Question 1

What is the first step in building a committed workforce?

Accepted Answer

The first step in building a committed workforce is recruiting the right people who possess the necessary skills, experience, and attitude that align with the organization's values and goals. Without the right people, it's challenging to build a committed workforce, irrespective of the other steps taken. Once the organization has the right people on board, it can focus on developing job descriptions, organizing tasks, providing training and development, and other activities that enhance productivity and engagement.

Question 2

The turnover for a security position at the local department store was high,and the department managers were beginning to complain to Gina,the store manager.There was no lack of applications,and the pay was comparable to other stores,yet those who took the position stayed no longer than a week.Exit interviews revealed that employees felt the job's responsibilities were not what they expected.Which of the following would you suggest Gina do to reduce the turnover?

Accepted Answer

Showing a video about the responsibilities of the job would help set realistic expectations for the prospective employees. This would help reduce turnover as employees would have a better understanding of what is expected of them before accepting the position. Accepting more applications by reducing standards or insisting on drug tests would not necessarily address the root of the turnover issue, and checking references or asking about plans to stay during the interview may not provide sufficient information to prevent high turnover.

Question 3

Which of the following would be inappropriate to ask at an interview?

Accepted Answer

Asking about someone's age or date of birth can be considered discriminatory and is not relevant to their qualifications for the job.

Answer: C 
 This question is not necessarily inappropriate, but it may not be relevant to the job or the applicant's qualifications.

Answer: E 
 This question is appropriate and relevant to the applicant's ability to handle workplace conflicts and address inappropriate behavior.

Therefore, the best choices are B and C.

Question 4

A typical application form would be least likely to provide information about the applicant's:

Accepted Answer

A typical application form would be least likely to provide information about the applicant's character.

Question 5

A retailer can reduce turnover by:

Accepted Answer

Neither an increase in sales dollars nor a reduction in fixed costs will stop turnover.

Question 6

Constance is the store manager for Fins,a pet store specializing in tropical fish.She needs to hire a full-time salesperson.What should she do first?

Accepted Answer

Before hiring a new salesperson, it is important to identify the essential activities that need to be performed in the role and the qualifications necessary to perform them effectively. This will help ensure that the new hire can meet the needs of both the store and its customers. Setting up guidelines and obtaining customer opinions are also important steps, but identifying essential activities and qualifications should come first. Observing other stores and evaluating current employees can also be helpful in the hiring process, but they should not be the first step.

Question 7

Mandy has been a manager for 3 years in a variety of departments throughout the store.Recently,the floor manager position became available and Mandy inquired about it,only to learn a college recruit was awarded the position.This would be an example of what type of discrimination?

Accepted Answer

This scenario describes disparate treatment, which is the differential treatment of individuals based on a specific characteristic, such as age, race, or gender. In this case, Mandy was not considered for the promotion despite her experience and qualifications, while a college recruit was selected. This suggests that the decision was made based on characteristics other than job-related qualifications.

Question 8

Retail managers use realistic job previews when screening job applicants in order to:

Accepted Answer

A realistic job preview shows the good and the bad parts of the job, so applicants (not employees) can learn what will be expected of them. If they do not like the expectations, they can leave before the expense of orientation and training.

Question 9

Roger applied for a position as a butcher's assistant at a nearby supermarket.After he completed his application,the manager showed him a video reviewing the responsibilities of an assistant to the butcher.After viewing that,Roger told the manager he didn't want the job.This screening technique is called:

Accepted Answer

The screening technique described in the scenario is a job preview, which provides applicants with a realistic preview of the job responsibilities and expectations. This helps them to determine whether the job is a good fit for their skills and interests.

Question 10

The principal objective of employee socialization is to:

Accepted Answer

The principal objective of employee socialization is to develop a long-term relationship with new employees to increase productivity. By introducing new employees to the organization's culture, values, and expectations, they are more likely to feel connected and invested in their job, leading to increased productivity and job satisfaction. It is not intended to make on-the-job training unnecessary, increase turnover, make the screening process faster, or prevent the creation of employee bonds.

Question 11

Raven is a store manager for a discount chain.She decided to hire a new salesperson for the infants' department and has already developed a job description.What should Raven do next to secure an employee?

Accepted Answer

Raven should develop a pool of applicants and screen them to ensure that she is selecting the most qualified candidate for the position. This will involve reviewing resumes, conducting initial phone screenings, and possibly holding in-person interviews. Once Raven has a pool of qualified candidates, she can then choose the best fit for the job. Conducting a behavioural interview, organizing training, and testing applicants would all come after Raven has selected a pool of qualified candidates.

Question 12

Autumn is the sales manager at a store that sells musical instruments.She has developed a job description for each of her employees.These job descriptions can be used for:

Accepted Answer

The job descriptions developed by Autumn can be used for recruiting new sales help, training both experienced and inexperienced retail salespeople, selecting the person most suited for the retailing job that needs to be filled, and evaluating the sales performances of her employees. Therefore, all of the options listed in the question are valid uses for job descriptions.

Question 13

Which of the following statements about the job interview is true?

Accepted Answer

It is important for the interviewer to be attentive and actively listen to the applicant's responses during the interview. This helps to ensure that the interviewer gathers accurate information from the applicant and can make an informed decision on their suitability for the job. A, B, D, and E are all incorrect statements about job interviews.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about the use of testing in the screening process is true?

Accepted Answer

They are administered to applicants-not new employees.

Question 15

Which of the following contains information about the applicant's employment history,previous compensation,reasons for leaving previous employment,education and training,personal health,and references?

Accepted Answer

A job application form typically contains all of the mentioned information, including employment history, previous compensation, reasons for leaving previous employment, education and training, personal health, and references. References only contain information about individuals who can vouch for the applicant's work performance, while testing forms or job previews would not contain all of the mentioned information. An interview form may gather some of the mentioned information but may not include all of it.

Question 16

Which of the following is true about references?

Accepted Answer

References are a good way to verify information given on an application form.

Question 17

________________ is a set of steps taken to transform new employees into effective,committed members of the firm.

Accepted Answer

Socialization is the process of transforming new employees into effective and committed members of the firm by teaching them about the organization's culture, values, norms, and expectations. It involves orientation, training, mentoring, and on-the-job learning experiences. Job application is the process of submitting an application for a job, employee retention is the process of keeping employees satisfied and motivated to stay with the company, training is the process of teaching employees the skills and knowledge they need to perform their jobs, and job previewing is the process of providing information to job candidates about the duties, requirements, and conditions of the job.

Question 18

A __________ includes the activities an employee needs to perform and the firm's performance expectations expressed in quantitative terms.

Accepted Answer

A job description outlines the activities, duties, and responsibilities that an employee needs to perform. It also includes the performance expectations in quantitative terms such as target sales volume or the number of units produced per hour.

Question 19

What can retailers do to build an atmosphere of mutual commitment and increase the financial performance of their firms?

Accepted Answer

All of these options are effective ways for retailers to build an atmosphere of mutual commitment with their employees and improve the financial performance of their firms. Developing skills through training and selection, empowering employees, and creating a partnering relationship all contribute to a positive work environment where employees feel valued and invested in the success of the company. This, in turn, can lead to increased employee productivity, better customer service, and ultimately higher profits for the retailer.

Question 20

A company that carefully selects its recruits,develops employee skills through training,shares information about company shares,encourages employees to take additional classes on customer service is trying to:

Accepted Answer

By carefully selecting and developing its employees, providing training and opportunities for growth, the company is investing in its workforce and taking steps to retain them. This can help reduce turnover, which is a common problem for many organizations.

Quiz 13: Human Resource Management and Staff Training Issues