Q&A Hero

Q: 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

Q: Which of the following work-life initiatives is an example of a culture-change strategy? A) offering flexible benefits B) tying manager pay to employee satisfaction C) allowing job sharing D) providing fitness center E) providing counseling services

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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 program E) job rotation

Q: Which of the following statements regarding downsizing is true? A) Organizations that are able to demonstrate fairness are more likely to make the hoped-for gains from downsizing. B) Employees who have been laid off almost always feel badly about their previous employer. C) Employees who have been laid off are unlikely to return to the company if asked. D) It is generally in the best interests of the employee to challenge the decision. E) The initial screening process can be considered a failure.

Q: Work-life conflicts became noticeable in the 1980s when ________. A) the rate of inflation started increasing B) baby boomers' parents began to age C) men started giving more importance to family time D) workloads became historically heavier E) women, with dependent children, started entering the workforce

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: ________ 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

Q: ________ 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: Sirius Corp, an automobile manufacturer in Texas, has a number of vacancies at lower management levels, which is important for the company's future development, 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. 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

Q: Sirius Corp, an automobile manufacturer in Texas, has a number of vacancies at lower management levels, which is important for the company's future development, 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. 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

Q: Sirius Corp, an automobile manufacturer in Texas, has a number of vacancies at lower management levels, which is important for the company's future development, 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. 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

Q: Sirius Corp, an automobile manufacturer in Texas, has a number of vacancies at lower management levels, which is important for the company's future development, 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. 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

Q: Performance evaluations are used to ________. A) improve group cohesiveness B) define departmental structure C) help management make HR decisions D) identify how jobs are completed E) decrease conformity within organizations

Q: Sirius Corp, an automobile manufacturer in Texas, has a number of vacancies at lower management levels, which is important for the company's future development, 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. Which of the following terms refers to the actions that actively damage the organization, including stealing, behaving aggressively toward co-workers, and being late or absent? A) citizenship B) counterproductivity C) task orientation D) satisficing E) groupthink

Q: Sirius Corp, an automobile manufacturer in Texas, has a number of vacancies at lower management levels, which is important for the company's future development, 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. 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.

Q: Sirius Corp, an automobile manufacturer in Texas, has a number of vacancies at lower management levels, which is important for the company's future development, 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. 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.

Q: ________ 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: You are involved in training and development for your division at Dunder Mifflin Inc. You want to target some specific organizational problems through training. 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

Q: You are involved in training and development for your division at Dunder Mifflin Inc. You want to target some specific organizational problems through training. Which of the following is an off-the-job training method? A) job rotation B) formal mentoring programs C) Internet courses D) job enlargement E) apprenticeship

Q: You are involved in training and development for your division at Dunder Mifflin Inc. You want to target some specific organizational problems through training. Which of the following is an on-the-job training method? A) live classroom lectures B) apprenticeships C) public seminars D) podcasts E) self-study programs

Q: ________ 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

Q: 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.

Q: 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

Q: You are involved in training and development for your division at Dunder Mifflin Inc. You want to target some specific organizational problems through training. 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

Q: You are involved in training and development for your division at Dunder Mifflin Inc. You want to target some specific organizational problems through training. Your organization is situated in an urban area where many students do not finish high school. You will probably first have to address the skill category termed ________ skills. A) basic B) technical C) interpersonal D) problem-solving E) managerial

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: Most training is directed at upgrading and improving an employee's ________ skills. A) financial B) technical C) problem-solving D) interpersonal E) social

Q: 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.

Q: 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

Q: 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. Drug testing is controversial. Which of the following is an argument used against drug testing? A) The results of drug tests can be faked easily. B) Drug use is a private matter. C) Drug tests are costly. D) Drug tests are generally inaccurate. E) Drug tests are injurious to a person's health.

Q: 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. Which of the following is a common contingent selection method? A) IQ test B) interview C) interest inventory D) drug test E) work-sample test

Q: 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. 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

Q: 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. 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

Q: Which of the following is not an ideal feature of a benefit program? A) It should be uniquely suited to the organizational culture. B) It should be sustainable in the long run. C) It should clearly outline expectations for conduct. D) It should reflect the values of the organization. E) It should demonstrate economic feasibility.

Q: 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

Q: Which of the following statements is most likely to be true regarding behavioral structured interviews? A) They are most useful when interviewing knowledge workers. B) They increase an interviewer's reliance on his or her "gut feelings." C) They are conducted in a similar manner as audition-type interviews. D) They are useful only for interviewing nonskilled workers. E) They increase the effectiveness of the interview technique.

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: Assessment centers are typically used to evaluate a candidate's ________ potential. A) linguistic B) technical C) cognitive D) managerial E) analytical

Q: Elaborate sets of performance-simulation tests specifically designed to evaluate a candidate's managerial potential are ________. A) less effective than work sampling B) administered in assessment centers C) similar to personality tests D) considered drawbacks of some management development programs E) likely to skew the results of behavioral samples

Q: 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

Q: Written tests are used during the ________ stage of the selection process. A) cognitive B) associative C) analytic D) substantive E) initial

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: During a selection process, the ________ selection stage immediately follows the initial selection stage. A) cognitive B) associative C) analytic D) behavioral E) substantive

Q: Which of the following is a form of background check? A) aptitude test B) offer letter C) letters of recommendation D) application form E) work-sample test

Q: Which of the following is most likely to be an initial selection device? A) technical interview B) drug test C) written test D) background check E) work-sample test

Q: 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

Q: Charlie Woods started working for E-Z Freeze, a major frozen food company, as a college intern. Most recently, Charlie had held the position of VP Marketing. Now however, as a result of a change in corporate leadership, Charlie finds himself unemployed for the first time in decades. Looking for a new job has been an eye-opening experience for Charlie. He has been especially frustrated with his lack of success in getting even a call back for the applications he has completed online. Which of the following best describes why Charlie may not be getting the initial feedback he thinks he should be receiving? A) His online applications don't have the right keywords. B) His background checks have been negative. C) He is unwilling to relocate. D) He lacks cross-company experience. E) He lacks cultural diversity.

Q: 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

Q: What are the characteristics of a spiritual organization?

Q: What is workplace spirituality?

Q: Compare and contrast an ethical organizational culture and a positive organizational culture. How are they similar and different?

Q: Explain the characteristics of a positive organizational culture.

Q: Provide examples of how an ethical culture can be transmitted through stories, rituals, and material symbols.

Q: What can management do to create a more ethical culture within an organization?

Q: What are the various ways in which the organizational culture can be transmitted to the employees?

Q: Explain the difference between a typical U.S. manager's point of view of ethical behavior and that of a manager in a developing economy and the implications of the difference.

Q: Describe the three stages involved in the process of socialization.

Q: Explain the primary methods of maintaining an organization's culture.

Q: Describe and explain the five most prevalent climate categories that comprise the ethical dimensions of organization cultures.

Q: How does organizational culture develop?

Q: Discuss the difference between strong and weak organizational cultures and discuss the effect that a strong culture can have on an acquisition or merger.

Q: Describe the various situations under which culture acts as a liability.