Deck 4: Strategic Planning, Human Resource Planning, and Job Analysis

Question 1

Which of the following terms refers to a unit's continuing purpose,or reason for being?

A) mission
B) goal
C) objective
D) policy

Answer 1

A
Explanation: A)The first step in the strategic planning process is to determine the corporate mission.The mission is a unit's continuing purpose,or reason for being.The corporate mission is the sum total of the organization's ongoing purpose.

Question 2

Which of the following serves as the basis for the strategic planning process?

A) SWOT
B) O*NET
C) AAP
D) ATS

Answer 2

A
Explanation: A)The strategic planning process is basically a derivative of the SWOT (strengths,weaknesses,opportunities,and threats)framework that affects organizational performance,but it is less structured.Strategic planning involves determining the firm's mission,assessing the firm's structure,setting objectives,and developing strategies.

Question 3

Two fundamental business strategies are ________.

A) lowest cost and highest quality
B) differentiation and turnaround
C) lowest cost and differentiation
D) lowest cost and turnaround

Answer 3

C
Explanation: C)There are two fundamental strategies: lowest cost and differentiation.Lowest-cost strategy focuses on gaining competitive advantage by being the lowest-cost producer of a product or service within the marketplace,while selling the product or service at a price advantage relative to the industry average.Companies adopt differentiation strategies to develop products or services that are unique from those of their competitors.Differentiation strategy can take many forms,including design or brand image,technology,features,customer service,and price.Differentiation strategies lead to competitive advantage through building brand loyalty among devoted consumers.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of an objective?

A) measurable
B) universal in nature
C) expressed in writing
D) challenging but attainable

Question 5

Strategic planning at all levels of the organization can be divided into four steps: (1)determination of the organizational mission,(2)assessment of the organization and its environment,(3)setting of specific objectives or direction,and (4)determination of strategies to accomplish those objectives.

Question 6

How have HR executives taken a greater strategic role in organizations?

A) they participate in the strategic planning process when time permits
B) they rely on the CEO for direction
C) they implement the organization's strategic plan
D) they are actively involved in the organization's strategic planning process

Question 7

The owners of a start-up company are in the process of developing a corporate mission statement.Which of the following questions is LEAST likely to help them create an effective mission statement?

A) Should we emphasize financial stability to employees?
B) What are the greatest threats to the success of the firm?
C) Should we maximize profit and shareholders' dividends?
D) What is upper management attempting to accomplish?

Question 8

In strategic planning,the purpose of a SWOT analysis is to assess the organization's ________.

A) information technology
B) anticipated long-term goals
C) perceived value and structure
D) internal and external environment

Question 9

Brand loyalty is most characteristic of which competitive strategy?

A) differentiation
B) turnaround
C) innovation
D) lowest cost

Question 10

The mission of a firm involves determining the principles on which management decisions will be based.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a step in the strategic planning process?

A) assessing the organization
B) determining financial outlays
C) determining the organizational mission
D) setting specific objectives and direction

Question 12

What is the first step in the strategic planning process?

A) setting specific objectives
B) implementing long-term goals
C) assessing the business environment
D) determining the organizational mission

Question 13

Compared with lowest-cost strategies,successful attainment of differentiation strategies depends on ________.

A) employee creativity
B) openness to novel work approaches
C) willingness to take risks
D) all of the above

Question 14

What is the process called by which top management determines overall organizational purposes and objectives and how they are to be achieved?

A) objective planning
B) organizational planning
C) strategic planning
D) tactical planning

Question 15

Which of the following should most likely be accomplished before setting an objective?

A) cost benefit analysis of every alternative
B) SWOT analysis of all competitors
C) performance analysis of each employee
D) job analysis for each position

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a time when job analysis is performed?

A) when new jobs are created
B) when an organization is founded
C) when jobs are changed significantly
D) when an organization faces a downturn

Question 17

What is the desired end result of any activity called?

A) policy
B) mission
C) objective
D) procedure

Question 18

The marketing department at ABC Widget Company has been assigned the task of developing a strategic plan.The marketing team has completed the first three steps of strategic planning.Which of the following steps does the marketing department need to take in order to complete the strategic planning assignment?

A) determine the strategies needed to accomplish specific objectives
B) evaluate the organizational mission of the ABC Widget Company
C) establish short-term and long-term directions for the group
D) assess the primary competitors of the ABC Widget Company

Question 19

Which is a true statement about price premiums for differentiated products?

A) consumers are relatively insensitive to premium prices
B) consumers are highly sensitive to price premiums
C) consumers are ambivalent to price premiums
D) none of the above

Question 20

What primarily determines which type of organizational structure is best for a company?

A) age of the firm
B) needs of the firm
C) product or service
D) corporate competition

Question 21

Identify and discuss zero-base forecasting and bottom-up forecasting.

Question 22

What activity precedes the human resource planning process?

A) HR forecasting
B) strategic planning
C) HR demand analysis
D) labor supply analysis

Question 23

What is the primary reason for implementing human resource planning on a continuous basis?

A) employing temporary workers
B) changing business environments
C) selling goods to overseas customers
D) recruiting workers on Internet job sites

Question 24

An availability forecast involves determining the number,skill,and location of employees the organization will need at future dates in order to meet its goals.

Question 25

Human resource planning is the process by which top management determines overall organizational purposes and objectives and how they are to be achieved.It is an ongoing process that is dynamic and ever changing.

Question 26

Steve is an HR specialist at Cisco Systems.Steve needs to determine the number,skill,and location of employees that Cisco will need in 12 months in order to achieve the firm's strategic plan.Which of the following would best meet Steve's needs?

A) requirements forecast
B) labor supply analysis
C) availability forecast
D) sales forecasting

Question 27

In ________,each successive level in the organization,starting with the lowest,forecasts its requirements,ultimately providing an aggregate forecast of employees needed.

A) simulation forecasting
B) zero-base forecasting
C) cycle forecasting
D) bottom-up forecasting

Question 28

Which of the following is a forecasting technique that uses the organization's current level of employment as the starting point for determining future staffing?

A) bottom-up approach
B) zero-base forecasting
C) the Delphi technique
D) simulation

Question 29

Which of the following involves determining whether the firm will be able to secure employees with the necessary skills and from what sources these individuals may be obtained?

A) planning forecast
B) requirement forecast
C) strategic forecast
D) availability forecast

Question 30

What forecasting technique involves an analysis to determine whether the firm can justify filling an open position?

A) bottom-up approach
B) simulation
C) Delphi technique
D) zero-base forecasting

Question 31

When employee requirements and availability have been analyzed,the firm can determine whether it will have a surplus or shortage of employees.

Question 32

In the zero-based forecasting method,each successive level in the organization,starting with the lowest,forecasts its requirements,ultimately providing an aggregate forecast of employees needed.

Question 33

Wilson Marketing,Inc.uses the bottom-up forecasting method.Who is considered the most knowledgeable about employment requirements at the firm?

A) HR managers
B) statisticians
C) unit managers
D) stockholders

Question 34

What relationship tends to exist between demand (sales volume)and the number of employees needed?

A) positive
B) highly negative
C) unrelated
D) somewhat negative

Question 35

What are the two components of human resource planning?

A) demand and objectives
B) strategy and requirements
C) requirements and availability
D) availability and objectives

Question 36

According to a recent poll,53 percent of companies are either already using or plan to use ________ to identify skills gaps in their workforce.

A) workforce planning
B) employee training
C) succession planning
D) work sampling

Question 37

Human resource planning is a minor concern for most organizations especially during difficult economic periods.

Question 38

AAA Technology manufactures 2,000 cell phones each week,which requires 20,000 hours of work from assemblers during a 40-hour week.How many assemblers does AAA need each week?

A) 200
B) 400
C) 500
D) 800

Question 39

A firm becomes aware of having a surplus or shortage of employees as a result of comparing ________.

A) availability and tasks
B) tasks and performance
C) skills and requirements
D) requirements and availability

Question 40

The systematic process of matching the internal and external supply of people with job openings anticipated in the organization over a specified period of time is referred to as ________.

A) strategic planning
B) personnel forecasting
C) human resource planning
D) human capital supply analysis

Question 41

Describe the factors that will necessitate the need for health care professionals,in particular,nurses.

Question 42

Which of the following refers to the collection of tasks and responsibilities performed by one person?

A) job
B) position
C) job cluster
D) work group

Question 43

Flexible work hours,telecommuting,child-care centers,and signing bonuses are compensation incentives used by firms during high-demand situations.

Question 44

A hard freeze means that a firm is only hiring to fill critical positions.

Question 45

According to experts,the tenure for CEOs is lengthening.

Question 46

Jessie,an HR specialist,has been assigned the task of performing a job analysis for a new position created at the firm.Which of the following questions is LEAST relevant to the job analysis that Jessie will conduct?

A) Where is the job to be accomplished?
B) What qualifications are needed to perform the job?
C) When is the job to be completed?
D) What is the national hourly rate for this job?

Question 47

ABC Manufacturing is financially struggling during an economic downturn.As a result,HR and managers are evaluating every position at ABC to determine the ones that the firm cannot survive without and continuing to hire only for those positions.ABC is most likely implementing a smart freeze.

Question 48

Innovative recruiting,compensation incentives,and training programs are used by firms when a surplus of employees is forecasted.

Question 49

The only source used to determine whether the needed employees are available is from outside the organization.

Question 50

In a workgroup consisting of a supervisor,two analysts,and four clerks,how many jobs and positions are involved?

A) 3 jobs; 7 positions
B) 6 jobs; 1 position
C) 7 jobs; 3 positions
D) 1 job; 6 positions

Question 51

According to your textbook,________ of small business owners say they're prepared for succession planning.

A) 31%
B) 75%
C) 15%
D) 40%

Question 52

The systematic process of determining the skills,duties and knowledge required for performing jobs in an organization is referred to as a job ________.

A) description
B) specification
C) qualification
D) analysis

Question 53

What is succession planning? How has succession planning changed in recent years?

Question 54

Which of the following is NOT an action firms take when a shortage of workers is forecasted?

A) explore new recruiting methods
B) encourage early retirements
C) offer compensation incentives
D) provide training programs

Question 55

Succession planning is the process of ensuring that qualified persons are available to assume key managerial positions once the positions are vacant.

Question 56

The process of ensuring that a qualified person is available to assume a key managerial position once the position is vacant is referred to as ________.

A) strategic planning
B) departure planning
C) succession planning
D) skill planning

Question 57

Which of the following is NOT an alternative to laying off employees?

A) implementing a restricted hiring policy
B) lowering employment standards
C) mandating reduced hours
D) downsizing the workforce

Question 58

Encouraging workers to use their vacation time,offering early retirement packages,and increasing the use of contingent workers are commonly used alternatives to layoffs.

Question 59

The current trend with succession planning is to focus exclusively on top executive positions.

Question 60

Which term refers to a group of tasks that must be performed if an organization is to achieve its goals?

A) occupational specialty
B) job
C) position
D) post

Question 61

Job analysis is most often performed because of changes in the nature of jobs.

Question 62

What studies are conducted to determine how long it takes for a task to be performed?

A) job analysis
B) work measurement
C) job evaluation
D) work process

Question 63

Which document clarifies the importance of a well-prepared job analysis?

A) Federal Register # 12
B) Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures
C) EEOC Register of Guidelines
D) OFCCP Federal Register

Question 64

A document that provides information regarding the tasks,duties,and responsibilities of the job is referred to as a ________.

A) job analysis
B) job description
C) job specification
D) job document

Question 65

Job analysis information is used to prepare ________.

A) job requisitions
B) budget reports
C) job specifications
D) corporate assessments

Question 66

In which of the following occupations would observation be the least useful method of job analysis?

A) forklift operator
B) financial analyst
C) assembly line worker
D) baggage handler

Question 67

In a work group consisting of a supervisor,two senior clerks,and four data processing clerks,there are three jobs and four positions.

Question 68

Which of the following is NOT a fundamental component of the job analysis process?

A) identifying relevant machines, tools, and equipment
B) identifying relevant laws
C) identifying tasks
D) identifying exclusively the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities

Question 69

Job planning is the systematic process of determining the skills,duties,and knowledge required for performing jobs in an organization.

Question 70

Job description information benefits HR management in all of the following ways EXCEPT ________.

A) supporting the legality of employment practices
B) specifying safety and health issues
C) mandating staffing diversity
D) identifying training needs

Question 71

How does job analysis primarily benefit an HR manager?

A) improves public relations
B) adheres to federal standards
C) provides guidelines for staffing
D) outlines labor negotiation requirements

Question 72

A position may require the services of ten to twelve people depending on the size of the organization.

Question 73

Why is it important in today's business environment to have a sound job analysis system? What methods are available for collecting job analysis data?

Question 74

Define competency and competency modeling.Explain their importance as alternatives to job analysis.

Question 75

All of the following EXCEPT ________ are included in job specifications.

A) knowledge
B) skills
C) responsibilities
D) abilities

Question 76

A job consists of a group of tasks that must be performed for an organization to achieve its goals.

Question 77

Social context is relevant information collected during many job analysis efforts.

Question 78

Why are most job analyses conducted?

A) creation of new jobs
B) obsolescence in jobs
C) changes in the nature of jobs
D) requirements of upper management

Question 79

Which of the following provides the minimum acceptable qualifications that a person should possess to perform the job?

A) job title
B) job description
C) job specification
D) job evaluation

Question 80

What are the primary reasons for conducting a job analysis? What individuals in an organization typically conduct the job analysis?