Human Resource Management Exam Test Bank – Dessler 16th Edition
Verified Questions and Rationales | Updated 2025–2026 Study Guide
1. Human resource management (HRM) is defined as:
A) The process of hiring employees only
B) The policies and practices involved in carrying out the "people" or human resource
aspects of a management position
C) The process of firing employees
D) The process of paying employees
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Human resource management (HRM) refers to the policies and practices
involved in carrying out the "people" or human resource aspects of a management position,
including recruiting, screening, training, rewarding, and appraising.
2. Which of the following is a line manager's HR responsibility?
A) Placing the right person in the right job
B) Starting new employees in the organization (orientation)
C) Training employees for jobs that are new to them
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Line managers have numerous HR duties, including placing the right person in
the right job, starting new employees in the organization, training employees, improving job
performance, gaining creative cooperation, and developing smooth working relationships.
3. The HR department staff's role includes all EXCEPT:
A) Formulating HR policies
B) Providing HR advice to line managers
C) Directly supervising employees in production
D) Coordinating HR activities
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: HR staff typically advise and assist line managers rather than directly supervising
production employees. Line managers have direct responsibility for their subordinates.
4. Strategic human resource management means:
A) Formulating and executing HR policies and practices that produce the employee
competencies and behaviors the company needs to achieve its strategic aims
B) Managing employees on a day-to-day basis
C) Hiring employees quickly
D) Reducing labor costs
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Strategic human resource management involves formulating and executing HR
policies and practices that produce the employee competencies and behaviors the company
needs to achieve its strategic aims.
5. A high-performance work system is:
A) A set of HR practices that enhance employee performance and commitment
B) A system that reduces employee involvement
C) A system that focuses only on cost reduction
D) A system that ignores employee needs
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A high-performance work system is a set of HR practices that enhance employee
performance, commitment, and involvement. It includes practices such as selective hiring,
extensive training, and performance-based pay.
6. The employment relationship is governed by:
A) Contract law only
B) Labor law, employment law, and common law
C) Criminal law only
D) International law only
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: The employment relationship is governed by labor law, employment law, and
common law. These laws establish the rights and obligations of employers and employees.
7. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for:
A) Enforcing federal employment discrimination laws
B) Setting minimum wage
C) Regulating workplace safety
D) Regulating retirement plans
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for
enforcing federal employment discrimination laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act,
the ADEA, and the ADA.
8. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on:
A) Race, color, religion, sex, or national origin
B) Age only
C) Disability only
D) Sexual orientation only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based
on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It applies to employers with 15 or more
employees.
9. Disparate treatment occurs when:
A) An employer intentionally discriminates against an individual based on a protected
characteristic
B) An employer's neutral policy has a discriminatory effect
C) An employer promotes diversity
D) An employer provides reasonable accommodation
Correct Answer: A
, Rationale: Disparate treatment occurs when an employer intentionally discriminates against
an individual based on a protected characteristic. It involves treating some people less
favorably than others because of their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
10. Disparate impact occurs when:
A) An employer's neutral policy or practice has a discriminatory effect on a protected group
B) An employer intentionally discriminates
C) An employer promotes diversity
D) An employer provides reasonable accommodation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Disparate impact occurs when an employer's neutral policy or practice has a
discriminatory effect on a protected group, even if the policy was not intended to
discriminate.
11. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) protects:
A) Workers age 40 and over
B) Workers under 40
C) All workers
D) Only federal employees
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) protects individuals age 40
and older from age-based employment discrimination. It applies to employers with 20 or
more employees.
12. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers to:
A) Provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities
B) Hire all disabled applicants
C) Fire disabled employees
D) Ignore disabilities
Correct Answer: A
Verified Questions and Rationales | Updated 2025–2026 Study Guide
1. Human resource management (HRM) is defined as:
A) The process of hiring employees only
B) The policies and practices involved in carrying out the "people" or human resource
aspects of a management position
C) The process of firing employees
D) The process of paying employees
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Human resource management (HRM) refers to the policies and practices
involved in carrying out the "people" or human resource aspects of a management position,
including recruiting, screening, training, rewarding, and appraising.
2. Which of the following is a line manager's HR responsibility?
A) Placing the right person in the right job
B) Starting new employees in the organization (orientation)
C) Training employees for jobs that are new to them
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Line managers have numerous HR duties, including placing the right person in
the right job, starting new employees in the organization, training employees, improving job
performance, gaining creative cooperation, and developing smooth working relationships.
3. The HR department staff's role includes all EXCEPT:
A) Formulating HR policies
B) Providing HR advice to line managers
C) Directly supervising employees in production
D) Coordinating HR activities
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: HR staff typically advise and assist line managers rather than directly supervising
production employees. Line managers have direct responsibility for their subordinates.
4. Strategic human resource management means:
A) Formulating and executing HR policies and practices that produce the employee
competencies and behaviors the company needs to achieve its strategic aims
B) Managing employees on a day-to-day basis
C) Hiring employees quickly
D) Reducing labor costs
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Strategic human resource management involves formulating and executing HR
policies and practices that produce the employee competencies and behaviors the company
needs to achieve its strategic aims.
5. A high-performance work system is:
A) A set of HR practices that enhance employee performance and commitment
B) A system that reduces employee involvement
C) A system that focuses only on cost reduction
D) A system that ignores employee needs
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A high-performance work system is a set of HR practices that enhance employee
performance, commitment, and involvement. It includes practices such as selective hiring,
extensive training, and performance-based pay.
6. The employment relationship is governed by:
A) Contract law only
B) Labor law, employment law, and common law
C) Criminal law only
D) International law only
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: The employment relationship is governed by labor law, employment law, and
common law. These laws establish the rights and obligations of employers and employees.
7. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for:
A) Enforcing federal employment discrimination laws
B) Setting minimum wage
C) Regulating workplace safety
D) Regulating retirement plans
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for
enforcing federal employment discrimination laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act,
the ADEA, and the ADA.
8. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on:
A) Race, color, religion, sex, or national origin
B) Age only
C) Disability only
D) Sexual orientation only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based
on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It applies to employers with 15 or more
employees.
9. Disparate treatment occurs when:
A) An employer intentionally discriminates against an individual based on a protected
characteristic
B) An employer's neutral policy has a discriminatory effect
C) An employer promotes diversity
D) An employer provides reasonable accommodation
Correct Answer: A
, Rationale: Disparate treatment occurs when an employer intentionally discriminates against
an individual based on a protected characteristic. It involves treating some people less
favorably than others because of their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
10. Disparate impact occurs when:
A) An employer's neutral policy or practice has a discriminatory effect on a protected group
B) An employer intentionally discriminates
C) An employer promotes diversity
D) An employer provides reasonable accommodation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Disparate impact occurs when an employer's neutral policy or practice has a
discriminatory effect on a protected group, even if the policy was not intended to
discriminate.
11. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) protects:
A) Workers age 40 and over
B) Workers under 40
C) All workers
D) Only federal employees
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) protects individuals age 40
and older from age-based employment discrimination. It applies to employers with 20 or
more employees.
12. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers to:
A) Provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities
B) Hire all disabled applicants
C) Fire disabled employees
D) Ignore disabilities
Correct Answer: A
