PHR Vocabulary Exam with Accurate
Solution
accounting - ANSWER-Organizational function concerned with recording financial
transactions, paying bills, collecting revenue from customers, and producing financial
statements.
acquired-needs theory (1961) - ANSWER-Theory developed by David McClelland that
states that people are motivated by experiences acquired thoughout their lives. Overall,
humans are motivated to excel in achievement, affiliation, or power.
active training method - ANSWER-Learning experience focused on the learner, such as
case studies, computer-based training (CBT), and programmed instructions.
ADDIE model - ANSWER-Five elements of the instructional design process: analysis,
design, development, implementation , and evaluation.
ad hoc arbitrator - ANSWER-Person selected to hear a single case between two parties
in conflict.
administrative services only (ASO) plan - ANSWER-Benefit plan used by some self-
funded organization. These organizations contract with an insurance company to
manage and pay claims.
adverse impact - ANSWER-Any negative result of an employment action.
Affirmative Action Plan (AAP) - ANSWER-Plan that analyzes a workforce to determine
whether protected classes are underutilized in different job groups and describes how
an organization will address any under utilization that exists.
agency shop clause - ANSWER-Clause in a labor contract specifying that all employees
must either join the union or pay union dues if they choose not to join the union.
ally doctrine - ANSWER-Principle stating that if an employer whose workers are on
strike contacts a neutral employer to produce the work that would normally be
performed by the striking workers, the neutral employer becomes an ally of the struck
employer and is therefore a legitimate target of a picket line.
average/central tendency bias - ANSWER-Occurs when interviewer characterized by a
group of candidates (in a selections process) or employees (in a performance-
,management process) who are all rated about the same because the interviewer or
reviewers has difficulty deciding which one is best.
average - ANSWER-Means; Quantative measurement calculated by taking the sum of
the values in a set of numbers and dividing by the number of values in the set (1+2+3 =
6/3 = 2).
autonomy - ANSWER-Degree of independence or discretion allowed on the job.
authorization card - ANSWER-Means by which the National Labor Relations Board
(NLRB) determines that there is sufficient support for a union to hold an election. The
NLRB will hold an election if 30 percent of the eligible employees in the anticipated
bargaining unit sign.
authoritarian leader - ANSWER-Type of leader who tells people what to do. This
approach can be effective in emergencies or when productivity is the organization's
primary concern.
auditory learner - ANSWER-Learners who retain information best when they hear it.
application-tracking system (ATS) - ANSWER-Automated approach for keeping track of
job applicants from the receipt of an application or resume to final disposition.
andragogy - ANSWER-The study of how adults learn. In this form of education, the
learner participates in decision about what will be taught and how it will be delivered.
Americans with Disabilities Act - ANSWER-Employers with 15 or more employees are
prohibited from discriminating against people with disabilities. In general, this
employment provision requires equal opportunities in selecting, testing, and hiring
qualified appplicants with disabilities when such accommodations would not impose
"undue hardship," and equal opportunity in promotion and benefits.
alternative dispute resolution (ADR) - ANSWER-Range of methods used to solve
disagreements without litigation. Often able to resolve problems with less animosity than
occurs when a lawsuit is filed, and at far less cost to the parties.
alter ego doctrine - ANSWER-Principle stating that when two businesses have
interrelated operations, central control of labor relations, common management, and
common ownership, they are considered alter ego employers, and the National Labor
Relations Board (NLRB) may determine that employees of the alter ego employer are
part of the bargaining unit.
undue hardship - ANSWER-Exception to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that
weighs the cost of an accomodation against the size of the organization and other
similar factors.
, litigation - ANSWER-To contest in legal proceedings to engage in legal proceedings.
bargaining unit - ANSWER-Composed of persons who are recognized by both the
company and a legally organized labor union to negotiate matters involving employment
issues. Some of these issues include safety conditions on the job, salary and benefits,
job qualifications, and general working conditions and procedures. The main purpose is
to create a working situation that is advantageous for both the employer and the
employee.
disability - ANSWER-Having a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits
one or more major life activities of such individual; a record of or being regarded as
having such an impairment.
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) - ANSWER-Governement agency charged with
conducting elections and preventing and remedying unfair labor practices. The agency
does not instigate action on its own, it merely reponds to charges of unfair labor
practices or petitions for representation elections filed in ofe of its offices.
National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) - ANSWER-Guarantees the right of employees to
organize and bargain collectively with their employers. Enforces oversight of workers
rights.
balanced scorecard - ANSWER-Business measurement tool used by managers to track
information in four key areas: financial results, customer results, key internal processes,
and how people are hired and trained to achieve organization goals.
business process outsource (BPO) - ANSWER-Practice of engaging a third-party
provider to assume operational control of and responsibility for a particular business
function.
business-continuity planning - ANSWER-Proactive strategy to protect an organization
from emergencies and other circumstances. It results in a written document describing
possible disruptions to operations and actions to be taken to minimize those disruptions
and assigns responsibility for executing the plan to specific individuals.
broadbanding - ANSWER-Job-classification method that consolidates multiple pay
grades into a few broad "bands" with a wide range between the minimum and maximum
of the band.
balance sheet - ANSWER-Statement that provides a snapshot of an organization's
financial condition on a specific day, usually the last day of the accounting period.
Information on the balance sheet includes the company's assets, liabilities, and equity.
base pay - ANSWER-Preset salary or hourly rate paid to an employee for performing
their job responsibilities.
Solution
accounting - ANSWER-Organizational function concerned with recording financial
transactions, paying bills, collecting revenue from customers, and producing financial
statements.
acquired-needs theory (1961) - ANSWER-Theory developed by David McClelland that
states that people are motivated by experiences acquired thoughout their lives. Overall,
humans are motivated to excel in achievement, affiliation, or power.
active training method - ANSWER-Learning experience focused on the learner, such as
case studies, computer-based training (CBT), and programmed instructions.
ADDIE model - ANSWER-Five elements of the instructional design process: analysis,
design, development, implementation , and evaluation.
ad hoc arbitrator - ANSWER-Person selected to hear a single case between two parties
in conflict.
administrative services only (ASO) plan - ANSWER-Benefit plan used by some self-
funded organization. These organizations contract with an insurance company to
manage and pay claims.
adverse impact - ANSWER-Any negative result of an employment action.
Affirmative Action Plan (AAP) - ANSWER-Plan that analyzes a workforce to determine
whether protected classes are underutilized in different job groups and describes how
an organization will address any under utilization that exists.
agency shop clause - ANSWER-Clause in a labor contract specifying that all employees
must either join the union or pay union dues if they choose not to join the union.
ally doctrine - ANSWER-Principle stating that if an employer whose workers are on
strike contacts a neutral employer to produce the work that would normally be
performed by the striking workers, the neutral employer becomes an ally of the struck
employer and is therefore a legitimate target of a picket line.
average/central tendency bias - ANSWER-Occurs when interviewer characterized by a
group of candidates (in a selections process) or employees (in a performance-
,management process) who are all rated about the same because the interviewer or
reviewers has difficulty deciding which one is best.
average - ANSWER-Means; Quantative measurement calculated by taking the sum of
the values in a set of numbers and dividing by the number of values in the set (1+2+3 =
6/3 = 2).
autonomy - ANSWER-Degree of independence or discretion allowed on the job.
authorization card - ANSWER-Means by which the National Labor Relations Board
(NLRB) determines that there is sufficient support for a union to hold an election. The
NLRB will hold an election if 30 percent of the eligible employees in the anticipated
bargaining unit sign.
authoritarian leader - ANSWER-Type of leader who tells people what to do. This
approach can be effective in emergencies or when productivity is the organization's
primary concern.
auditory learner - ANSWER-Learners who retain information best when they hear it.
application-tracking system (ATS) - ANSWER-Automated approach for keeping track of
job applicants from the receipt of an application or resume to final disposition.
andragogy - ANSWER-The study of how adults learn. In this form of education, the
learner participates in decision about what will be taught and how it will be delivered.
Americans with Disabilities Act - ANSWER-Employers with 15 or more employees are
prohibited from discriminating against people with disabilities. In general, this
employment provision requires equal opportunities in selecting, testing, and hiring
qualified appplicants with disabilities when such accommodations would not impose
"undue hardship," and equal opportunity in promotion and benefits.
alternative dispute resolution (ADR) - ANSWER-Range of methods used to solve
disagreements without litigation. Often able to resolve problems with less animosity than
occurs when a lawsuit is filed, and at far less cost to the parties.
alter ego doctrine - ANSWER-Principle stating that when two businesses have
interrelated operations, central control of labor relations, common management, and
common ownership, they are considered alter ego employers, and the National Labor
Relations Board (NLRB) may determine that employees of the alter ego employer are
part of the bargaining unit.
undue hardship - ANSWER-Exception to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that
weighs the cost of an accomodation against the size of the organization and other
similar factors.
, litigation - ANSWER-To contest in legal proceedings to engage in legal proceedings.
bargaining unit - ANSWER-Composed of persons who are recognized by both the
company and a legally organized labor union to negotiate matters involving employment
issues. Some of these issues include safety conditions on the job, salary and benefits,
job qualifications, and general working conditions and procedures. The main purpose is
to create a working situation that is advantageous for both the employer and the
employee.
disability - ANSWER-Having a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits
one or more major life activities of such individual; a record of or being regarded as
having such an impairment.
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) - ANSWER-Governement agency charged with
conducting elections and preventing and remedying unfair labor practices. The agency
does not instigate action on its own, it merely reponds to charges of unfair labor
practices or petitions for representation elections filed in ofe of its offices.
National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) - ANSWER-Guarantees the right of employees to
organize and bargain collectively with their employers. Enforces oversight of workers
rights.
balanced scorecard - ANSWER-Business measurement tool used by managers to track
information in four key areas: financial results, customer results, key internal processes,
and how people are hired and trained to achieve organization goals.
business process outsource (BPO) - ANSWER-Practice of engaging a third-party
provider to assume operational control of and responsibility for a particular business
function.
business-continuity planning - ANSWER-Proactive strategy to protect an organization
from emergencies and other circumstances. It results in a written document describing
possible disruptions to operations and actions to be taken to minimize those disruptions
and assigns responsibility for executing the plan to specific individuals.
broadbanding - ANSWER-Job-classification method that consolidates multiple pay
grades into a few broad "bands" with a wide range between the minimum and maximum
of the band.
balance sheet - ANSWER-Statement that provides a snapshot of an organization's
financial condition on a specific day, usually the last day of the accounting period.
Information on the balance sheet includes the company's assets, liabilities, and equity.
base pay - ANSWER-Preset salary or hourly rate paid to an employee for performing
their job responsibilities.
