Introduction to Human Resource Management
Study Questions and Answers
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.
2) Which of the following is the person responsible for accomplishing an organization's goals
by planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling personnel?
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.
3) Which of the following includes five basic functions—planning, organizing, staffing,
leading, and controlling?
A) job analysis
B) strategic management
C) management process
D) adaptability screening
Answer: C
Explanation: C) The management process includes five basic functions—planning,
organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling. Strategic management refers to the process of
identifying and executing the organization's mission by matching its capabilities with the
demands of its environment.
4) Which function of the management process requires a manager to establish goals and
standards and to develop rules and procedures?
A) planning
B) organizing
C) staffing
D) leading
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling are the five main
functions of management. The planning function involves establishing goals and standards,
developing rules and procedures, and forecasting.
,5) Celeste 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 Celeste 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.
Leading involves motivating staff, while controlling requires a manager to set standards, such
as sales quotas. Assigning tasks to employees is an aspect of the organizing function.
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.
7) When managers use metrics to assess performance and then develop strategies for
corrective action, they are performing the ________ function of the management process.
A) planning
B) leading
C) controlling
D) organizing
Answer: C
Explanation: C) The controlling function of the management process requires managers to
set standards such as sales quotas, quality, standards, or production levels. Managers then
compare actual performance with the standards, which often involves the use of metrics.
Corrective action is then taken when necessary.
8) Which function of the management process includes selecting employees, setting
performance standards, and compensating employees?
A) organizing
B) planning
C) motivating
D) staffing
Answer: D
Explanation: D) The staffing function of the management process determines what type of
people you should hire, recruiting prospective employees, selecting employees, training and
developing employees, setting performance standards, evaluating performance, counseling
employees, compensating employees.
, 9) Larry, a manager at a commercial real estate firm, has established a monthly sales quota
for his sales team. Which basic function of management best describes Larry's actions?
A) planning
B) organizing
C) controlling
D) staffing
Answer: C
Explanation: C) The controlling function involves setting standards such as sales quotas,
quality standards or production levels; checking to see how actual performance compares
with these standards; taking corrective action, as needed.
10) ________ is the process of acquiring, training, appraising, and compensating employees,
and attending to their labor relations, health and safety, and fairness concerns.
A) Labor relations
B) Human resource management
C) Behavioral management
D) Organizational health and safety management
Answer: B
Explanation: B) Human resource management is the process of acquiring, training,
appraising, and compensating employees, and of attending to their labor relations, health and
safety, and fairness concerns. HRM falls under the staffing function of the management
process.
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 management process includes five functions—planning, organizing,
staffing, leading, and controlling. The leading function requires a manager to get others to get
the job done; maintaining morale, and motivating subordinates.
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.
13) Since Human Resources is important to all managers, which is NOT a personnel mistake
a manager wants to make while managing?
A) Waste time with useless interviews
B) Hire the wrong person