Chapter 1

Question 1

What larger function does human resource management refer to?

Answer 1

It refers to a design of formal systems in an organization to manage human talent for accomplishing organizational goals.

Question 2

What does aligning human resource activities entail?

Answer 2

Training, developing, and staffing

Question 3

What is the main benefit of organization culture?

Answer 3

It provides employees with rules for behavior.

Question 4

Sara, a human resource manager at Comp Inc., is moving from an administrative role in the human resource department to an operational role. How can you describe her change of role?

Answer 4

Moving from processing legal paperwork to serving as a “champion” of employee concerns. (p.7)

Question 5

Bob, a human resources executive at Axis Inc., is moving from an operational role in the human resources department to a strategic role. How can you describe his change of role?

Answer 5

Moving from serving as a “champion” of employee concerns to helping define the strategy to manage human capital. (p.7)

Question 6

What is a disadvantage of an aging workforce in economically developed countries?

Answer 6

Having to replace experience and talent. (p.9)

Question 7

A person who is responsible for performing a variety of human resource activities is known as a _____.

Answer 7

human resource generalist (p.11)

Question 8

Josh, a human resource manager, used to handle employee recruitment and compensation for his organization. After a promotion, he was responsible for handling employee recruitment, compensation, and benefits. What type of role(s) was/were his positions?

Answer 8

Both the roles played by Josh are generalist roles. (p.11)

Question 9

Ramone, a human resource manager, works for TelVille Inc. Initially, he was responsible only for recruitment. After a promotion, he was made responsible exclusively for employee benefits.What type of role(s) was/were his positions?

Answer 9

Both the roles that Ramone played were specialist roles. (p.11)

Question 10

What is typically the first step in the strategic planning process for organizations?

Answer 10

Organizational mission (p.12)

Question 11

What is typically the first step in the HR planning process?

Answer 11

Review organization’s environmental analysis/strategic plans (p. 15)

Question 12

What is typically the last step in the HR planning process

Answer 12

Assess external and internal workforce (p.15)

Question 13

What is the function of compliance audits?

Answer 13

Checking record keeping on state and federal paperwork requriement. (p.22)

Question 14

What is the function of I-9 audit?

Answer 14

Reviewing compliance with immigration regulations (p.22)

Question 15

What is a port of the human resource function of employee and labor relations?

Answer 15

Human resource policies ( p.6)

Question 16

True/False: Human resource management is the design of formal systems in an organization to manage human talent for accomplishing organizational goals.

Answer 16

True (p.2)

Question 17

True/False: Some of the major ways of increasing employee productivity are organizational restructuring, redesigning work, and aligning human resource activities.

Answer 17

True (p.4)

Question 18

True/False: Contingent workers include temporary workers, independent contractors, leased employees, and part-timers.

Answer 18

True (p.9)

Question 19

True/False: The SWOT analysis helps managers in formulating a strategic plan that considers the organization’s ability to deal with the situation at hand.

Answer 19

True (p. 13)

Question 20

True/False: The focus of HR planning is to ensure that the organization has the right number of human resources, with the right capabilities, at the right times, and in the right places.

Answer 20

True (p. 14)

Question 21

Short Answer: Define human resource management.

Answer 21

Human resource management designs formal systems in an organization to manage human talent for accomplishing organizational goals. (p. 2)

Question 22

Short answer: Define human capital.

Answer 22

Human capital is the collective value of the capabilities, knowledge, skills, life experiences, and motivation of an organizational workforce. (p.3)

Question 23

Short answer:What is core competency?

Answer 23

Core competency is a unique capability, at which an organization excels, that creates high value.

Question 24

Short answer: What are the seven categories of human resources functions?

Answer 24

Staffing, Talent Management, Rewards, Risk Management and Worker Protection, Employee and Labor Relations, Strategy and Planning, Equal Employment Opportunity (p. 6)

Question 25

Short answer: List the elements of ethics programs whose existence is most likely to lead to ethical behavior.

Answer 25

A written code of ethics and standards of conduct; training on ethical behavior for all executives, managers, and employees; advice to employees, often given by HR, on ethical situations they might face.