Question 1

Which of the following statements about persons with disabilities is misrepresentative?

Accepted Answer

This statement is misrepresentative because it suggests that employees with disabilities are limited in their career goals, which is not true. Persons with disabilities can have diverse career aspirations and should be supported in achieving them. It is the employer's responsibility to provide reasonable accommodations and create an inclusive workplace where everyone has equal opportunities for growth and development. Therefore, instead of helping the employee remain satisfied in their current position, supervisors should encourage them to pursue their career goals and offer support to overcome any barriers they may face.

Question 2

Which of the following do employers tend to do when in need of employees with scarce skills?

Accepted Answer

When employers need employees with scarce skills, they tend to "buy" these skills in the marketplace by offering higher salaries to attract or retain individuals with the desired skills. This is because outsourcing to consulting firms can be expensive, sending internal candidates for training may take too long, and focusing on training and developing current employees may not be feasible if the skills are highly specialized and cannot be easily taught in-house.

Question 3

Which of the following scenarios describes a career plateau?

Accepted Answer

A career plateau occurs when an employee reaches a point where there are no opportunities for further advancement within their organization. This can lead to feelings of stagnation and a lack of motivation to continue improving their skills and performance. Options A, C, and D describe other career-related issues, but do not specifically describe a plateau.

Question 4

When relocating one partner in a dual-career couple, the employer typically provides assistance to the tag-along partner. Which of the following types of assistance is LEAST likely to be offered?

Accepted Answer

While employers may offer a variety of relocation assistance options, it is unlikely that they would supplement the tag-along partner's salary by the amount of income lost for one year or until a new job is found, whichever is shorter. This level of financial support is rare, and most employers limit their assistance to job search support and resources.

Question 5

Nancy is a 28-year-old accountant with a new baby. She has decided to stay home while her child is young and return to work later. Which of the following is she unlikely to have considered when making this decision?

Accepted Answer

C is unlikely because communication skills, especially for an accountant, are not typically lost to the extent that they hinder re-entry into the workforce after a career break.

Question 6

Two firms are competing to hire Alicia, a highly competent optics engineer who is early in her career. Both firms are offering similar salaries, benefits, and financial packages. Both are in desirable parts of the country. The job duties are almost identical, and both firms are prestigious employers. Given that Alicia is ambitious, which of the following is most likely to influence her decision?

Accepted Answer

As Alicia is ambitious and early in her career, she is likely to prioritize the development potential of the position. This will give her opportunities to gain new skills, take on challenging projects, and grow within the organization, which will be attractive to her in the long run. The other factors are also important, but the development potential will have the biggest impact on Alicia's career growth.

Question 7

From an organizational perspective, which of the following is a primary concern when an employee reaches a career plateau?

Accepted Answer

When an employee reaches a career plateau, one of the primary concerns from an organizational perspective is that the employee may develop a negative attitude, which can affect organizational morale. This can lead to decreased motivation among other employees and reduced productivity. Therefore, it is important for organizations to find ways to help plateaued employees continue to develop in their careers to maintain a positive work environment. Option B, C, and D are not necessarily true for all plateaued employees and may not be the primary concern in every case.

Question 8

From the employer's perspective, which of the following is the main difficulty pertaining to a dual-career couple?

Accepted Answer

The main difficulty for employers when dealing with dual-career couples is that one of the partners may be relocated, especially overseas. This can lead to difficulties in retaining talented employees and can also create personal and family stress. While the other options listed may also pose challenges for employers, they are not the main difficulty related to dual-career couples.

Question 9

Which of the following statements is accurately represents the situation of women in the workforce?

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately represents the situation of women in the workforce by highlighting the gender pay gap and how it affects women's work and career advancement opportunities. Studies have shown that women on average earn less than men, and this discrepancy increases when women take time off for caregiving responsibilities, resulting in less work experience and fewer promotion opportunities. This can lead to a significant difference in overall career advancement between men and women.

Question 10

Which of the following is a concern about the use of assessment centres?

Accepted Answer

Assessment centres can be used by managers to avoid making difficult promotion decisions, as they provide an external evaluation process that can shift responsibility away from the manager.

Question 11

The focus of ____ is learning specific behaviours and actions, while ____ focuses on such areas as judgment, responsibility, decision making, and communication.

Accepted Answer

Training is focused on specific skills and behaviors, while development is more focused on overall growth and improvement, including areas beyond just skill enhancement. Therefore, the first blank should be filled with "training" and the second blank with "development".

Question 12

Effective career counselling for Aboriginals has three essential components. What are they?

Accepted Answer

While spirituality and extended family can be important aspects of Aboriginal culture, community is also a crucial component for effective career counselling. Aboriginal individuals may benefit from support and guidance from their community, as well as tapping into the knowledge and resources of community organizations. Spirituality and extended family can also provide support and guidance, but may not be a necessary component for all individuals seeking career counselling.

Question 13

You are the first director of training and development for a manufacturer of educational toys for children. What should your first step in designing a development program be?

Accepted Answer

The first step in designing a development program should be to review the organization's strategic and HR plans. This will provide important insights into the organization's goals, priorities, and needs, and will help ensure that the development program is aligned with these factors. Evaluating current training and development practices and gathering and analyzing performance appraisals may be useful later on in the process, but they are not the first step. Succession planning for key executives is also important, but it is not directly related to designing a development program for educational toys.

Question 14

John's employer has a tuition reimbursement program, but only for degrees directly applicable to the position the employee currently holds. John is a manufacturing supervisor, but he wishes to earn a degree in employee safety and health and move into an HR position at the company. His boss will only pay for John's advanced training in Total Quality Management. Which statement best characterizes the source of the conflict?

Accepted Answer

John's desire to earn a degree in employee safety and health is a valid and positive pursuit of lifelong development. However, his employer is limiting his options by only offering tuition reimbursement for degrees directly applicable to his current position, and offering a different type of training that may not align with John's career goals. By not supporting John's pursuit of his own career goals, the organization may be missing out on the benefits of John's increased confidence, ideas, and enthusiasm that could come from pursuing his desired degree.

Question 15

The Summerhill School District is located far from a major urban area. The school district is struggling to recruit young graduates from education programs to work in a rural setting. As a result, the school board is proposing to hire people with university degrees who are interested in changing to a teaching career. As a recruiting tool, the board plans to pay for individuals' training to become certified teachers and for continuing education toward a master's degree in education. Which of the following terms is used to describe the kind of program the school board is proposing?

Accepted Answer

The term "redevelopment" is used to describe programs that involve retraining individuals for new roles or careers, such as transitioning to a teaching career.

Question 16

Some talented technical people prefer to remain in their field rather than move into management. Which of the following is a strategy used by many companies so that they can still reward these employees?

Accepted Answer

Dual-career ladders are a strategy used by many companies to reward technically talented employees who prefer to remain in their field rather than move into management. This involves creating two separate career paths within the company, one for technical experts and one for managers. This allows skilled technical employees to advance in their field and receive recognition and rewards, without having to pursue a management position.

Question 17

A recent study, "Career Advancement in Corporate Canada," invited focus group participants to consider why members of visible minorities face barriers to employment opportunities. Which of the following is the main reason, according to this study?

Accepted Answer

The study found that the main reason visible minorities face barriers to employment opportunities is because their work experience or credentials are not taken seriously, even if they have the same or better qualifications as their non-visible minority counterparts. This discrimination is often due to unconscious bias or systemic racism within organizations. The other options presented in the question are not supported by the findings of the study.

Question 18

Which of the following statements describes one way in which development differs from training?

Accepted Answer

Development activities may not directly relate to an individual's current job or position, whereas training activities are typically designed to improve specific job-related skills or knowledge. Development activities focus more on improving an individual's overall capabilities and potential for future roles or responsibilities, while training focuses on improving specific job-related skills or knowledge.

Question 19

Which of the following statements best describes the impact that HR development is likely to have on an individual's career?

Accepted Answer

HR development programs can provide individuals with new skills, knowledge, and experiences that may lead to new career opportunities or a shift in their career focus. This can result in a more fulfilling and successful career. It does not necessarily mean that the individual will remain with the same organization or have reduced employability at other organizations. Additionally, it does not necessarily mean that the individual's career goals will be subordinated to the organization's goals, although it may align with them.

Question 20

Which of the following statements best defines an assessment centre?

Accepted Answer

An assessment centre is a collection of instruments and exercises designed to diagnose individuals' development needs. It includes a series of activities and tasks that simulate real work situations, and assess different competencies such as problem-solving, team work, leadership, and communication skills. The results of the assessment centre are used as a basis for providing feedback, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and designing development plans for the participants. It is often used as a tool for talent management and succession planning in organizations.

Quiz 8: Talent Management and Development