WGU D351 FUNCTIONS OF HUMAN
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TERMS.
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 2026
Absenteeism - ANS The failure of an employee to report to the workplace as scheduled
Accountability - ANS The personal duty to someone else (a higher-level manager or the
organization itself) for the effective use of resources to complete an assignment
Active listening - ANS The intention and ability to listen to others, use the content and
context of the communication, and respond appropriately
Adverse employment action - ANS Any action, such as firings, demotions, schedule
reductions, or changes, that would harm the individual employee
Affirmative action - ANS A series of policies, programs, and initiatives that have been
instituted by various entities within both government and the private sector that are designed
to prefer hiring of individuals from protected groups in certain circumstances in an attempt to
mitigate past discrimination
Arbitrator - ANS A neutral third party who resolves a conflict by making a binding decision
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Assessment center - ANS A place where job applicants undergo a series of tests, interviews,
and simulated experiences to determine their potential for a particular job
Authority - ANS The right to give orders, enforce obedience, make decisions, and commit
resources toward completing organizational goals
Autocratic style of management - ANS Highly directive and low in supportiveness.
Appropriate when interacting with low-capability employees.
Consultative style of management - ANS Highly directive and highly supportive behavior, is
appropriate when interacting with moderately capable employees. Give specific instructions,
and oversee performance at all major stages of a task.
Participative style of management - ANS Low directive behavior and high supportive
behavior, and it is appropriate when interacting with employees with high capability. Spend a
small amount of time giving general directions and a great deal of time giving encouragement.
Empowering Style of Management - ANS Provide very little direction or support to
employees, appropriate for outstanding employees. You should let them know what needs to
be done and answer their questions, but it is not necessary to oversee their performance.
Behaviorally anchored rating scale (BARS) form - ANS A performance appraisal that provides
a description of each assessment along a continuum
Behaviors - ANS The actions taken by an individual
Bias - ANS A personality-based tendency, either toward or against something
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 2
,Biological job design - ANS Designing jobs by focusing on minimizing the physical strain on
the worker by structuring the physical work environment around the way the body works
Bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ) - ANS A qualification that is absolutely required
in order for an individual to be able to successfully do a particular job
Bonus - ANS A lump sum payment, typically given to an individual at the end of a time period
Broadbanding - ANS Combining multiple pay levels into one
Burnout - ANS Constant lack of interest and motivation to perform one's job
Business necessity - ANS When a particular practice is necessary for the safe and efficient
operation of the business and when there is a specific business purpose for applying a particular
standard that may, in fact, be discriminatory
Business skills - ANS The analytical and quantitative skills—including in-depth knowledge of
how the business works and its budgeting and strategic-planning processes—that are necessary
for a manager to understand and contribute to the profitability of the organization
Career - ANS The individually perceived sequence of attitudes and behaviors associated with
work-related experiences and activities over the span of a person's life
Career plateau - ANS When an individual feels unchallenged in their current job and has little
or no chance of advancement
Centralization - ANS Degree to which decision making is concentrated within the organization
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Coaching - ANS The process of giving motivational feedback to maintain and improve
performance
COBRA - ANS A law that requires employers to offer to maintain health insurance on
individuals who leave their employment (for a period of time)
Cognitive ability test - ANS An assessment of general intelligence or of some type of aptitude
for a particular job
Cohesiveness - ANS An intent and desire for group members to stick together in their actions
Collective bargaining - ANS The negotiation process resulting in a contract between union
employees and management that covers employment conditions
Commission - ANS A payment typically provided to a salesperson for selling an item to a
customer
Communication - ANS The process of transmitting information and meaning
Compensation - ANS The total of an employee's pay and benefits
Compensation system - ANS Anything that an employee may value and desire and that the
employer is willing and able to offer in exchange
Compensatory damages - ANS Monetary damages awarded by the court that compensate
the injured person for losses
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 4
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TERMS.
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 2026
Absenteeism - ANS The failure of an employee to report to the workplace as scheduled
Accountability - ANS The personal duty to someone else (a higher-level manager or the
organization itself) for the effective use of resources to complete an assignment
Active listening - ANS The intention and ability to listen to others, use the content and
context of the communication, and respond appropriately
Adverse employment action - ANS Any action, such as firings, demotions, schedule
reductions, or changes, that would harm the individual employee
Affirmative action - ANS A series of policies, programs, and initiatives that have been
instituted by various entities within both government and the private sector that are designed
to prefer hiring of individuals from protected groups in certain circumstances in an attempt to
mitigate past discrimination
Arbitrator - ANS A neutral third party who resolves a conflict by making a binding decision
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Assessment center - ANS A place where job applicants undergo a series of tests, interviews,
and simulated experiences to determine their potential for a particular job
Authority - ANS The right to give orders, enforce obedience, make decisions, and commit
resources toward completing organizational goals
Autocratic style of management - ANS Highly directive and low in supportiveness.
Appropriate when interacting with low-capability employees.
Consultative style of management - ANS Highly directive and highly supportive behavior, is
appropriate when interacting with moderately capable employees. Give specific instructions,
and oversee performance at all major stages of a task.
Participative style of management - ANS Low directive behavior and high supportive
behavior, and it is appropriate when interacting with employees with high capability. Spend a
small amount of time giving general directions and a great deal of time giving encouragement.
Empowering Style of Management - ANS Provide very little direction or support to
employees, appropriate for outstanding employees. You should let them know what needs to
be done and answer their questions, but it is not necessary to oversee their performance.
Behaviorally anchored rating scale (BARS) form - ANS A performance appraisal that provides
a description of each assessment along a continuum
Behaviors - ANS The actions taken by an individual
Bias - ANS A personality-based tendency, either toward or against something
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 2
,Biological job design - ANS Designing jobs by focusing on minimizing the physical strain on
the worker by structuring the physical work environment around the way the body works
Bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ) - ANS A qualification that is absolutely required
in order for an individual to be able to successfully do a particular job
Bonus - ANS A lump sum payment, typically given to an individual at the end of a time period
Broadbanding - ANS Combining multiple pay levels into one
Burnout - ANS Constant lack of interest and motivation to perform one's job
Business necessity - ANS When a particular practice is necessary for the safe and efficient
operation of the business and when there is a specific business purpose for applying a particular
standard that may, in fact, be discriminatory
Business skills - ANS The analytical and quantitative skills—including in-depth knowledge of
how the business works and its budgeting and strategic-planning processes—that are necessary
for a manager to understand and contribute to the profitability of the organization
Career - ANS The individually perceived sequence of attitudes and behaviors associated with
work-related experiences and activities over the span of a person's life
Career plateau - ANS When an individual feels unchallenged in their current job and has little
or no chance of advancement
Centralization - ANS Degree to which decision making is concentrated within the organization
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Coaching - ANS The process of giving motivational feedback to maintain and improve
performance
COBRA - ANS A law that requires employers to offer to maintain health insurance on
individuals who leave their employment (for a period of time)
Cognitive ability test - ANS An assessment of general intelligence or of some type of aptitude
for a particular job
Cohesiveness - ANS An intent and desire for group members to stick together in their actions
Collective bargaining - ANS The negotiation process resulting in a contract between union
employees and management that covers employment conditions
Commission - ANS A payment typically provided to a salesperson for selling an item to a
customer
Communication - ANS The process of transmitting information and meaning
Compensation - ANS The total of an employee's pay and benefits
Compensation system - ANS Anything that an employee may value and desire and that the
employer is willing and able to offer in exchange
Compensatory damages - ANS Monetary damages awarded by the court that compensate
the injured person for losses
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED 4
