Question 1

Company Z's appraisals tend to be more behavioural because the company environment is more certain and the behaviours necessary for effective performance are established.Which strategy is this company following?

Accepted Answer

A concentration strategy focuses on a company's core competencies to achieve growth within its existing area of operation, which aligns with Company Z's approach of emphasizing established behaviors for effective performance in a certain environment.

Question 2

Firms that seek to scale down their operations are following a(n):

Accepted Answer

A divestment strategy involves reducing or eliminating certain business units or products in order to focus on core operations and increase profitability. This is in contrast to a concentration strategy which involves expanding within a particular industry or market, an internal growth strategy which involves increasing revenues through new products or services, or an external growth strategy which involves mergers and acquisitions to expand operations.

Question 3

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding strategy implementation?

Accepted Answer

HR has an influence over all the variables involved in the strategy implementation process. HR is responsible for managing people, providing training and development, and creating communication systems necessary to ensure that the strategy is implemented successfully. Thus, it plays a critical role in strategy implementation.

Question 4

_____ levels of integration seem to exist between the HRM function and the strategic management function.

Accepted Answer

There are typically four levels of integration between HRM and strategic management: administrative linkage, one-way linkage, two-way linkage, and integrative linkage.

Question 5

For companies following a(n)_____ strategy,joint ventures require extensive training in conflict resolution techniques because of the problems associated with combining people from two distinct organizational cultures.

Accepted Answer

The answer of For companies following a(n)_____ strategy,joint ventures require...

Question 6

The purpose of the SWOT analysis is to:

Accepted Answer

The answer of The purpose of the SWOT analysis is...

Question 7

Most _____ strategies are identified by those lower in the organizational hierarchy,where it is often the rank-and-file employees who provide ideas for new markets,new products,and new strategies.

Accepted Answer

Emergent strategies are those that develop organically from the bottom up, often initiated by frontline employees who are closest to customers and markets. Concentration strategies focus on a single product or market, whereas directional strategies involve expanding into new markets or products. Intended strategies are those that are deliberately formulated by top management.

Question 8

IBM has consistently emphasized its brand image and its reputation for superior service while charging a higher price for its computers.This is an example of which one of Porter's generic strategies?

Accepted Answer

IBM's emphasis on its brand image and reputation for superior service is a clear example of differentiation strategy, where the company tries to create a unique and differentiated product or service that can justify a higher price.

Question 9

Identify the role of a strategic advisor from the following.

Accepted Answer

B  C  A strategic advisor shares expertise in decision-making, emphasizes the importance of talent, and identifies talent gaps to influence the talent agenda.

Question 10

All of the following are strategy decisions about competition EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

"How long to compete?" is not typically considered a strategic decision about competition. Strategic decisions usually focus on where, how, and with what to compete, involving the selection of markets, methods of competition, and resources to be utilized.

Question 11

_____ consists of examining the organization's operating environment to identify the strategic opportunities and threats.

Accepted Answer

External analysis involves examining the organization's operating environment to identify opportunities and threats. Strategic formulation involves developing strategies to capitalize on the identified opportunities and overcome the threats. Internal analysis involves assessing the organization's strengths and weaknesses, and strategic choice involves selecting the best strategy from the available options.

Question 12

Increasing immigrant population is one of the functions of this stage in HR strategy process.

Accepted Answer

Scanning the external environment involves analyzing economic, political, social, and technological factors that may impact the organization's human resources. One of these factors could be an increase in the immigrant population, which would need to be considered when developing a HR strategy. Therefore, increasing immigrant population is not a function of identifying people issues, developing the HR strategy, or identifying strategic business issues.

Question 13

The most prevalent HR problem for firms facing external growth strategies is:

Accepted Answer

When a company plans to grow externally by acquiring other firms, it often struggles to integrate the new entities' HR practices with its existing system. Standardizing HR practices is necessary to promote consistency and equity within the organization. Failure to standardize practices can cause confusion, loss of knowledge, resistance to change, and dissatisfied employees. Although hiring the right people and determining the fair-market price of acquisitions are also necessary, they are not as prevalent HR problems as standardizing practices. Finding the right companies to purchase is part of the acquisition strategy and not an HR problem.

Question 14

_____ strategies are the result of the rational decision-making process used by top managers as they develop a strategic plan.

Accepted Answer

Intended strategies are the result of a deliberate, rational decision-making process used by top managers when they develop a strategic plan. Emergent strategies, on the other hand, are those that arise from unforeseen opportunities or constraints that the organization faces as it implements its intended strategies. Divergent and accidental strategies are not typically associated with the intentional strategic planning process.

Question 15

Which of the following strategies evolves from the grassroots of an organization and can be thought of as what organizations actually do?

Accepted Answer

Emergent strategies are the strategies that emerge over time as a result of patterns of behavior and decisions taken by employees, rather than being deliberately planned by management. These strategies evolve from the grassroots of an organization and can be thought of as what organizations actually do.

Question 16

Employees in companies with a differentiation strategy would need to be:

Accepted Answer

Companies with a differentiation strategy aim to differentiate their products or services from competitors by focusing on quality, design, or features. To achieve this, employees would need to be highly creative and cooperative to come up with innovative ideas and solutions.

Question 17

What type of strategy is used by a firm that focuses on what it does best within established markets?

Accepted Answer

The strategy of focusing on what the firm does best within established markets is known as concentration. This involves narrowing the focus of the company and utilizing their strengths to achieve greater success. It does not involve expanding into new markets or diversifying the product line, which would fall under external growth or internal growth strategies, respectively. Divestment refers to the selling off of business units that are not performing well. Therefore, the correct option is A) Concentration.

Question 18

Company X develops results-based performance management systems and conducts divisional-corporate performance evaluations to encourage risk taking on the part of managers.Which strategy is this company following?

Accepted Answer

Company X is following a differentiation strategy by focusing on developing a unique performance management system that encourages risk-taking among managers. This sets them apart from competitors who may have more traditional, risk-averse performance management systems.

Question 19

_____ attempts to identify the organization's strengths and weaknesses.

Accepted Answer

Internal analysis is the process of assessing an organization's strengths and weaknesses in order to identify areas for improvement and optimization. This includes evaluating the company's resources, capabilities, culture, and structure. This information is then used to inform strategic decision-making and identify opportunities for growth and development.

Question 20

A recent trend in HR that is consistent with a total quality management philosophy emphasizes

Accepted Answer

A total quality management philosophy focuses on meeting and exceeding customer expectations. In HR, this means delivering HR programs in a customer-oriented approach, ensuring that the needs and expectations of employees (internal customers) are met. It is not necessarily focused on efficiency or cost reduction, although those may be outcomes of a customer-oriented approach. Functional approaches may not necessarily prioritize customer needs, so are not consistent with a total quality management philosophy in HR.

Quiz 2: Strategic Human Resource Management