Question 1

What primarily determines which type of organizational structure is best for a company?

Accepted Answer

B) A company's organizational structure (illustrated by its organizational chart) is determined by the needs of the firm. It may be informal and highly changeable in small, uncomplicated businesses. By contrast, large, diverse, and complex organizations usually have a highly formalized structure.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of an objective?

Accepted Answer

B) Objectives are desired end results and they typically have four characteristics. They should be expressed in writing, be measurable, be specific as to time, and be challenging but attainable. People and organizations have different objectives, so they are not universal.

Question 3

What is the primary reason for implementing human resource planning on a continuous basis?

Accepted Answer

B) Because conditions in the external and internal environments can change quickly, the human resource planning process must be continuous. Changing conditions could affect the entire organization, thereby requiring extensive modification of forecasts.

Question 4

What forecasting technique involves an analysis to determine whether the firm can justify filling an open position?

Accepted Answer

D) The key to zero-base forecasting is a thorough analysis of human resource needs. If an employee retires, is fired, or leaves the firm for any other reason, the position is not automatically filled. Instead, an analysis is made to determine whether the firm can justify filling it.

Question 5

A firm becomes aware of having a surplus or shortage of employees as a result of comparing ________.

Accepted Answer

D) When employee requirements and availability have been analyzed, the firm can determine whether it will have a surplus or shortage of employees. Ways must be found to reduce the number of employees if a surplus is projected. If a worker shortage is forecast, the firm must obtain the proper quantity and quality of workers from outside the organization.

Question 6

In strategic planning, the purpose of a SWOT analysis is to assess the organization's ________.

Accepted Answer

D) Once the mission has been determined, the organization should assess its strengths and weaknesses in the internal environment and the threats and opportunities from the external environment (often referred as a SWOT analysis). Making strategic plans involves information flows from both the internal and the external environments.

Question 7

Which of the following is a forecasting technique that uses the organization's current level of employment as the starting point for determining future staffing?

Accepted Answer

B) The zero-base forecasting method uses the organization's current level of employment as the starting point for determining future staffing needs. In the bottom-up forecast, each successive level in the organization, starting with the lowest, forecasts its requirements, ultimately providing an aggregate forecast of employees needed.

Question 8

The systematic process of matching the internal and external supply of people with job openings anticipated in the organization over a specified period of time is referred to as ________.

Accepted Answer

C) Human resource planning (workforce planning) is the systematic process of matching the internal and external supply of people with job openings anticipated in the organization over a specific period of time. In a recent SHRM survey, the primary focus of companies now is workforce planning. Through workforce planning, organizations attempt to predict future human resource needs.

Question 9

What is the desired end result of any activity called?

Accepted Answer

C) Objectives are desired end results and they typically have four characteristics. They should be expressed in writing, be measurable, be specific as to time, and be challenging but attainable.

Question 10

In ________, each successive level in the organization, starting with the lowest, forecasts its requirements, ultimately providing an aggregate forecast of employees needed.

Accepted Answer

D) In the bottom-up forecast, each successive level in the organization, starting with the lowest, forecasts its requirements, ultimately providing an aggregate forecast of employees needed. The zero-base forecasting method uses the organization's current level of employment as the starting point for determining future staffing needs.

Question 11

Steve is an HR specialist at Cisco Systems. Steve needs to determine the number, skill, and location of employees that Cisco will need in 12 months in order to achieve the firm's strategic plan. Which of the following would best meet Steve's needs?

Accepted Answer

A) A requirements forecast involves determining the number, skill, and location of employees the organization will need at future dates in order to meet its goals. The determination of whether the firm will be able to secure employees with the necessary skills, and from what sources, is called an availability forecast.

Question 12

The owners of a start-up company are in the process of developing a corporate mission statement. Which of the following questions is LEAST likely to help them create an effective mission statement?

Accepted Answer

B) The corporate mission is the sum total of the organization's ongoing purpose. Arriving at a mission statement should involve answering the questions: What are we in management attempting to do for whom? Should we maximize profit so shareholders will receive higher dividends or so share price will increase? Or should we emphasize stability of earnings so employees will remain secure? Threats to the firm's success are addressed later in the strategic planning process.

Question 13

According to a recent poll, 53 percent of companies are either already using or plan to use ________ to identify skills gaps in their workforce.

Accepted Answer

A) A recent poll found that 53 percent of the respondents conducted, or planned to conduct, a strategic workforce planning assessment to identify skills gaps.

Question 14

Which of the following should most likely be accomplished before setting an objective?

Accepted Answer

A) Objectives should be developed only after a cost-benefit analysis of each alternative is considered. Strategic objectives might be directed at factors such as profitability, customer satisfaction, financial returns, technological leadership, and operating efficiency.

Question 15

Wilson Marketing, Inc. uses the bottom-up forecasting method. Who is considered the most knowledgeable about employment requirements at the firm?

Accepted Answer

C) In the bottom-up forecast, each successive level in the organization, starting with the lowest, forecasts its requirements, ultimately providing an aggregate forecast of employees needed. It is based on the reasoning that the manager in each unit is most knowledgeable about employment requirements. Beginning with the lowest-level work units in the organization, each unit manager makes an estimate of personnel needs for the period of time encompassed by the planning cycle.

Question 16

The duties of today's HR professionals are moving from a transactional to a strategic model. As such, they work toward ________.

Accepted Answer

C) Today, HR professions are increasingly taking on the role of being a strategic partner with upper management. In this role, HR professionals are moving from a transactional to a strategic model, and they work toward solving strategic problems in the organization.

Question 17

AAA Technology manufactures 2,000 cell phones each week, which requires 20,000 hours of work from assemblers during a 40-hour week. How many assemblers does AAA need each week?

Accepted Answer

C) AAA can calculate how many employees are needed to produce 2,000 phones each week by dividing the number of hours of work by the work week (20,000/40). Therefore, AAA needs 500 assemblers to produce 2,000 cell phones each week.

Question 18

What are the two components of human resource planning?

Accepted Answer

C) Human resource planning has two components: requirements and availability. A requirements forecast involves determining the number, skill, and location of employees the organization will need at future dates in order to meet its goals. The determination of whether the firm will be able to secure employees with the necessary skills, and from what sources, is called an availability forecast.

Question 19

What activity precedes the human resource planning process?

Accepted Answer

B) HR planning is preceded by strategic planning. HR planning would be difficult if top management did not first determine the organization's purposes and objectives.

Question 20

Which of the following involves determining whether the firm will be able to secure employees with the necessary skills and from what sources these individuals may be obtained?

Accepted Answer

D) The determination of whether the firm will be able to secure employees with the necessary skills, and from what sources, is called an availability forecast. A requirements forecast involves determining the number, skill, and location of employees the organization will need at future dates in order to meet its goals.

Quiz 4: Job Analysis, Strategic Planning, and Human Resource Planning