Question 1

According to the diagram in the text,courage is an important aspect of being an HR professional.

Accepted Answer

The text states that "Courage is paramount in Human Resource management." and that "HR professionals must be fearless in their approach to addressing issues and speaking up." Therefore, it can be inferred that courage is indeed an important aspect of being an HR professional.

Question 2

Employees today are less likely to define success only in terms of financial gain.

Accepted Answer

Many employees prioritize work/life balance, career development, and job satisfaction over solely financial gain.

Question 3

In a recent survey,only about two-thirds of companies reported having a formal change management program to support their change initiatives.

Accepted Answer

The statement in the survey is true, as only about two-thirds of companies reported having a formal change management program to support their change initiatives.

Question 4

Employees and the public at large are demanding that employers demonstrate greater social responsibility.

Accepted Answer

There has been a growing trend towards corporate social responsibility and greater expectation for employers to act in socially responsible ways, both from their employees and the public.

Question 5

Organization C is attempting to manage reactive change within the organization.This organization is radically changing every process through redesigning and rethinking from the ground up.The firm needs a dramatic change in order to survive.What is Organization C implementing?

Accepted Answer

Reengineering involves the radical redesign of an organization's processes, often from the ground up, in order to achieve dramatic improvements in performance. This aligns with the description given in the scenario, which states that the organization needs a dramatic change in order to survive. Six Sigma, continuous improvement, and total quality management all focus on incremental improvements rather than radical change.

Question 6

Which type of work would a knowledge worker most likely engage in?

Accepted Answer

A knowledge worker typically uses their expertise and knowledge to make decisions, solve problems, and come up with new ideas. Deciding which type of fertilizer to buy wholesale for a landscaping business requires expertise and knowledge about different types of fertilizers, their effectiveness, and their impact on the environment.

Question 7

Which of the following is an increasing source of success for organizations?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is an increasing...

Question 8

Almost all Canadian employers have engaged in some type of downsizing.

Accepted Answer

While many Canadian employers have engaged in downsizing at various points, it is not accurate to say that almost all have done so. The extent of downsizing varies greatly among industries, company sizes, and economic conditions.

Question 9

ABC Corporation wants to contain its costs while allowing it to maintain working relationships with the employees while shifting administrative costs to another firm.What is this practice an example of?

Accepted Answer

Employee leasing is the practice of shifting administrative costs, while still maintaining working relationships with employees. It involves hiring a third-party firm to handle human resources, payroll, and other administrative tasks, freeing up resources for the company to focus on its core business.

Question 10

Which statement best reflects the current view on the efficacy of offshoring as a cost reduction measure?

Accepted Answer

The statement reflects a balanced view on the efficacy of offshoring as a cost reduction measure, acknowledging that while there may be savings, there can be hidden costs and productivity loss during the transition that may offset the financial gains.

Question 11

ABC Corporation wants to expand on its markets in its new strategic plan.The plan covers the use of key resources available to the firm,including technology,people,and access to capital.Which of the following would be a critical human capital component of the plan?

Accepted Answer

The critical human capital component of the plan would be the employees' skills. This is because having skilled employees would enable the company to effectively implement the plan and expand to new markets using available resources such as technology and capital investments.

Question 12

Older workers now are choosing to work longer.

Accepted Answer

According to recent studies and trends, many older workers are choosing to work longer, either by delaying retirement or seeking new job opportunities later in their careers.

Question 13

HRIS systems in some organizations,such as Corning Inc.,are changing the way HR processes are designed and executed.What type of technological effect is this?

Accepted Answer

HRIS systems are changing the entire way HR processes are designed and executed. This is a transformational technological effect, as it represents a significant change in the way things are done and can have a significant impact on the organization as a whole.

Question 14

Which of the following is one of the largest expenditures of service companies?

Accepted Answer

Labour costs are typically one of the largest expenditures for service companies as they often rely heavily on skilled workers to provide high-quality services to customers. Production costs and distribution costs are more commonly associated with manufacturing and retail industries, while marketing costs can vary depending on the specific company and its marketing strategy.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT an approach generally used by organizations to try to lower labour costs?

Accepted Answer

Employee development is not a cost-cutting approach but rather an investment in the employees and their skills. The other options involve outsourcing, employee leasing, and relocating operations, which can reduce labor costs.

Question 16

"Six Sigma" refers to the six criteria for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

Accepted Answer

Six Sigma is a quality improvement methodology that focuses on reducing defects and variability in processes, and is not directly related to the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. However, organizations that implement Six Sigma may use the criteria of the Baldrige Award as a framework for organizational performance excellence.

Question 17

It is quite possible that when managers increase costs productivity often rises.

Accepted Answer

The answer of It is quite possible that when managers...

Question 18

To achieve sustainable competitive advantage through people,an organization's employees' skills,knowledge,and abilities must be widely available in the labour market.

Accepted Answer

Sustainable competitive advantage through people is achieved by creating a unique and valuable work culture, developing employees' skills and knowledge, and aligning their goals with the organization's objectives. If an organization's employees' skills, knowledge, and abilities are widely available in the labor market, it becomes difficult to maintain a competitive advantage. Instead, the organization must invest in continuously developing their employees and creating a unique work culture to retain their talented workforce.

Question 19

An increased reliance on outsourcing is likely to increase the morale and productivity of the employees that remain on the job.

Accepted Answer

Increased outsourcing can often lead to job insecurity and decreased morale among employees who fear losing their jobs to outsourcing. This can ultimately lead to decreased productivity among remaining employees.

Question 20

Why does effective management of human resources provide a firm with competitive advantage?

Accepted Answer

Effective management of human resources provides a firm with a competitive advantage because it is difficult to replicate how we manage people in organizations. While other resources such as technology can be easily purchased or duplicated by competitors, a company's unique organizational culture, employee training and development programs, and employee engagement initiatives cannot be replicated as easily. This makes a company's human resources a valuable and sustainable source of competitive advantage.

Quiz 1: The World of Human Resources Management