10 - High- Performance Work Systems Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

A high-performance work system (HPWS) can be defined as a specific combination of _______ practices, work structures and processes that maximizes employee knowledge, skill, commitment, flexibility and resilience. The key concept is based on the _______. High-performance work systems are composed of many interrelated parts that ________ one another to reach the goals of an organization, large or small.

A

human resource (HR)

system

complement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

High-performance work systems are based on the principles of:

  • (1) ________ and engagement
  • (2) Shared ________
  • (3) _______ development
  • (4) _______ linkage.
A
  1. Egalitarianism
  2. information
  3. Knowledge
  4. Performance-reward
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Egalitarian work environments reduce _____ and _____ differences and increase collaboration and teamwork. They use employee _____, suggestion systems, ______ circles, employee involvement groups and union/management committees. Additionally, workflow sometimes is redesigned to give employees more control over ______.

Job ______, job _______ and self-managing work teams are used.

A
  • status / power
  • surveys
  • quality
  • decision making
  • enlargement
  • enrichment
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

When employees are given timely information about business performance, plans and strategies, they are more likely to understand the overall direction of the business. Also, they are more likely to make suggestions for _________, and to commit to new courses of action when they have been able to provide ______ in the decision process.

A

improvement

input

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Why is it important for high-performance organizations to focus on the principle of knowledge development in dealing with employees?

Within firms, the number of jobs requiring greater knowledge and skill is growing. Thus, firms must place greater emphasis on selecting _________ people, and also, on providing employees with opportunities to expand their knowledge and talents. Employees in high- performance work systems need to learn in “______” on the job, using innovative new approaches to solve novel problems.

A

highly qualified

real time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Work tends to move more smoothly and productively when there is an alignment of employee and organizational goals. When rewards are connected to ___________, employees naturally will pursue outcomes that are mutually beneficial to themselves and their employer. Moreover, supervisors can rely more on employees to exercise more _______ and effort because their personal goals mesh with those of the organization.

A

performance

initiative

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Although it may be premature to claim that there is a foolproof list of “best practices” that can be implemented by every organization for every work situation, there are some clear trends in work design, HR practices, leadership roles and information technologies that reflect what _________ systems involve.

A

high-performance work

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Since high-performance work systems frequently begin with the way work is designed, TQM, reengineering, six sigma and the like have driven many firms to redesign their ______. Experts now advise management to focus on the key business processes that drive _________, and then create teams that are responsible for those processes. This approach is used rather than the traditional approach of separating jobs into discrete ______.

A

workflow

customer value

units

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

High-performance work systems typically begin with recruitment and selection practices that are very _______. Recruitment tends to be both broad and intensive in order to get the best candidates. This enables a firm to select skilled individuals with the ability to learn continuously and work cooperatively. The time and expense invested in recruitment and selection becomes beneficial for talented employees who take less time to ______.

A

selective

develop

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

___________ is the training of employees in jobs in areas closely related to their own. This facilitates teamwork and cooperation. It helps employees identify trouble spots that cut across several jobs, and allows them to suggest areas for improvement.

A

Cross-training

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

High-performance organizations often link pay and performance in their compensation plans.

Also, ________, ______-sharing and employee stock ownership plans are examples of this.

High-performance work systems can also incorporate ________ pay plans. By paying employees based on the number of different job skills they have, organizations hope to create both a broader skill base among employees and a more flexible pool of people to rotate among interrelated jobs. Both of these qualities are beneficial in a high-performance work environment and may justify the added expense in compensation.

A

profit

gainsharing

skill-based

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

With _______ layers of management and a focus on team-based organization, the role of managers and supervisors is substantially ________ in an environment of high- performance work systems.

Communication and information technologies are yet another piece to be added to the framework of high-performance work systems. Technologies of various kinds create an ________ for communicating and sharing information vital to business performance.

A

fewer

different

infrastructure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

An _________ exists when the internal elements of a work system complement and reinforce one another.

_________ means testing to make certain that all of the HR practices, work designs, management processes and technologies complement one another. The synergy achieved through overlapping work and HR practices is at the heart of what makes a high-performance system effective.

An _________ exists when the work systems support the goals and strategies of an organization. Objectives such as cost containment, quality enhancement, customer service and speed to market directly impact what’s expected of employees and the skills they need to be successful.

A

internal fit

Horizontal fit

external fit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

To ensure success in implementing a high-performance work system, the following types of actions have been identified:

  1. (a) Make a compelling case for change linked to the company’s __________.
  2. (b) Make certain that change is owned by _______ and ________
  3. (c) Allocate sufficient ________ and support for the change effort.
  4. (d) Ensure early and broad _______ of the effort.
  5. (e) Make certain teams are implemented in a ________ context.
  6. (f) Establish methods for _________ the results of change.
  7. (g) Make certain there is ______ of leadership and appoint champions of the initiative.
A
  1. business strategy
  2. senior and line managers.
  3. resources
  4. communication
  5. systemic
  6. measuring
  7. continuity
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

The four pillars that support relationship with unions in implementing high-performance work systems are:

  • (1) Cultivate ________.
  • (2) Establish formal _______.
  • (3) Foster _______ of other key constituents.
  • (4) Adhere to _______.
A
  1. mutual gains
  2. commitment
  3. support
  4. procedures
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

“Win-win” situations, where all parties gain from the implementation of high-performance work systems, are used with labor-management relations. In such cases, “_________” negotiation rather than positional bargaining leads to better relationships and outcomes with union representatives.

_______ is a fragile component of these types of alliances, and this is reflected in the degree to which parties are comfortable in sharing information and decision making.

A

“interest-based”

Trust

17
Q

Building _________ to high-performance work systems is an ongoing activity. It may never be fully completed. Performance frequently falters as implementation gets underway. In already existing organizations, parts of the system have to be changed ________ rather than as a total program

A

commitment

incrementally

18
Q

After a high-performance work system is in place, it must be monitored and evaluated over time. There should be a _________ to determine that the system will function well, and that it is in fact succeeding. Periodic evaluations also should be conducted.

In addition, high-performance work systems should be periodically evaluated in terms of new organizational _____ and ______. Because high-performance work systems are built on key business processes that deliver value to customers, as these processes and customer relationships change, so too should the work system.

A

process audit

priorities / initiatives

19
Q

There are a number of potential benefits for employees under high-performance work systems.

Employees are more involved in their work and are likely to be more satisfied and find that their needs for ______ are more fully met. Also, they are more informed and empowered, and are likely to feel that they have a ______ to play in the organization, and their opinions and expertise are valued more.

Additionally, they are likely to have more _______ as well as be more marketable to other organizations.

A

growth

fuller role

job security

20
Q

When employees are ___________, the performance of an organization suffers, and employees develop poor work attitudes and habits

A

underutilized

21
Q

There are several organizational outcomes that result from using high-performance work systems. These include higher _______, lower _____, better _______ to customers, greater _______ and higher profitability.

A

productivity

costs

responsiveness

flexibility