Question 1

You need to recruit for a new secretary for your department. Which of the following methods may be the best approach for advertising for the position?

Accepted Answer

Contacting a local secretarial school for names of recent graduates is likely the most effective method as it targets individuals who have recently been trained for the role and are actively seeking employment in that field.

Question 2

A human resources department may provide all of the following functions EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Providing legal advice to employees is not typically a function of human resources. Legal advice is usually sought from an outside legal firm or a company's legal department. The other options listed are common functions of HR departments.

Question 3

You have advertised in the local newspaper for an electrician, however you have not had a good response. In order to expand your recruiting efforts you may want to try all of the following approaches EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Offering an internal transfer to a current employee who needs to be trained does not expand the recruiting efforts, as it only targets current employees. All the other options (A, B, D, E) expand the search to external sources such as trade schools, unemployment offices, other employers, and referrals.

Question 4

When designing a job, the manager should ask several questions related to which of the following items?

Accepted Answer

The answer of When designing a job, the manager should...

Question 5

Darcy wrote a letter to her manager explaining the need for she and her coworkers to have additional help on their shift. The letter described the challenges faced by the team in being able to complete all of their assigned tasks by the end of their shift. The letter went on to say how management does not understand the "line staff" and that they treat them like "slaves" and never provide feedback or acknowledge their good work. If you were Darcy's manager which issues do you need to address when you meet with Darcy to discuss the letter?

Accepted Answer

The letter highlights issues related to workforce planning (need for additional help) and employee attitudes (feeling undervalued and mistreated).

Question 6

________ is created by providing a customer with greater value than a competitor relative to how much it costs to create the product or service.

Accepted Answer

Competitive advantage is created when a business is able to provide more value to its customers than its competitors for the same cost. This can be achieved through offering a better quality product, a wider range of services, more efficient production processes, or any number of other factors that make the product or service more attractive to customers. By providing greater value than competitors, a business is able to gain a larger market share and generate more revenue.

Question 7

An organization is installing a state of the art computer system in order to increase efficiencies and remain competitive with similar organizations who operate abroad. By which HR challenge has this organization been most impacted?

Accepted Answer

The organization is responding to environmental influences, specifically the need to remain competitive with international organizations by adopting advanced technology.

Question 8

Sharon's manager rarely provides any feedback to her regarding her performance and never praises her with she does well with a project. Sharon will most likely:

Accepted Answer

If Sharon's manager never provides any feedback and doesn't acknowledge her successes, she may become demotivated since it feels like her hard work goes unnoticed. This may result in her job satisfaction decreasing, and she may not be motivated to perform well on future projects assigned to her.

Question 9

You have interviewed four Sales Manager candidates. You have compared their knowledge, skills and abilities and have determined who the most qualified is and are ready to make an offer of employment. You are now engaging in the ________ process.

Accepted Answer

The process described involves making a final decision on the most qualified candidate and offering them the job. This is the selection process, which is focused on identifying and hiring the best candidate for the job. The other options listed are important stages in the broader talent management process but do not accurately describe the situation described in the question.

Question 10

Work design and work force planning is one of the primary HR activities. What else is considered to be a primary HR activity?

Accepted Answer

Managing employee competencies is a primary HR activity as it involves developing and enhancing the skills and abilities of employees to meet organizational goals.

Question 11

The strategic management of employees:

Accepted Answer

The strategic management of employees is focused on achieving competitive advantage through aligning HR activities with organizational goals to ensure employees perform well. This involves workforce planning and identifying labor force trends, as well as monitoring regulations and legislative issues. Therefore, both options B and C are correct.

Question 12

You interview a job candidate who demonstrates professionalism and provides answers to your questions which lead you to believe they have a positive attitude, are self motivated, and have great attention to detail. Based on their background they seem like a viable candidate. However, their computer skills are somewhat lacking and you are concerned about the additional training they may need. Which of the following is the most appropriate conclusion to come to regarding your hiring decision?

Accepted Answer

While computer skills are important, they can be taught and developed over time. Finding an employee with a positive attitude, good work ethic, and professionalism can be much more difficult. With the right attitude and motivation, the candidate can learn and develop the necessary computer skills.

Question 13

Which of the following are identified as HR challenges?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following are identified as...

Question 14

Susan, the HR Manager for ZRT Industries, has been put in charge of detailing how HR activities will be organized as part of the expansion that the organization will be doing. ZRT is adding a new division line which will require recruiting 25 additional employees into jobs which ZRT does not currently have. The basic out line of Susan's plan would most likely look like which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Option D is correct because it outlines a comprehensive approach to organizing HR activities for a new division, including job design, training for competency, and motivation for productivity, which are essential for the successful integration of new employees into roles that are new to the organization.

Question 15

EFG Transport expanded its customer service area to include three additional states. After hiring 75 employees to help support operations in this area EFG learned of an additional competitor which entered the market shortly after they did and due to this the demand for their services was not at the level which was expected or budgeted. Due to this EFG may consider using all of the following to deal with their labor force issue EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Hiring temporary employees would not address the issue of having an excess labor force due to lower than expected demand; it would add to the labor force instead. The other options (B, C, D, E) are ways to reduce or manage an existing workforce.

Question 16

HR Practices:

Accepted Answer

HR practices are determined by the organization as a whole, and are carried out by all management staff. While the HR department may have a large role in developing and implementing these practices, they are not solely responsible for them. HR practices can encompass a wide range of activities beyond just recruitment and selection, including performance management, training and development, compensation and benefits, and more. These practices help to ensure that an organization's workforce is effectively managed and supported to achieve the company's goals.

Question 17

You are considering starting your own IT consulting firm. As part of the planning process you complete an analysis of the costs that may be involved in managing your own staff. All of the following items would most likely be included on your list EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Supplies and equipment are typically considered direct operating expenses rather than costs directly associated with managing staff. Recruitment advertising, vacation and sick time, annual merit increases, and new hire orientation are all costs related to staff management.

Question 18

Sarah has a bachelor's degree and eight years of experience working as a computer programmer. These things define her:

Accepted Answer

Competencies are skills, knowledge, and abilities that a person possesses to perform their job duties effectively. Sarah's bachelor's degree and eight years of experience as a computer programmer are competencies that define her.

Question 19

Workforce planning is primarily impacted by all of the following factors EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Low customer satisfaction scores may impact a company's overall success, but they do not directly affect workforce planning. The other factors listed all have direct implications on the number, skills, and roles of employees needed within a company.

Question 20

RST Associates has experienced a decrease in employee turnover during the past 12 months. All of the following could be contributing to this EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Replacing the tuition assistance program with an on-site GED program may not contribute positively to employee retention as some employees may feel it is not as valuable or relevant to their career development as tuition assistance.

Quiz 1: Managing Employees for Competitive Advantage