Deck 8: Information Technology for HR Planning

Question 1

Online recruiting or e-recruiting is a type of web-based HR process and practice.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

A human resources information system includes only the software elements and support functions to gather,store,and report human resources data.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Outsourcing involves contracting an outside company to manage a function that used to be dealt with within the organization.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

An enterprise resource planning (ERP)program often incorporates finance,logistics,production,accounting,and HRM.

Question 5

An enterprise resource planning (ERP)software program platform integrates and automates the firm's business processes into a common database.

Question 6

Replacement planning deals with finding employees for all positions in the organization.

Question 7

One new trend in information technology for HR planning involves the use of forensic reporting.

Question 8

In a self-service HR system,employers are not obligated to protect employees' personal records.

Question 9

Workforce analytics uses statistical modelling and software to gather information about employees and work in order to optimize the use of human resources in the organization.

Question 10

Workforce analytics applications address the challenge of getting business intelligence for operational decision making.

Question 11

Information technology (IT)can help project correct demand and supply levels on the basis of realistic scenarios.

Question 12

Specialty products are software solutions for specific/specialized applications that are not always integrated with the main HR database.

Question 13

HRIS represents "human resources intelligence system."

Question 14

There is no legislation in Canada that requires personal information to be kept accurate,up-to-date,and complete as possible in an organizational HRIS.

Question 15

Transactional activities,such as employee benefits and payroll management,can be outsourced to an outside company.

Question 16

A scripted demo demonstrates to vendors what the company needs.

Question 17

Organizations adopt a process- or a technology-driven approach to HR technology implementation.

Question 18

One example of time and attendance software that tracks days,hours,overtime,and vacation balances is offered by SIPC.

Question 19

Advanced information technologies typically have three different properties,including basic characteristics,communication properties,and strategy-assisting ability.

Question 20

Two typical self-service platforms used in HR technology include the ESS and ISS.

Question 21

What is a new service delivery model that allows organizations and HR planners to access data in a timely manner?

A) benefits and employment data systems
B) self-service systems
C) recruiting and scheduling systems
D) human resource data systems

Question 22

Compared to a paper-based HR system,what can users of an IT system do better?

A) project demand/supply
B) support succession planning
C) prepare strategies
D) retrieve data

Question 23

During an HR technology implementation,it has been found that written communication in a user training session is more effective than face-to-face communication.

Question 24

What are three "apps" for HR functions offered through the use of mobile technology?

A) self-service,training,and compensation
B) employee assistance programs,pensions,and vacations
C) recruitment,benefits administration,and talent management
D) legal information,health and safety,and employment testing

Question 25

If a company is conducting a needs analysis to assist its IT selection for HRM,it will respond to numerous questions.According to the textbook,which question is most likely to be posed by the company?

A) Is the HR department spending enough time on manual processing?
B) Are there too many data security risks involved with IT processing?
C) Are we managing our human capital as a current asset?
D) Are we maintaining too much redundant information?

Question 26

Workforce analytics applications address the challenge of getting business intelligence for strategic decision making.

Question 27

What is another name for the performance appraisal system known as a 360^o feedback?

A) multiple source
B) comprehensive data
C) vertical assessment
D) appraisal feedback

Question 28

According to the textbook,computer capacity has doubled every 24 months.When did this trend start to occur?

A) 1970
B) 1980
C) 1990
D) 2000

Question 29

What is the first step in selecting a technology solution for HRM?

A) explore the marketplace
B) request a proposal from vendors
C) conduct a needs analysis
D) evaluate vendors and products

Question 30

Which of the following information categories is NOT typically part of the succession management process?

A) talent pools
B) business intelligence
C) developmental opportunities
D) performance assessments

Question 31

What is a new service delivery model that would allow an organization to adopt e-learning and e-recruiting processes?

A) web-based HR
B) self-service systems
C) personnel data systems
D) enterprise portals

Question 32

What is a new service delivery model that would allow an organization's workers to access,input,and edit personal information in a timely manner?

A) compensation data systems
B) self-service systems
C) personnel data systems
D) human resource data systems

Question 33

Using technology to mine an HR database is faster but more expensive than any paper-based system.

Question 34

E-learning is the process of learning contents distributed in digital format.

Question 35

When selecting an IT vendor,if an organization wishes to follow a clear agenda that focuses on its needs,how might it achieve this goal?

A) scripted demo
B) request for proposal
C) business intelligence
D) enterprise portal

Question 36

After conducting a needs analysis,what would be the next step an organization would want to take when selecting its technology solutions for workforce planning?

A) issue a request for proposal
B) explore the market place
C) evaluate vendors and products
D) ensure data security

Question 37

In the textbook,Richard Rousseau was interviewed about some of the significant trends in HR technology.According to him,which of the following is NOT one of those major trends?

A) self-service portals
B) business intelligence
C) IT outsourcing
D) work-life balance

Question 38

Why does an organization issue a request for proposal?

A) to communicate what is sought from the vendor
B) to request pricing information from the vendor
C) to substantiate intention to buy from the vendor
D) to request an IT demonstration from the vendor

Question 39

A relational database creates information that can be shared across multiple files simultaneously.What type of security systems might be used to protect the security of the data?

A) keeping the system on
B) smart cards or access codes
C) encryption devices
D) PINs and memory sticks

Question 40

HR technology implementation requires implementation planning and organizational input.What other actions does an organization require to support its IT implementation?

A) project team training
B) removal of old equipment
C) communication installation
D) safety audit for new computers

Question 41

If ESS and MSS applications are available to employees and managers,one can conclude that the information is being captured at the source.What type of technology platform applies these applications?

A) e-learning
B) self-service
C) outsourcing
D) online

Question 42

Briefly describe how IT supports HR planning.Define and describe skills inventories,replacement charts,and succession management.How does IT support these?

Question 43

Nova Scotia Social Services
Nova Scotia Social Services ("NSSS")provides support services to families in need.After 32 round-table discussions,a new provincial strategic plan was developed.A decision was made to reduce the number of assistant directors throughout the province.As part of the strategic planning process,NSSS learned that 40 percent of its social workers are between the ages of 55 and 65 years,and 10 percent are over 65 years.The HR planners do not know exactly when these older social workers will decide to retire,but they assume that a large number of this baby boom cohort will be retiring over the next one to five years.Recruitment of social workers is becoming increasingly competitive.One strategy developed by the Board Planning Committee is to make NSSS an employer of choice.As part of the strategic planning process,the Board Planning Committee decided to begin using information technology solutions for HR planning.
Analyze Case Incident: "Nova Scotia Social Services." As part of the strategic planning process,the NSSS Board Planning Committee decided to begin using information technology solutions for HR planning.Discuss the steps NSSS can take to realize its strategic plan to adopt HR planning technology.

Question 44

If an organization is interested in trying to link phenomena together in order to detect trends or predict behaviours,what type of reporting should management use?

A) financial
B) forensic
C) activity-based
D) scanning

Question 45

What information technology application contains a personal record of each member of the workforce,including employee name,seniority,classification,employment status,and work history?

A) replacement chart
B) skills inventory
C) organizational chart
D) relational database

Question 46

Which of the following is NOT a pitfall of IT implementation?

A) lack of planning
B) lack of resources
C) lack of goals
D) lack of knowledge

Question 47

What type of analysis is required when analyzing HRM software information such as the size of the company and network environment?

A) network
B) critical
C) data
D) needs

Question 48

When an organization applies workforce analytics,what is the major challenge it needs to overcome in order to address strategic decision making?

A) business intelligence
B) skills inventories
C) succession management
D) replacement charts

Question 49

After exploring the various software solutions the marketplace offers,what would be the next step an organization would want to take when selecting its HR planning software solutions?

A) ensure data security
B) issue a request for proposal
C) consider the information requests HR responds to
D) evaluate vendors and products

Question 50

Which concept refers to the fundamental rethinking and radical redesign of business processes in light of enabling technologies?

A) activity-based processing
B) process-based forecasting
C) business process re-engineering
D) continuous improvement process

Question 51

Which of the following receives the greatest levels of IT support?

A) storing data and measuring diversity needs
B) organizational charts and job postings
C) online employee assistance program service and tracking of labour costs
D) self-assessments and transferring employee data

Question 52

Which of the following applications receive the lowest levels of IT support?

A) employee self-assessments
B) organizational charts
C) job postings
D) tracking labour costs

Question 53

In order for data security systems to be effective,there must be a proper balance between what an individual is expected to divulge and another factor.What is this second factor?

A) what information employment and management decisions require
B) what the security system costs and the known or projected benefits
C) what level of technology acceptance and user satisfaction is expected
D) what the size of the organization is relative to its external environment

Question 54

After an organization issues a request for proposal,what would be the next step it would want to take when selecting its technology solutions for human resource planning?

A) consider the information requests HR responds to
B) review literature and demo disks
C) evaluate vendors and products
D) ensure data security

Question 55

An organization's training and development specialists want to ensure that learning contents are distributed in digital format via computers over its network.What is this service delivery model called?

A) enterprise portals
B) self-service systems
C) business intelligence
D) e-learning

Question 56

Why is knowledge management an important aspect of an organization's competitive advantage?

A) It enables managers to eliminate unnecessary knowledge acquisition.
B) It supports knowledge creation and sharing for contingent employees.
C) It acts as a repository of knowledge from which other employees may benefit.
D) It utilizes explicit and tacit knowledge in the production of requests for proposals.

Question 57

HR planners want to ensure that the technology they adopt enables workers to access and modify their data via a web browser using their laptop computer.What is this service delivery model called?

A) web-based HR
B) self-service systems
C) personnel data systems
D) enterprise portals

Question 58

If an organization utilizes advanced information technologies,what is one communication property it will benefit from?

A) storage and retrieval of large amounts of information
B) rapidly and accurately reconfigured information
C) improved transmission of processing capacity
D) selectively controlled access and participation

Question 59

What are the most common IT implementation pitfalls?

Question 60

Which of the following is a property of advanced technologies when the goal is to store and retrieve large amounts of information more quickly and inexpensively?

A) better data storage ability
B) improved transmission ability
C) higher levels of processing ability
D) decision-aiding ability

Question 61

What is a self-service solution? What are some of the major functions of HR self-service solutions?

Question 62

Identify five of the most significant ways that IT is supporting HR functions in today's workplace.

Question 63

What are the differences between a human resources information system (HRIS)and an enterprise resource planning (ERP)solution?