)behaviorally anchored rating scales
E)assessment center rating

Question 76

Which of the following methods of performance evaluation allows for quantitative analysis and comparison?

A)critical incident
B)graphic rating scale
C)assessment center evaluation
D)written essay
E)group order ranking

Question 77

Which of the following is the least predictive set of criteria used to evaluate employees?

A)traits
B)task outcomes
C)behaviors
D)personality
E)technical skills

Question 78

Performance evaluations are used to ________.

A)improve group cohesiveness
B)define departmental structure
C)help management make HR decisions
D)identify how jobs are completed
E)decrease conformity within organizations

Question 79

When an appraiser rates employees based on items on a continuum with the points reflecting actual behaviors on a given job, this type of evaluation is called ________.

A)BARS
B)critical incident
C)graphic rating scale
D)group order ranking
E)assessment center evaluation

Question 80

Jeeves Consulting requires a performance evaluation method that is less time consuming to develop and administer and allows for quantitative analysis and comparison. An appropriate evaluation technique for Jeeves Consulting would be ________.

A)written essays
B)trait evaluations
C)forced comparisons
D)360-degree evaluations
E)graphic rating scales