Deck 2: How Human Resources Fits Into an Organization

Question 1

The most common and popular model for human resources departments is known as "the clerical model."

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Employee assistance program referral should be handled by someone external to the organization for the sake of employee confidentiality.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Every human resource department must be staffed by specialists, one or more for each area of activity (employment, compensation and benefits, employee relations, etc.).

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Reengineering has brought about a two-fold increase in the size of the average health care human resource department.

Question 5

In a significant number of organizations human resources is regarded as bureaucratic and inflexible.

Question 6

Technological changes almost always lead to reductions in the cost of delivering health care.

Question 7

The present method of performing any particular task is the most important factor to consider in reengineering that task.

Question 8

A professional employer organization (PEO) provides the means for some smaller organizations to obtain most of their human resource services externally.

Question 9

On issues of employee conduct it is the responsibility of human resources to initiate action and tell department managers what they must do.

Question 10

Competition is increasing in health care in part because elements of a shrinking hospital system are struggling to acquire or retain a specific market share.

Question 11

What is the principal difference between line and staff activities?

A) A line activity supports all other activities in getting the actual work done.
B) Line activities do the work; staff activities support the line activities.
C) There is essentially no difference between line and staff.
D) Employees in staff activities do the actual work of the organization.

Question 12

The most effective reporting relationship for the human resources director is:

A) Reporting to the chief operating officer
B) Reporting to the organization's financial executive
C) Reporting to the chief executive officer
D) Reporting to the board

Question 13

What is the best description of the principal role of human resources?

A) Exerting control and direction over other organizational elements
B) Serving as the organization's primary resource on employment-related legal issues
C) Providing service and advice to other organizational elements
D) Keeping all employees in line with policies and work rules

Question 14

Which human resource model operates most commonly in hospitals and other labor-intensive service organizations?

A) Counseling model
B) Clerical model
C) Consulting model
D) Financial model

Question 15

What do most chief executive officers expect their human resource departments to do under ordinary circumstances?

A) Supervise recruitment, administer compensation and benefits, and maintain personnel records.
B) Provide legal counsel
C) Predict needed hiring patterns in the coming decade
D) Monitor board opinion

Question 16

Why are outplacement services almost always subject to outsourcing?

Question 17

Which model of human resources service delivery is commonly considered to represent the "personnel department" prior to 1964?

Question 18

What are the three kinds of changes facing today's health care organizations?

Question 19

Define the essence of reengineering in as few words as possible.

Question 20

What are the usual components of the clearance that must occur before a newly hired employee can begin work?