Question 1

It is essential that line managers play a key role in performance appraisal from beginning to end.

Accepted Answer

Often the human resource department is responsible for coordinating the design and implementation of performance appraisal programs.However,it is essential that line managers play a key role from beginning to end.These individuals usually conduct the appraisals,and they must directly participate in the program if it is to succeed.

Question 2

Dixon Manufacturing is a large firm that produces automotive parts for sports cars.Employees at Dixon receive annual performance appraisals from their supervisors.However,top executives at Dixon have decided that performance appraisals should be conducted more frequently and that a new method of appraisal should be implemented.Which of the following,if true,best supports the argument that the 360-degree feedback evaluation method is the most appropriate performance appraisal tool for Dixon to use?
A) Numerous Dixon employees have complained that the current appraisal method is biased and have threatened to sue the firm.
B) Executives at Dixon want a performance appraisal method that focuses on an employee's potential for success at the firm.
C) Employees at Dixon participated in developing their own performance standards when they were first hired by the firm.
D) Due to the firm's large staff, executives want an appraisal method that is both quick and cost effective.

Accepted Answer

A)360-degree feedback shifts the responsibility for evaluation to more than one person,which provides a more objective measure of a person's performance.Including the perspective of multiple sources results in a broader view of the employee's performance,minimizes biases,and makes the process more legally defensible.However,360-degree feedback is time consuming and can be costly.

Question 3

What appraisal method appeals to managers who want employees to participate in their own evaluation and development?
A) superior
B) peer appraisal
C) subordinate
D) self-appraisal

Accepted Answer

D)As a complement to other approaches,self-appraisal has great appeal to managers who are primarily concerned with employee participation and development.If employees understand their objectives and the criteria used for evaluation,they are in a good position to appraise their own performance.

Question 4

Organizations use customer appraisal because it demonstrates a commitment to the customer and holds employees accountable.

Accepted Answer

Customer behavior determines a firm's degree of success.Therefore,some organizations believe it is important to obtain performance input from this critical source.Organizations use this approach because it demonstrates a commitment to the customer,holds employees accountable,and fosters change.

Question 5

What is the benefit of having subordinates evaluate supervisors?
A) increasing the opportunity to expand a department
B) decreasing the reliance on traditional performance appraisals
C) increasing a supervisor's awareness of the work group's needs
D) decreasing a supervisor's authority over subordinates in a work group

Accepted Answer

C)Firms reason that subordinates are in an excellent position to view their superiors' managerial effectiveness.Advocates believe that this approach leads supervisors to become especially conscious of the work group's needs and to do a better job of managing.

Question 6

If employees understand their objectives and the criteria used for evaluation,they can effectively appraise their own performance.

Accepted Answer

If employees understand their objectives and the criteria used for evaluation,they are in a good position to appraise their own performance.Many people know what they do well on the job and what they need to improve.

Question 7

What is the biggest risk associated with the 360-degree feedback evaluation method?
A) poor individual development
B) minimal effectiveness
C) questionable legality
D) lack of confidentiality

Accepted Answer

D)The biggest risk with 360-degree feedback is confidentiality.Many firms outsource the process to make participants feel comfortable that the information they share and receive is completely anonymous,but the information is very sensitive and,in the wrong hands,could impact careers.An advantage of the method is that it is legally defensible.

Question 8

The primary disadvantage of using peers to appraise performance is that they do not work closely enough with evaluated employees to provide useful feedback.

Accepted Answer

A major strength of using peers to appraise performance is that they work closely with the evaluated employee and probably have an undistorted perspective on typical performance,especially in team assignments.

Question 9

A&B Enterprises may add customer appraisals as a component of employee performance appraisals.All of the following are most likely reasons for A&B to use customer appraisals EXCEPT ________.
A) fostering change
B) holding employees accountable
C) evaluating development programs
D) demonstrating customer commitment

Accepted Answer

C)Customer behavior determines a firm's degree of success.Therefore,some organizations believe it is important to obtain performance input from this critical source.Organizations use this approach because it demonstrates a commitment to the customer,holds employees accountable,and fosters change.Customer appraisals are less likely to be used to evaluate training and development programs.

Question 10

Which of the following is the most likely problem of supervisors evaluating subordinates?
A) focusing too much on a single performance standard
B) coordinating employee training needs and programs
C) being responsible for only one department within the firm
D) lacking opportunities to observe the employee's job performance

Accepted Answer

A)On the negative side,the immediate supervisor may emphasize certain aspects of employee performance and neglect others.However,the fact that supervisors handle training,manage single departments,and observe employee performance make them the appropriate people to conduct performance appraisals.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT an advantage associated with using team members to appraise performance?
A) Team members are familiar with each other's performance.
B) Team members are receptive to criticism from co-workers.
C) Peer review relies on more than one opinion.
D) Peer pressure motivates members of a team.

Accepted Answer

B)A major strength of using peers to appraise performance is that they work closely with the evaluated employee and probably have an undistorted perspective on typical performance,especially in team assignments.In addition,peer pressure is a powerful motivator for team members,and peer review involves numerous opinions and is not dependent on one individual.Problems with peer evaluations include the reluctance of some people who work closely together,especially on teams,to criticize each other.

Question 12

The 360-degree feedback evaluation method involves evaluation input from multiple levels within the firm as well as external sources.

Accepted Answer

The 360-degree feedback evaluation method is a popular performance appraisal method that involves evaluation input from multiple levels within the firm as well as external sources.The 360-degree method is unlike traditional performance reviews,which provide employees with feedback only from supervisors.

Question 13

What is essential when subordinates are given the opportunity to evaluate their supervisor?
A) training subordinates how to evaluate performance
B) teaching evaluators how to measure performance
C) guaranteeing anonymity of the evaluators
D) benchmarking all evaluations

Accepted Answer

C)Critics of subordinates reviewing supervisors are concerned that the manager (and instructors)will be caught up in a popularity contest or that employees will be fearful of reprisal.If this approach has a chance for success,one thing is clear: the evaluators must be guaranteed anonymity.Ensuring this might be particularly difficult in a small department and especially if demographic data on the appraisal form could identify raters.

Question 14

Adam,an IT specialist,is more technically knowledgeable than his boss.What would be the most appropriate way to overcome this disadvantage for Adam's performance appraisal?
A) obtaining performance input from Adam's customers
B) providing Adam's supervisor with additional training
C) allowing Adam to assess the supervisor's performance
D) integrating appraisal criteria suggested by Adam

Accepted Answer

D)When the appraised employee is more technically knowledgeable than the boss,performance appraisal becomes a problem.One suggestion for overcoming this disadvantage is to bring subordinates into the process more closely.Adam could suggest ways to fairly evaluate his own performance,and then Adam's boss could use the suggestions as part of the appraisal criteria.

Question 15

Organizations that structure employees into self-directed teams are using peers to appraise performance less frequently because of time constraints.

Accepted Answer

A major strength of using peers to appraise performance is that they work closely with the evaluated employee and probably have an undistorted perspective on typical performance,especially in team assignments.Organizations are increasingly using teams,including those that are self-directed.

Question 16

A popular appraisal method that involves input from multiple levels within the firm and external sources is best known as ________.
A) 360-degree feedback evaluation
B) rating scale
C) critical incident
D) paired comparison

Accepted Answer

A)The 360-degree feedback evaluation method is a popular performance appraisal method that involves evaluation input from multiple levels within the firm as well as external sources.The 360-degree method is unlike traditional performance reviews,which provide employees with feedback only from supervisors.Rating scale,critical incident,and paired comparison are other types of appraisal methods.

Question 17

Kyra works as a marketing assistant and will be receiving a performance appraisal soon.Kyra will receive ratings from her supervisors,team members,subordinates,and customers.Kyra will also be asked to review her own performance.Which performance appraisal method is most likely used at Kyra's firm?
A) rating scales method
B) work standards method
C) critical incident method
D) 360-degree feedback evaluation method

Accepted Answer

D)The 360-degree feedback evaluation method is a popular performance appraisal method that involves evaluation input from multiple levels within the firm as well as external sources.In this method,people all around the rated employee may provide ratings,including senior managers,the employee himself or herself,supervisors,subordinates,peers,team members,and internal or external customers.

Question 18

All of the following are reasons that immediate supervisors conduct most performance appraisals EXCEPT that supervisors ________.
A) regularly observe their employees' job performance
B) coordinate employees' flexible spending benefits
C) manage all aspects of work within a particular unit
D) need subordinates who are appropriately trained

Accepted Answer

B)An employee's immediate supervisor has traditionally been the most logical choice for evaluating performance and this continues to be the case.The supervisor is usually in an excellent position to observe the employee's job performance,and the supervisor has the responsibility for managing a particular unit.Also,subordinate training and development is an important element in every manager's job.Supervisors do not manage employee benefits.

Question 19

A supervisor wants to give a pay raise to a certain employee and,in order to justify this action,the supervisor gives the employee a high performance evaluation.Which of the following best describes this problem?
A) halo error
B) stereotyping
C) recent behavior bias
D) evaluation manipulation

Accepted Answer

D)In some instances,managers control virtually every aspect of the appraisal process and are therefore in a position to manipulate the system.

Question 20

Results from 360-degree programs are used by firms for succession planning,training,professional development,and performance management.

Accepted Answer

As many as 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies use some form of 360-degree feedback for either employee evaluation or development.Many companies use results from 360-degree programs not only for conventional applications but also for succession planning,training,and professional development.

Quiz 7: Performance Management and Appraisal

It is essential that line managers play a key role in performance appraisal from beginning to end.

What appraisal method appeals to managers who want employees to participate in their own evaluation and development?

Organizations use customer appraisal because it demonstrates a commitment to the customer and holds employees accountable.

What is the benefit of having subordinates evaluate supervisors?

If employees understand their objectives and the criteria used for evaluation,they can effectively appraise their own performance.

What is the biggest risk associated with the 360-degree feedback evaluation method?

The primary disadvantage of using peers to appraise performance is that they do not work closely enough with evaluated employees to provide useful feedback.

A&B Enterprises may add customer appraisals as a component of employee performance appraisals.All of the following are most likely reasons for A&B to use customer appraisals EXCEPT ________.

Which of the following is the most likely problem of supervisors evaluating subordinates?

Which of the following is NOT an advantage associated with using team members to appraise performance?

The 360-degree feedback evaluation method involves evaluation input from multiple levels within the firm as well as external sources.

What is essential when subordinates are given the opportunity to evaluate their supervisor?

Adam,an IT specialist,is more technically knowledgeable than his boss.What would be the most appropriate way to overcome this disadvantage for Adam's performance appraisal?

Organizations that structure employees into self-directed teams are using peers to appraise performance less frequently because of time constraints.

A popular appraisal method that involves input from multiple levels within the firm and external sources is best known as ________.

Kyra works as a marketing assistant and will be receiving a performance appraisal soon.Kyra will receive ratings from her supervisors,team members,subordinates,and customers.Kyra will also be asked to review her own performance.Which performance appraisal method is most likely used at Kyra's firm?

All of the following are reasons that immediate supervisors conduct most performance appraisals EXCEPT that supervisors ________.

A supervisor wants to give a pay raise to a certain employee and,in order to justify this action,the supervisor gives the employee a high performance evaluation.Which of the following best describes this problem?

Results from 360-degree programs are used by firms for succession planning,training,professional development,and performance management.