Chapter 17
Chapter 17
1) 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
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Initial selection devices are the first information applicants submit and are used for
deciding whether the applicant meets the basic qualifications for a job. Application forms are initial
selection devices. Application forms help determine if an applicant has the proper credentials (education,
certification, experience) for the position.
Page Ref: 545
LO: 1
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
2) Precipice Corp. is opening a new branch in Houston and the HR team is debating the various methods
of generating job candidates. The HR team feels that using employee referrals may generate unqualified
or substandard candidates because employees will be biased in favor of their recommendations. Which
of the following facts, if true, weakens the HR team's belief?
A) Precipice Corp. has 12 branches in the state of Texas with a constantly increasing market share.
B) The majority of the company employees have only a basic level of education.
C) Employees tend to recommend individuals who they believe will do well because referrals put
employees' own reputations on the line.
D) Their personal relationship with the recommended candidate allows employees to convince the
individual about the benefits of working for the company.
E) Employees hired through recruitment agencies, have been known to be more productive in the past
than candidates referred by employees.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) If the company has many branches in the state of Texas with a constantly increasing
market share, it has no relevance to the HR team's belief. If the majority of the company employees have
only a basic level of education, their opinion cannot be trusted. As it is known that employees hired
through recruitment agencies are more productive than candidates referred by employees, this only
strengthens the HR team's belief. The personal relationship with the recommended candidate allows
employees to convince the individual about the benefits of working for the company, but it does not
guarantee that the employees were not biased in their recommendations. When employees recommend
individuals, they realize that these referrals put their own reputations on the line. Hence, they will be
more careful in making such recommendations. This weakens the HR teams' belief.
Page Ref: 545
LO: 1
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
Difficulty: Hard
Quest. Category: Critical Thinking
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
1
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
3) 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
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Applicants go through three stages in the selection process, initial selection, substantive
selection, and contingent selection. Initial selection devices are the first information applicants submit
and are used to decide whether the applicant meets the basic qualifications for a job. Application forms
are initial selection devices. Today many organizations encourage applicants to apply online.
Page Ref: 545
LO: 1
AACSB: Analytic Skills
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Application
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
2
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
Page Ref: 546
LO: 1
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
6) During a selection process, the ________ selection stage immediately follows the initial selection
stage.
A) cognitive
B) associative
C) analytic
D) behavioral
E) substantive
Answer: E
Explanation: E) If an applicant passes the initial screens, next are substantive selection methods. These
are the heart of the selection process and include written tests, performance tests, and interviews.
Page Ref: 546
LO: 2
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
7) 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
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Long popular as selection devices, written tests declined in use between the late 1960s
and mid-1980s, especially in the United States. They were frequently characterized as discriminatory,
and many organizations had not validated them as job related.
Page Ref: 547
LO: 2
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
3
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
8) 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
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Intelligence tests have proven to be particularly good predictors for jobs that include
cognitively complex tasks. Many experts say intelligence tests are the single best selection measure
across jobs, and that they are at least as valid in the European Union (EU) nations as in the United
States.
Page Ref: 547
LO: 2
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
9) Written tests are used during the ________ stage of the selection process.
A) cognitive
B) associative
C) analytic
D) substantive
E) initial
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Written tests are used during the substantive stage of the selection process.
Page Ref: 547
LO: 2
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
10) 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
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Performance-simulation tests have higher face validity (which measures whether
applicants perceive the measures to be accurate).
Page Ref: 548
LO: 2
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
4
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
11) A work-sample test is most likely to be used for hiring a ________.
A) software programmer
B) carpenter
C) senior manager
D) doctor
E) lawyer
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Work samples are widely used in the hiring of skilled workers, such as welders,
machinists, carpenters, and electricians. Each work-sample element is matched with a job-performance
element to measure applicants' knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Page Ref: 548
LO: 2
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
13) Assessment centers are typically used to evaluate a candidate's ________ potential.
A) linguistic
B) technical
C) cognitive
D) managerial
E) analytical
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Performance-simulation tests, designed to evaluate a candidate's managerial potential,
are typically administered in assessment centers.
Page Ref: 548
LO: 2
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
5
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
14) 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: 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.
Page Ref: 548
LO: 2
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
15) 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
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Behavioral structured interviews require the applicants to describe how they handled
specific problems and situations in previous jobs based on the assumption that past behavior offers the
best predictor of future behavior.
Page Ref: 549
LO: 2
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
16) 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 non-skilled workers.
E) They increase the effectiveness of the interview technique.
Answer: E
Explanation: E) Interview effectiveness improves when employers use behavioral structured interviews,
which are less influenced by a variety of interviewer biases. They require applicants to describe how
they handled specific problems and situations in previous jobs based on the assumption that past
behavior offers the best predictor of future behavior.
6
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
Page Ref: 549
LO: 2
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
17) 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
Answer: A
Explanation: A) In behavioral structured interviews applicants describe how they handled specific
problems and situations in previous jobs, based on the assumption that past behavior offers the best
predictor of future behavior.
Page Ref: 549
LO: 2
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
Scarlett has received authorization to add an assistant manager to her department. This person will be
working closely with Scarlett and must have excellent interpersonal as well as technical skills. Scarlett
wants to make certain that she maximizes the chance of choosing the correct individual and is trying to
decide on the most appropriate selection device.
18) Scarlett is considering administering written integrity tests to management candidates that pass the
initial screening. These tests will most likely help Scarlett to predict a candidate's ________.
A) propensity to react calmly under stress
B) degree of positive self-concept
C) spatial and mechanical abilities
D) likelihood of posing discipline problems
E) degree of attention to detail
Answer: D
Explanation: D) As ethical problems have increased in organizations, integrity tests have gained
popularity. These tests measure factors such as dependability, carefulness, responsibility, and honesty;
they have proven to be powerful predictors of supervisory ratings of job performance and of theft,
discipline problems, and excessive absenteeism.
Page Ref: 547-548
LO: 2
AACSB: Analytic Skills
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Application
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
7
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
19) 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
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Initial selection devices are the first information applicants submit and are used for
preliminary rough cuts to decide whether the applicant meets the basic qualifications for a job. One of
the initial selection devices is an application form.
Page Ref: 545
LO: 1
AACSB: Analytic Skills
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Application
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
20) 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
Answer: A
Explanation: A) An elaborate set of performance-simulation tests, specifically designed to evaluate a
candidate's managerial potential, is administered in assessment centers. Line executives, supervisors,
and/or trained psychologists evaluate candidates as they go through one to several days of exercises that
simulate real problems they would confront on the job.
Page Ref: 548
LO: 2
AACSB: Analytic Skills
Difficulty: Hard
Quest. Category: Application
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
23) 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
Answer: E
Explanation: E) Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, firms may not require prospective
employees to pass a medical exam before a job offer is made. However, they can conduct medical exams
after making a contingent offer, to determine whether an applicant is physically or mentally able to do
the job.
Page Ref: 550
LO: 3
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
24) 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.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) A recent study of 300 large organizations in 22 countries demonstrated that selection
practices differ by nation. However, the use of educational qualifications in screening candidates seems
to be a universal practice, but different countries emphasize different selection techniques.
Page Ref: 550
LO: 3
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
9
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
25) Most training is directed at upgrading and improving an employee's ________ skills.
A) financial
B) technical
C) problem-solving
D) interpersonal
E) social
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Most training is directed at upgrading and improving an employee's technical skills,
increasingly important for two reasons: new technology and new structural designs in the organization.
Page Ref: 551
LO: 4
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
26) 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
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Some employees have excellent interpersonal abilities, but others require training to
improve listening, communicating, and team-building skills.
Page Ref: 552
LO: 4
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
27) 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
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Lewis is attending training to improve ethics skills. About 75 percent of employees
working in the 1,000 largest U.S. corporations receive ethics training either during new-employee
orientation, as part of ongoing developmental programs, or as periodic reinforcement of ethical
principles.
10
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
Page Ref: 553
LO: 4
AACSB: Analytic Skills
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Application
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
You are involved in training and development for your division at Dunder Mifflin Inc. You want to target
some specific organizational problems through training.
28) 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 literacy
B) technical
C) interpersonal
D) problem-solving
E) managerial
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Statistics show that nearly 40 percent of the U.S. labor force and more than 50 percent
of high school graduates don't possess the basic work skills needed to perform in today's workplace.
Page Ref: 551
LO: 4
AACSB: Analytic Skills
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Application
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
29) 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
Answer: B
Explanation: B) As organizations flatten their structures, expand their use of teams, and break down
traditional departmental barriers, employees need mastery of a wider variety of tasks and increased
knowledge of how their organization operates. This creates a need for greater technical skills.
Page Ref: 551
LO: 4
AACSB: Analytic Skills
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Application
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
11
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
30) 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
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Problem-solving training has become a part of almost every organizational effort to
introduce self-managed teams or implement quality-management programs. Problem-solving training
for managers and other employees can include activities to sharpen their logic, reasoning, and problem-
defining skills as well as their abilities to assess causation, develop and analyze alternatives, and select
solutions.
Page Ref: 552
LO: 4
AACSB: Analytic Skills
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Application
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
31) 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.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Critics argue that ethics are based on values, and value systems are learned by example
at an early age. By the time employees are hired, their ethical values are fixed. Some research does
suggest ethics training does not have a significant long-term effect on participants' values.
Page Ref: 553
LO: 4
AACSB: Analytic Skills
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Application
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
12
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
32) ________ 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
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Evidence indicates 70 percent of workplace learning takes place in informal training,
which is unstructured, unplanned, and easily adapted to situations and individuals, for teaching skills
and keeping employees current. In reality, most informal training is nothing other than employees
helping each other out.
Page Ref: 553
LO: 5
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
13
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
35) 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
Answer: E
Explanation: E) The fastest-growing training medium is probably computer-based training, or e-
training. E-learning systems emphasize learner control over the pace and content of instruction, allow e-
learners to interact through online communities, and incorporate other techniques such as simulations
and group discussions.
Page Ref: 553
LO: 6
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
36) 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
Answer: B
Explanation: B) On the positive side, e-training increases flexibility because organizations can deliver
materials anywhere, any time. It also seems fast and efficient. On the other hand, it's expensive to design
self-paced online materials, employees miss the social interaction of a classroom, online learners are
more susceptible to distractions, and "clicking through" training without engaging in practice activities
provides no assurance that employees have actually learned anything.
Page Ref: 553
LO: 6
AACSB: Analytic Skills
Difficulty: Hard
Quest. Category: Application
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
14
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
37) 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
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Researchers now recognize three major types of behavior that constitute performance at
work: 1. Task performance. Performing the duties and responsibilities that contribute to the production
of a good or service or to administrative tasks. 2. Citizenship. Actions that contribute to the
psychological environment of the organization. 3. Counterproductivity. Actions that actively damage the
organization.
Page Ref: 555
LO: 7
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
38) 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
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Actions that contribute to the psychological environment of the organization include
helping others when not required, supporting organizational objectives, treating co-workers with respect,
making constructive suggestions, and saying positive things about the workplace.
Page Ref: 555
LO: 7
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
39) ________ 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
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Citizenship refers to actions that contribute to the psychological environment of the
organization, such as helping others when not required, supporting organizational objectives, treating co-
workers with respect, making constructive suggestions, and saying positive things about the workplace.
15
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
Page Ref: 555
LO: 7
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
Sirius Corp, an automobile manufacturer from Texas, has a number of vacancies at lower management
levels and wants to fill the positions from within the company itself rather than recruit externally. The
company plans to e-mail the job specifications to all employees and post the jobs on the company Web
site.
40) 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.
Answer: D
Explanation: D) If the majority of the company employees have only a basic level of education, then the
company needs to hire talent from external sources. This weakens their decision. As does the fact that a
top recruitment agency recently sent the company details of prospective college candidates. If a majority
of the company's employees are reaching the age of retirement, it is time for the company to hire
younger employees. If the company recently instituted a technical skills improvement program for shop
floor employees, it has no relevance to internal recruitment of employees from lower level management.
As several top performing employees have received offers from rival companies, the management has to
consider internal recruitment in fear of losing them. Through promotions, the company can prevent these
employees from accepting a position elsewhere.
Page Ref: 555
LO: 7
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
Difficulty: Hard
Quest. Category: Critical Thinking
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
41) 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.
Answer: A
Explanation: A) If the company recently instituted a technical skills improvement program for shop
floor employees, it has no relevance to internal recruitment of employees from lower level management.
If the existing shop floor employees have high potential and personal ambition to rise in their careers, it
has no relevance to the internal recruitment of entry level employees. Sirius Corp. opening a new facility
is out of scope from the present decision. If several top performing employees have received offers from
rival companies, the management has to consider internal recruitment in fear of losing them, hence
strengthening their decision. As the majority of the company employees have only a basic level of
education, the company needs to hire talent from external sources. This weakens their decision.
16
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
Page Ref: 555
LO: 7
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
Difficulty: Hard
Quest. Category: Critical Thinking
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
42) Which of the following terms refers to the actions that actively damage the organization, including
stealing, behaving aggressively toward co-workers, or being late or absent?
A) citizenship
B) counterproductivity
C) task orientation
D) satisficing
E) groupthink
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Counterproductivity refers to actions that actively damage the organization. These
behaviors include stealing, damaging company property, behaving aggressively toward co-workers, and
taking avoidable absences.
Page Ref: 555
LO: 7
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
44) 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
Answer: A
Explanation: A) The weakest criteria, because they're furthest removed from actual job performance, are
individual traits. Having a good attitude, showing confidence, being dependable, looking busy, or
possessing a wealth of experience may or may not be highly correlated with positive task outcomes.
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Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
Page Ref: 556
LO: 7
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
45) 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
Answer: B
Explanation: B) The latest approach to performance evaluation is 360-degree evaluations. These
provide performance feedback from the employee's full circle of daily contacts, from mailroom workers
to customers to bosses to peers.
Page Ref: 557
LO: 7
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
46) 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
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Probably the simplest method is to write a narrative describing an employee's strengths,
weaknesses, past performance, potential, and suggestions for improvement. The written essay requires
no complex forms or extensive training to complete.
Page Ref: 558
LO: 7
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
18
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
47) 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
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Critical incidents focus the evaluator's attention on the difference between executing a
job effectively and executing it ineffectively. The appraiser describes what the employee did in a
situation that was especially effective or ineffective, citing only specific behaviors, not vaguely defined
personality traits.
Page Ref: 558
LO: 7
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
48) 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
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Critical incidents focus the evaluator's attention on the difference between executing a
job effectively and executing it ineffectively. A list of such critical incidents provides a rich set of
examples to show the employee desirable behaviors and those that call for improvement.
Page Ref: 558
LO: 7
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
49) 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
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Although they don't provide the depth of information that essays or critical incidents
do, graphic rating scales are less time consuming to develop and administer and allow for quantitative
analysis and comparison.
Page Ref: 559
LO: 7
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
19
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
50) 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
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Behaviorally anchored rating scales (BARS) combine major elements from the critical
incident and graphic rating scale approaches. The appraiser rates the employees on items along a
continuum, but the items are examples of actual behavior on the job rather than general descriptions or
traits.
Page Ref: 559
LO: 7
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
51) ________ 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
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Forced comparisons evaluate one individual's performance against the performance of
another or others. It is a relative rather than an absolute measuring device.
Page Ref: 559
LO: 7
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
52) ________ 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
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Group order ranking requires the evaluator to place employees into a particular
classification, such as top one-fifth or second one-fifth. If a rater has 20 employees, only 4 can be in the
top fifth and, of course, 4 must also be relegated to the bottom fifth. This method is often used in
recommending students to graduate schools.
20
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
Page Ref: 559
LO: 7
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
53) 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
Answer: A
Explanation: A) The individual ranking approach rank-orders employees from best to worst. If the
manager is required to appraise 30 employees, the difference between the 1st and 2nd employee is
assumed to be the same as that between the 21st and 22nd. Some employees may be closely grouped,
but no ties are permitted. The result is a clear ordering from the highest performer to the lowest.
Page Ref: 559
LO: 7
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
54) 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
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Group order ranking requires the evaluator to place employees into a particular
classification, such as top one-fifth or second one-fifth. This method is often used in recommending
students to graduate schools.
Page Ref: 559
LO: 7
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
21
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
55) 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
Answer: C
Explanation: C) The two most popular forced comparisons are group order ranking and individual
ranking. Group order ranking requires the evaluator to place employees into a particular classification,
such as top one-fifth or second one-fifth. This method is often used in recommending students to
graduate schools.
Page Ref: 559
LO: 7
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
56) 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
Answer: E
Explanation: E) One of the oldest and most popular methods of evaluation is graphic rating scales.
Although they don't provide the depth of information that essays or critical incidents do, graphic rating
scales are less time consuming to develop and administer and allow for quantitative analysis and
comparison.
Page Ref: 559
LO: 7
AACSB: Analytic Skills
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Application
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
57) 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
Answer: B
Explanation: B) The concept of due process can be applied to appraisals to increase the perception that
employees are being treated fairly.
22
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
Page Ref: 562
LO: 8
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
58) 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
Answer: E
Explanation: E) Even though almost every employee could stand to improve in some areas, managers
fear confrontation when presenting negative feedback. Marcel's reluctance to criticize suggests that he
doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings, and that he fears confrontation.
Page Ref: 562
LO: 8
AACSB: Analytic Skills
Difficulty: Hard
Quest. Category: Application
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
59) Companies in which of the following countries would emphasize formal performance evaluation
systems more than informal systems?
A) Argentina
B) United States
C) Chile
D) India
E) China
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Individual-oriented cultures such as the United States emphasize formal performance
evaluation systems more than informal systems. They advocate written evaluations performed at regular
intervals, the results of which managers share with employees and use in the determination of rewards.
On the other hand, the collectivist cultures that dominate Asia and much of Latin America are
characterized by more informal systems — downplaying formal feedback and disconnecting reward
allocations from performance ratings.
Page Ref: 563
LO: 8
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
23
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
60) Formal performance appraisals are used more frequently in countries that ________.
A) value status quo and rigidity
B) are low in assertiveness
C) are low in uncertainty avoidance
D) are low in in-group collectivism
E) have long-term orientation
Answer: D
Explanation: D) According to a study, formal performance appraisals were used more frequently in
countries that were high in assertiveness, high in uncertainty avoidance, and low in in-group
collectivism. In other words, assertive countries that see performance as an individual responsibility, and
that desire certainty about where people stand, were more likely to use formal performance appraisals.
Page Ref: 563
LO: 8
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
24
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
62) At Chauvin Corp., only one among the twenty-five senior executives in the firm is a woman and
only four among the fifty junior executives are women. Hence, the company was recently charged on
grounds of sexual discrimination in the workplace by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Which of the following, if true, could help Chauvin Corp. defend itself against the charges?
A) Male and female executives at the same level have the same qualifications.
B) The company pays equal salaries to both its male and female employees in the same position.
C) Ten times more men than women applied for jobs with the company.
D) The work pressures and long hours make jobs with the company unattractive to married women.
E) All job applicants who were rejected had fewer qualifications than those accepted.
Answer: E
Explanation: E) To defend itself against a charge of discrimination, the company will have to show its
selections were made on the basis of merit not sex. The best way to do that is to show that none of the
women who were rejected had better qualifications than the men who were appointed. If all job
applicants who were rejected had fewer qualifications than those accepted, this implies just that but
without specifying the sex of the rejected applicants. By stating that male and female executives at the
same level have the same qualifications or that the company pays equal salaries to both its male and
female employees in the same position, the company cannot defend itself against the charges. If ten
times more men than women applied for jobs with the company, it shows that more men applied for jobs
but not why more men were hired. The fact that married women did not apply at Chauvin Corp. is
irrelevant.
Page Ref: 563-564
LO: 9
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
Difficulty: Hard
Quest. Category: Critical Thinking
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
63) Which of the following is one of the techniques used by organizations to make their workplace more
family-friendly?
A) telecommuting
B) job enlargement
C) classroom training
D) mentoring programme
E) job rotation
Answer: A
Explanation: A) As a result of the work-life conflict, most major organizations took actions to make
their workplaces more family-friendly. They introduced onsite child care, summer day camps, flextime,
job sharing, leaves for school functions, telecommuting, and part-time employment.
Page Ref: 564
LO: 9
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
25
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
64) Ozu Tech offers employees 4 unpaid weeks sabbatical, or 3 to 6 partially paid weeks off for family-
related reasons. This work-life initiative offered by Ozu Tech is a type of ________.
A) time based strategy
B) information based strategy
C) money-based strategy
D) direct service
E) culture-change strategy
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Time based strategies include flextime, job sharing, leave for new parents,
transportation, telecommuting, paid time off, etc.
Page Ref: 565
LO: 9
AACSB: Analytic Skills
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Application
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
65) Biozone provides its employees career counseling, skills workshops, and networking sessions. This
work-life initiative used by Biozone falls under the category of ________.
A) direct services
B) time based strategies
C) information based strategies
D) money-based strategies
E) culture-change strategies
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Information based strategies include work-life support, relocation assistance, elder care
resources, and counseling services.
Page Ref: 565
LO: 9
AACSB: Analytic Skills
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Application
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
26
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
67) Which of the following work-life initiatives is a direct service?
A) elder care resources
B) adoption assistance
C) job sharing
D) direct financial assistance
E) onsite child care
Answer: E
Explanation: E) Direct services include onsite child care, fitness center, summer child care, onsite
conveniences, concierge services, free or discounted company products, etc.
Page Ref: 565
LO: 9
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
68) The government passes a new law requiring all companies to offer employees unpaid time off to
care for their children. This would harm the economic competitiveness of the nation's businesses as
companies must be free to set their own employment policies without mandated parental-leave
regulations. Which of the following, if true, would weaken the argument?
A) A parental-leave law will serve to strengthen the family as a social institution in this country.
B) Most businesses in the country already offer employees some form of parental leave.
C) Some of the countries with the most economically competitive businesses have strong parental-leave
regulations.
D) The proposed parental-leave law does not apply to small-scale industries.
E) In most polls, a majority of citizens say they favor passage of a parental-leave law.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) The fact that a parental-leave law will serve to strengthen the family as a social
institution in this country and the fact that a majority of citizens say they favor passage of a parental-
leave law, are outside the scope of the conclusion as they show the significance of family as a social
institution. The main subject of the passage is "economic competitiveness of our nation's business," not
the "family as a social institution." Also the citizen's opinion is not relevant to the message in the
passage. The fact that many businesses in this country already offer employees some form of parental
leave, neither offers detracting evidence nor reveals any faulty assumptions. The fact that some of the
countries with the most economically competitive businesses have strong parental-leave regulations
shows that many other countries managed to stay competitive despite strong parental-leave laws. Hence,
this weakens the argument. The fact that the proposed parental-leave does not apply to small-scale
industries, is irrelevant to the argument.
Page Ref: 565
LO: 9
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
Difficulty: Hard
Quest. Category: Critical Thinking
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
27
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
69) The goal of initial selection is to determine the most qualified applicants from among those who
meet basic qualifications.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: The goal of initial selection is to decide whether an applicant meets the basic
qualifications for a job.
Page Ref: 545
LO: 1
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
71) Substantive selection methods are the heart of the selection process and include written tests,
performance tests, and interviews.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: If an applicant passes the initial screens, next are substantive selection methods. These are
the heart of the selection process and include written tests, performance tests, and interviews.
Page Ref: 546
LO: 2
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
72) A test that measures factors such as dependability, carefulness, responsibility, and honesty is referred
to as a task variability test.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: As ethical problems have increased in organizations, integrity tests have gained popularity.
These paper-and-pencil tests measure factors such as dependability, carefulness, responsibility, and
honesty; they have proven to be powerful predictors of supervisory ratings of job performance and of
theft, discipline problems, and excessive absenteeism.
Page Ref: 547-548
LO: 2
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
28
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
73) Performance-simulation tests have lower face validity (which measures whether applicants perceive
the measures to be accurate) than written tests.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Although they are more complicated to develop and administer than written tests,
performance-simulation tests have higher face validity (which measures whether applicants perceive the
measures to be accurate), and their popularity has increased.
Page Ref: 548
LO: 2
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
74) In assessment centers, candidates are evaluated as they go through several days of exercises that
simulate real problems they would confront on the job.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: An elaborate set of performance-simulation tests, specifically designed to evaluate a
candidate's managerial potential, is administered in assessment centers. Line executives, supervisors,
and/or trained psychologists evaluate candidates as they go through one to several days of exercises that
simulate real problems they would confront on the job.
Page Ref: 548
LO: 2
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
75) Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, firms cannot require employees to pass a medical exam
before or after a job offer is made.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, firms may not require prospective employees
to pass a medical exam before a job offer is made. However, they can conduct medical exams after
making a contingent offer.
Page Ref: 550
LO: 3
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
76) Technical training has become increasingly important because of changes in organizational design.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Most training is directed at upgrading and improving an employee's technical skills, which
is increasingly important for two reasons: new technology and new structural designs in the
organization.
Page Ref: 551
LO: 4
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
29
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
77) Most formal training involves employees simply helping each other out.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Recent evidence indicates 70 percent of workplace learning takes place in informal
training, unstructured, unplanned, and easily adapted to situations and individuals, for teaching skills
and keeping employees current. In reality, most informal training is nothing other than employees
helping each other out.
Page Ref: 553
LO: 5
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
78) The most popular off-the-job training method is live classroom lectures.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: The most popular off-the-job training method is live classroom lectures. But it also
encompasses public seminars, self-study programs, Internet courses, Webinars, podcasts, and group
activities that use role-plays and case studies.
Page Ref: 553
LO: 6
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
83) The critical incidents method of performance evaluation focuses the evaluator's attention on the
difference between executing a job effectively and executing it ineffectively.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Critical incidents focus the evaluator's attention on the difference between executing a job
effectively and executing it ineffectively. The appraiser describes what the employee did in a situation
that was especially effective or ineffective, citing only specific behaviors, not vaguely defined
personality traits. A list of such critical incidents provides a rich set of examples to show the employee
desirable behaviors and those that call for improvement.
Page Ref: 558
LO: 7
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
84) Graphic rating scales are less time consuming to develop and administer and allow for quantitative
analysis and comparison.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Graphic rating scales are less time consuming to develop and administer and allow for
quantitative analysis and comparison.
Page Ref: 559
LO: 7
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
85) The group order ranking method of performance evaluation combines major elements from the
critical incident and graphic rating scale approaches.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Behaviorally anchored rating scales (BARS) combine major elements from the critical
incident and graphic rating scale approaches.
Page Ref: 559
LO: 7
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
31
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
86) As the number of evaluators increases, the probability of attaining more accurate information
increases.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: As the number of evaluators increases, the probability of attaining more accurate
information increases. If an employee has had ten supervisors, nine having rated her excellent and one
poor, we can safely discount the one poor evaluation.
Page Ref: 561
LO: 8
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
87) Appraisers should be as close as possible, in organizational level, to the individual being evaluated.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Appraisers should be as close as possible, in organizational level, to the individual being
evaluated. The more levels that separate them, the less opportunity the evaluator has to observe the
individual's behavior and, not surprisingly, the greater the possibility for inaccuracies.
Page Ref: 561
LO: 8
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
88) Due process systems provide individuals with adequate notice of what is expected of them.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: The concept of due process can be applied to appraisals to increase the perception that
employees are being treated fairly. Three features characterize due process systems: (1) individuals are
provided with adequate notice of what is expected of them; (2) all evidence relevant to a proposed
violation is aired in a fair hearing so the individuals affected can respond; and (3) the final decision is
based on the evidence and free of bias.
Page Ref: 562
LO: 8
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
89) The performance review should be designed more as a counseling activity than as a judgment
process.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: The performance review should be a counseling activity more than a judgment process,
best accomplished by allowing it to evolve from the employee's own self-evaluation.
Page Ref: 563
LO: 8
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
32
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
90) Time pressures are the primary problem underlying work-life conflicts.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Time pressures aren't the primary problem underlying these conflicts. It's the
psychological incursion of work into the family domain and vice versa when people are worrying about
personal problems at work and thinking about work problems at home.
Page Ref: 564
LO: 9
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
91) Define initial selection and identify the devices used during the initial selection stage.
Answer: Initial selection devices are the first information applicants submit and are used for preliminary
rough cuts to decide whether the applicant meets the basic qualifications for a job. Application forms
(including letters of recommendation) are initial selection devices. We list background checks as either
an initial selection device or a contingent selection device, depending on how the organization handles
them. Some organizations prefer to look into an applicant's background right away. Others wait until the
applicant is about ready to be hired, contingent on everything else checking out.
Page Ref: 545-546
LO: 1
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
92) Describe and discuss three substantive selection devices used to assess job candidates once they
have passed an initial screening.
Answer: Selection devices include written tests, performance simulation tests, and interviews.
a) Typical written tests are tests of intelligence or cognitive ability tests, personality tests, integrity tests,
and interest inventories. Managers have come to recognize that there are valid tests available and they
can be helpful in predicting who will be successful on the job. Applicants, however, tend to view written
tests as less valid and fair than interviews or performance tests.
b) What better way is there to find out if an applicant can do a job successfully than by having him or
her do it? That's precisely the logic of performance simulation tests. The two best-known performance
simulation tests are work sampling and assessment centers. The former is suited to routine jobs, whereas
the latter is relevant for the selection of managerial personnel.
c) Of all the selection devices that organizations use to differentiate candidates, the interview continues
to be the most common. Not only is the interview widely used, it also seems to carry a great deal of
weight.
Page Ref: 547-548
LO: 2
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
33
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
93) Briefly explain any three types of written tests that are typically used in the employee selection
process?
Answer: Typical written tests include tests of intelligence or cognitive ability tests, personality tests,
integrity tests, and interest inventories.
a) Tests in intellectual ability, spatial and mechanical ability, perceptual accuracy, and motor ability have
proven to be valid predictors for many skilled, semiskilled, and unskilled operative jobs in industrial
organizations. Intelligence tests have proven to be particularly good predictors for jobs that require
cognitive complexity.
b) Personality tests are relatively inexpensive and simple to use and administer. Organizations use
numerous measures of the Big Five traits in selection decisions.
c) As ethical problems have increased in organizations, integrity tests have gained popularity. These are
paper-and-pencil tests that measure factors such as dependability, carefulness, responsibility, and
honesty.
Page Ref: 547-548
LO: 2
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
94) Describe and discuss work-sample tests and assessment centers and the contexts in which they can
be used effectively.
Answer: Work-sample tests are hands-on simulations of part or all of the job that must be performed by
applicants. By carefully devising work samples based on specific job tasks, management determines the
knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for each job. Then each work-sample element is matched with a
corresponding job performance element.
Work samples are widely used in the hiring of skilled workers, such as welders, machinists, carpenters,
and electricians. The results from work-sample experiments are impressive. Studies almost consistently
demonstrate that work samples yield validities superior to written aptitude and personality tests.
A more elaborate set of performance simulation tests, specifically designed to evaluate a candidate's
managerial potential, is administered in assessment centers. In assessment centers, line executives,
supervisors, and/or trained psychologists evaluate candidates as they go through one to several days of
exercises that simulate real problems that they would confront on the job. Based on a list of descriptive
dimensions that the actual job incumbent has to meet, activities might include interviews, in-basket
problem-solving exercises, leaderless group discussions, and business decision games.
Page Ref: 548
LO: 2
Difficulty: Hard
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
34
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
95) Describe disadvantages of the selection interview.
Answer: Not only is the interview widely used, it also seems to carry a great deal of weight. That is, the
results tend to have a disproportionate amount of influence on the selection decision. The candidate who
performs poorly in the employment interview is likely to be cut from the applicant pool, regardless of
his or her experience, test scores, or letters of recommendation.
Page Ref: 548
LO: 2
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
96) Compare and contrast unstructured interview and behavioral structured interview.
Answer: The unstructured interview — short in duration, casual, and made up of random questions — is
not a very effective selection device. The data gathered from such interviews are typically biased and
often only modestly related to future job performance. Without structure, a number of biases can distort
results. These biases include interviewers tending to favor applicants who share their attitudes, giving
unduly high weight to negative information, and allowing the order in which applicants are interviewed
to influence evaluations.
Using a standardized set of questions, providing interviewers with a uniform method of recording
information, and standardizing the rating of the applicant's qualifications reduce the variability in results
across applicants and enhance the validity of the interview as a selection device. The effectiveness of the
interview also improves when employers use behavioral structured interviews. This interview technique
requires applicants to describe how they handled specific problems and situations in previous jobs. It's
built on the assumption that past behavior offers the best predictor of future behavior.
Page Ref: 548-549
LO: 2
AACSB: Analytic Skills
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Synthesis
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
99) Provide a workplace example of informal training for technical skills and another for problem-
solving skills.
Answer: Informal training is unstructured, unplanned training that takes place at the workplace. Most
informal training is nothing other than employees helping each other out. They share information and
solve work-related problems together. Informal training is easily adapted to situations and individuals
and is good for teaching skills and keeping employees current.
An example of informal training for the improvement of technical skills could be as simple as a factory
line worker helping another line worker solve a problem with one of the machines and explaining how
the machine works and how to solve the problem the next time it occurs. With this informal training, the
new line worker is made independent and, by understanding the machine, can troubleshoot with
different problems as well.
36
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
100) Compare and contrast between on-the-job training and off-the-job training.
Answer: On-the-job training methods include job rotation, apprenticeships, understudy assignments,
and formal mentoring programs. But because they often disrupt the workplace, organizations also invest
in off-the-job training. The most popular off-the-job training method is live classroom lectures. But it
also encompasses public seminars, self-study programs, Internet courses, Webinars, podcasts, and group
activities that use role-plays and case studies.
Page Ref: 553
LO: 6
AACSB: Analytic Skills
Difficulty: Easy
Quest. Category: Synthesis
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
On the positive side, e-training increases flexibility because organizations can deliver materials
anywhere, any time. It also seems fast and efficient. On the other hand, it's expensive to design self-
paced online materials, employees miss the social interaction of a classroom, online learners are more
susceptible to distractions, and "clicking through" training without engaging in practice activities
provides no assurance that employees have actually learned anything.
Page Ref: 553
LO: 6
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
37
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
102) 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.
Answer: In the first session, a good manager could introduce the skills needed for success in the
manufacturing line through a short, formal, and direct lecture provided by management. During the
lecture a visual aid and reading material with the information could be distributed. Using this method
would encompass the learning styles of the listener, the reader, and to a lesser degree the observer (with
the visual aid). Although lecture styles have a poor reputation, evidence shows that they are surprisingly
effective and would be a good introduction and ice-breaker. Because this training is planned in advance
and has a structured format it would be a formal, on-the-job training.
In the second session the manager could assign small groups of trainees to follow a mentor for a day and
observe the job while it is being performed. This formal, on-the-job training would best cater to the
observer's learning style. At the end of the day, the mentor could allow each participant to perform part
of the work, therefore catering to the participant's style.
In the third session the manager could assign the training class an off-the-job, e-learning course about
safety. This would cater to the observer and listener. It would be formal, and yet flexible and non-
disrupting.
Page Ref: 553-554
LO: 5, 6
AACSB: Analytic Skills
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Synthesis
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
103) What are the three major types of behavior that constitute performance at work?
Answer: The three major types of behavior that constitute performance at work are:
1. Task performance: Performing the duties and responsibilities that contribute to the production of a
good or service or to administrative tasks. This includes most of the tasks in a conventional job
description.
2. Citizenship: Actions that contribute to the psychological environment of the organization, such as
helping others when not required, supporting organizational objectives, treating co-workers with respect,
making constructive suggestions, and saying positive things about the workplace.
3. Counterproductivity: Actions that actively damage the organization. These behaviors include stealing,
damaging company property, behaving aggressively toward co-workers, and taking avoidable absences.
Page Ref: 555
LO: 7
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
38
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
104) What purposes do performance evaluations serve in organizations?
Answer: Performance evaluations serve a number of purposes. One is to help management make
general human resource decisions about promotions, transfers, and terminations. Evaluations also
identify training and development needs. They pinpoint employee skills and competencies for which
remedial programs can be developed. Finally, they provide feedback to employees on how the
organization views their performance and are often the basis for reward allocations, including merit pay
increases.
Page Ref: 555
LO: 7
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
105) What are the three most popular sets of criteria for evaluating employee performance?
Answer: The three most popular sets of criteria for evaluating employee performance are individual task
outcomes, behaviors, and traits.
a) Task outcomes: If ends count, rather than means, then management should evaluate an employee's
task outcomes. In many cases, it's difficult to identify specific outcomes that can be directly attributable
to an employee's actions.
b) Behaviors: It is difficult to attribute specific outcomes to the actions of employees
in advisory or support positions or employees whose work assignments are part of a group effort. We
may readily evaluate the group's performance, but if it is hard to identify the contribution of each group
member, management will often evaluate the employee's behavior.
c) Traits: The weakest set of criteria, yet one that is widely used by organizations is individual traits.
They are weaker because they are furthest removed from the actual performance of the job itself.
Page Ref: 555-556
LO: 7
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
106) Describe and discuss the use of written essays as a means of performance evaluation.
Answer: Probably the simplest method is to write a narrative describing an employee's strengths,
weaknesses, past performance, potential, and suggestions for improvement. The written essay requires
no complex forms or extensive training to complete. But, in this method, a useful appraisal may be
determined as much by the evaluator's writing skill as by the employee's actual level of performance. It's
also difficult to compare essays for different employees (or for the same employees written by different
managers) because there is no standardized scoring key.
Page Ref: 558
LO: 7
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
39
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
107) Describe and discuss the critical incidents method of performance evaluation.
Answer: Critical incidents focus the evaluator's attention on the difference between executing a job
effectively and executing it ineffectively. The appraiser describes what the employee did that was
especially effective or ineffective in a situation, citing only specific behaviors. A list of such critical
incidents provides a rich set of examples to show the employee desirable behaviors and those that call
for improvement.
Page Ref: 558
LO: 7
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
108) Describe and discuss the two most popular forced comparison methods of performance evaluation.
Answer: The two most popular comparisons are group order ranking and individual ranking.
a) The group order ranking requires the evaluator to place employees into a particular classification,
such as top one-fifth or second one-fifth. This method is often used in recommending students to
graduate schools.
b) The individual ranking approach rank-orders employees from best to worst. If the manager is required
to appraise 30 employees, this approach assumes that the difference between the first and second
employee is the same as that between the twenty-first and twenty-second. Even though some of the
employees may be closely grouped, this approach allows for no ties. The result is a clear ordering of
employees, from the highest performer down to the lowest.
Page Ref: 559
LO: 7
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
40
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
Page Ref: 561-562
LO: 8
Difficulty: Hard
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
110) Sophia is a valued employee in your department. She is positive and dependable but lacks ambition
and has stagnated in her position this year. She also is consistently late on deadlines, although the work
she turns in is usually flawless. Choose one of the performance evaluation methods discussed in the
chapter and use it to evaluate the three most popular sets of criteria for Sophia. Explain why your
evaluation method is strong or weak, and how it could be improved.
Answer: The simplest evaluation method is to write a narrative describing an employee's strengths,
weaknesses, past performance, potential, and suggestions for improvement.
The three most popular sets of criteria are individual task outcomes, behaviors, and traits.
Task outcomes: Sophia is a valued employee who consistently turns in high quality work. Her work
requires little quality assurance and, therefore, I can rely on Sophia when I know that there will not be a
lot of time to recheck the work.
Behaviors: Sophia is dependable in completing her work, although she is often late with the product. She
has recently become stagnant in her position and shows little ambition.
Traits: Sophia is a positive and upbeat team player, helping to create a good work environment. And, as I
said earlier, she is very dependable at completing her work, although with some delay.
This evaluation is a general evaluation of Sophia, but it is only one person's opinion and depends on the
person's ability to express Sophia's strengths and weaknesses. It doesn't provide any methods for
improvement and is evaluated on a global job performance, rather than job specificity.
Page Ref: 555-563
LO: 7, 8
AACSB: Analytic Skills
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Synthesis
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
41
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall
111) Discuss the problems underlying the work-life conflict and explain some of the techniques that an
organization can use to help employees achieve the work-life balance.
Answer: Time pressures aren't the primary problem underlying work-life conflicts. It's the
psychological incursion of work into the family domain — and vice versa — when people are worrying
about personal problems at work and thinking about work problems at home. This suggests
organizations should spend less effort helping employees with time-management issues and more
helping them clearly segment their lives. Keeping workloads reasonable, reducing work-related travel,
and offering onsite quality child care are examples of practices that can help in this endeavor. People
differ in their preference for scheduling options and benefits. Some prefer organizational initiatives that
better segment work from their personal lives, as flextime, job sharing, and part-time hours do by
allowing employees to schedule work hours less likely to conflict with personal responsibilities. Others
prefer ways to integrate work and personal life, such as onsite child care, gym facilities, and company-
sponsored family picnics. On average, though, most people do prefer an organization that provides more
support for work-life balance.
Page Ref: 564, 566
LO: 9
Difficulty: Moderate
Quest. Category: Concept
Learning Outcome: Describe the components of human resource practices
42
Copyright © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall