Chapter 2 (Core Knowledge Requirements for HR Professionals)

Question 1

What are the steps of needs assessment?

Answer 1

1. Define the object
2. Define the current situation
3. Conduct a gap analysis
4. Set priorities
5. Investigate and develop options
6. Evaluate option and determine budget impact
7. Recommend solutions

Question 2

What sections are included in RFP formats?

Answer 2

Exec summary
Vendor qualifications 
PM plan
Project team
Roles & responsibilities
Delivery schedule
Pricing information

Question 3

What are the four types of risk management?

Answer 3

Risk Mitigation
Risk Acceptance
Risk Avoidance
Risk Transfer

Question 4

Risk mitigation is where…

Answer 4

steps are taken to reduce the risk.

Question 5

Risk acceptance is when…

Answer 5

you are aware of the risk but management takes the risk that it won’t occur or will be easily managed if it does occur.

Question 6

Risk avoidance is where…

Answer 6

steps are taken to avoid the risk.

Question 7

Risk transfer is…

Answer 7

accomplished by purchasing insurance.

Question 8

What are the four environmental scanning tools?

Answer 8

Statistical models, SWOT analysis, PEST analysis, Porter’s 5 forces

Question 9

PEST Analysis….

Answer 9

political, economic, social, technological

Question 10

SWOT Analysis….

Answer 10

strengths, weakness, opportunities, threats

Question 11

Porter’s 5 Forces

Answer 11

new competitors, suppliers, buyers, alternative products available to consumers, the type and level of competition in the industry

Question 12

Statistical Models…

Answer 12

quantitative analysis models.

Question 13

What are the six organizational structures?

Answer 13

Functional, Product-Based, Geographic, Divisional, Matrix, Seamless

Question 14

Functional organization structure is…

Answer 14

traditional pyramid - top/down, bottom/up (best for single product line)

Question 15

Product-Based organization structure is…

Answer 15

organized by product line (best for well defined product lines that are clearly separate from each other)

Question 16

Geographic organization structure is…

Answer 16

where execs of regional areas are responsible for all business functions in their region

Question 17

Divisional organization structure is…

Answer 17

similar to geographic but based on other criteria such as market or industry

Question 18

Matrix organization structure is…

Answer 18

where employees report to at least 2 managers

Question 19

Seamless organization structure is…

Answer 19

horizontal organization connoted by networks instead of separated by boundaries

Question 20

Return on Investment (ROI)

Answer 20

dividing the benefits realized as a result of a program by the total related direct and indirect costs

Question 21

Cost/Benefit Analysis (CBA)

Answer 21

compares all costs of a proposed program to the benefits that will be realized and forecasts the net impact on bottom line

Question 22

What is the difference between ROI and CBA

Answer 22

CBA includes soft costs and ROI generally only includes hard costs

Question 23

Examples of HRIS Systems include

Answer 23

ESS - Employee Self-Service
ATS - Applicant Tracking System
HMS - Hiring Management System
LMS - Learning Management System

Question 24

What is included in the SHRM Code of Ethical and Professional Standards?

Answer 24

Professional responsibility, Professional development, Ethical leadership, Fairness and Justice, Conflicts of Interest, Use of Information

Question 25

What are three human relations concepts?

Answer 25

Intrapersonal (self-knowledge) Interpersonal (emotional & social aptitude) Emotional (aware of emotions and able to control how they react to them)

Question 26

What is diversity training?

Answer 26

Seeks to educate all groups about the cultures, needs and attitudes of other groups in the work force to ensure the inclusion of all groups in workplace activities

Question 27

What is diversity initiative?

Answer 27

Seeks to increase diversity of the workforce or to increase the effectiveness of an already diverse workforce

Question 28

Diversity Concepts?

Answer 28

A diverse workforce: is more creative reflects the population increases the candidate pool

Question 29

What are the Project Management concepts?

Answer 29

Initiation - requests evaluation & selected Planning - lays out how to accomplish Executing - plan is implemented Controlling - keeps project on course Closing - acknowledges achievement of project goals.

Question 30

List six leadership styles

Answer 30

Authoritarian - immediate action: when productivity is the highest concern Democratic - environment of highly skilled: when relationships are primary concern Laissez-faire - allow group members to operate on own: results in lower productivity Coaching - work with group members to develop skills and availability to operate independently Transactional - focus on getting the job done by offering reward Transformational - focus on the relationships in the group

Question 31

Clayton Alderfer: ERG Theory (1969)

Answer 31

Builds on Maslow's work. Three level of needs: Existence (physiological & safety) Relatedness (social) Growth (esteem and self actualization)

Question 32

Victor Vroom: Expectancy Theory (1964)

Answer 32

maintains that people are motivated by the expectation of the reward they will receive when they succeed and that each individual calculates the level of effort required to receive a particular reward to determine whether the reward is worth the effort that is required to attain it.

Question 33

J. Stacey Adams: Equity Theory (1963)

Answer 33

basic concept: people are constantly measuring what they put into work against what they get from work

Question 34

David McClelland: Acquired Needs Theory (1961)

Answer 34

Experiences acquired throughout their lives motivate people to achieve in one of three areas: achievement; affiliation; power

Question 35

Douglas McGregor: Theory X and Theory Y (1960)

Answer 35

Theory X - managers view employees as lazy and uninterested in work and needing constant direction to complete their assignments. Theory Y - managers believe given the opportunity people will seal out challenging work and additional responsibility if the work is satisfying

Question 36

Frederick Herzberg: Motivation/Hygiene Theory (1959)

Answer 36

Satisfaction (motivation) factors motivate by changing the nature of the work so that people are challenged to develop their talents and fulfill their potential. Dissatisfaction (hygiene) factors motivate to the extent that they allow people to avoid unpleasant experiences Result: Concept of job enrichment in which the significance of the tasks in a job is increased to provide challenging work and growth opportunities

Question 37

B.F. Skinner: Operant Conditioning (1957)

Answer 37

Behavior can be changed through the use of four intervention strategies: 1. positive reinforcement - providing a pleasant response 2. negative reinforcement - removing an unpleasant response 3. punishment - provide unpleasant response 4. extinction - ceasing to reinforce it

Question 38

Abraham Maslow: The Hierarchy of Needs (1954)

Answer 38

Physiological Needs (basic needs) Safety Needs Social Needs (acceptance and belonging) Esteem Needs (recognition for achievement) Self-Actualization Needs (creative and fulfill their own potential)

Question 39

Andragogy is...

Answer 39

self-concept; experience, readiness to learn, orientation to learning, motivation to learn (adult learning)

Question 40

What are three types of learners?

Answer 40

Auditory, Visual and Tactile

Question 41

Examples of Quantitative Analysis (based on mathematical methods for measuring historical data)

Answer 41

Correlation - measures two variables to determine relationship Correlation Coefficient - describes relationship between two variables (stated as number) Measures of Central Tendency - mean average, mode, median, moving average (compensate for outdated data), weighted moving average Simulation models - test several possible plans Ratios - provide benchmark Time Series Forecasts - can be used to measure historic data and provide basis for projecting future requirements *Trend Analysis - compares changes in a single variable over time *Simple Linear Regression- measures relationship between one variable against another *Multiple Linear Regression - measures relationship between several variables to forecast another

Question 42

Examples of Situational Theories

Answer 42

Blake-Mouton Managerial Grid (1968) - concern for people and concern for production Path-Goal Theory (1971) - directive supportive, participative, achievement Hersey-Blanchard Theory (1977) - four styles of leadership: telling, selling, participating, delegating

Question 43

Contingency Theories (Fred E Fiedler)

Answer 43

Least preferred co-worker scale - leader-member relations - task structure - position power

Question 44

Examples of Qualitative Analysis (subjective evaluations of general observationsO

Answer 44

Delphi Technique - input from a group of individuals who provide their expertise in succeeding rounds of questions about an issue Nominal Group Technique - structured meeting format designed to elicit participation from all members of the group in order to arrive at the best possible solution to the problem at hand