Ch 1

Question 1

Human resource management

Answer 1

The leadership and management of people within an organization using systems, methods , processes, and procedures that enable employees to optimize their contribution to the organization and its goals.

Question 2

Employee goals

Answer 2

Goals to assist employees to achieve personal goals that will enhance their contribution to the organization.

Question 3

Strategic human resource management.

Answer 3

Integrating human resource management strategies and systems to support the organization’s overall mission, strategies, and success while meeting needs of employees and other stakeholders.

Question 4

Proactive human resource management

Answer 4

A human resource management approach wherein decision makers anticipate problems or challenges and take action before it impacts the organization.

Question 5

Reactive human resource management.

Answer 5

A human resource management approach wherein decision makers respond to problems or challenges rather than anticipate them.

Question 6

Economic forces

Answer 6

Economic factors facing. Canadian business today, including global trade forces and the force to increase one’s own competitiveness and productivity levels.

Question 7

Major forces facing Canadian business

Answer 7

• legal
• economic
• cultural
• technological
• demographic

Question 8

Productivity

Answer 8

The ratio of a firm’s outputs divided by its inputs.

Question 9

Automation

Answer 9

The automatically controlled operation of a process, system, or equipment by mechanical or electronic devices.

Question 10

Demographic changes

Answer 10

Changes in the demographics of the labour force. Ex. Education levels , age, participation rates that occur slowly and are usually known in advance.

Question 11

Knowledge workers

Answer 11

Members of occupations generating, processing , analyzing or synthesizing ideas and information. (Fastest growing type of worker )

Question 12

Educational attainment.

Answer 12

The highest educational level attained by an individual worker, employee, group or population.

Question 13

Old age crisis

Answer 13

Refers to the social (health care) and organizational (new workplace ergonomics) challenges caused by aging of population.

Question 14

Cultural forces

Answer 14

Challenges facing a firm’s decision makers because of cultural differences among employees or changes in core cultural or social values occurring at the larger societal level.

Question 15

Cultural mosaic

Answer 15

Canadian ideal of encouraging each ethnic, racial and social group to maintain its own cultural heritage , forming a national mosaic of different cultures.

Question 16

Mission statement.

Answer 16

Statement outlining the purpose, long term objectives, and activities the organization will pursue and the course for the future.

Question 17

Organization character

Answer 17

The product of all of an organization’s features-people, objectives, technology, size, age, unions, policies, success, and failures.

Question 18

Organizational culture

Answer 18

The core beliefs and assumptions that are widely shared by all organizational members.

Question 19

Cost leadership strategy

Answer 19

Strategy to gain competitive advantage through lower costs of operations and lower prices for products.

Question 20

Differentiation strategy

Answer 20

Strategy to gain competitive advantage by creating a distinct product or offering a unique service.

Question 21

Focus strategy

Answer 21

Strategy to gain a competitive advantage by focusing on the needs of a specific segment of the total market.

Question 22

Human resource audit

Answer 22

An examination of the HR policies, practices, and systems of a firm (or division) to eliminate deficiencies and improve ways to achieve goals.

Question 23

Staff authority

Answer 23

Authority to advise, but not direct, others.

Question 24

Line authority

Answer 24

Authority to make decisions about production, performance , and people.

Question 25

Functional authority.

Answer 25

Authority that allows staff experts to make decisions and take actions normally reserved for line managers.

Question 26

Organizational goals

Answer 26

An organization’s short and long term goals that human resource management aims to support and enable.