Chapter 1 Introduction To Human Resource Management
Chapter 1 Introduction To Human Resource Management
2017 chapter 01
Human Resource Management, 15e (Dessler)
Chapter 1 Introduction to Human Resource Management
1) The basic functions of the management process include all of the
following EXCEPT
________.
A) planning
B) organizing
C) outsourcing
D) leading
Answer: C
Explanation: C) The five basic functions of the management process
include planning,
organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling. Outsourcing jobs may be
an aspect of human
resources, but it is not one of the primary management functions.
Difficulty: Easy
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
2) Which of the following is the person responsible for accomplishing an
organization's goals by
managing the efforts of the organization's people?
A) manager
B) entrepreneur
C) generalist
D) marketer
Answer: A
Explanation: A) The manager is the person responsible for accomplishing
an organization's
goals by planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling the
efforts of the organization's
people. An entrepreneur may manage people or may hire a manager to do so
instead, but
entrepreneurs are defined as individuals who start their own businesses.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
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5) Claire spends most of her time at work establishing goals for her
staff of fifty employees and
developing procedures for various tasks. In which function of the
management process does
Claire spend most of her time?
A) leading
B) controlling
C) organizing
D) planning
Answer: D
Explanation: D) The planning function of the management process requires
managers to
establish goals and standards, develop rules and procedures, and develop
plans and forecast.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
6) Jolene, a manager, delegates the authority for a project to Lee, her
subordinate. Jolene is most
likely involved in which function of the management process?
A) staffing
B) organizing
C) motivating
D) leading
Answer: B
Explanation: B) The organizing function of the management process
includes delegating
authority to subordinates and establishing channels of communication.
The organizing function
also includes establishing departments and coordinating the work of
subordinates.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
3
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11) In the management process, which of the following is an activity
associated with the leading
function?
A) motivating subordinates
B) setting performance standards
C) training new employees
D) developing procedures
Answer: A
Explanation: A) The leading function of the management process requires
a manager to get
others to get the job done; maintaining morale, and motivating subordinates.
Difficulty: Easy
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
12) Personnel activities associated with human resource management most
likely include all of
the following EXCEPT ________.
A) orienting and training new employees
B) appraising employee performance
C) building employee commitment
D) developing customer relationships
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Human resource management involves numerous
personnel-related activities,
and HR managers are less likely to interact with customers. Managing
compensation, orienting
new employees, appraising employee performance, and developing employee
commitment are
typical aspects of the HR manager's job.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
6
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26) All of the following are major areas in which an HR manager assists
and advises line
managers EXCEPT ________.
A) recruiting
B) hiring
C) strategic business planning
D) compensation
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Human resource managers are usually staff managers. They
assist and advise
line managers in areas like recruiting, hiring, and compensation.
Difficulty: Hard
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
27) Human resource managers generally exert ________ within the human
resources department
and ________ outside the human resources department.
A) line authority; staff authority
B) staff authority; line authority
C) functional authority; line authority
D) staff authority; implied authority
Answer: A
Explanation: A) HR managers usually have line authority in the HR
department, which means
they have the right to direct the activities of the people in their own
department. However,
outside of the HR department, HR managers are likely to exert implied
authority because line
managers realize that the HR manager has top management's ear in areas
like testing and
affirmative action. Staff (assist and advise) function refers to a
manager's authority to advise
managers or employees outside of his or her department.
Difficulty: Hard
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
12
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28) The HR staff member who has the job of advising management on all
aspects of unionmanagement aspects is the ________.
A) recruiter
B) line manager
C) compensation manager
D) labor relations specialist
Answer: D
Explanation: D) The labor relations specialist advises management on all
aspects of unionmanagement relations.
Difficulty: Easy
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
29) All of the following are examples of human resource specialties
EXCEPT ________.
A) job analyst
B) financial advisor
C) compensation manager
D) labor relations specialist
Answer: B
Explanation: B) HR management specialties include recruiter, EEO
coordinator, job analyst,
compensation manager, training specialist, and labor relations
specialist. HR managers are less
likely to serve as financial advisors.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
13
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32) Which of the following focuses on using centralized call centers and
outside vendors as a
way to provide specialized support in day-to-day HR activities?
A) embedded HR units
B) corporate HR groups
C) HR centers of expertise
D) shared HR groups
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Transactional (or shared) HR groups focus on using
centralized call centers and
outsourcing arrangements with vendors, such as benefits advisors, to
provide specialized support
in day-to-day transactional HR activities to a firm's employees.
Activities may include changing
benefits plans and providing updated appraisal forms.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
33) An HR generalist at Wilson Manufacturing has been assigned to the
sales department to
provide HR management assistance as needed. Which of the following best
describes the
structure of the HR services provided at Wilson Manufacturing?
A) shared HR teams
B) embedded HR teams
C) centers of expertise
D) corporate HR teams
Answer: B
Explanation: B) In the embedded HR teams structure, a HR generalist is
assigned directly to a
department within an organization to provide localized human resource
management assistance
as needed.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
15
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35) Roberto Sanchez has recently been hired by Slate Pharmaceuticals as
the senior vice
president of human resources. Slate Pharmaceuticals has a history of a
variety of significant
problems within its HR department such as EEO violations, inadequate
employee training
programs, and employee confusion regarding health benefit enrollment and
coverage. With 20
years of experience transforming HR departments in other firms, Sanchez
believes he can correct
the major problems at Slate Pharmaceuticals.
Which of the following best supports the argument that Sanchez should
create embedded HR
units and assign relationship managers to each department within the
company?
A) Employees frequently complain about the inconsistent assistance they
receive from the HR
department due to its large size.
B) The global nature of the firm makes it difficult for the HR
department to effectively
communicate corporate messages to employees scattered around the world.
C) Centralized call centers would enable the HR department to provide
specialized support on
daily transactional activities.
D) Line managers want to implement additional screening and evaluations
to improve the quality
of their subordinates.
Answer: A
Explanation: A) The embedded HR teams assign HR generalists (also known
as "relationship
managers" or "HR business partners") directly to departments like sales
and production, to
provide the localized human resource management assistance the
departments need. If
employees are unable to receive the HR assistance they need on a regular
basis, then it would be
appropriate for the firm to assign HR generalists to each department as
a direct line to the HR
department.
Difficulty: Hard
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
36) Which of the following areas is NOT a major area where human
resource managers assist
and advise line managers?
A) recruiting
B) hiring
C) compensation
D) performance management
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Human resource managers assist and advise line managers
in areas like
recruiting, hiring, and compensation.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
17
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41) Setting standards such as sales quotas, quality standards, or
production levels is part of the
leading function of human resource management.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Setting standards such as sales quotas, quality standards,
or production levels is
part of the controlling rather than the leading function of human
resource management. Leading
involves maintaining morale and motivating workers.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
42) The planning function of management includes establishing goals and
standards and
developing forecasts.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: The planning function of management includes establishing
goals and standards,
developing rules and procedures, and developing plans and forecasting.
Planning, organizing,
staffing, leading, and controlling are the five functions of the
management process.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
43) Communicating is one of the five basic functions of the management
process.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling
are the five functions of the
management process. Although communicating with employees is part of
every step, it is not one
of the five basic functions.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
20
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44) Hiring the wrong person for the job, committing unfair labor
practices, and having your
people not doing their best are personnel mistakes that hinder firms
from achieving positive
results.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Common HRM mistakes include hiring the wrong people, having
your people not
doing their best and committing unfair labor practices. The primary goal
of HRM is to help the
firm achieve its goals, and such HRM mistakes hinder that process.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
45) Autonomy is the right to make decisions, direct the work of others,
and give orders.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Authority rather than autonomy is the right to make
decisions, direct the work of
others, and give orders. In management, authority is distinguished
between line authority and
staff authority.
Difficulty: Easy
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
46) Staff managers are authorized to issue orders to subordinates and
are directly in charge of
accomplishing the organization's basic goals.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Line managers, not staff managers, are authorized to issue
orders down the chain
of command. Staff managers have the authority to advise other managers
or employees.
Difficulty: Easy
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
21
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47) Human resource managers are generally staff managers.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Human resource managers are usually staff managers. They
assist and advise line
managers in areas like recruiting, hiring, and compensation. However,
line managers still have
human resource duties.
Difficulty: Easy
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
48) Staff managers have staff authority which enables them to issue
orders down the chain of
command unlike line managers.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Line managers can issue orders down the chain of command,
while staff managers
are only able to advise other managers and employees.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
49) In small organizations, line managers frequently handle all
personnel duties without the
assistance of a human resource staff.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: In small firms, line managers may carry out personnel tasks
unassisted. However,
large firms of over 100 employees require human resource specialists.
Difficulty: Easy
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
50) Human resource managers assist line managers with recruiting,
hiring, and compensation.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Assisting and advising line managers is the heart of the
human resource manager's
job. HR assists in recruiting, hiring, and compensation.
Difficulty: Easy
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
22
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51) Staff authority gives a manager the right to advise other managers
or employees.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Staff authority gives a manager the right to advise other
managers or employees. It
creates an advisory relationship.
Difficulty: Easy
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
52) The role of labor relations specialists includes investigating EEO
grievances and collecting
data about jobs for the purpose of writing job descriptions.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Labor relations specialists advise management on all
aspects of union–
management relations. EEO coordinators investigate EEO grievances, and
job analysts collect
data for job descriptions.
Difficulty: Easy
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
53) Shared service HR teams focus on assisting top management in big
picture issues such as
developing a firm's long-term strategic plan.
Answer: FALSE
Explanation: Corporate HR teams focus on assisting top management in big
picture issues such
as developing a firm's long-term strategic plan.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
54) Centralized HR units whose employees are shared by all the
companies' departments to
obtain advice are called shared service.
Answer: TRUE
Explanation: Shared service is centralized HR units whose employees are
shared by all the
companies' departments to obtain advice on matters such as discipline
problems.
Difficulty: Easy
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
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58) What are the five basic functions of the management process? Explain
some of the specific
activities involved in each function. Which function is most closely
associated with human
resource management?
Answer: The five basic functions are planning, organizing, staffing,
leading, and controlling.
Planning activities include establishing goals and standards, developing
rules and procedures,
and developing plans and forecasting. Organizing activities include
giving specific task
assignments to subordinates, establishing departments, delegating
authority to subordinates, and
establishing channels of authority and communication. Staffing
activities include determining
what type of people should be hired, recruiting prospective employees,
and setting performance
standards. Leading activities include maintaining morale and motivating
subordinates.
Controlling activities include setting standards such as sales quotas
and quality standards and
taking corrective action as needed. Staffing is the function most
readily related to human
resource management. However, HR managers actually perform all five
functions.
Difficulty: Hard
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.
59) Why is human resource management important to all managers? What is
the role of line
managers in human resource management?
Answer: HR management is important to all managers because managers can
do everything else
right—lay brilliant plans, draw clear organization charts, set up
world-class assembly lines, and
use sophisticated accounting controls—but still fail, by hiring the
wrong people or by not
motivating subordinates. On the other hand, many managers—presidents,
generals, governors,
supervisors—have been successful even with inadequate plans,
organizations, or controls
because they had the knack of hiring the right people for the right jobs
and motivating,
appraising, and developing them. The direct handling of people is an
integral part of every line
manager's duties. More specifically, line managers must place the right
person in the right job,
orient and train new employees, improve the job performance of each
person, gain cooperation
and develop smooth working relationships, interpret the company's
policies and procedures,
control labor costs, and protect employees' health and physical condition.
Difficulty: Hard
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how
it relates to the
management process.