Chapter 1 Introduction to Human Resource Management Multiple Choice 1

Human Resource Management Chapter 1 Introduction to Human Resource Management 1) The basic functions of the management process include all of the following EXCEPT ________. A) planning B) organizing C) outsourcing D) leading Answer: C Explanation: C) The five basic functions of the management process include planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling. Outsourcing jobs may be an aspect of human resources, but it is not one of the primary management functions. Difficulty: Easy Chapter: 1 Objective: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process. 2) Which of the following is the person responsible for accomplishing an organization's goals by managing the efforts of the organization's people? A) manager B) entrepreneur C) generalist D) marketer Answer: A Explanation: A) The manager is the person responsible for accomplishing an organization's goals by planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling the efforts of the organization's people. An entrepreneur may manage people or may hire a manager to do so instead, but entrepreneurs are defined as individuals who start their own businesses. Difficulty: Moderate Chapter: 1 Objective: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process. 1 3) Which of the following includes five basic functions—planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling? A) a job analysis B) strategic management C) the management process D) adaptability screening Answer: C Explanation: C) The management process includes five basic functions—planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling. Strategic management refers to the process of identifying and executing the organization's mission by matching its capabilities with the demands of its environment. Difficulty: Easy Chapter: 1 Objective: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process. 4) Which function of the management process requires a manager to establish goals and standards and to develop rules and procedures? A) planning B) organizing C) staffing D) leading Answer: A Explanation: A) Planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling are the five main functions of management. The planning function involves establishing goals and standards, developing rules and procedures, and forecasting. Difficulty: Easy Chapter: 1 Objective: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process. 2 5) Claire spends most of her time at work establishing goals for her staff of fifty employees and developing procedures for various tasks. In which function of the management process does Claire spend most of her time? A) leading B) controlling C) organizing D) planning Answer: D Explanation: D) The planning function of the management process requires managers to establish goals and standards, develop rules and procedures, and develop plans and forecast. Difficulty: Moderate Chapter: 1 Objective: 1 AACSB: Application of Knowledge Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process. 6) Jolene, a manager, delegates the authority for a project to Lee, her subordinate. Jolene is most likely involved in which function of the management process? A) staffing B) organizing C) motivating D) leading Answer: B Explanation: B) The organizing function of the management process includes delegating authority to subordinates and establishing channels of communication. The organizing function also includes establishing departments and coordinating the work of subordinates. Difficulty: Moderate Chapter: 1 Objective: 1 AACSB: Application of Knowledge Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process. 3 7) When managers use metrics to assess performance and then develop strategies for corrective action, they are performing the ________ function of the management process. A) planning B) leading C) controlling D) organizing Answer: C Explanation: C) The controlling function of the management process requires managers to set standards such as sales quotas, quality, standards, or production levels. Managers then compare actual performance with the standards, which often involves the use of metrics. Corrective action is then taken when necessary. Difficulty: Moderate Chapter: 1 Objective: 1 AACSB: Application of Knowledge Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process. 8) Which function of the management process includes selecting employees, setting performance standards, and compensating employees? A) organizing B) planning C) motivating D) staffing Answer: D Explanation: D) The staffing function of the management process determines what type of people you should hire, recruiting prospective employees, selecting employees, training and developing employees, setting performance standards, evaluating performance, counseling employees, compensating employees. Difficulty: Easy Chapter: 1 Objective: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process. 4 9) Larry, a manager at a commercial real estate firm, has established a monthly sales quota for his sales team. Which basic function of management best describes Larry's actions? A) planning B) organizing C) controlling D) staffing Answer: C Explanation: C) The controlling function involves setting standards such as sales quotas, quality standards or production levels; checking to see how actual performance compares with these standards; taking corrective action, as needed. Difficulty: Moderate Chapter: 1 Objective: 1 AACSB: Application of Knowledge Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process. 10) ________ is the process of acquiring, training, appraising, and compensating employees, and attending to their labor relations, health and safety, and fairness concerns. A) Labor relations B) Human resource management C) Behavioral management D) Organizational health and safety management Answer: B Explanation: B) Human resource management is the process of acquiring, training, appraising, and compensating employees, and of attending to their labor relations, health and safety, and fairness concerns. HRM falls under the staffing function of the management process. Difficulty: Easy Chapter: 1 Objective: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process. 5 11) In the management process, which of the following is an activity associated with the leading function? A) motivating subordinates B) setting performance standards C) training new employees D) developing procedures Answer: A Explanation: A) The leading function of the management process requires a manager to get others to get the job done; maintaining morale, and motivating subordinates. Difficulty: Easy Chapter: 1 Objective: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process. 12) Personnel activities associated with human resource management most likely include all of the following EXCEPT ________. A) orienting and training new employees B) appraising employee performance C) building employee commitment D) developing customer relationships Answer: D Explanation: D) Human resource management involves numerous personnel-related activities, and HR managers are less likely to interact with customers. Managing compensation, orienting new employees, appraising employee performance, and developing employee commitment are typical aspects of the HR manager's job. Difficulty: Moderate Chapter: 1 Objective: 1 AACSB: Application of Knowledge Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process. 6 13) Since human resources is important to all managers, which is NOT a personnel mistake a manager wants to avoid making while managing? A) waste time with useless interviews B) hire the wrong person C) have your people not doing their best D) experience low turnover Answer: D Explanation: D) Personnel mistakes a manager does not want to make while managing are hiring the wrong person for the job; experience high turnover; have your people not doing their best; waste time with useless interviews; have your company taken to court because of your discriminatory actions; have your company cited under federal occupational safety laws for unsafe practices; have some employees think their salaries are unfair relative to others in the organization; allow a lack of training to undermine your department's effectiveness; commit any unfair labor practices. Difficulty: Moderate Chapter: 1 Objective: 1 AACSB: Application of Knowledge Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process. 14) Approximately what percentage of people in the United States work for small firms? A) 10% B) 25% C) 50% D) 80% Answer: C Explanation: C) More than half the people working in the United States work for small firms. Small businesses as a group also account for most of the 600,000 or so new businesses created every year. Difficulty: Moderate Chapter: 1 Objective: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process. 7 15) ________ is the right to make decisions, to direct the work of others, and to give orders. A) Leadership B) Authority C) Management D) Responsibility Answer: B Explanation: B) The right to make decisions, to direct the work of others, and to give orders is known as authority. Difficulty: Easy Chapter: 1 Objective: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process. 16) Which of the following best defines line authority? A) management over a small staff in a public firm B) management with flexible decision-making powers C) a manager's right to advise other managers or employees D) a manager's right to issue orders to other managers or employees Answer: D Explanation: D) Line authority is a manager's right to issue orders to other managers or employees, which creates a superior-subordinate relationship. Staff authority refers to a manager's right to advise other managers or employees, which creates an advisory relationship. Difficulty: Moderate Chapter: 1 Objective: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process. 17) In most organizations, human resource managers are categorized as ________, who assist and advise ________ in areas like recruiting, hiring, and compensation. A) staff managers; line managers B) line managers; middle managers C) line managers; staff managers D) functional managers; staff managers Answer: A Explanation: A) Human resource managers are usually staff managers. They assist and advise line managers in areas like recruiting, hiring, and compensation. However, line managers still have human resource duties. Difficulty: Hard Chapter: 1 Objective: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process. 8 18) Gerard is authorized to direct the work of subordinates and is responsible for accomplishing the organization's tasks. Gerard is most likely a ________. A) training specialist B) staff manager C) line manager D) recruiter Answer: C Explanation: C) A line manager is authorized to direct the work of subordinates and is responsible for accomplishing the organization's tasks. Unlike line managers, staff managers lack the authority to issue orders down the chain of command. Recruiters and training specialists are specialties within the HR department, and HR managers are usually staff managers rather than line managers. Difficulty: Moderate Chapter: 1 Objective: 1 AACSB: Application of Knowledge Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process. 19) Which of the following is NOT considered one of the line supervisor's responsibilities for effective human resources management under the general headings outlined by a major company discussed in the textbook? A) protecting employees' health and physical condition B) changing employees' attitudes regarding work C) developing the abilities of each person D) interpreting the company policies and procedures Answer: B Explanation: B) The direct handling of people has always been part of every line manager's duties, from the president down to first-line supervisors. One major company outlines its line supervisor's responsibilities for effective human resource management under these general headings: placing the right person in the right job; starting new employees in the organization (orientation); training employees for jobs that are new to them; improving the job performance of each person; gaining cooperation, and developing smooth working relationships; interpreting the company's policies and procedures; controlling labor costs; developing the abilities of each person; creating and maintaining department morale; protecting employees' health and physical condition. Difficulty: Hard Chapter: 1 Objective: 1 AACSB: Analytical Thinking Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process. 9