WGU D351 Functions of Human Resource Management
terms
360-degree evaluation Ans✓✓✓ An evaluation that analyzes individuals'
performance from all sides—from their supervisor's viewpoint, from their
subordinates' viewpoint, from their customers (if applicable), from their peers,
and from their own self-evaluation
Absenteeism Ans✓✓✓ The failure of an employee to report to the workplace as
scheduled
ACA (affordable care act) Ans✓✓✓ requires that all employers with more than 50
employees provide health insurance for their full-time employees or face
significant penalties levied by the federal government.
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
,Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 Ans✓✓✓ Prohibits age
discrimination against people 40 years of age or older and restricts mandatory
retirement
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 Ans✓✓✓ Strengthened the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 to require employers to provide "reasonable accommodations" to
allow disabled employees to work
Appraisal and promotion Ans✓✓✓ Line managers are the primary individuals
who evaluate subordinates' work performance, and they should have a strong
voice in who should be eligible for promotions in the organization because their
job is to know their people and each of their capabilities and limitations.
Arbitrator Ans✓✓✓ A neutral third party who resolves a conflict by making a
binding decision
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
Attribution Error Ans✓✓✓ attribution is a process in which an individual makes
assumptions about the reasons or motivations (such as attitudes, values, or
beliefs) for an observed behavior.
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.
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
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 skill Ans✓✓✓ provide analytical and quantitative skills, including the in-
depth knowledge of how the business works and of its budgeting and strategic-
planning processes that are necessary for a manager to understand and
contribute to the profitability of the organization.
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
Central tendency error Ans✓✓✓ the rater evaluates everyone under their
control as average—meaning nobody is rated as either really good or really bad.
Centralization Ans✓✓✓ Degree to which decision making is concentrated within
the organization
Civil Rights Act of 1991 Ans✓✓✓ Strengthened civil rights by providing for
possible compensatory and punitive damages for discrimination
terms
360-degree evaluation Ans✓✓✓ An evaluation that analyzes individuals'
performance from all sides—from their supervisor's viewpoint, from their
subordinates' viewpoint, from their customers (if applicable), from their peers,
and from their own self-evaluation
Absenteeism Ans✓✓✓ The failure of an employee to report to the workplace as
scheduled
ACA (affordable care act) Ans✓✓✓ requires that all employers with more than 50
employees provide health insurance for their full-time employees or face
significant penalties levied by the federal government.
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
,Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 Ans✓✓✓ Prohibits age
discrimination against people 40 years of age or older and restricts mandatory
retirement
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 Ans✓✓✓ Strengthened the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 to require employers to provide "reasonable accommodations" to
allow disabled employees to work
Appraisal and promotion Ans✓✓✓ Line managers are the primary individuals
who evaluate subordinates' work performance, and they should have a strong
voice in who should be eligible for promotions in the organization because their
job is to know their people and each of their capabilities and limitations.
Arbitrator Ans✓✓✓ A neutral third party who resolves a conflict by making a
binding decision
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
Attribution Error Ans✓✓✓ attribution is a process in which an individual makes
assumptions about the reasons or motivations (such as attitudes, values, or
beliefs) for an observed behavior.
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.
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
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 skill Ans✓✓✓ provide analytical and quantitative skills, including the in-
depth knowledge of how the business works and of its budgeting and strategic-
planning processes that are necessary for a manager to understand and
contribute to the profitability of the organization.
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
Central tendency error Ans✓✓✓ the rater evaluates everyone under their
control as average—meaning nobody is rated as either really good or really bad.
Centralization Ans✓✓✓ Degree to which decision making is concentrated within
the organization
Civil Rights Act of 1991 Ans✓✓✓ Strengthened civil rights by providing for
possible compensatory and punitive damages for discrimination
