Question 1

Daisy just accepted a management position at the Ecologic Plant Life Corporation. In order to give her an appreciation of the different functional areas of her new company, she is required to spend six weeks in each of five different functional areas of the company, including production, research and development, accounting, marketing, and the HR management department. This type of training is known as contingency employment.

Accepted Answer

Giving managers assignments in a variety of departments is known as job rotation.

Question 2

Minority groups have made great strides in creating networking associations. For example, Black Enterprise Magazine sponsors networking forums.

Accepted Answer

The statement is true. Black Enterprise Magazine does sponsor networking forums for minority groups.

Question 3

Firms spend time and money to train new employees so that they will work productively over the short term. Development activities such as assigning mentors and creating networks have long-term implications for employees and firms.

Accepted Answer

While training programs focus on improving the short-term skills of employees, development programs focus on long-term abilities.

Question 4

Most management training programs include methods such as on-the-job coaching, understudy positions, job rotation, and off-the-job courses and training.

Accepted Answer

Most management training programs do indeed include these methods.

Question 5

A performance appraisal is an evaluation in which the performance level of employees is measured against established standards to make decisions about promotions, compensation, additional training, or firing.

Accepted Answer

This is a correct definition of a performance appraisal.

Question 6

Road Rovers School for Truck Drivers takes great pride in its training methods. Before its students are able to get on the road with a big rig, they are taught safe driving techniques with the help of sophisticated, computerized equipment that comes as close as possible to duplicating real driving conditions, right down to the sights, sounds, bumps and vibrations experienced on the road. Road Rovers is using a training method known as job replication.

Accepted Answer

Job simulation is the use of sophisticated equipment to duplicate job conditions and tasks so that trainees can learn skills before using them on the job.

Question 7

A mentor is a manager who supervises, coaches, and guides selected lower-level employees, and generally acts as their organizational sponsor.

Accepted Answer

A mentor is a manager who helps and supports employees in their professional development by providing guidance, feedback, and advice. They act as a role model and offer career advice to help employees achieve their goals.

Question 8

Distance training is gaining in popularity among all firms because employees can log-on to company tutorials at a time convenient to them and acquire the same training information as everyone else.

Accepted Answer

Online training, also known as distance training, is an efficient and cost-effective way for a firm to distribute consistent training to a large number of employees.

Question 9

Women usually find it easier than men to obtain mentors and engage in networking.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that women often face barriers in obtaining mentors and engaging in networking, such as a lack of access to male-dominated networks and biases against women in leadership roles. However, there are organizations and initiatives that are working to address these barriers and support women in these areas.

Question 10

While efforts to train and develop women and minority managers appeal to many firms on the basis of legal and moral considerations, from an economic standpoint, they are rarely cost effective.

Accepted Answer

Firms that take the initiative to develop female and minority managers recognize three important principles: (1) Grooming women and minorities for management positions broadens the base of talent coming into the firm, which is a key to long-term profitability; (2) a company that starts attracting and developing women and minority managers now will have an edge recruiting the most talented women and minority managers later; and (3) more women and minorities at all levels help the firm serve its increasingly female and minority customers better.

Question 11

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that women cannot be barred from "men only" clubs, where business contacts are often made and business activity occurs.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Supreme Court has held that gender-based exclusion from clubs where business activity occurs and professional networks are formed can constitute illegal discrimination. This is based on the principle that such exclusions can unfairly limit women's opportunities in the professional and business arenas. Cases like Roberts v. United States Jaycees (1984) and subsequent decisions have addressed gender discrimination in organizational membership and access to business opportunities.

Question 12

Troy is receiving training in maintaining and repairing assembly line robots at a school that uses equipment very similar to that used on his new job at Blast Off Technologies. His classroom training is called vestibule training.

Accepted Answer

Vestibule training is done in schools where employees are taught using equipment that is very similar to what they will use on the actual job.

Question 13

The primary reason that companies do performance appraisals is to improve worker performance.

Accepted Answer

Performance appraisals provide employees with feedback on their strengths and weaknesses, which can help them improve their performance. Additionally, appraisals can aid in setting goals, identifying training or development needs, and providing recognition and rewards for good performance.

Question 14

Networking is the process of establishing and maintaining contacts and using those contacts to develop strong relationships that serve as informal development systems.

Accepted Answer

Networking involves creating and nurturing connections with others, which can help individuals develop professionally and personally. These connections can serve as a source of support, mentorship, and opportunities for advancement.

Question 15

Marcus's company sent him to Washington University for an intensive program of leadership and business communication training. Although expensive, the firm was committed to investing in the development of key employees for the purpose of retention and promotion. This type of managerial development is known as off-the-job courses and training.

Accepted Answer

Prestigious universities offer intensive managerial training courses. This is off-the-job training that firms are willing to invest in for employees with good potential to advance within the company.

Question 16

Colin is an assistant manager in his firm's credit department. He works closely with a more experienced manager to learn how to perform all of the functions involved in credit management. Colin believes he will soon be experienced enough to take over a senior position in his department. Colin has the benefit of serving as an understudy.

Accepted Answer

An understudy position allows a junior manager to work as an assistant to a higher-level manager and to learn the management functions needed to assume the higher-level position. Understudy positions frequently have the term assistant or undersecretary in their job title.

Question 17

Tracy was brought on as a lower-level manager at Higdon and Associates. Shortly after starting, she was introduced to Clara and told that Clara would be her mentor. As a mentor, Clara will coach and guide Tracy, introduce her to the right people, and be her organizational sponsor.

Accepted Answer

A mentor supervises, guides, and coaches selected lower-level employees, introduces them to the right people, and acts as their sponsor within the organization.

Question 18

Students can benefit from networking in college even before they take their first full-time job.

Accepted Answer

Networking in college can lead to various opportunities such as internships, mentorship, and career guidance which can set students on a path towards success before they even enter the job market. Furthermore, the relationships formed during networking can last throughout one's career and provide valuable connections and resources.

Question 19

Grooming women and minorities for management positions creates fewer hiring opportunities for white men.

Accepted Answer

Grooming women and minorities for management positions does not create fewer hiring opportunities for white men. It simply provides equal opportunities for those who have historically been underrepresented in leadership roles. Hiring decisions should be based on merit, qualifications, and experience, rather than on a candidate's gender, race, or ethnicity. Grooming individuals from diverse backgrounds for leadership roles benefits the organization by promoting diversity of thought, perspectives, and experiences, which can improve innovation, productivity, and profitability.

Question 20

Samuel is training to be an electrician by working alongside experienced electricians. After one more year of successful training, his union will classify Samuel as a journeyman. Samuel is participating in an apprenticeship program.

Accepted Answer

In an apprenticeship program a worker learns a skill by working alongside experienced workers for an extended period of time. Unions frequently require new members to serve as apprentices to assure excellence, and to limit entry into their profession. A worker who successfully completes an apprenticeship program is classified as a journeyman.

Quiz 11: Human Resource Management: Finding and Keeping the Best Employees