module 4-6

Question 1

Co-determination

Answer 1

a system in which management shares decision-making authority with the union, and the union plays a role in day-to-day business decisions. Co-determination is rare in Canada and the United States

Question 2

competitive strategy

Answer 2

refers to how it tries to compete in the marketplace over the long term—how it attracts buyers and improves its market share

Question 3

cost leadership

Answer 3

a strategy in which the firm competes on the basis of price. It requires cutting costs so that products or services can be sold at a lower price. A discount retail store that carries the same products as other stores but sells them at a lower price is using this strategy

Question 4

Differentiation

Answer 4

strategy—one that involves the firm competing on the basis of having a distinctive or unique product.

Question 5

Employee involvement group

Answer 5

Group of employees who meet to resolve problems or offer suggestions for organizational improvement

Question 6

employee-management committees

Answer 6

include representatives of both management and employees charged with the responsibility of making recommendations to the employer. A health and safety committee is an example.

Question 7

high commitment HR strategy

Answer 7

Involves the adoption of better technology and requires investment in training and development of human resources

Question 8

job design

Answer 8

a more contemporary approach to enhancing organizational efficiency and worker satisfaction, through technological and human considerations.

Question 9

labour relations strategy

Answer 9

refers to how the employer chooses to deal with the unionization of its employees. There are several possible broad choices or strategies employers can adopt, ranging from acceptance to extreme opposition

Question 10

low commitment HR strategy

Answer 10

Involves traditional production methods and low emphasis on development of workforce skills

Question 11

problem-solving groups

Answer 11

are teams of employees who meet to deal with particular issues such as the installation of a new computer system. Problem-solving teams make recommendations to management; however, they do not have the authority to implement their recommendations.

Question 12

production design

Answer 12

Process that leads to the efficient and effective generation of a product or service

Question 13

quality circles

Answer 13

are groups of employees who investigate problems relating to quality and make recommendations to management for improvements

Question 14

Reengineering

Answer 14

Fundamental re-thinking and resdesign of business process to achieve improvement in efficiencies, cost and quality

Question 15

self-directed or self-managed work teams

Answer 15

re distinctive because they have more autonomy and responsibility. Typically, they take on tasks previously undertaken by management. For example, work teams may assume the tasks of tracking and distributing their own overtime.

Question 16

union acceptance

Answer 16

refers to a strategy in which the employer may not want to have a union but remains neutral in a union organizing attempt

Question 17

union avoidance

Answer 17

another strategy used to prevent unionization, where the employer uses legal means to convince employees they do not need a union. It might involve matching the union rate of pay in an industry

Question 18

union opposition

Answer 18

strategy used when the employer has no unionized employees and wants it to stay that way.

Question 19

union removal

Answer 19

strategy involves the employer attempting to rid itself of any unions. The tactics used might include stalling in negotiations in the hope employees will become frustrated with the union, enduring a strike in the hope employees will become disenchanted with the bargaining agent, or attempting to use the legal process to challenge the union

Question 20

union resistance

Answer 20

strategy might arise in a firm that is partially unionized. The firm attempts to limit the further spread of unionization to other groups of employees

Question 21

Arbitrators

Answer 21

Hear disputes between unions and employers and render final and binding decisions

Question 22

Labour Relations Board

Answer 22

Independent body responsible for the administration of labour relations legislation affecting employers, employees and unions in each jurisdiction

Question 23

bona fide occupational qualification or requirement (BFOQ or BFOR)

Answer 23

Is a job requirement that the employer can establish is essential, so that the requirement is allowed although it is discriminatory

Question 24

Deregulation

Answer 24

refers to the change from a business regime in which the government regulates market entrants and prices to one in which the market is open to competition

Question 25

direct discrimination

Answer 25

refers to a rule or conduct that is discriminatory on its “face”; meaning that it is deliberate or intentional.

Question 26

Downsizing

Answer 26

refers to the elimination of jobs for the purpose of improving efficiency and economic returns.

Question 27

duty to accommodate

Answer 27

requires the employer to take steps to prevent people from being adversely affected by workplace requirements or characteristics on the basis of a prohibited ground of discrimination.

Question 28

elastic demand

Answer 28

Exists when the demand for a product is more price-responsive

Question 29

employment standards legislation

Answer 29

mandates minimum terms of employment dealing with vacations, public holidays and wages. These minimums provide a “floor” for the negotiation of terms and conditions of employment in the collective agreements.

Question 30

federally regulated employers

Answer 30

Those subjected to federal employment and labour relations legislation

Question 31

fiscal policy

Answer 31

refers to changes in government spending and taxation to regulate employment levels and inflation. The government can reduce taxes and increase spending to stimulate the economy and reduce unemployment.

Question 32

Globalization

Answer 32

the trend toward firms obtaining resources and producing and selling their products anywhere in the world

Question 33

human rights legislation

Answer 33

prohibits discrimination and harassment and imposes a “duty to accommodate.” This duty may require unions and employers to make exceptions to the terms and conditions of work in the course of administration of a collective agreement.

Question 34

indirect discrimination

Answer 34

involves a rule or requirement that does not appear to discriminate; however, the requirement has an adverse impact on an individual or group protected by human rights legislation

Question 35

inelastic demand

Answer 35

Exists when the demand for a product is less price-responsive

Question 36

labour relations legislation

Answer 36

regulates the relationship between the union representing employees and the employer. It dictates who can unionize, the process that must be followed to unionize, rules regarding the negotiation and administration of the collective agreement, and when there can be a strike or lockout

Question 37

macroeconomic environment

Answer 37

refers to the state of the economy as a whole, including whether it is in a period of recession or growth and what are the rates of unemployment and inflation. The macroeconomic environment impacts the objectives and power of unions and employers, and in turn affects labour relations outcomes

Question 38

Merger

Answer 38

Voluntarily amalgamation of two or more firms into one legal entity

Question 39

monetary policy

Answer 39

refers to changes in interest rates to regulate employment levels and inflation. Interest rates can be reduced to stimulate the economy and raised to control inflation.

Question 40

nominal wages

Answer 40

wages that have not been adjusted for inflation.

Question 41

non-standard work

Answer 41

refers to work arrangements other than traditional full-time employment, including part-time and temporary work.

Question 42

price elasticity of demand

Answer 42

Refers to how much a change in price affects demand

Question 43

provincially regulated employers

Answer 43

Those subjected to provincial employment and labour relations legislation

Question 44

real wages

Answer 44

wages that have been adjusted for inflation

Question 45

trade liberalization

Answer 45

is the trend to international agreements that reduce tariff barriers between countries.

Question 46

undue hardship

Answer 46

Difficulty exceeding that which an employer is required to endure when accommodating the needs of a person or protected group under human rights code