Talent Management And Development Flashcards
A company implements a plan to identify outcomes attractive to the employee as a way to improve performance, Which motivation theory is the basis for the plan?
a) Reinforcement theory
b) Expectancy theory
c) Goal-setting theory
d)Motivation-hygiene theory
B. Expectancy theory
Vroom’s expectancy theory is based on the premise that an individual acts in a certain way based on the expectation that the act will be followed by a given outcome and the attractiveness of the outcome to the individual.
Reinforcement theory focuses on behavior as a function of consequences. Goal-setting theory proposes that difficult goals result in higher performance. Motivation-hygiene theory states that intrinsic factors are related to job satisfaction while extrinsic factors are related to job dissatisfaction.
A forced-choice method of appraisal requires an appraiser to?
a)Measure employees against a five point rating scale, with 1 being significantly below Standard, 3 being standard and 5 being above standard
b) Mark items on a checklist that describe the characteristics and performane of the employee
c) Check two of four statements: one that is most like the employee and one that is least like the employee
d) Select key statements from a list of positive and negative statements and build two ranked lists of employee strengths and weaknesses.
c) Check two of four statements: one that is most like the employee and one that is least like the employee
Forced choice is a variation on the checklist method in which the appraiser is required to check two of four statements: one that the employee is “most like” and one that the employee is “least like”.
A manager has a department where none of the employees is failing to meet the minimum requirements of the job. What recourse does the manager have under forced distribution system?
a) The manager may ignore the distribution requirements
b) The manager can use good judgement to evaluate employees but must defend deviations in writing
c) The manager can ask HR for a waiver or an alternative rating system
d) The manager’s appraisals must conform to the distribution
d) The manager’s appraisals must conform to the distribution.
In a forced distribution system, employees are grouped by performance in order to ensure a normal bell curve distribution. It does not rank employee performance simply against job requirements. The supervisor should comply.
A manager is tempted to rate an employee’s performance as excellent based on the employee’s strong performance during the last six months. By deciding that the employee’s earlier performance must be considered as well, the manager has avoided which appraisal error?
a) Bias
b) Leniency
c) Recency
d) Contrast
C) Recency
An employee who is good at answering customer questions on technical software is not good at completing paperwork or working with fellow employees . In spite of this, the employee is rated highly in all performance categories . What performance appraisal error has occurred?
a) Recency
b) Halo effect
c) Bias
d) Leniency
B) Halo effect
An interviewer believes that older workers are more difficult to train and make more mistakes than younger workers . This form of performance appraisal error is
a) Deficiency .
b) Contamination.
c) Bias.
d) Conflict .
C) Bias
Goal setting is MOST effective when paired with the performance management tool known as?
a) performance feedback.
b) pay-for-performance system.
c) role modeling.
d) job rotation.
A) Performance feedback
Goal setting is most effective when combined with feedback so progress can be monitored.
Halo error occurs when:
a) A large number of ratees receive ratings in the mid-range .
b) A ratee is rated equally on multiple performance scales because of a general impression .
c) A large number of ratees receive high ratings.
d) No practical performance difference exists among ratees.
B) A ratee is rated equally on multiple performance scales because of a general impression .
Halo effect or error occurs when one allows a prominent characteristic to overshadow other evidence. One aspect of performance contaminates other aspects of performance in a positive manner. The reverse effect is referred to as “horned” effect when the performance is viewed in a negative manner.
If an employee received an excellent rating because the employee was considerably more skilled than fellow workers, it would be an example of which appraisal error?
a) Bias
b) Leniency
c) Recency
d) Contrast
D) Contrast
The contrast error occurs when an employee’s rating is based on how his or her performance compares to that of another employee instead of on objective performance standards.
In performance appraisal systems, central tendency is the most common error found in using:
a) Essays.
b) Ranking.
c) Critical incidents.
d) Graphic rating scale
D) Graphic rating scale
Central tendency is a common problem associated with a performance appraisal that uses a graphic rating scale. The rater evaluates all employees as average or in the mid-range of the scale.
In setting and communicating performance standards, HR must consider:
a) needs and attitudes.
b) waste and recycling.
c) supply and demand.
d) behaviors and results.
D) behaviors and results
In setting and communicating performance standards, the HR professional needs to consider behaviors (What does the organization want employees to do and what the performance standards are?) and results (What does the organization want employees to produce?).
Procedural justice focuses on the fairness of the ____ of performance appraisal.
a) criteria
b) outcomes
c) processes
d) interaction
C) Processes
Procedural justice is defined as the fairness of the processes that lead to outcomes. Distributive justice is conceptualized as the fairness associated with decision outcomes and distribution of resources. Interactional justice refers to the treatment that an individual receives as decisions are made and can be promoted by providing explanations for decisions and delivering the news with sensitivity and respect.
What is the most effective action to strengthen employee’s behavior?
a) Praise an employee for doing a good job.
b) Measure the results of the behaviors.
c) Eliminate any obstacle to achieve performance objective.
d) Provide employee counseling services.
a) Praise an employee for doing a good job.
When conducting a performance review, who should do most of the talking?
a) Manager
b) Subordinate
c) HR professional
d) Both appraiser and appraisee should talk about the same amount
B) Subordinate
When significant aspects of performance are not measured by the appraisal form this is called :
a) Criterion contamination.
b) Criterion deficiency .
c) Rater-bias error.
d) Contrast error
B) Criterion deficiency
Which intervention strategy is used when a subject receives no response at all?
a) Positive reinforcement
b) Negative reinforcement
c) Extinction
d) Punishment
C) Extinction
Extinction involves no response. When behavior is not reinforced (positively, negatively, or via punishment) the behavior will diminish and eventually become nonexistent.
Which of the following appraisal methods includes the employee in setting goals?
a) 360-degree feedback
b) Behaviorally anchored rating scale
c) Behavior observation scale
d) Management by objectives
D) Management by objectives
Management by objectives (MBO) is frequently used by managers to appraise employees.
Employees help set objectives for themselves, defining what they intend to achieve within a specified time period. The objectives are based on overall goals and objectives for the organization.
Which of the following criteria would be least likely to substantiate the legal defensibility of a performance appraisal system?
a) Specific written instructions.
b) Based on job analysis.
c) Linked to measurable goals.
d) Supervisors trained in administration of the system
C) Linked to measurable goals.
To be legally defensible, performance appraisals should be based upon a job analysis to establish the job-relatedness. Specific written instructions and training should be provided to supervisors in order to standardize the process to minimize adverse impact. Even though performance appraisal criteria may be linked to measurable goals, there is no way of determining whether those goals are relevant to the job and are being consistently measured.
Which of the following is an example of 360-degree feedback?
a) An employee receiving feedback on her ability to successfully demonstrate required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
b) An employee receiving feedback that has been completed by two supervisors, so as to avoid rating errors.
c) An employee evaluating her own performance and sharing that with her supervisor.
d) An employee receiving feedback from her supervisor, her peer, and her subordinate.
d) An employee receiving feedback from her supervisor, her peer, and her subordinate.
The 360-degree feedback or rating sources would come from subordinates, peers, and managers in the organizational hierarchy, as well as self-assessment, and in some cases external sources such as customers and suppliers or other stakeholders. The purpose of the 360 degree performance feedback is to assist each individual to understand his or her strengths and weaknesses, and to contribute insights into aspects of his or her work needing professional development.
Which of the following is an example of a specific comment used to give feedback?
a) “I like the way you relate to customers.”
b) You could improve the way you relate to customers.
c) Your customer satisfaction index is rated 8.8.
d) Customers seem to like you.
c) Your customer satisfaction index is rated 8.8.
Which of the following narrative appraisal methods is completed by a supervisor and a human resource professional?
a) Critical incidents
b) Field review
c) Essay
d) Paired comparison
B) Field review
The supervisor or manager and a human resource professional cooperate in doing field review ratings. The HR professional interviews the supervisor and takes notes concerning the performance of each employee. After the interview, the notes are compiled by the HR department and comparison ratings are arrived at for each employee. Then the ratings are submitted to the supervisor for approval or changes.
Which of the following performance appraisal methods was designed to combat the problems of category rating?
a) BARS
b) MBO
c) BOS
d) 360-degree feedback
A) BARS
Behaviorally anchored rating scale
The behaviorally anchored rating scale (BARS)
method was designed to combat the problems of category rating by describing examples of desirable and undesirable behavior. Examples are then measured against a scale of performance levels.
Which performance appraisal method should the organization implement in order to avoid rater biases from the newly acquired managers?
a) Behaviorally anchored rating scales (BARS)
b) Forced ranking
c) Behavioral observation scale (BOS)
d) Graphic rating scale
a) Behaviorally anchored rating scales (BARS)
A bank provides parts sales training for its sales associates. How can the bank BEST determine if the training has had an impact?
a) Ask the sales associates about the training .
b) Observe the associates’ interactions with customers.
c) Test the employees on sales techniques .
d) Compare employee sales before and after the training .
d) Compare employee sales before and after the training .
A bank purchases a CRM system to increase its customers ‘ satisfaction .
Employees are trained on the new system. However , the satisfaction has
actually declined. What is the FIRST thing the bank manager should do?
a) Talk to employees about the situation.
b) Return to the original compensation plan.
c) Send employees to refresher training.
d) Lower the expected production volume.
A) Talk to employees about the situation.
A major concern with e-Learning is that?
a) Retention of learned material is affected by the speed with which the learner progresses through the course.
b) Trainees will discontinue other learning experiences critical to job performance.
c) It is more costly than other training methodologies.
d) It provides too much flexibility because of self-pacing.
a) Retention of learned material is affected by the speed with which the learner progresses through the course.
A pharmaceutical company is undertaking a joint venture that enables it to sell a new drug. The company is on a tight time frame and needs to provide training for 150 sales representatives located throughout the U.S.
Given the company’s time constraints, which needs assessment method would best determine the training that sales representatives need?
a) Advisory committee
b) Assessment center
c) Observation
d) Tests
a) Advisory committee
A pharmaceutical company is undertaking a joint venture that enables it to sell
a new drug. The company is on a tight time frame and needs to provide training for 150 sales representatives located throughout the U.S. Which of the
following needs assessment methods should the company use to create the sales representatives’ buy-in?
a) Assessment center
b) Phone interviews
c) Observation
d) Questionnaire
B) Phone interviews
Considering that time is an issue and that sales representatives are geographically dispersed, phone interviews will be most effective.
Interviews are most useful in that they can uncover attitudes and allow for discussion of problems and possible solutions. This would not occur with a questionnaire. The tight time frame rules out observation and assessment centers.
A trainer has introduced an activity by reading the instructions from the facilitator guide and allowed time for questions before breaking into small groups. After forming groups, participants spend more time asking questions about what they are supposed to do than doing the activity. To keep the group focused on the activity, what should the trainer do differently next time?
a) Establish ground rules on how group activities should be conducted.
b) Allow more time for the small group activity.
c) Appoint a leader for each group to report results to the class.
d) Provide written activity instructions in a handout
d) Provide written activity instructions in a handout