Deck 15: Human Resources Management Strategies

Question 1

A geocentric staffing strategy assumes that management candidates must be searched for domestically.

Answer 1

False
Explanation: The answer is incorrect. A staffing strategy that emphasizes home country managers is an ethnocentric strategy

Question 2

The high level of interdependency between activities in a global value chain means that HRM within a global factory should always prioritize consistency.

Answer 2

False
Explanation: Correct. In some cases, such as the use of expatriates, some consistency is desirable. But when value adding activities are separable, or are undertaken by independent parties, the emphasis may be on adaptation to local conditions at the cost of some consistency.

Question 3

Key to successful management of HR processes within a global factory is the ability to travel abroad.

Answer 3

False
Explanation: Correct. More plausible is the ability to identify key skills and competencies required for working overseas

Question 4

A _______ is a cross-functional group that focuses on a problem or issue but members also retain their formal positions.

A) self-managed team
B) project team
C) crisis response team
D) permanent team

Question 5

For an international business that adds subsidiaries managed by locals, a polycentric staffing approach is appropriate.

Question 6

Often the reason why expatriate assignments fail is because of _______

A) homesickness.
B) jet lag.
C) cultural dissimilarities.
D) inadequate housing.

Question 7

The inpatriation model is based on the idea of developing successful overseas managers by exposing them to headquarters practices.

Question 8

Trade unions have experienced difficulties gathering critical information on the operations of MNEs when mounting bargaining campaigns.

Question 9

A home based or balance sheet approach to expatriate compensation seeks to neutralize cost differences between home and host locations.

Question 10

The idea of strategic IHRM is based on the idea that the competitive advantage of the organization can utilise _______

A) social, cultural and human capital.
B) financial and venture capital.
C) equity capital.
D) natural capital.

Question 11

Within an international business, cultural differences will have no impact on a successful payment system.

Question 12

Human resource management within a global factory is complicated by the need to adapt HR policies and procedures to account for differences among the locations in which activities are located.

Question 13

Historically, relational and cross-cultural communication abilities of expatriates have been undervalued by MNEs.

Question 14

Companies that operate internationally find that transplanting an existing performance appraisal system from head office is very effective.

Question 15

Hourly compensation costs are more advantageous for companies selecting Switzerland as investment location instead of Sweden