Exam Questions Chapter 2 Strategy The Totality Of Decisions - Compensation 12e Complete Test Bank by Jerry Newman. DOCX document preview.

Exam Questions Chapter 2 Strategy The Totality Of Decisions

Chapter 02

Strategy: The Totality of Decisions

 


Multiple Choice Questions
 

1.

A compensation system that focuses on competitor's labor costs is most closely associated with a(n) _____ strategy. 
 

A. 

innovator

B. 

customer-focused

C. 

cost-cutter

D. 

differentiated

 

2.

A compensation system using market-based pay is most likely to be part of a(n) _____ strategy. 
 

A. 

innovator

B. 

cost-cutter

C. 

cost leadership

D. 

customer-focused

 

3.

Flexible-generic job descriptions would most likely be used with a(n) _____ strategy. 
 

A. 

innovator

B. 

customer-focused

C. 

differentiated

D. 

cost-cutter

 

4.

Mich Inc., a hardware store, has a rating system in place that rates employees on their friendliness, usefulness, and product knowledge. Based on the ratings an employee receives, he or she gets an incentive. The compensation strategy followed by Mich is most closely described as a: 
 

A. 

customer-focused strategy.

B. 

cost-cutter strategy.

C. 

innovator strategy.

D. 

differentiation strategy.

 

5.

A compensation system focusing on system control and work specifications is most closely associated with a(n) _____ strategy. 
 

A. 

innovator

B. 

customer-focused

C. 

cost-cutter

D. 

differentiated

 

6.

All of the following EXCEPT _____ are compensation systems associated with a cost-cutter strategy. 
 

A. 

focus on competitor's labor costs

B. 

focus on system control and work specifications

C. 

increase in variable pay

D. 

customer satisfaction incentives

 

7.

In the formula predicting performance, the component most closely related to compensation is _____. 
 

A. 

A

B. 

M

C. 

O

D. 

C

 

8.

Whole Foods' shared-fate philosophy of limiting executive salaries to no more than 19 times the average pay of full-time employees is an example of which strategic pay decision? 
 

A. 

External competitiveness

B. 

Employee contributions

C. 

Corporate responsibility

D. 

Internal alignment

 

9.

Comparisons on the forms of compensation used by other companies are part of _____. 
 

A. 

internal alignment

B. 

external competitiveness

C. 

employee contributions

D. 

corporate responsibility

 

10.

The second step of developing a total compensation strategy is to: 
 

A. 

implement the strategy.

B. 

assess total compensation implications.

C. 

estimate the cost of the strategy.

D. 

map the strategy.

 

11.

Which of the following is the correct order of the steps in formulating a total compensation strategy? 
 

A. 

Assess the strategy, implement the strategy, map the strategy, and reassess the strategy.

B. 

Assess the strategy, map the strategy, implement the strategy, and reassess the strategy.

C. 

Map the strategy, implement the strategy, assess the strategy, and reassess the strategy.

D. 

Map the strategy, assess the strategy, implement the strategy, and reassess the strategy.

 

12.

Based on the opinions of 10,000 U.S. workers, Hudson found that when given their choice of unconventional benefits, most employees would select _____. 
 

A. 

more supplemental insurance

B. 

more job training

C. 

a more flexible work schedule

D. 

more personal days and family leave

 

13.

According to the Hudson survey, _____ is the single thing that would make 41 percent of the U.S. workers happier. 
 

A. 

more personal days

B. 

flexible work schedule

C. 

more money

D. 

better health insurance

 

14.

Which of the following statements regarding allowing employees a choice in their pay mix is NOT true? 
 

A. 

Allowing employees their choice is difficult to manage

B. 

Allowing employees their choice is easy for competitor companies to imitate

C. 

Providing unlimited choices for employees to choose from is difficult to design

D. 

Providing too many choices can confuse people

 

15.

Union preferences are a major factor in _____ a total compensation strategy. 
 

A. 

implementing

B. 

reassessing

C. 

assessing

D. 

mapping

 

16.

In mapping a total compensation strategy, the question of how important compensation is in the overall HR strategy is part of _____. 
 

A. 

objectives

B. 

internal alignment

C. 

external competitiveness

D. 

corporate responsibility

 

17.

_____ refers to openness and communication about pay. 
 

A. 

Transparency

B. 

Ownership

C. 

Prominence

D. 

Centrality

 

18.

_____ is the measure of how important total compensation is in the overall HR strategy. 
 

A. 

Competitiveness

B. 

Prominence

C. 

Centrality

D. 

Ownership

 

19.

The role non-HR managers play in making pay decisions is called _____. 
 

A. 

ownership

B. 

transparency

C. 

technology

D. 

decentralized decision-making

 

20.

Issues of transparency, technology, and choice are most closely associated with the _____ aspect of mapping a total compensation strategy. 
 

A. 

objectives

B. 

management

C. 

employee contributions

D. 

internal alignment

 

21.

Career growth, hierarchy, and flexible design are most closely associated with the _____ aspect of mapping a total compensation strategy. 
 

A. 

objectives

B. 

internal alignment

C. 

external competitiveness

D. 

employee contributions

 

22.

Which of the following is NOT included in a strategy map? 
 

A. 

External competitiveness

B. 

Management

C. 

HR alignment

D. 

Employee contributions

 

23.

Which of the following is NOT a test of whether a pay strategy is a source of competitive advantage? 
 

A. 

Alignment test

B. 

Cost-effectiveness test

C. 

Differentiation test

D. 

Value-addition test

 

24.

Which of the following tests of competitive advantage is probably the easiest test to pass? 
 

A. 

Alignment test

B. 

Differentiation test

C. 

Integration test

D. 

Value-addition test

 

25.

The alignment test 
 

A. 

is difficult to imitate.

B. 

is the most difficult test.

C. 

helps ensure passing the differentiation test.

D. 

becomes difficult if the differentiation test is not clear.

 

26.

Trying to measure an ROI for any compensation strategy implies that 
 

A. 

it is possible to align and differentiate and still fail to add value.

B. 

people are "human capital," similar to other factors of production.

C. 

adding value is the most difficult test.

D. 

value created as a result of costs is difficult to specify.

 

27.

Which of the following statements is NOT true? 
 

A. 

The effect of performance incentives depends on the context.

B. 

Embedding compensation strategy in HR strategy affects results.

C. 

Focusing only on one dimension of the pay strategy is a best practice.

D. 

The effect of paying more than competitors depends on the context.

 

28.

Research investigating high-performance workplaces found that performance-based pay _____ when combined with other high-performance practices. 
 

A. 

improves attitudes and behaviors

B. 

increases the number of middle men required

C. 

reduces labor costs

D. 

has little effect on quality

 

29.

When organization performance declines 
 

A. 

a virtuous circle may be created.

B. 

performance-based pay plans do not pay off.

C. 

managers must avoid changing the pay practices.

D. 

employee attrition rate declines considerably.

 

30.

Research shows that _____ will effectively shift an organization in a downward performance spiral to an upward one. 
 

A. 

reinforcing performance-based pay

B. 

implementing team-based pay

C. 

improving work-life balance

D. 

it is unclear what compensation practices

 

 


True / False Questions
 

31.

Most organizations rely upon the market to determine how to pay their employees as compensation strategy is uncertain and complex. 
 
True    False

 

32.

Strategy refers to the fundamental direction that an organization chooses. 
 
True    False

 

33.

An organization defines its strategy through the tradeoffs it makes in choosing what to do and what not to do. 
 
True    False

 

34.

At the corporate level, the fundamental strategic decision involves defining the role of the HR in compensation strategies. 
 
True    False

 

35.

Customer-focused pay strategies are most likely to use market-based pay. 
 
True    False

 

36.

Compensation systems focusing on competitors' labor costs typically follow a cost-cutter strategy. 
 
True    False

 

37.

Although three separate compensation strategies may be identified, many companies use a combination of all three. 
 
True    False

 

38.

Most firms do not have generic strategies but use a blend of cost and innovation. 
 
True    False

 

39.

Whole Foods' shared-fate philosophy means that executive salaries are at least 19 times the average pay of full-time employees. 
 
True    False

 

40.

How an organization positions its total compensation against its competitors is part of external competitiveness strategic choices. 
 
True    False

 

41.

All organizations that pay their employees have a compensation strategy even though it may not be stated or written. 
 
True    False

 

42.

A compensation strategy should reflect an organization's values. 
 
True    False

 

43.

A major challenge in the design of future pay systems is how to better satisfy individual needs and preferences. 
 
True    False

 

44.

Providing unlimited compensation choices to employees would meet with disapproval from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. 
 
True    False

 

45.

Since unions represent such a small fraction of the labor force, their influence on pay decisions is insignificant. 
 
True    False

 

46.

Pay systems should fit well with other HR systems. 
 
True    False

 

47.

In a high-performance system, pay strategy always plays a lead role. 
 
True    False

 

48.

Benchmarking and copying best practices does not lead to competitive advantage. 
 
True    False

 

49.

Research on the effects of pay level shows that how employees are paid has no effect on the performance of the employees. 
 
True    False

 

50.

In a virtuous circle, a pay-for-performance strategy results in the improvement of performance. 
 
True    False

 

 


Short Answer Questions
 

51.

Define defenders and prospectors as referred to by Miles and Snow. 
 


 


 


 

 

52.

Compensation systems can be tailored to general business strategies. List and explain these strategies. 
 


 


 


 

 

53.

Explain AMO theory. 
 


 


 


 

 

54.

What are the aspects of the alignment of pay strategy? 
 


 


 


 

 

55.

Write short notes on virtuous and vicious circles. 
 


 


 


 

 

Document Information

Document Type:
DOCX
Chapter Number:
2
Created Date:
Aug 21, 2025
Chapter Name:
Chapter 2 Strategy The Totality Of Decisions
Author:
Jerry Newman

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