Human Resources Chapter 8 Test Questions & Answers Russell

Chapter 8:

Human Resources

True/False

1. Successful quality-oriented firms recognize the importance of their _________ when developing a competitive strategy.
   1. customers
   2. employees
   3. managers
   4. suppliers
2. In successful quality management companies, employees are given all of the following EXCEPT
   1. broad latitude in their jobs
   2. encouraged to improvise
   3. provided detailed ways to perform their jobs
   4. use their initiative
3. With total quality management (TQM), employees receive broad job training giving them more flexibility in where they can work

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 1

1. Companies with a quality focus generally give their employees the authority to make decisions that will improve quality.

Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective: LO 1

1. Achieving strategic quality goals for quality and customer satisfaction often requires teamwork and group participation.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 1

1. Scientific management divides jobs into their most elemental activities to simplify job design.

Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective: LO 2

1. Flexibility has traditionally been used as a measure of job efficiency.

Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective: LO 2

1. Scientific management involves breaking down jobs into elemental activities.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 2

1. Which of the following is best defined by the willingness of an employee to perform as needed to attain a goal or objective?
   1. incentives
   2. motivation
   3. empowerment
   4. vertical job enlargement
2. Studies have shown that the success of Japanese companies is due to cultural factors.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 2

1. Studies have shown that the success of Japanese companies is due to management practices.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 2

1. For most industrialized countries, the difference between a company’s success and failure is dependent on the capability of its human resources.

Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. Because services are labor intensive, human resources is becoming a more important strategic factor for service companies.

Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. Which of the following is best defined by an employee who learns more than one job in the organization?
   1. Job rotation
   2. job enrichment
   3. cross training
   4. empowerment

1. One of the prerequisites to job rotation is cross-training.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. Which of the following is best defined as giving employees the authority and responsibility to innovate and act on their own?
   1. horizontal job enlargement
   2. vertical job enlargement
   3. job rotation
   4. empowerment
2. An alternative workplace is a combination of nontraditional work locations and practices that supplement or replace the traditional office.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. The motivation for companies to create alternative workplaces is primarily financial.

Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. A piece-rate wage plan rewards employees for attaining company goals and objectives.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. In a piece-rate wage system, pay is based on the efficiency of the overall process.

Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. One advantage of an individual piece-rate system is that it provides strong incentives to ensure high quality.

Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. While still an important issue, diversity issues in U.S. companies are on the decline.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 4

1. According to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics very few people entering the workforce over the past decade were members of minority groups.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 4

1. Globalization has resulted in an overall reduction in diversity related issues in the workplace.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 4

1. In the U.S, affirmative action and equal opportunity are basically the same.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 4

1. By managing ________, a company can gain a competitive edge because all employees are given an opportunity to do their best.
   1. diversity
   2. gain sharing
   3. profit sharing
   4. sustainability
2. Fitting the task to the person in a work environment is known as
   1. job analysis.
   2. job design
   3. task analysis
   4. ergonomics
3. Determining worker capabilities and responsibilities for a job is known as
   1. worker analysis.
   2. job analysis.
   3. environmental analysis.
   4. task analysis.
4. Job design includes determining the characteristics a worker needs to meet the job requirements.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 5

1. The interface of workers with machines is probably the least important aspect of job design.

Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective: LO 5

1. A _________ is a graph showing the steps of a job or how a set of jobs fit together into the overall flow of the production process.
   1. worker-machine chart
   2. process flowchart
   3. motion study
   4. learning curve

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 6

1. A worker-machine chart illustrates the amount of time a worker and a machine are working or idle.

Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective: LO 6

1. A worker-machine chart determines whether worker and machine tasks are strategically aligned.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 6

1. The formal study of the individual human motions used to perform a task was developed by Frank and Lillian Gilbreth.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 6

1. A graph that reflects the fact that repetition of tasks improves worker performance is referred to as a
   1. learning curve.
   2. motion study.
   3. worker machine chart.
   4. scientific management
2. An 80% learning curve describes an improvement rate of 80% each time production doubles.

Difficulty: Moderate

Feedback: Learning Curves

Learning Objective: LO 7

1. Learning curves are useful for measuring work improvement for repetitive, simple jobs requiring short times to complete.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 7

1. Learning curves have limited application for assembly lines with short, repetitive jobs.

Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective: LO 7

Multiple Choice

1. Changing management’s traditional control-oriented relationship with employees to one of cooperation, mutual trust, and teamwork requires a
   a. short term commitment to aggressive contractual planning.

b. medium term commitment to dramatic organizational design.

c. long term focus commitment as a key part of the strategic design.

d. None of these answer choices is correct.
Ans. C

Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: LO 1

1. Achieving a company’s strategic goals for quality and customer satisfaction require
   a. team work.

b. group participation.

c. both team work and group participation.

d. None of these answer choices is correct.

Ans. C

Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective: LO 1

1. Which of the following is not a serious disadvantage of scientific management?
   a. workers become bored
   b. opportunities to acquire new skills sets is limited

c. workers are required to perform repetitive motions
d. worker output is increased
Ans. D

Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective: LO 1

1. Motivation is a willingness to work hard because doing so
   a. satisfies employer needs.
   b. satisfies employee needs.
   c. satisfies both employee and employer needs.
   d. None of these answer choices is correct.
   Ans. B

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 1

1. Which of the following elements has not been shown to improve motivation?
   a. fair treatment of workers
   b. negative feedback and punishment

c. empowerment
d. restructuring of jobs

Ans. B

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 1

1. All of the following are advantages of task specialization except
2. increased output.
3. lower labor costs.
4. reduced boredom.
5. minimal training.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 1

1. Scientific management involves all the following except
   a. breaking down jobs into their simplest elements.
   b. eliminating unnecessary motions.
   c. hiring only highly trained workers.

d. assigning tasks to workers.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 1

1. The development of the assembly line by Henry Ford is based on the principles of
   a. scientific management.
   b. mass production.

c. both scientific management and mass production.
d. None of these answer choices is correct.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 1

1. Research has shown the success of Japanese companies operating production facilities in the United States is due to
   a. cultural factors.
   b. management practices.

c. superior training/education of American workers.

d. None of these answer choices is correct.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. Which of the following is not a contemporary trend in human resource management?
   a. cross training
   b. flexible work schedules
   c. telecommuting
   d. reduced work week for full time employees
   Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. Assigning a worker a complete unit of work with clearly defined start and end points is referred to as
2. vertical job enlargement.
3. job rotation.
4. horizontal job enlargement.
5. empowerment.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. Allowing employees more control over their own work and some of the supervisory responsibilities is known as
2. vertical job enlargement.
3. empowerment.
4. horizontal job enlargement.
5. cross training.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. ______________ gives employees the responsibility and authority to make decisions.
2. Cross training
3. Empowerment
4. Job rotation
5. Horizontal job enlargement

Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. Which of the following is not a principle for job enrichment?
   a. provide additional authority and freedom
   b. vertical job enlargement
   c. make periodic reports available to workers
   d. introduce simple, repetitive tasks
   Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. Advantages of empowerment include all of the following except
2. more attention to product quality.
3. higher productivity.
4. limits conflicts with middle management.
5. more satisfying work.

Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. Empowerment involves giving employees _________________ to make decisions.
   a. responsibility
   b. authority
   c. both responsibility and authority
   d. None of these answer choices is correct.
   Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. Advantages of telecommuting include all of the following except
2. reduced turnover.
3. decreased absenteeism and leave usage.
4. flexible work schedules.
5. direct visual surveillance of employees.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. A trend among service companies, in particular, is the use of
   a. temporary and part-time employees.
   b. telecommuting.
   c. flexible work schedules.
   d. teamwork.
   Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. An incentive plan that encourages employees to achieve a company’s goals and objectives is referred to as
   1. a piece-rate wage plan.
   2. gainsharing.
   3. profit sharing.
   4. overtime.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. The two traditional forms of employee compensation include
   a. hourly wage and individual incentive.

b. hourly wage and profit sharing.
c. salary and individual incentive.
d. hourly wage and gainsharing.

Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. In a piece-rate wage system a worker’s pay is based on
2. total output.
3. job rating.
4. job classification.
5. total time.

Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. __________________ is an incentive plan that joins employees in common to achieve company objectives in which they share in the gains.
   a. Profit sharing
   b. Gainsharing
   c. Performance pay
   d. None of these answer choices is correct.

Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. Which of the following developments has resulted in global diversity issues?
   a. globalization of companies
   b. global teams
   c. global outsourcing
   d. All of these answer choices are correct.

Ans. D
Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 4

1. The process of creating a work environment where employees can contribute to their full potential is
   a. managing diversity.
   b. equal opportunity.

c. affirmative action.
d. None of these answer choices is correct.
Ans. A
Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 4

1. Setting goals and timetables to increase the level of participation by women and minorities to attain parity levels in a company’s workforce is called
   a. diversity.
   b. equal opportunity.

c. affirmative action.
d. None of these answer choices is correct.
Ans. C
Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 4

1. Managing ___________________ includes education, awareness, communication, fairness and commitment.
   a. diversity
   b. equal opportunity

c. affirmative action
d. None of these answer choices is correct.
Ans. A
Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 4

1. The elements of job design include
2. task analysis.
3. worker analysis.
4. environmental analysis.
5. All of these answer choices are correct.

Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective: LO 5

1. Determining how tasks fit together to form a job is referred to as
2. worker analysis.
3. task analysis.
4. environmental analysis.
5. ergonomics.

Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective: LO 5

1. Fitting the task to the employee in a work environment is known as
2. motivation.
3. worker analysis.
4. ergonomics.
5. task analysis.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 5

1. _________________ refers to the physical location of a job and the requisite surroundings.

a. Task analysis

b. Worker analysis

c. Methods analysis

d. Environmental analysis

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 5

1. Which of the following would most likely be used to redesign or improve existing jobs?

a. methods analysis

b technology analysis

c environmental analysis

d task analysis

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 6

1. A(n) __________________ is used to graphically analyze how the steps of a job fit together into the overall flow of the production process.
   1. methods analysis
   2. process flowchart
   3. task analysis
   4. environmental analysis

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 6

1. ______________ involves the horizontal movement of a worker between two or more jobs.
2. Cross training
3. Empowerment
4. Alternative workplace
5. Job rotation

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 6

1. Motion study, the study of the individual human motions used in a task, was developed by
   1. Henry Ford.
   2. F. W. Taylor.
   3. Frank and Lillian Gilbreth.
   4. Frederick Herzberg.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 6

1. The amount of time a worker and a machine are working or idle on a job is illustrated by a
   1. process flowchart.
   2. worker analysis.
   3. task analysis.
   4. worker-machine chart.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 6

1. The gradual shift from treating employees as a replaceable part to embracing them as a valuable resource was primarily brought about by the trend toward
2. globalization.
3. quality management.
4. scientific management.
5. customization.

Difficulty: Easy

Learning Objective: LO 6

1. ___________ illustrate the improvement rate of workers as a job is repeated.

a) Learning curves

b) Process curves

c) Learning charts

d) Process charts

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 6

1. The principles of motion study relate to all of the following categories except
2. the human body.
3. the efficient use of capital.
4. the workplace.
5. the efficient use of equipment and machinery.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 6

1. A graph that illustrates the improvement rate of workers, as a job is repeated, is known as a

a) learning curve.

b) process flowchart.

c) worker-machine chart.

d) task analysis chart.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 7

1. A learning curve illustrates that increasing the number of cumulative units produced ________ the labor required per unit.

a) increases

b) eliminates

c) decreases

d) does not impact

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 7

1. A learning curve reflects the fact that

a) each time the number of units produced doubles, the processing time per unit decreases by a constant percentage.

b) each time the number of units produced doubles, the processing time per unit increases by a constant percentage.

c) each time the number of units produced doubles, the processing time per unit increases by 10%.

d) each time the number of units produced doubles, the processing time per unit remains the same.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 7

1. A 90% learning curve indicates

a) a 90% increase in processing time per unit as output doubles.

b) a 90% decrease in processing time per unit as output doubles.

c) a 10% increase in processing time per unit as output doubles.

d) a 10% decrease in processing time per unit as output doubles.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 7

1. The direct labor time required to produce the first sailboat of a particular model was 3,000 hours. If the company believes that an 80% learning curve applies to the production of this model sailboat, then the direct labor time required to produce the second boat is estimated to be
2. 600 hours.
3. 2,400 hours.
4. 3,600 hours.
5. 4,000 hours.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 7

Solution: Labor time=3,000 hours*0.80=2,400 hours.

1. A company has accepted a contract to produce a special electric motor. The number of direct labor hours required to produce the first motor is 250. If an 85% learning curve applies to the production of motors then the number of labor hours needed to produce the 4^th motor is

a) 212.5 hours.

b) 180.6 hours.

c) 153.5 hours.

d0 37.5 hours

Difficulty: Hard

Learning Objective: LO 7

Solution: Labor time = 250 hours × 0.85 × 0.85 = 180.6 hours

1. The direct labor times required to produce the first four units of a new product are shown below:

Based on this data the estimated learning or improvement rate is

1. 100%.
2. 90%.
3. 85%.
4. 80%.

Difficulty: Hard

Learning Objective: LO 7

Solution: Learning = 1020/1200 = 0.85, or 85%

1. The direct labor hours required to produce the first two units of a new product are 2,000 and 1,800, respectively. Using a 90% learning rate the company would estimate the direct labor hours for the fifth unit to be

a) 1692.4 hours.

b. 1620.0 hours.

c. 1566.0 hours.

d. 1523.2 hours.

Difficulty: Hard

Learning Objective: LO 7

Solution: t₅=2000/5^.152=1566

1. Which of the following is not a true statement regarding learning curves?

a. Learning curves can help managers project labor requirements.

b. Learning curves are not affected by product modifications.

c. Learning curves are useful in developing production scheduling plans.

d. Learning curves can help make overall product cost estimates.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 7

Short Answer Questions

1. How has the trend toward quality management changed the way companies view their employees?

Difficulty: Hard

Learning Objective: LO 1

1. Briefly describe the principles of scientific management.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 2

1. Briefly discuss the advantages and disadvantages of scientific management.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 2

1. In what ways have advances in information technologies changed the working environment?

Difficulty: Hard

Learning Objective: LO 3

1. What is the difference between cross-training and job rotation?

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 3

91. What is empowerment and why is it important to total quality management (TQM)?

Difficulty: Hard

Learning Objective: LO 3

92. List 5 of the attributes of good job design identified by Frederick Herzberg.

1. An appropriate degree of repetitiveness

2. An appropriate degree of attention and mental absorption

3. Some employee responsibility for decisions and discretion

4. Employee control over their own job

5. Goals and achievement feedback

6. A perceived contribution to a useful product or service

7. Opportunities for personal relationships and friendships

8. Some influence over the way work is carried out in groups

Use of skills

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 5

93. Define the 3 categories of the elements of job design.

Difficulty: Moderate

Learning Objective: LO 5

94. List the 3 categories of the principles of motion study and give 2 rules for each category.

• 1. Efficient use of the human body:
     1. Work should be simplified, rhythmic, and symmetric.
     2. Hand/arm motions should be coordinated and simultaneous.
     3. The full extent of physical capabilities should be employed; a part of the body should perform; the hand should never be idle.
     4. Energy should be conserved by letting machines perform tasks when possible, minimizing the distance of movements, and physical momentum should be in favor of the worker.
     5. Tasks should be simple, requiring minimal eye contact and minimal muscular effort, with no unnecessary motions, delays, or idleness.
  2. Efficient Arrangement of the Workplace:
     1. All tools, materials, and equipment should have a designated, easily accessible location that minimizes the motions required to get them.
     2. Seating and the general work environment should be comfortable and healthy
  3. Efficient Use of Equipment:
     1. Equipment and mechanized tools enhance work abilities.
     2. The use of foot-operated mechanized equipment that relieves the hand/arms of work should be maximized.
     3. Equipment should be constructed and arranged to fit worker use.

Difficulty: Hard

Learning Objective: LO 6

95. Briefly discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using learning curves.

Difficulty: Hard

Learning Objective: LO 7

96. You assign two workers, Alice and Bob, to complete a series of nearly identical projects. Working by herself, Alice takes 2 hours to complete the first project. Bob, who has less experience, takes 3 hours working by himself to complete the first project. Assume Alice and Bob can work together without negative or positive interactions (i.e., they don’t slow down or speed up each other), and that they have the same 90% learning curve.

Both workers working as a team require __________ hours to complete the first project.

a) 5

b) 1.5

c) 1.2

d) 1.1

97. You assign two workers, Alice and Bob, to complete a series of nearly identical projects. Working by herself, Alice takes 2 hours to complete the first project. Bob, who has less experience, takes 3 hours working by himself to complete the first project. Assume Alice and Bob can work together without negative or positive interactions (i.e., they don’t slow down or speed up each other), and that they have the same 90% learning curve.

Both workers working as a team require __________ hours to complete the second project.

a) 1.50

b) 1.35

c) 1.20

d) 1.08

98. You assign two workers, Alice and Bob, to complete a series of nearly identical projects. Working by herself, Alice takes 2 hours to complete the first project. Bob, who has less experience, takes 3 hours working by himself to complete the first project. Assume Alice and Bob can work together without negative or positive interactions (i.e., they don’t slow down or speed up each other).

If both workers working as a team require 54 minutes to complete the second project, the team has a __________% learning curve.

a) 90

b) 85

c) 80

d) 75

99. You assign two workers, Alice and Bob, to complete a series of nearly identical projects. Working by herself, Alice takes 2 hours to complete the first project. Bob, who has less experience, takes 3 hours working by himself to complete the first project. Assume Alice and Bob can work together without negative or positive interactions (i.e., they don’t slow down or speed up each other), and that they have the same 85% learning curve.

Both workers working as a team require __________ minutes to complete the fourth project.

a) 58

b) 52

c) 50

d) 49

100. You assign two workers, Alice and Bob, to complete a series of nearly identical projects. Working by herself, Alice takes 2 hours to complete the first project. Bob, who has less experience, takes 3 hours working by himself to complete the first project. Assume Alice and Bob can work together without negative or positive interactions (i.e., they don’t slow down or speed up each other), and that they have the same 85% learning curve.

Suppose Alice is assigned to another project so that the third project has to be completed by Bob working by himself. He would take __________ minutes to complete it.

a) 95

b) 93

c) 91

d) 90

101. You assign two workers, Alice and Bob, to complete a series of nearly identical projects. Working by herself, Alice takes 2 hours to complete the first project. Bob, who has less experience, takes 3 hours working by himself to complete the first project. Assume Alice and Bob can work together without negative or positive interactions (i.e., they don’t slow down or speed up each other), and that they have the same 85% learning curve.

Both workers working as a team require __________ minutes to complete the third project.

a) 46

b) 51

c) 53

d) 56

102. You assign two workers, Alice and Bob, to complete a series of nearly identical projects. Working by herself, Alice takes 2 hours to complete the first project. Bob, who has less experience, takes 3 hours working by himself to complete the first project. Assume Alice and Bob can work together without negative or positive interactions (i.e., they don’t slow down or speed up each other). Suppose Bob is assigned to another project so that the third project has to be completed by Alice working by herself. If she takes 53.4 minutes to complete the project, then she has a __________% learning curve.

a) 60

b) 65

c) 70

d) 75

103. You assign two workers, Alice and Bob, to complete a series of nearly identical projects. Working by herself, Alice takes 2 hours to complete the first project. Bob, who has less experience, takes 3 hours working by himself to complete the first project. Assume Alice and Bob can work together without negative or positive interactions (i.e., they don’t slow down or speed up each other). If both workers working as a team require 36.4 minutes to complete the third project, the team has a __________% learning curve.

a) 60

b) 65

c) 70

d) 75

104. You assign two workers, Alice and Bob, to complete a series of nearly identical projects. Working by herself, Alice takes 2 hours to complete the first project, and she has an 80% learning curve. Bob, who has less experience, takes 3 hours working by himself to complete the first project, but he has a 60% learning curve. Assume Alice and Bob can work together without negative or positive interactions (i.e., they don’t slow down or speed up each other). Both workers working as a team require __________ minutes to complete the fourth project.

a) 39

b) 37

c) 35

d) 33

105. You assign two workers, Alice and Bob, to complete a series of nearly identical projects. Working by herself, Alice takes 2 hours to complete the first project, and she has an 80% learning curve. Bob, who has less experience, takes 3 hours working by himself to complete the first project, but he has a 60% learning curve. Assume Alice and Bob can work together without negative or positive interactions (i.e., they don’t slow down or speed up each other). Both workers working as a team require __________ minutes to complete the third project.

a) 41

b) 43

c) 45

d) 45.5