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Question 1

Forecasting involves identifying expected future conditions based on information about the past and present. HRIS technology and an organization’s employees provide the data that is necessary. What is most useful for forecasting future staffing conditions?

Answer 1

HRIS information and performance management data

Question 2

For a CSR-oriented organization, primary responsibility should be to its stakeholders rather than to its shareholders.When an organization prides itself on a strong corporate social responsibility identity, what is it likely to see as a primary area of responsibility?

Answer 2

Its stakeholders

Question 3

A nonselected job candidate challenges the outcome of a selection test. What is the best piece of evidence the organization can present in a legal defense of the selection decision? For a test to be used in a selection process, it must be reliable and valid.

Answer 3

Documentation of the test’s validity

Question 4

Job enlargement attempts to alleviate the boredom and low morale associated with excessive job simplification. It increases the number of tasks to be performed, expanding the scope of the job and allowing for more variety, but all of the tasks require the same skill level. Job enrichment, which is sometimes confused with job enlargement, increases the depth of a job by adding increased responsibility for planning, organizing, controlling, and evaluation. It may improve morale but may not necessarily improve productivity. Job simplification and specialization generally reduce the number of tasks required of an employee. What type of job design strategy increases the variety of responsibilities but requires the same skill level?

Answer 4

Job enlargement

Question 5

What type of compliance program evaluation asks questions such as “Is there less misconduct?” “How willing are employees and agents to report concerns?” or “How satisfied are stakeholders with the organization”? Process evaluation of the compliance program monitors components and outputs. Its purpose is to monitor which program activities are actually performed and what their outputs are. It asks questions such as “What training classes exist?” “How often are they given?” or “How many attend?” Outcomes evaluation aims to determine the actual results achieved by the program. It asks questions such as “Is there less misconduct?” “How willing are employees and agents to report concerns?” or “How satisfied are stakeholders with the organization?”

Answer 5

Outcomes evaluation

Question 6

An organization needs to prioritize spending for its risk management initiatives. What would be a good first step?While all the stated choices may help develop an appropriate risk management plan, a good first step is to identify critical processes and individuals essential to the organization’s continued functioning. This will help the organization focus its resources in the most effective manner.

Answer 6

Identify processes/individuals critical to the organization’s delivery of value to stakeholders.

Question 7

A fiduciary duty (or fiduciary obligation) implies a legal obligation of one party to act in the best interest of another. The obligated party is typically referred to as a “fiduciary” (e.g., an individual or party entrusted with the care of money or propert

Answer 7

Legal obligation of one party to act in the best interest of another

Question 8

Structural interventions look at how the structure of the organization is helping or hindering it. In this case, an intervention may design new decision-making policies that grant employees greater freedom to test ideas. An organization seeks ways of increasing initiative at all levels. What type of intervention could help to address this engagement issue?

Answer 8

Structural

Question 9

Demand analysis forecasts an organization’s future workforce composition and considers the number of employees and the skills required to meet organizational goals.During workforce planning, HR determines that 20 new employees will be needed to achieve organizational plans for growth in global markets. This determination is part of which area in a workforce analysis process?

Answer 9

Demand analysis

Question 10

Compensatory time off is considered indirect compensation. Cash recognition and achievement awards (gift cards), overtime pay, and cash bonuses are all considered direct compensation.What is an example of indirect compensation?

Answer 10

Granting compensatory time off to a salaried employee for extra hours worked at a convention

Question 11

What would be considered an employer unfair labor practice?

Answer 11

Refusal to bargain with a legally recognized union or to provide information necessary for negotiations is an unfair labor practice.

Question 12

Under what conditions is an ILO Convention legally binding?

Answer 12

Once it has been ratified by a country

Once a country ratifies an ILO Convention, it is obligated to abide by the Convention immediately, without reservations. The ILO has a supervisory system to hold countries accountable and offers technical assistance to member countries.

Question 13

Under Title VII, what is the term for a hiring practice that has an adverse impact on a class of people but is defensible as job-related?

Answer 13

There are some exceptions to Title VII. According to the work-related requirements exception, an employer may be able to defend a practice that has a disparate impact on a class of people if it is job-related and required by business necessity.

Question 14

Governance is the system of rules and processes an organization puts in place to ensure its compliance with local and international laws, accounting rules, ethical norms, and environmental and social codes of conduct. Good governance is the outcome of a thoughtful assessment of an enterprise’s legal, ethical, and civic obligations to the communities it serves and the development of systems that support fulfillment of these obligations.

Answer 14

What is the term for the system of rules and processes an organization puts in place to ensure adherence to laws, rules, ethical norms, and environmental and social codes of conduct?

Question 15

An organization erroneously withheld deductions from several exempt employees’ paychecks. Under the safe-harbor provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act, what must the organization do? A safe-harbor provision prevents an employer from losing the overtime exemption for improper pay deductions, regardless of the reason, if the employer has “a clearly communicated” policy (not necessarily in writing) and makes a good-faith effort to comply in the future. While the organization must reimburse employees for any improper deductions, there is no requirement to pay any amount beyond the improperly deducted amount.

Answer 15

Make a good-faith effort to comply in the future.

Question 16

In its strategic role, HR influences management’s view of the organizational change, helping management identify and deal with organizational change issues before any action is taken. Once senior management institutes the changes, however, HR plays a secondary role in dealing with possible resistance and monitoring compliance. In an organizational change initiative, which action best illustrates HR’s strategic role?

Answer 16

Influencing and affecting management’s view of organizational change

Question 17

In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, what need is filled by opportunities for development, problem solving, and creativity?

Answer 17

Self-actualization

Question 18

Cultural determinism is a perspective that basically absolves individuals of any responsibility for their actions. Global HR professionals will often hear from managers in other countries that something cannot be done because of the local culture. This may call for further discussion about the supposed obstacles. Nancy Adler identifies four challenges to effective cross-cultural communication. What term describes the challenge that absolves individual responsibility by ascribing obstacles to innate cultural resistance?

Answer 18

Cultural determinism

Question 19

In formula budgeting, a specific cost is applied to calculate funding. This method applies an average cost to comparable expenses, and general funding is increased or decreased by a specific amount. A university is beginning its budget planning process. Due to cutbacks in state aid, every department must cut its budget by 3%. What is this budgeting method called?

Answer 19

Formula budgeting

Question 20

The self-determination theory is based on a belief in intrinsic motivation—that people are motivated when they have the ability to direct their actions (autonomy), when they can increase their mastery or competence, and when an action serves a larger purpose.

Answer 20

Self-determination

Question 21

“Sensing” meetings are opportunities to check in on group reactions to an initiative after it has been implemented. They can provide early indications that additional steps may be required. What is the purpose of “sensing meetings” in the organizational effectiveness and development process?

Answer 21

Sustaining change

Question 22

What is the most desired outcome of an HR audit?

Answer 22

Action plan to address underperforming areas

Question 23

What is the key to making a successful business case for a diversity and inclusion strategic initiative?

Answer 23

Link it directly to the organization’s unique mission, vision, and business objectives.

Question 24

What is the most complete definition of the term “duty of care”?

Answer 24

An employer takes all steps reasonably possible to ensure employee health and safety.