Question 1

A "structural mismatch" between workers and jobs means that

Accepted Answer

A "structural mismatch" between workers and jobs occurs when the skills and qualifications that workers have do not align with the skills and qualifications that are required by the jobs available. This means that workers may not have the skills needed for the current needs of the economy, resulting in a gap or mismatch between worker skills and job demands. The other options may contribute to a structural mismatch, but B is the best choice as it directly addresses the definition of the term.

Question 2

Perspectivo,Inc.,is a company that is growing rapidly both in sales and in numbers of employees.The culture of the firm is informal and highly-collaborative.The employees are highly psychologically invested in the success of the organization and tend to subordinate their personal lives to the organization's needs.Perspectivo is acquiring Vanishing Point,a smaller company in the same industry that has a traditional,formal culture in which there is a clear separation of work and non-work,and employees tend to "leave work at work." In order to change the culture of Vanishing Point to be more like the Perspectivo culture,HR should do all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

All of the other options (providing examples of desired behavior, communicating requirements, and rewarding change in behavior) are effective strategies for changing the culture of Vanishing Point to be more like Perspectivo's culture. However, allowing more diversity in attitudes toward work could potentially undermine the efforts to create a cohesive culture between the two companies. It is important for both companies to align on certain cultural values and norms in order for the merger to be successful.

Question 3

During an economic downturn,resources (including workers and potential workers)are

Accepted Answer

During an economic downturn, resources, including workers, are under-utilized as demand for goods and services decreases. Organizations focus on increasing productivity and lowering costs to navigate the challenging economic environment.

Question 4

Alamanzo Devices,Inc.,in Oklahoma City is opening a location in Brazil.Managers from Oklahoma City will staff key positions in the Brazilian location so that headquarters can closely control the operations there.This is a/an _______ approach to international staffing.

Accepted Answer

This approach is characterized by using executives from the home country to fill key positions in the foreign location, with the intention of maintaining control and preserving the corporate culture. In this case, managers from Oklahoma City will staff key positions in the Brazilian location, indicating the ethnocentric approach.

Question 5

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. According to various studies, the success rate of mergers and acquisitions is much lower, with some studies reporting success rates as low as 20-30%.

Question 6

Arden Glassworks has been the major employer in the town of Arden for over 20 years,drawing mainly on the low and semi-skilled labor force.Now,a large telephone marketing firm is opening an operation in Arden which will also employ low and semi-skilled workers.Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Since the marketing firm will also employ low and semi-skilled workers in the same geographic area as Arden Glassworks, there will likely be competition for workers. This competition may lead to upward pressure on wages and benefits at both firms as each tries to attract and retain workers. Therefore, Arden will need to consider the pay scales and benefits offered by the new firm in order to remain competitive and retain its employees. Choice A is incorrect because even though the two firms are in different industries, they will still be competing for the same pool of low and semi-skilled workers. Choice B is also incorrect because while offering higher pay and benefits may be one strategy for retaining workers, it is not the only option and may not be effective if the marketing firm is offering more attractive compensation packages. Choice C is also incorrect because while labor costs may be a consideration in the marketing firm's decision to set up operations in Arden, wage levels in the area are not the only factor and there may still be upward pressure on wages and benefits due to increased competition for workers.

Question 7

Which of the following has been a geographic trend within the last decade that has forced changes in HR plans?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following has been a...

Question 8

All of the following are potential problems of offshoring operations EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

While there may be challenges with offshoring such as B, C, and D, the difficulty of reintegrating employees to the US should the offshore location close does not necessarily apply to all companies or situations. It is a specific issue that may arise in some cases but is not a universal problem with offshoring.

Question 9

The Wickham County Hospital is the only full-service hospital providing care in Wickham County.The population of Wickham Country has been increasing by 10 percent a year the last two years,and projections are that the population will grow even more rapidly in the next ten years.To serve the increased need,next year the hospital will open a new wing doubling the number of beds in the hospital.The HR planning for next year must include all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The HR planning for next year must include analysis of the current employees' knowledge, skills and abilities, predicting the qualifications employees will need for the additional jobs, and predicting the number of new employees needed in each job to staff the new wing. However, since the focus of the question is on serving the increased need due to population growth, it is unlikely that there will be a talent surplus in the next 12 months. Therefore, planning for actions in the event of a talent surplus is not necessary for the immediate HR planning for next year.

Question 10

The management team at Ginx Enterprises is considering opening several branches in European cities.Gina,the vice president of HR,is studying the employment-related laws and regulations of the European Union for all of the following reasons EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The study of employment-related laws and regulations in the European Union is important to ensure legal compliance and to adapt HR policies to the European setting. It is not related to preparing for the turbulent political and legal systems of Europe. Therefore, option C is the incorrect option.

Question 11

Changes in U.S.demographics affects all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Changes in U.S. demographics affect consumer demand for products and services, the need for creative and flexible management, and the number and quality of potential employees. However, it does not affect employee desire to have traditional, stable workplace policies and practices as this is more influenced by individual preferences and organizational culture.

Question 12

Clement is the vice-president of HR for a financial services firm than has recently acquired a competitor in the same line of business.The main threat to the smooth integration of the two firms is ___________________ which Clement hopes to break down by continuing the change efforts that were implemented in the early days of the acquisition.

Accepted Answer

The "us versus them" mentality between the acquiring and acquire firms' employees is a common challenge in mergers and acquisitions. Clement hopes to break down this mentality by continuing change efforts that were implemented in the early days of the acquisition. Options A and B may be challenges in the integration process, but they are not the main threat to smooth integration mentioned in the question. Option C is also not the main threat, as legal requirements for severance are a common practice in such mergers and acquisitions.

Question 13

In mergers and acquisitions,the HR planning process begins with

Accepted Answer

HR planning in mergers and acquisitions begins with conducting due diligence, which involves assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the human resources of the target company to determine their compatibility with the acquiring company's culture and business goals. This includes identifying key HR processes and analyzing the internal inventory of HR capabilities. Optimizing the workforce may come later in the process, after the HR planning is complete.

Question 14

Justine,VP of HR for Perspectivo,Inc.,is concerned that key talent at Vanishing Point,a recently-acquired competitor,will quit.She plans to institute all of the following programs to help retain these employees EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Giving across-the-board bonuses to all Vanishing Point employees who stay with Perspectivo for one year may not be an effective way to retain key talent. It may incentivize average performers to stay, but it may not be enough to keep the most valuable employees who may be looking for other opportunities beyond just financial incentives. The other options are more targeted and have a greater chance of retaining key talent.

Question 15

The cessation of NASA's space shuttle program and the five year delay before the Constellation program launches,means that NASA

Accepted Answer

The cessation of the space shuttle program and the delay before the Constellation program launch can create a knowledge gap if experienced shuttle-related employees retire before the Constellation program begins. This means that NASA may lose valuable expertise and experience, which may affect the success of the Constellation program in the long run. Hence, option D is the correct choice. Options A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not address the potential knowledge gap issue that NASA may face.

Question 16

As a senior member of the HR department at TransOceanic Industries,Abigail realizes that the firm's upcoming merger with its main competitor,Amorphous Sea Ventures,will result in challenges in the year ahead.Abigail

Accepted Answer

As the two companies are merging, there is likely to be some degree of competition and uncertainty among employees. In this situation, it is essential to design programs for retaining key talent to ensure the organization's future success. Thus, Abigail realized that she needs to design programs for retaining key talent in the aftermath of the merger. Option A is incorrect because even if two companies have a similar product line, different organizational cultures can create issues. Option C is incorrect as it is highly unlikely as it would not make sense to have two separate HR systems after a merger. Option D is incorrect, as power struggles can lead to high levels of turnover, especially at executive levels.

Question 17

Angelo is a native-born U.S.citizen.He speaks Italian,English,and French fluently.He has lived and worked in both Italy and France and has an MBA from a prestigious U.S.university.Angelo's friends describe him as "incredibly cosmopolitan" and a person who "blends in like a native wherever he is." Angelo would probably be a good candidate for a company looking to build its international business using ______________.

Accepted Answer

Angelo's international experience, language skills, and education make him an ideal candidate for a role as an expatriate employee, where he would work in a country different from his home country, leveraging his global perspective and skills to help a company expand its international business.

Question 18

Trunkline Chemicals is considering opening a manufacturing plant in Vietnam.As director of HR,you assign a committee of HR staff to investigate all of the following factors EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The HR committee is responsible for investigating factors that directly affect the workforce and human resources, such as labor unions, compensation laws, and the stability of the political environment. However, the decision of whether the change in manufacturing location will be profitable in the short-run is not the HR committee's responsibility. That decision should be made by the company's financial and operational departments.

Question 19

Austin,Texas,is a junior rival of Silicon Valley.The city actively recruits new and established high-tech firms to relocate to Austin.As an HR director for a start-up high-tech firm,what would be most important factor regarding the Austin location in comparison to cities without an existing high-tech sector?

Accepted Answer

The availability of an existing pool of high-tech workers would be the most important factor for a start-up high-tech firm relocating to Austin compared to cities without an existing high-tech sector. This is because having access to a talented and experienced workforce is crucial for the success of a high-tech firm. While factors such as exposure to industrial espionage and high salaries may be concerns, they are not as significant as the availability of qualified workers. Additionally, concerns about financial support from the city are likely to be outweighed by the benefits of locating in a city with a thriving high-tech sector.

Question 20

Vendome Products will have a labor surplus of 15% in its non-exempt employee ranks next year because of decreases in sales of its major product line.Vendome will need to consider all of the following alternatives EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Transferring non-exempt employees to exempt-level jobs is not a viable alternative because it does not address the labor surplus in the non-exempt employee ranks. In fact, it may exacerbate the surplus by creating a shortage of non-exempt employees. The other alternatives (workforce reductions, cutting wages or hours, not replacing voluntary departures) all directly address the surplus by reducing the number of non-exempt employees or their compensation.

Quiz 2: Strategic HR Management and Planning