Deck 1: Strategic Human Resource Management

Question 1

Canada's international trade advantage is due to its geographical location and multi-cultural population.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Boom and bust economic cycles are experienced the same across the country.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Economic forces are defined as economic factors facing Canadian business,including historical trends,global trade forces,and the force to increase one's own competitiveness and productivity levels.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Recruiting or developing innovative staff to create a culture of innovation within the organization is an example of a progressive human resource strategy.

Question 5

Human resource management is central to all organizations and all organizations have a dedicated human resource department.

Question 6

People are the common element in all social organizations.

Question 7

With an increased reliance on knowledge workers,organizations also start to face challenges associated with employees hiding and withholding knowledge.

Question 8

Knowledge Management is an outcome of digital information systems.

Question 9

Employee salaries may account for more than 65% of the operating expenses in many organizations.

Question 10

In firms with non-routine production processes (such as advertising firms or software developers),flexible human resource practices that nurture creativity,innovation,and entrepreneurship may add more value.

Question 11

Moving from a factor-based to a knowledge-based economy is a trend witnessed only in North America.

Question 12

The field of human resource management is not related to key organizational goals,product-market plans,technology,and innovation.

Question 13

Using the focus strategy,a firm concentrates on a segment of the market.The firm may compete on the basis of either differentiation or cost leadership.

Question 14

A new venture or micro-business would initially have the entrepreneur perform HR related tasks.

Question 15

Many organizations are now including specific strategies that directly consider their employees,such as a strategy to become one of Canada's "Top 50 Best Managed Companies."

Question 16

The move towards extractive industries increases the need for innovation and creates an environment that requires not only knowledge workers,but individuals who bring innovative thinking to their organization.

Question 17

All service industries combined currently account for more than 75% of the gross domestic product (GDP)in Canada.

Question 18

Companies can gain accreditation in productivity optimization processes through organizations like the International Association for Six Sigma Certification.

Question 19

Organizational goals are an organization's short- and long-term goals that human resource management aims to support and enable.

Question 20

Strategies for businesses are formulated at three levels: corporate,a major business activity,and employee.

Question 21

Human resource managers do not have the authority to order other managers in other departments to accept their ideas.

Question 22

Cultural forces are challenges facing a firm's decision makers because of cultural differences among employees.

Question 23

Delegation reduces a manager's responsibility.

Question 24

The foundation skills for employability in the future as identified by the Corporate Council on Education are: basic academic skills,personal management skills,and team work skills.

Question 25

Equifinality means there are many paths to any given objective.The key to success is choosing the path that best aligns to the organization's strategic goals.

Question 26

Some organizations consciously make an effort to create an egalitarian,participative,and entrepreneurial work climate.HR practices such as seniority- and rank-based pay and top-down communication channels are likely to work best in this situation.

Question 27

When a human resources department first emerges,it is typically small and reports to a senior-level manager.

Question 28

In today's workplace,leaders may be faced with up to four generations-generation Y,generation X,baby boomers,and traditionalists.

Question 29

In highly technical or extremely routine situations,the human resources department may be given the right to make decisions usually made by line managers or top management.This is called functional authority.

Question 30

The reasons most often cited by HR professionals for engaging in unethical behaviours are: a need to follow the boss's orders,pressure to meet overly aggressive business objectives,and helping the organization to survive.

Question 31

In the discussion of ethics,there are 3 approaches to determine "Right" behaviour.The 3 approaches are: universalistic,conformist,and subjectivist.

Question 32

Educational attainment is the average academic level required to work at a particular job.

Question 33

Human resource managers must constantly scan their professional and social environment for clues about the future.New developments may mean new challenges.

Question 34

Allophones are defined as someone whose native tongue is Albanian.

Question 35

The impact of population aging is the same,regardless of geographical location.

Question 36

The growing youth population-those under age 25-entering the workforce has implications for Canada on a global scale.

Question 37

Performance appraisals indicates how well human resource activities have been carried out,since poor performance might often mean that selection or training activities need to be redesigned.

Question 38

Educational attainment is not keeping pace with the growing knowledge based economy.

Question 39

Without a future orientation,the human resources department becomes proactive,not reactive.Proactive approaches allow minor problems to become major ones.

Question 40

Human resource audits need not be done for the entire organization.The audit can be performed only on a division.

Question 41

An examination of the human resource policies,practices,and systems of a firm (or division)to eliminate deficiencies and improve ways to achieve goals is a:

A)human resource audit
B)differentiation strategy
C)cost leadership strategy
D)mission statement
E)demographic change

Question 42

The major challenges facing Canadian business today according to your text include the following EXCEPT:

A)economic challenges
B)demographic challenges
C)cultural challenges
D)social challenges
E)technological challenges

Question 43

The designation Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP)is applicable only within the province in which it is granted.

Question 44

Recent changes to old age security forces workers to wait until what age to claim old age security?

A)60
B)63
C)65
D)67
E)69

Question 45

The practice of responding to problems or challenges as they arise is:

A)strategic human resource management
B)reactive human resource management
C)cost leadership management
D)demographic management
E)organizational management

Question 46

Which technological force trend has led to the development of mechatronics programs at some post-secondary institutions?

A)mechanization
B)connectivity
C)flexible work design
D)knowledge management
E)none of the choices

Question 47

According to top executives surveyed,what are the top strategic priorities which are HR related?

A)attracting and retaining skilled staff
B)improving workforce performance
C)changing leadership and management behaviors
D)changing organizational culture and employee attitudes
E)all of the choices

Question 48

Through gains in productivity,managers can:

A)reduce costs
B)save scarce resources
C)enhance profits
D)help the organization to provide better pay and benefits
E)all of the choices

Question 49

With employees working distally,the probability of data breaches is likely to climb.What step might an organization take to protect their sensitive data?

A)move all their storage to the cloud
B)hire a cyber-security expert
C)continuously back-up data
D)only permit employees to use corporate-issued hardware
E)teach its employees hacking skills

Question 50

Organizational goals can be categorized into:

A)not-for-profit (e.g. ,charities)
B)social (e.g. ,ethical practices)
C)environmental (e.g. ,reduction of carbon footprint)
D)economic (e.g. ,profit,shareholder value)
E)all of the choices except not-for-profit (e.g. ,charities)

Question 51

Which of the following contributes to an organization's character?

A)people
B)technology
C)age
D)unions
E)all of the choices

Question 52

Which of the following is NOT a human resource activity?

A)sourcing a new building to move into
B)planning human resources
C)attracting human resources
D)evaluating human resources
E)motivating employees

Question 53

In formulating strategy,the human resource department must focus on all the following EXCEPT:

A)planning for physical office space
B)attracting human resources
C)employee placement,development and evaluation
D)employee motivation and rewards
E)maintaining high performance

Question 54

Human resource professionals need to be well versed in data driven decision making and financial operations.

Question 55

"A strategy to gain competitive advantage through lower costs of operations and lower prices for products" is the definition of which strategy?

A)focus
B)differentiation
C)cost leadership
D)organizational
E)none of the choices

Question 56

Which of the following may be a benefit of an employer providing workout facilities within the organization's physical space?

A)an increase in employee morale
B)an increase in health benefits
C)a decrease in expenses associated with sick days
D)an increase in marriage rates between employees
E)all of the choices except an increase in marriage rates between employees

Question 57

Service industries make significant contributions to our national wealth today.Which of the following is an example of a service industry?

A)education
B)mining
C)fishing
D)forestry
E)none of the choices

Question 58

Change mastery is a competency which a human resource manager is expected to possess.

Question 59

To deal effectively with ever-increasing challenges,successful human resources managers must display the following competencies EXCEPT:

A)a mastery of their organization's business
B)a mastery of human resource management tools
C)an intimate knowledge of their organization's financial procedures
D)a superior ability to direct and manage change
E)high personal credibility

Question 60

Which of the following tasks might a human resources manager have to carry out during a recessionary period?

A)retraining staff
B)implementing employee layoff
C)announcing wage concessions
D)providing assistance to secure supplementary employee counseling
E)all of the choices except retraining staff

Question 61

Which of the following is NOT true about human resource management?

A)it involves the leadership and management of people
B)it uses systems,methods,processes,and procedures
C)it gives HR managers the authority to direct managers in other departments
D)it enables employees to optimize their performance
E)it enables employees to contribute to the organization and its goals

Question 62

By moving to a mechatronic process,better service may be provided to the customer through:

A)increased predictability in operations
B)increased reliability in operations
C)increased employee benefits
D)higher standards of quality in production
E)all of the choices except increased employee benefits

Question 63

The higher status given to _____ experts in job ads and organizational charts indicates that the importance of human resource management activity is being recognized.

A)infrastructure
B)human resource
C)investment strategy
D)environment
E)rules and policies

Question 64

Giving a department the right to make decisions usually made by line managers or top management is an example of

A)none of the choices
B)staff authority
C)line authority
D)human resource management
E)functional authority

Question 65

Over 18% of Canada's working population works from a non-traditional workplace such as at home.Which of the following is a benefit of telecommuting?

A)reduction in employee stress levels
B)increase in worker productivity
C)reduction in the costs of operations
D)reduction of greenhouse gases
E)all of the choices

Question 66

Within a human resources audit,the major areas examined under the Human Resources Management Information System heading are:

A)human rights legislation
B)job analysis information
C)human resource plans
D)compensation administration
E)staffing and development

Question 67

Which of the following is NOT an example of the benefits of mechanization?

A)increased predictability in operations
B)higher standards of quality in production
C)increased reliability in operations
D)reduced human resource challenges
E)improved flexibility in operations

Question 68

Which of the following is NOT true of the differentiation strategy used by organizations for their products?

A)its products are distinctive or unique
B)it focuses on the needs of a specific segment of the market
C)it may charge higher-than-average prices for the products
D)it is used by Nikon cameras
E)advertising and promotion may be a part of the strategy

Question 69

This chapter has discussed which factors should be reviewed before formulating human resource strategies.How often should strategies be evaluated?

A)once a year
B)once every 5 years
C)once they have been evaluated they do not need to be re-evaluated
D)continuously
E)when a new human resource manager is hired

Question 70

The participation rate of women continues to grow in which of the following fields:

A)engineering
B)management
C)law
D)healthcare
E)all of the choices except for healthcare

Question 71

"What is worrisome today is the gap in the productivity levels of Canada and its biggest trade partner,the United States.For over a decade,U.S.productivity has been consistently outpacing that of this country" is an example of which economic force:

A)economic cycle
B)global trade
C)productivity and innovation improvement
D)economic cycle,global trade,and productivity and innovation improvement
E)none of the choices

Question 72

On a per capita basis Canada exports more than the United States or Japan-due to the combination of a relatively small population and a large natural resource base.Which economic force is this an example of?

A)productivity improvement
B)economic cycles
C)innovation improvement
D)global trade
E)none of the choices

Question 73

Which of the following is NOT true about proactive human resource management?

A)it allows staff to ensure their family or friends are hired by the organization
B)it ensures all job openings are posted internally
C)it anticipates problems or challenges before they impact the organization
D)it applies to problems both inside and outside of the organization
E)it applies to the practice of attracting talent from a non-traditional labour pool

Question 74

Which of the following continuously-changing factors impact the need for human resources strategies to be examined regularly?

A)membership characteristics
B)role definitions
C)internal procedures
D)membership characteristics,role definitions,and internal procedures
E)none of the choices

Question 75

Which of the following is NOT an example of a demographic challenge facing Canadian organizations according to your text:

A)gender balance in the workplace
B)a shift towards knowledge workers
C)millennial workers
D)generational shift
E)aging population

Question 76

Which of the following is NOT true of an organization's mission statement?

A)it specifies what activities the organization intends to pursue
B)it indicates the course that is charted for the future
C)it is a statement of who the organization is and what it does
D)it identifies which not-for-profits will benefit from the organization's success
E)it gives the organization its own special identity,character,and path of development

Question 77

The ratio of a firm's outputs (goods and services)to its inputs (people,capital,materials,energy)is the definition of:

A)cultural forces
B)six sigma certification
C)flexible work design
D)automation and mechanization
E)productivity

Question 78

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of conducting a human resource audit?

A)it ensures timely compliance with legal requirements
B)it reduces human resource costs through more effective procedures
C)it reveals corrupt activities in other departments
D)it stimulates uniformity of human resource policies and practices
E)it enhances the professional image of the department

Question 79

Which of the following is TRUE about a department which has staff authority?

A)it has power over the organization's entire staff
B)it directs managers how to best handle staffing issues
C)it has no input to any department other than its own
D)it has the power to advise but not direct managers in other departments
E)none of the choices

Question 80

"Together the U.S.and Japan account for over 60 percent of all world patents,but Canada's share is approximately 2%." Without innovation,Canadian employers and the human resource professionals will be faced with the challenge of creating additional productivity improvements.What progressive human resource management strategy can be used to create a creative and pioneering environment within an organization?

A)cultural mosaic
B)educational attainment
C)recruit or develop innovation staff
D)mechanization
E)human resource audit