Midterm

Question 1

What is strategy?

Answer 1

Formulation of orgs mission, goals, objectives and action plans for how it will achieve goals

Question 2

Diamond E model analysis

Answer 2

-Management preferences (are the managing effectively?)
-Organization (is org designed to support strategy?)
-Strategy
-Environment
-Resources

Question 3

What is the 4/5 rule?

Answer 3

If the rate of a group passing the test is less than 4/5 (80%) than the test has an adverse impact on that group

Question 4

With regards to a protected group, what should the selection process not do?

Answer 4

Not have an adverse impact at any step of the process unless employer can establish a BFOR

Question 5

When are employees a competitive advantage?

Answer 5

VRIO model

Valuable- superior employees add value through performance
Rare - skills are in short supply
Imitability - superior employees are hard to imitate
Organizational support - well designed systems contribute to success

Question 6

Porter competitive level strategies

Answer 6

-Cost leader (low cost provider)
- Differentiator (broad differentiation)
- Cost leader focus (focus on market niche based on low cost)
- Differentiator focus (focus on market niche based on differentiation)
- Best cost

Question 7

Cost leader strategy

Answer 7

Lower costs below competition but still remain profitable while maintaining a reasonable level of quality

Question 8

Sources for cost leader strategy

Answer 8

• economies of scale (the more you produce the lower unit cost)
• reduce labour costs
• automation
• demotivate unionization
• cheaper materials
• tight control on costs (inventory, energy, etc)

Question 9

Differentiator strategy

Answer 9

Stand out in the market in some way that is unique and valuable to the customer. Allows a charge of premium prices, increased market share, retain customer loyalty

Question 10

Best cost strategy

Answer 10

Offering a product or service at a lower cost while maintaining a high level of quality or upscale features

Question 11

What is job analysis?

Answer 11

Process of gathearing info on all jobs in an org, organizing into a useable database where the info can be used for organizational and HR decisions

Question 12

Uses of job analysis

Answer 12

• orientation of new employee
• work redesign
• recruiting and selection
• compensation
• training needs
• setting performance standards
• career planning
• establish BFOR

Question 13

Collection methods for job analysis

Answer 13

• observation
• interviews
• questionnaires
• diary/ logs
• video taping
• electronic monitoring
• production reports

Question 14

What is a competency?

Answer 14

KSAO, and behaviours, that identify a successful employee. Can be learned

Question 15

Three types of competencies

Answer 15

Core: necessary for all jobs in an org
Functional: applicable to all jobs in a job family or group
Job: necessary for a specific job

Question 16

What is necessary for a competency to be valid?

Answer 16

• can be used to compare superior employees to average employees
• based on actual job performance
• can be taught or developed
• linked to org goals

Question 17

What is diamond E analysis used for?

Answer 17

To assess the effectiveness of an organizations strategy and whether the org has in place sufficient resources to carry out strategy

Can help indicate where problems are occurring and what might need to be changed

Question 18

What are the effects of unionization on: base pay, profit sharing, job descriptions, flexibility in management, and work culture?

Answer 18

• base pay: will push for higher compensation
• profit sharing: will push away from profit sharing to more stable benefits
• job descriptions: push for more clarity and certainty
• flexibility in management: reduce flexibility
• work culture: due to tensions between management and union, unlikely to have a “family feeling” culture