Q&A Hero

Q: The _____ conflict style user assertively attempts to resolve a conflict with the best solution agreeable to all parties. A. collaborating B. avoiding C. accommodating D. compromising

Q: Berzen Inc. hires John as a supervisor in the company. They have an implied understanding that both the employer and the employee have the right to end their relationship at any time they desire. In the context of personnel policies, the relationship between the company and John is based on the _____. A. promote-from-within policy B. lead-the-market strategy C. employment-at-will policy D. nepotistic agreement E. benevolent agreement

Q: The _____ conflict style user attempts to resolve a conflict through assertive give-and-take concessions. A. collaborating B. avoiding C. accommodating D. compromising

Q: _____ formally lay out the steps an employee may take to appeal an employer's decision to terminate that employee. A. Leading indicators B. Trend analyses C. Transitional matrices D. Due-process policies E. Employment-at-will contracts

Q: The _____ conflict style user attempts to resolve a conflict by passively giving in to the other party. A. forcing B. avoiding C. accommodating D. compromising

Q: _____ states that if there is no specific employment contract saying otherwise, the employer or employee may end an employment relationship at any time, regardless of cause. A. Due-process policy B. Employment flexibility C. Rule of fair treatment D. Rule of law E. Employment at will

Q: The _____ conflict style user attempts to passively ignore a conflict rather than resolve it. A. forcing B. avoiding C. accommodating D. compromising

Q: Which of the following is true of companies that use a "lead-the-market" pay strategy? A. They would pay more than the current market wages for a job. B. They have a recruiting disadvantage. C. They would recruit fewer employees than needed and depend on overtime. D. They provide relatively better working conditions to employees compared to competitors. E. They usually have low pay, coupled with overtime and flex-time.

Q: Which of the following is an advantage of the forcing style of conflict management? A. Maintaining relationships that were hurt through conflict resolution B. Making better organizational decisions C. Curbing hostility and resentment D. Choosing the best solution to the conflict

Q: Which of the following aspects of recruitment is most likely to affect the nature of the positions that are vacant? A. Recruitment sources B. Personnel policies C. Recruiter traits D. Recruiter behavior E. Applicant characteristics

Q: The _____ conflict style user attempts to resolve a conflict by using aggressive behavior. A. forcing B. avoiding C. accommodating D. compromising

Q: _____ influence the kinds of job applicants an organization reaches. A. Personnel policies B. Recruitment sources C. Characteristics of the recruiter D. Financial sources E. Industry competitors

Q: Which of the following is a main reason for conflict? A. People tend to be empathic toward their colleagues. B. People try to find humor in difficult situations. C. People assume that their expectations match the ones others have. D. People use reflecting statements to aggravate problems.

Q: In the context of managing human resources, the process of _____ creates a buffer between planning and the actual selection of new employees. A. recruiting B. evaluating C. inducting D. outsourcing E. training

Q: One of the primary reasons why conflict occurs is because people: A. fail to make their expectations known to others. B. are usually aggressively pursuing their goals. C. tend to be empathic toward their colleagues. D. use reflecting statements to aggravate problems.

Q: Nazir, an HR manager at Solomon Beverages, recognizes and attracts potential job seekers to his organization. In the context of HRM functions, Nazir is carrying out the _____ process. A. promoting B. appraising C. recruiting D. forecasting E. disbanding

Q: Which of the following is a way to prevent workplace violence? A. Ignoring verbal threats B. Isolating employees C. Avoiding nonverbal communication D. Watching for stalking

Q: Which of the following helps one deal with the anger of others? A. Developing positive affirmations B. Being empathic and using reflecting statements C. Giving orders or ultimatums D. Using an anger journal

Q: In the context of options for reducing a labor surplus, identify the similarity between natural attrition and early retirement strategies. A. Both strategies yield slow results for an organization. B. Both strategies cause high suffering to the employees of an organization. C. Both strategies can be applied for preventing labor shortages. D. Both strategies are expensive to implement. E. Both strategies encourage layoffs.

Q: In the context of options for avoiding a labor shortage, identify the similarity between outsourcing and overtime strategies. A. Both strategies yield slow results. B. Both strategies have high revocability. C. Both strategies are expensive to implement. D. Both strategies involve contracting with another organization to perform a broad set of services. E. Both strategies can be used for reducing labor surplus.

Q: Which of the following helps one get rid of anger? A. Being empathic and using reflecting statements B. Giving orders or ultimatums C. Developing positive affirmations D. Encouraging people to vent anger

Q: In the context of HR planning, implementation that ties planning and recruiting to an organization's strategy and to its efforts to develop employees becomes a complete program of: A. reengineering. B. total quality management. C. benchmarking. D. talent management. E. workforce utilization.

Q: A key factor in controlling anger is being: A. assertive instead of passive. B. passive instead of aggressive. C. aggressive instead of assertive. D. passive-aggressive instead of assertive.

Q: Which of the following is an element in the final stage of human resources planning? A. Estimating labor demand B. Forecasting labor supply C. Estimating labor surplus or shortage D. Strategic planning E. Evaluating outcomes

Q: Which of the following is a positive outcome of anger? A. Aggressive behavior B. Assertive behavior C. Perception issues D. Passive behavior

Q: A small company that manufactures special-order wood furniture has kept its employees busy on a 40-hours-a-week schedule for the past two years. The company just received a large contract from a Japanese company that is opening offices in the area. The Japanese company has given a month's time for completion of its order. To complete the contract in the required one month, the furniture company needs additional skilled labor on short notice. Which of the following strategies is best suited to avoid this short-term labor shortage if the company desires to find a simple and cost-effective solution? A. Retrained transfers B. Overtime C. Technological innovation D. New external hires E. Turnover reductions

Q: You have been asked out on a date by a coworker you are not attracted to. In fact, you don't really like the person. Which of the following would be an appropriate assertive behavioral response for this scenario? A. "Okay, I'll see you at 8 P.M." B. "Are you kidding me? I wouldn't go out with you." C. "I'm sorry; I'm not interested in you." D. "I'm sorry; I'm busy that night."

Q: Grexel Tools Inc. is a large manufacturing company with branches in different countries in Asia. The company desires to gain competitive advantage by reducing unnecessary process costs. Which of the following is most suitable for this company to gain competitive advantage? A. The company must hire new employees who have job skills that enhance productivity. B. The company must consider downsizing by reducing the workforce. C. The company must move to a location where raw materials are abundant. D. The company must outsource their work to a location where they can get inexpensive labor that still provides quality output. E. The company must hire temporary workers to fill permanent job positions.

Q: "I would prefer you keeping me informed the next time you decide to come to work late so that I may make alternate plans." This is an example of a(n) _____ response. A. assertive B. passive C. passive-aggressive D. aggressive

Q: "Sure, I'll look over those numbers once again," said Sam walking out in a huff and slamming the door. This is a case of _____ behavior. A. aggressive B. passive C. assertive D. passive-aggressive

Q: Trotta Inc., a manufacturer of widgets, has entered into a contract with a third party to perform a few functions of its supply chain management. The company is engaged in: A. offshoring. B. consolidating. C. licensing. D. acquiring. E. outsourcing.

Q: "It's not really important, but I was wondering if I could talk to you about my annual raise." This is an example of a(n) _____ response. A. aggressive B. passive C. passive-aggressive D. assertive

Q: Which of the following is a challenge associated with an outsourcing strategy? A. Labor shortage B. Increased cost C. Quality-control problems D. Lack of necessary technology E. Diseconomies of scale

Q: Cindy did not say anything the first time Carl pushed her as they walked in the hall. On the way back, he did it again. This time, Cindy caught his eye, smiled, and said, "Carl, you should signal before crossing into my lane." Cindy's behavior can be best described as _____. A. aggressive B. passive C. assertive D. passive-aggressive

Q: Which of the following best describes outsourcing? A. It refers to contracting with another organization to perform a broad set of services. B. It refers to finding cheap resources in another country to gain a competitive advantage. C. It refers to using a temporary or contract employee to fill a single job vacancy. D. It refers to buying the necessary raw materials needed to conduct business from external suppliers. E. It refers to moving operations away from the home location to increase cost savings.

Q: "You had better have that draft proposal ready by noon, or else you will work overtime tonight." Which of the following behaviors is this an example of? A. Passive B. Assertive C. Complementary D. Aggressive

Q: Which of the following observations is true of utilizing the services of independent contractors? A. Core competencies can be effectively outsourced to contractors. B. A company is not supposed to directly supervise the contractors. C. It is a relatively slow process with low revocability. D. An organization can achieve increased quality though the costs are more. E. It provides an organization with increased control over the operations.

Q: Which of the following phrases would a passive person most likely use? A. "You need to know..." B. "No, I won't be able to..." C. "I would like..." D. "I don't want to bother you, but..."

Q: _____ people project a positive image of being confident, friendly, and honest; using this behavior wins the respect of others. A. Passive B. Aggressive C. Assertive D. Hostile

Q: How does the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) encourage organizations to adopt ergonomic job design?

Q: Describe self-managing work teams. Suggest steps to make such teams more effective.

Q: The life position of an assertive person is: A. "I'm OKYou're not OK." B. "I'm OKYou're OK." C. "I'm not OKYou're OK." D. "I'm not OKYou're not OK."

Q: _____ comes primarily through the adapted child and the critical parent ego states. A. Aggressiveness B. Assertiveness C. Passivity D. Nonassertiveness

Q: _____ behavior is an avoidance of behavior or an accommodation of the other party's wishes without standing up for one's own rights. A. Passive B. Aggressive C. Assertive D. Hostile

Q: _____ is the process of expressing thoughts and feelings while asking for what one wants in an appropriate way. A. Aggressiveness B. Assertiveness C. Passivity D. Nonassertiveness

Q: Briefly describe the Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ). What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the PAQ as source of job information?

Q: When people stand up for their rights without violating the rights of others, they are using _____. A. aggressive behavior B. passive behavior C. assertive behavior D. strokes

Q: _____ is any behavior that implies recognition of another's presence. A. Assertiveness B. Aggressiveness C. Performance D. Stroking

Q: Contrast and compare knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSOAs) and tasks, duties, and responsibilities (TDRs) as they relate to different processes of job analysis.

Q: A customer gets a pair of shoes resoled by a cobbler. Later at home, she realizes the shoes are too tight. She returns to the cobbler and says, "What's wrong with you? Don't you know how to put new soles on without making the shoe smaller?" In which of the following ways would the cobbler respond if he uses the natural child ego state? A. "It's not my fault, and they can't be redone. See you later." B. "I'm sorry it happened. Shall I try stretching the shoes to make them fit?" C. "You must have been disappointed. It's a nice pair of shoes. What can I do to make it up to you?" D. "That's funny; it never happened before."

Q: A manager gives merit raises to employees based on performance. An employee comes to the manager to complain about not getting a higher merit raise. In which of the following ways would the employee respond if he uses the adult ego state? A. "I want to know why I didn't get a larger merit raise." B. "Bill got a larger merit raise than I did. Would you please explain what Bill does that I don't, so that I can do better the next round?" C. "It's your job to give objective and fair merit raises. So why didn't you do it?" D. "You were not fair in giving me that merit raise. I'm a better worker than the two people who got the largest raises."

Q: Discuss the steps in a work flow analysis.

Q: Sasha says, "I missed out on some figures, and now I have to redo the entire report." Maya replies, "It happens to all of us at some point." Which of the following transactions is this conversation an example of? A. Crossed B. Interior C. Complementary D. Ulterior

Q: The employees at NeiFra Infosystems Inc., a website design company, have been struggling to provide quality services to clients. An investigation reveals that employees feel dissatisfied and fatigued due to the challenging nature of their jobs. Ellen, the HR manager, suggests simplifying jobs in order to reduce errors and increase accuracy. From the following options, identify a way to simplify the mental demands of employees' jobs. A. Imposing rigorous quality control standards B. Training employees to multitask between different job responsibilities C. Using software that helps with tracking progress D. Providing comfortably designed office chairs E. Increasing the information processing requirements of the job

Q: Dominique says, "Can you help me arrange tomorrow's schedule?" Helen replies, "Sure. I don't mind" (thinkingI'll arrange it to my convenience). Which of the following transactions is this conversation an example of? A. Crossed B. Complementary C. Responsive D. Ulterior

Q: An investigation at Quadramine Textiles Inc. reveals that when employees feel little or no control over their situation, they tend to become fatigued and dissatisfied. Bobby, the HR manager, suggests simplifying jobs in order to deal with this problem. In this scenario, it can be most beneficial to simplify jobs where: A. employees face the least amount of challenges. B. the costs of errors are severe. C. the scope for errors is minimal. D. employees do not engage in multitasking. E. the information-processing requirements of the jobs are minimal.

Q: Salma says, "I need you to make a presentation for a potential client today." Ryan replies, "Why do I have to do it? Can't you get someone else to do it?" Which of the following transactions is this conversation an example of? A. Crossed B. Complementary C. Responsive D. Ulterior

Q: Anthony, an HR manager at Synergy Inc., wishes to design jobs that meet mental capabilities and limitations. This task most likely involves ______. A. allowing employees to opt for a compact workweek schedule B. controlling autonomy and stressing error-free work C. increasing the amount of reporting requirements and documentation D. training employees to multitask and self-manage teams E. reducing the information-processing requirements of a job

Q: Allen says, "Please review these figures by Monday and give me a report." Charles replies, "I'll have it ready first thing in the morning." Which of the following transactions is this conversation an example of? A. Crossed B. Complementary C. Responsive D. Ulterior

Q: Which of the following is a strategy used by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to increase ergonomic job design? A. Issuing regulations rather than guidelines for industries B. Penalizing companies that allow employee participation in ergonomic redesign C. Enforcing violations of its requirement that employers have a general duty to protect workers from hazards, including ergonomic hazards D. Levying fines on employers who issue computers with keyboards instead of touchscreen tablets E. Working with organizations to design workspaces in such a manner that they meet the standards of ergonomics

Q: In a(n) _____ transaction, the sender does not get the expected response. A. crossed B. ulterior C. complementary D. concealed

Q: The manager of a local grocery store places a short conveyor belt that allows customers to place items on it prior to checking out. This saves the cashier from the physical strain of bending forward and reaching into the carts to retrieve the items. This change is an example of the _____ approach to job design. A. telecommuting B. job enrichment C. ergonomic D. flextime E. job sharing

Q: In a(n) _____ transaction, the person appears to be in one ego state, but his or her behavior comes from a different ego state. A. crossed B. ulterior C. complementary D. concealed

Q: In a(n) _____ transaction, the sender of a message gets the intended response from the receiver. A. crossed B. ulterior C. complementary D. concealed

Q: Sairs Info Solutions is a firm that develops software applications for other companies. After the company moves into a new office space, most of the employees complain about the lack of comfortable seating arrangements. Following up on the complaint, the HR department advises management to invest in studying the ergonomics of the new office space. Which of the following would serve as an incentive for the company to invest in the study of ergonomics? A. Ergonomics empowers employees by giving them decision-making authority. B. Ergonomics reduces the physical strain on employees performing a job. C. Ergonomics reduces the number of reporting relationships in a job. D. Ergonomics enlarges jobs by moving employees among different jobs. E. Ergonomics increases a job's mental demands.

Q: The _____ ego state uses reassuring responses that are protecting, permitting, and consoling. A. sympathetic parent B. critical parent C. natural child D. adapted child

Q: Penta Toy Corp. (PTC) is a firm that manufactures toys. Very often, employees of the firm are on leave citing physical stress. An expert hired by PTC investigates the situation and recommends investing in an ergonomics study of the work environment. In this scenario, the expert is recommending: A. a study of the interface between individuals' physiology and the characteristics of the physical work environment. B. a study of jobs to find the simplest way to structure work in order to maximize efficiency. C. a study of the tasks, duties, and responsibilities of employees in a new job. D. a study of the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform a job. E. a study of the relationship between intrinsic rewards and employee motivation in the context of human resource management.

Q: The _____ ego state responds with confrontational advising responses that express rebelliousness, anger, fear, anxiety, inadequacy, or procrastination. A. sympathetic parent B. critical parent C. natural child D. adapted child

Q: Which of the following is true of telework arrangements? A. They are the most difficult to implement for people in managerial or professional jobs. B. They are the easiest to set up for manufacturing workers. C. They support the strategy of corporate social responsibility by reducing an employee's need to commute using a vehicle. D. They are limited to employees who are disabled or need to be available for children or elderly relatives. E. They are only provided for employees who hold key strategic positions in a company.

Q: The _____ ego state uses probing responses that show curiosity, fun, fantasy, or impulsiveness. A. sympathetic parent B. critical parent C. natural child D. adapted child

Q: Revlay Corp., which is based in California, has clients across the globe. In order to maintain a 24-hour presence, the firm allows its employees to work in shifts. One of the ways to enable this arrangement is a schedule in which full-time workers complete their weekly hours in fewer than five days. For example, instead of working eight hours a day for five days, the employees could complete 40 hours of work in four 10-hour days. Which of the following flexible work arrangements is being implemented by Revlay? A. Zero-hour contract B. Telework C. Retroactive overtime D. Flextime E. Compressed workweek

Q: The _____ ego state controls the conversation using advising responses that are judgmental, opinionated, or demanding. A. sympathetic parent B. critical parent C. natural child D. adult

Q: Which of the following would qualify as a compressed workweek? A. Employees are required to be at work from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and can choose additional hours before or after this period. B. Two part-time employees work in different shifts and share the tasks of a specific job. C. Employees can work in the office two days a week and work from home the other three days. D. Employees can choose to work away from a centrally located work area. E. Employees are permitted to work 10 hours a day, so that they can work fewer days per week.

Q: When employees are in a conflict, the mediating manager should make them realize that it is their problem, not his.

Q: Susan works 10 hours a day for 4 days a week, while her colleagues work 8 hours a day for 5 days a week. Susan is utilizing a flexible work schedule option known as _____. A. the zero-hour contract B. the compressed workweek C. the flexible workweek D. retroactive overtime E. telework

Q: Confronters are successful at resolving conflict when they wait long enough before confronting the other party and do it in an emotional state.

Q: Which of the following best describes job sharing? A. It is a work option in which two part-time employees carry out the tasks associated with a single job. B. It is a work option that allows full-time employees to choose start and end times within the guidelines specified by an organization. C. It is a work option that empowers individual workers by adding more opportunities for specialization in their current job duties. D. It is a work option that enlarges jobs by combining several relatively simple jobs to form a job with a wider range of tasks. E. It is a work option that enlarges jobs in an organization by moving employees among several different jobs.

Q: Collaboration is not always appropriate in supervisor-employee conflicts.

Q: DigiAd Inc., an advertising firm, requires its employees to be at work between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. This work rule allows employees to work additional hours before or after the time period in order to work the full day. Identify the job design method implemented in this scenario. A. Zero-hour contract B. Flextime C. Compressed workweek D. Telework E. Retroactive overtime

Q: The compromising conflict style is appropriate to use when time is short.