Deck 8: Talent Management and Development

Question 1

Which of the following statements best describes phased-in retirement?

A)Retirements are strategically phased to ensure that not all valued employees retire at the same time.
B)Employees are required to make a choice between retiring early with a partial pension or at age 65 with a full pension, thus reducing the number of older employees in phases.
C)The employee's workweek is gradually reduced as vacation time increases and salary is adjusted.
D)The organization schedules retirements to ensure an orderly transition from retiree to replacement employee.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following terms refers to a sequence of work-related positions a person occupies throughout life?

A)career
B)job
C)profession
D)occupation

Answer 2

A

Question 3

In recent years, a career has come to be viewed as changeable and based on whom you know as well as what you know. Which of the following terms best describes this view?

A)promethean
B)pragmatic
C)problematic
D)protean

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Individual-centred career planning focuses around which of the following?

A)succession planning for key positions
B)identifying the organization's future staffing needs
C)developing career ladders
D)reaching life and work goals

Question 5

You are preparing to offer one of your best managers a position with the overseas branch of your firm. Which of the following concerns is the manager LEAST likely to raise with you?

A)Will my compensation package be permanently enhanced?
B)Will this international experience contribute toward my advancement in this firm?
C)Will I have a mentor at headquarters?
D)Will I have a job with this company when I return?

Question 6

Which of these phrases best explains what talent management is?

A)a subsidiary of a large corporation that serves as a training ground for organizational leaders
B)a company whose best employees quit to join other firms
C)foreign countries that have most of their university graduates immigrate to Canada.
D)a way to better attract, develop, and retain key human resources

Question 7

Which of the following is a recent development in the typical career?

A)Career paths are outdated; the typical career is marked by lack of progression.
B)A successful career requires steady progression.
C)Careers will include many different positions, transitions, and organizations.
D)A person's early career is marked by stability, but a later career is marked by frequent job changes.

Question 8

Paul has been in his first job for two months. He is dissatisfied with his supervisor, who seems unsupportive. He misses the lack of specific feedback, worries about the project deadline six months off, and frets at the "vagueness" of his job. While these concerns are real, which of the following is most likely to be a source of unease?

A)no sense of boundaries
B)new-job remorse
C)entry shock
D)failed orientation

Question 9

In recent years, the way people look at talent management (careers) has changed. Individuals, not the organization, manage their own development through personal educational experiences, training, projects, or even changes in occupation. Which of the following has prompted individuals to adopt this approach to the "new career"?

A)loss of the traditional work ethic
B)declining job security
C)corporate cutbacks in training and development due to cost pressures
D)corporate growth and international expansion

Question 10

Ambrose is discussing his college major with his best friend. Ambrose says his parents want him to be a CGA like them and to join their prosperous tax practice when he graduates. "But," Ambrose says, "I just can't SEE myself as an accountant!" Which statement provides the most accurate description of the source of Ambrose's career misgivings?

A)Ambrose is making a typical protean career error.
B)Ambrose's self-image is not compatible with a career as an accountant.
C)Ambrose needs feedback on reality.
D)Because of Ambrose's family background, his interests will likely change, and he will find accounting a satisfying career.

Question 11

Abigail is a 30-year old, highly talented engineer in a competitive industry. She has been with the firm for three years and has been contacted frequently by headhunters seeking to lure her to other organizations. As the HR director for the firm, you want to retain Abigail, but you cannot increase her salary. You are considering several strategies for retaining Abigail. Which of these strategies would likely backfire on you?

A)providing Abigail with intellectually stimulating assignments
B)requiring Abigail to sign a non-competition agreement
C)examining whether Abigail's working hours are excessive
D)allowing Abigail to choose some of her projects to develop a sense of personal accomplishment

Question 12

Carla, 52, has been laid off twice in her life: once when her employer downsized, and once when her next employer was acquired by a larger rival. Now, after five years with her current employer, she has hit a career plateau. Carla is rather frustrated. Each time she has changed employers, she has "retooled," acquiring more skills and expanding her knowledge base. She decides to consult a career counsellor at her employer. How would the career counsellor likely suggest that Carla should view her career?

A)as linear
B)as dysfunctional
C)as stable
D)as cyclical

Question 13

The HR department at Cimarron Utilities is planning an internal Career Day. The day will feature workshops on various careers at Cimarron Utilities, opportunities for work in Cimarron's overseas locations, and presentations by HR staff on training and development opportunities available at Cimarron. Which of the following does this event exemplify?

A)individual-centred career development
B)organization-centred career planning
C)succession planning
D)training and development outreach

Question 14

Multiple employers may pool jobs in order to create career paths for entry-level employees and to help prevent these employees from being stuck in dead-end jobs. Which of the following terms is used to describe this strategy?

A)virtual career
B)collaborative career pathing program
C)skill supply chain
D)sequential employment

Question 15

Which of the following represents a major trend in the career motivation of individuals?

A)Individuals are choosing careers based on lifetime earning potential.
B)Individuals retain a strong sense of loyalty for their employer.
C)Individuals are committing themselves to achieving success in one occupation.
D)Individuals are using their jobs in order to achieve life goals.

Question 16

Over the past 15 years Bob has held seven different jobs with three different employers, one of which was in the non-profit sector. Of the seven jobs, three were horizontal moves rather than upward moves. Which statement best describes Bob's career?

A)Bob's frequent changes of employers indicate a dysfunctional career.
B)Because of his horizontal moves, Bob has progressed through a career map rather than through a career path.
C)Bob's job experiences can be considered a career path.
D)Bob is on a "tiered employment" path.

Question 17

Many theorists in adult development view the first half of a young adult's life as a quest. Which of the following has been identified as the focus for that quest?

A)competence and a way to make a mark in the world
B)guidance and support from mentors
C)the amassing of personal wealth
D)personal integrity and values

Question 18

Certain tools can help people identify their interests, strengths, and weaknesses, as well as what they do well and what they like. Which of the following terms are used to describe these career-choosing aids?

A)performance appraisals
B)career goal setting plans
C)self-assessment tests
D)envisioning sessions

Question 19

An individual enters the sales department of an organization as a sales counsellor, then is promoted to account director, to sales manager, and finally, to vice president of sales. Which of the following is this an example of?

A)a series of career transitions
B)job-hopping
C)organization-centred career planning
D)a non-traditional career path

Question 20

Which of the following is a major impediment to enabling older employees to work in the firm past normal retirement age?

A)current pension law
B)opposition by the Canadian Association of Retired Persons
C)most people want to quit working after age 65
D)medical issues commonly associated with older people

Question 21

Which of the following statements about persons with disabilities is misrepresentative?

A)Employers are disconnected from people with disabilities and the service providers who help them enter the workforce.
B)If an employee's career goals appear unachievable, the supervisor should help the employee remain satisfied in their current position.
C)When compared with the general population, labour force participation rates are lower.
D)Workforce barriers can be classified as physical or attitudinal.

Question 22

Which of the following do employers tend to do when in need of employees with scarce skills?

A)outsource these functions to consulting firms
B)"buy" these skills in the marketplace
C)send promising internal candidates to external training programs to learn the skills
D)focus on training and developing current employees to fill these positions

Question 23

Which of the following scenarios describes a career plateau?

A)An employee becomes burned out and unmotivated.
B)An employee lacks prospects for advancement within the organization.
C)A working mother decides to use job sequencing.
D)An employee's skills have become obsolete.

Question 24

When relocating one partner in a dual-career couple, the employer typically provides assistance to the tag-along partner. Which of the following types of assistance is LEAST likely to be offered?

A)supplementing the tag-along partner's salary by the amount of income lost for one year or until a new job is found, whichever is shorter
B)helping the tag-along partner find a job within the same company or in another division of the company
C)cooperating with other companies in the new area to find a position for the tag-along partner
D)paying employment agency fees for the tag-along partner

Question 25

Nancy is a 28-year-old accountant with a new baby. She has decided to stay home while her child is young and return to work later. Which of the following is she unlikely to have considered when making this decision?

A)She will feel isolated as a stay-at-home mom.
B)The time away will hurt her advancement chances.
C)She won't be able to communicate well with others when she returns to work.
D)The job market will not welcome her when she returns to work.

Question 26

Two firms are competing to hire Alicia, a highly competent optics engineer who is early in her career. Both firms are offering similar salaries, benefits, and financial packages. Both are in desirable parts of the country. The job duties are almost identical, and both firms are prestigious employers. Given that Alicia is ambitious, which of the following is most likely to influence her decision?

A)the likelihood of international assignments
B)the development potential of the position
C)the rapidity of salary increases
D)the ability to balance work/life needs

Question 27

From an organizational perspective, which of the following is a primary concern when an employee reaches a career plateau?

A)Plateaued employees may develop a negative attitude, affecting organizational morale.
B)Plateaued employees tend to have higher compensation than they deserve.
C)Plateaued employees are typically poor performers.
D)Plateaued employees have a high turnover rate.

Question 28

From the employer's perspective, which of the following is the main difficulty pertaining to a dual-career couple?

A)If the couple has children, they will have competing demands on their time.
B)One of the partners may be relocated, especially overseas.
C)Sexual harassment suits may pose a threat.
D)The male partner may feel threatened if the female partner has a more prestigious job.

Question 29

Which of the following statements is accurately represents the situation of women in the workforce?

A)The average woman who has been out of school for six years has worked 30 percent less time than the average man who has been out of school the same amount of time.
B)Job sequencing has proven to be a successful career tactic for women wishing to combine work and family because impacts on career advancement are minimal.
C)The population of women who wish to work full time has been completely tapped. Women-friendly employer policies will be able to recruit women who are interested in part-time work.
D)Now that women are in the workforce in nearly the same proportion as men, the career differences between men and women are expected to disappear by 2010.

Question 30

Which of the following is a concern about the use of assessment centres?

A)Managers may use them as a way to avoid difficult promotion decisions.
B)They are expensive considering that most psychological traits, such as leadership and initiative, can be accurately assessed by paper-and-pencil techniques.
C)The conclusions reached are rarely valid.
D)A clever participant can fake the results.

Question 31

The focus of ____ is learning specific behaviours and actions, while ____ focuses on such areas as judgment, responsibility, decision making, and communication.

A)training; development
B)development; training
C)skill enhancement; development
D)training; skill enhancement

Question 32

Effective career counselling for Aboriginals has three essential components. What are they?

A)spirituality, religion, and extended family
B)spirituality, religion, and community
C)community, spirituality, and extended family
D)community, religion, and extended family

Question 33

You are the first director of training and development for a manufacturer of educational toys for children. What should your first step in designing a development program be?

A)evaluating current training and development practices
B)gathering and analyzing the performance appraisals for all managers for the last two years
C)reviewing the organization's strategic and HR plans
D)carrying out succession planning for key executives

Question 34

John's employer has a tuition reimbursement program, but only for degrees directly applicable to the position the employee currently holds. John is a manufacturing supervisor, but he wishes to earn a degree in employee safety and health and move into an HR position at the company. His boss will only pay for John's advanced training in Total Quality Management. Which statement best characterizes the source of the conflict?

A)John is an opportunist hoping that his current employer will pay for the training he needs to enhance his personal employability.
B)John is confusing organizational development with the pursuit of personal goals.
C)John's lifelong development must be channelled along prescribed career paths tied to the organization's strategy.
D)John's organization is overlooking the contribution that lifelong development may have on the employee's confidence, ideas, and enthusiasm.

Question 35

The Summerhill School District is located far from a major urban area. The school district is struggling to recruit young graduates from education programs to work in a rural setting. As a result, the school board is proposing to hire people with university degrees who are interested in changing to a teaching career. As a recruiting tool, the board plans to pay for individuals' training to become certified teachers and for continuing education toward a master's degree in education. Which of the following terms is used to describe the kind of program the school board is proposing?

A)personnel redeployment
B)mid-life realignment
C)redevelopment
D)lifetime development

Question 36

Some talented technical people prefer to remain in their field rather than move into management. Which of the following is a strategy used by many companies so that they can still reward these employees?

A)portable career paths
B)phased-in retirement plans
C)protean careers
D)dual-career ladders

Question 37

A recent study, "Career Advancement in Corporate Canada," invited focus group participants to consider why members of visible minorities face barriers to employment opportunities. Which of the following is the main reason, according to this study?

A)They fail to use networking opportunities to obtain jobs.
B)They don't make the effort to obtain credentials from Canadian educational institutions.
C)Their work experience or credentials are not taken seriously.
D)They refuse to demonstrate their employability by accepting lower paying jobs.

Question 38

Which of the following statements describes one way in which development differs from training?

A)Training focuses on the long-run performance of an employee.
B)Development focuses on technical expertise in high-tech organizations.
C)Training is for hourly employees. Development is for salaried employees.
D)Development may not be applicable to the individual's current job.

Question 39

Which of the following statements best describes the impact that HR development is likely to have on an individual's career?

A)The organization can expect the employee to remain with it for the remainder of his/her career.
B)The individual's employability at other organizations will be reduced.
C)The employee's career goals will be subordinated to the organization's goals.
D)The individual's career may evolve and gain a new or different focus.

Question 40

Which of the following statements best defines an assessment centre?

A)a procedure for evaluating training and development programs
B)a process by which individuals assess their career path with the assistance of a coach and within the context of the organization's strategic plans
C)a centralized employee performance appraisal system within an organization
D)a collection of instruments and exercises designed to diagnose individuals' development needs

Question 41

Which of the following terms is used to describe scenarios in which supervisors give daily training and feedback to the employees immediately below them?

A)committee assignments
B)coaching
C)development exercises
D)lifelong learning

Question 42

Which of the following is the most common reason first-time, newly promoted managers fail?

A)poor teamwork with subordinates and peers
B)inability to balance work and family demands
C)deficiency of technical skills
D)lack of internal political savvy

Question 43

Even though she is a relatively junior manufacturing supervisor, Angela has been assigned to a plant-wide committee on quality control. Angela is concerned that she will be unable to do her regular job as well as take part in extra committee meetings and assignments. She is concerned that this committee will be a "time sink" and a waste. Which of the following statements is most likely to reflect her boss's motivation for giving her this assignment?

A)to move Angela horizontally so that she does not become bored with her work because vertical promotions have become scarce
B)to allow Angela to learn the intellectual and theoretical components of her future job assignment
C)to broaden Angela's exposure to whole-plant operations, processes, and personalities, and help her career prospects
D)to get Angela out of the department without firing her because she is not performing well

Question 44

Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding classroom instruction?

A)The technique is ineffective regardless of the instructor's capabilities.
B)Classrooms promote opportunities to ask questions and seek clarification.
C)The lecture system encourages passive listening.
D)Its effectiveness is independent of the size of the group.

Question 45

Which of the following is the most significant problem with on-site development approaches?

A)excessive focus on the core business
B)tendency to be unplanned
C)expense
D)use of internal training resources

Question 46

Which of the following is a disadvantage of executives taking sabbaticals?

A)Executives often work so hard during the sabbatical that they burn out upon their return.
B)Executives often use the sabbatical to look for another job.
C)It is often "career suicide."
D)The nature of the learning experience is not within the control of the organization and is left somewhat to chance.

Question 47

When opportunities for promotion are scarce, which of the following strategies are likely to be used by the employer to keep employees motivated and to develop their talents within the organization?

A)sending employees to a corporate university
B)allowing employees a sabbatical or leave of absence
C)providing employees with opportunities for lateral job rotation
D)assigning employees to a career coach

Question 48

Which of the following is a major problem with psychological testing?

A)the limited validity of this type of test
B)the cost of administering the tests
C)the interpretation of test results
D)the methods used for scoring the tests

Question 49

Can-Do Enterprises suffered a shock when George White, its president and CEO, was killed while skiing in Chile. Nevertheless, the organization was able to continue operations smoothly. Which of the following was most likely the reason for the smooth transition?

A)succession planning
B)organizational chart
C)delegation strategy
D)executive life insurance

Question 50

Which statement is FALSE concerning the use of coaching as a developmental tool?

A)Performing well and teaching well are different things.
B)Formal training courses have little impact on coaches' teaching skills.
C)The urgent demands of work take precedence over training.
D)The intellectual aspect of the job may be poorly taught by a coach.

Question 51

An internationally known Toronto manufacturer of high-performance bicycles has a permanent training facility in Idaho. There, all members of the organization learn about the product lines, how to ride the bikes, perform repairs, understand the technology behind their construction and materials, and appreciate their uses for recreational riding, as well as for amateur and professional racing. Which of the following terms best describes this employee development approach?

A)coaching and team-building approach
B)corporate university
C)outdoor training program
D)job-site training

Question 52

Which of the following allows employees to take part in courses that would otherwise be unattainable to them due to geographic, travel, or cost considerations?

A)corporate universities
B)career development centres
C)online development
D)job rotation

Question 53

Which of the following is an off-site development approach?

A)job rotation
B)coaching
C)human relations training
D)assistant-to positions

Question 54

In which of the following contexts is an acceleration pool most likely to be found?

A)a large, international firm
B)a family-owned firm
C)a public organization
D)a medium-sized firm

Question 55

Clarence is the assistant vice president of quality control for a firm that manufactures hospital medical equipment. However, Clarence is currently teaching science in a school for underprivileged children. At the end of the school year, Clarence will resume his job duties with his employer. Which of the following terms is used to describe Clarence's current situation?

A)a rotation through a non-core organizational function
B)a sabbatical leave
C)a medical leave of absence
D)phased-in retirement

Question 56

Which of the following is the primary purpose of replacement charts?

A)to prepare a collection of instruments and exercises designed for diagnosing a person's development needs
B)to ensure that the right individuals with sufficient capabilities and experience to perform the targeted jobs are available at the right time
C)to plan the strategic layoffs of non-key employees
D)to ensure that each key position in the organization has a person representing diversity as a potential successor

Question 57

Which of the following statements is a misconception about psychological tests? Psychological tests

A)are sometimes fake-able by the test taker.
B)can provide useful data on employee motivation, reasoning ability and job preferences.
C)may have validity problems.
D)can be interpreted by HR managers.

Question 58

Which of the following characterizes the best use of lateral transfers as a development technique?

A)The lateral transfer provides upward career progress in the organization.
B)The lateral transfer allows the redundant employee an incentive to leave the company without being terminated.
C)The lateral transfer provides a monetary incentive for taking on new work.
D)The lateral transfer moves the person into the organization's core business.

Question 59

Which of the following is the best assessment of the effectiveness of wilderness excursions as a development tool?

A)They are an activity enjoyed by everybody involved.
B)They act as an outdoor version of an assessment centre.
C)They are a fad with little value for management development.
D)They can create a sense of teamwork via the shared risks and challenges.

Question 60

The training and development department at Carnelian Enterprises has created a computer-interactive game whereby employee-trainees can work in teams to develop strategic marketing plans for Carnelian products. What is this technique called?

A)team-building approach
B)electronic case-study approach
C)simulation approach
D)role-playing exercise

Question 61

In the context of management development, one manager may coach another manager for a certain time as they perform their jobs. What is that relationship called?

A)human relations training
B)virtual mentoring
C)management bonding
D)executive coaching

Question 62

Global firms have learned that they need to use management personnel from headquarters to staff their foreign operations.

Question 63

The primary reason why people choose one career over another is the prospect of high compensation.

Question 64

A successful career path is one that constantly advances upward in one or more organizations.

Question 65

Which of the following is the most productive perspective to take when dealing with a difficult boss, a poor job situation, and unsupportive peers?

A)This type of situation is an example of scenario that is easy to simulate in management training programs.
B)This type of situation is the main reasons for managerial failure.
C)This type of situation can typically warp a budding executive's interpersonal relations skills.
D)This type of situation can be learning experiences.

Question 66

The focus in organizational talent management is to create employable individuals.

Question 67

For the less experienced manager, which is the last stage in a mentoring relationship?

A)competition
B)reversal of roles
C)friendship
D)disengagement

Question 68

Which of the following has been identified as a problem with mentoring?

A)Women are reluctant to serve as mentors.
B)The relationship between mentor and protégé may become more social than work related.
C)Young minority managers frequently report difficulty finding mentors.
D)Successful managers lack the time to serve as effective mentors.

Question 69

A company consistently goes outside the organization to hire its executives. What does this pattern seem to indicate about its concerns?

A)It is concerned about minimizing salary expense.
B)It cares about maintaining its unique corporate culture.
C)It deliberately encourages its middle-level managers to leave for other firms.
D)It lacks interest in taking the time to develop internal candidates for these top positions.

Question 70

An employee attends a development course, learning exciting new methods and ideas. The employee then returns to the work unit only to realize the unit is still limited by old attitudes and methods. What problem has occurred?

A)non-transference
B)encapsulated development
C)lost transference
D)culture-block

Question 71

Jennifer was looking forward to early retirement so that she could "get a life." She is finding it difficult to decide how to spend her time, however. Jennifer describes herself as lacking direction-a common problem for retirees regardless of the age at which they retire.

Question 72

Managers learn by behaviour modelling. Which of the following is the best definition for this term?

A)a process that develops a model for ideal managerial behaviour
B)a process that encourages articulate self-reflection
C)a process that involves copying someone else's behaviour
D)a process that reinforces desirable behaviours exhibited

Question 73

The problem of executive "churning" at the top of organizations

A)is largely due to the impact of executive education programs, where executives develop extensive networks of contacts in the organizations.
B)can be alleviated by executive education using university and private-sector programs.
C)is resistant to development efforts because so much of it is due to stresses inherent in executive jobs.
D)is exacerbated by sending executives on educational visits to highly desirable firms, causing the executives to be discouraged by their own employment situation.

Question 74

The many changes in the economy and the workplace have made the concept of career paths obsolete.

Question 75

New young managers need special training and development to move from being individual contributors to being first-line supervisors. Which of these topics is NOT typically covered in materials for their training and development?

A)performance evaluation
B)strategic planning
C)team building
D)conflict management

Question 76

Which of the following is the most likely reason why the failure rate of new executives is high?

A)Better techniques of developing executives are needed.
B)Accelerated diversity programs place people in executive positions before they are ready for the responsibility.
C)Most people are unable to balance the work/life demands of upper-level management.
D)People are either born with the ability to be executives or not.

Question 77

Experienced managers may work with individuals to help them in the earlier stages of their careers. What is this relationship called?

A)management coaching
B)human relations training
C)mentoring
D)modelling

Question 78

Josh, 32, worked for one organization for seven years after graduating with a bachelor's degree. In that time, he earned three promotions. Now "downsized" out of the organization, Josh is working part time at a video store while studying for an MBA at night. Josh's professor tells him that these days many careers are cyclical-a nice way to tell Josh he is a failure.

Question 79

Which term refers to the phenomenon of women not progressing into the top ranks of management in the same proportion as men do?

A)glass ceiling
B)blatant disregard for equal opportunity
C)female mystique
D)old boy/new girl effect

Question 80

Organization-centred career planning focuses on identifying career paths within the organization.