Question 1

Describe how an organization's HRM practices can have a direct impact on the organization developing a competitive advantage.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe how an organization's HRM practices can...

Question 2

Which of the following is not traditionally considered as a source of competitive advantage?

Accepted Answer

Traditional sources of competitive advantage include superior production capacity, excellent marketing research, quality manufacturing processes, careful inventory control, and efficient product distribution systems.

Question 3

Employee-centered outcomes refer to:

Accepted Answer

Employee-centered outcomes refer to the competence, motivation, and workrelated attitudes of a firm's employees.

Question 4

Explain how the achievement of employee-centered outcomes can lead to favorable organization-centered outcomes.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain how the achievement of employee-centered outcomes...

Question 5

According to recent research, more and more organizations are realizing that to sustain a competitive advantage, organizations must focus more attention on:

Accepted Answer

According to management expert Larry Myler, in today's business environment, traditional sources of competitive advantage are not as effective as they once were. Today's business environment requires employers to look to their employees for sustainable competitive advantage.

Question 6

Higher _____ leads to better customer retention.

Accepted Answer

Higher employee retention leads to better customer retention.

Question 7

_____ affects competitive advantage by influencing customers' confidence in a company's products and services.

Accepted Answer

Image affects competitive advantage by influencing customers' confidence in a company's products and services and thus affects their inclination to purchase from that company.

Question 8

Describe how changes in the legal environment in the last 40 years have influenced HRM practices.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe how changes in the legal environment...

Question 9

Discuss why a competitive advantage gained from human resource management practices is likely to be sustained over time.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss why a competitive advantage gained from...

Question 10

A retail outlet that attempts to use gimmicks like special sales to create a competitive advantage will have difficulty sustaining that advantage because:

Accepted Answer

If a strategy is successful, they are easily imitated; the initial advantage is quickly lost.

Question 11

Discuss the line manager's role in an organization from an HRM perspective.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the line manager's role in an...

Question 12

Describe the various phases of the employment cycle.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the various phases of the employment...

Question 13

Examine the impact of organization-centered outcomes on cost leadership.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Examine the impact of organization-centered outcomes on...

Question 14

When an organization is able to avoid lawsuits resulting from noncompliance, it enhances _____.

Accepted Answer

Cost leadership is enhanced when an organization is able to avoid lawsuits resulting from noncompliance.

Question 15

Briefly describe how unions influence HRM practices.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Briefly describe how unions influence HRM practices....

Question 16

Efforts to minimize turnover can help eliminate unnecessary costs and can enhance a company's ____ strategy.

Accepted Answer

Reducing turnover can help organizations lower recruiting, selection, and training costs and thus enhance cost leadership.

Question 17

What are the two ways in which an organization can establish competitive advantage?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the two ways in which...

Question 18

A competitive advantage achieved through human resource management practices is likely to be more sustainable than that achieved by other means because:

Accepted Answer

Organizations typically develop unique human resource management practices to match the needs of their workers and the culture of the organization. Competitors rarely have access to a firm's HRM practices; that is, these practices are not very visible to outsiders and thus cannot be easily imitated.

Question 19

In a given year, a production worker earns $30,000 for producing 1,500 units. If the firm can motivate this worker to increase productivity to 2,000 units, the per unit cost of production would be _____.

Accepted Answer

Cost leadership can be achieved by increasing the size of the ratio: Number of units produced/Total cost of production

Question 20

Describe the areas of responsibility that human resource professionals typically assume in organizations today.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the areas of responsibility that human...

Quiz 1: Human Resource Management and Competitive Advantage