Question 1

A(n)______ describes what an organization plans to become at a particular point in time in the future.

Accepted Answer

A vision describes a desired future state for an organization. It is a guiding statement that outlines the direction and aspirations of the organization. A strategy is a plan of action to achieve a specific goal or objective. A mission statement describes the purpose of the organization and its reason for being. An organizational structure outlines the hierarchy and relationships among different roles and departments within an organization.

Question 2

At Acme Global,the top manager reports to the board of directors.The board is not involved in the day-to-day operations of the organization,but it can hire or fire top management.This represents the influence of ______ in the external environment on the organization.

Accepted Answer

Shareholders are the owners of the organization and have the power to hire or fire top management through the board of directors. This reflects their influence on the external environment of the organization. The other options listed, society, technology, and economics, may also influence the external environment, but they are not directly related to the power structure within the organization.

Question 3

What is our present situation? Where do we want to go? How do we plan to get there? These are the three questions that build an organization's ______ plan.

Accepted Answer

The questions listed - what is our present situation, where do we want to go, and how do we plan to get there - are all related to a strategic plan. Therefore, the correct answer is B, strategic plan.

Question 4

In the past few years,Acme Global has been fortunate to have a strong talent pool available from which it can draw employees.This reflects the influence of ______ in the external environment on the organization.

Accepted Answer

The availability and quality of the labor force is influenced by the external environment, including factors such as population demographics, education levels, and immigration policies. Therefore, the strong talent pool available to Acme Global reflects the influence of the labor force in the external environment.

Question 5

Acme Global recently hired several new employees who worked at a rival organization.Acme Global lured the employees away by offering more pay and better benefits.Acme Global's actions reflect the influence of ______ in the external environment on the organization.

Accepted Answer

Acme Global's actions reflect the influence of competition in the external environment. The organization is competing for talent with its rival organization and is offering more attractive compensation packages to attract employees.

Question 6

Research has shown that human resource management is an important ______ business function that influences the performance of both large and small organizations.

Accepted Answer

Human resource management is a strategic business function that involves managing the organization's workforce to achieve its goals and objectives. It includes activities such as recruitment, training and development, performance management, and compensation. The effective management of human resources can have a significant impact on the organization's overall performance and its ability to achieve competitive advantage. Therefore, the correct answer is C - strategic.

Question 7

Acme Global had to put its plans to build a new plant on hold when interest rates went up and the organization was not able to borrow enough money to build the plant.This represents the influence of ______ in the external environment on the organization.

Accepted Answer

The increase in interest rates and the inability to borrow enough money for building the plant indicates the influence of the economy, specifically the interest rate fluctuations, on the organization.

Question 8

______ is a plan of action designed to achieve a particular set of objectives for an organization.

Accepted Answer

A strategy is a plan of action that outlines how an organization will achieve its objectives. It includes specific tactics, resources, and timelines for implementation. A mission statement is a statement of an organization's purpose and values, a vision is a statement of what an organization aspires to be, and objectives are specific, measurable targets that an organization aims to achieve as part of its strategy.

Question 9

The ______ environment consists of a series of influences that originate outside the organization and that the organization cannot control.

Accepted Answer

The external environment refers to factors such as economic conditions, competition, technological advancements, and social and cultural influences that impact the organization, but are outside of its control. The mission and vision of an organization are internal factors that are established by the organization itself, and the internal environment includes factors such as employees, management, and organizational culture that are within the organization's control.

Question 10

Strategic advantage occurs when an organization analyzes the ______ better and reacts to it quicker than its competitors do while using all of its internal resources efficiently,thus creating the sustainable competitive advantage.

Accepted Answer

Strategic advantage is achieved by analyzing the environment (e.g. industry trends, customer preferences, technological advancements) better than competitors and reacting to it quicker. This allows the organization to use its resources more effectively and sustainably beat its rivals. While employees, management, and vision are all important factors, they alone cannot create sustainable competitive advantage without proper analysis and reaction to the external environment.

Question 11

Acme Global tries to be a good neighbor to the people who live and work in the cities where the organization's plants are located.In one neighborhood,citizens asked Acme Global to identify the location of all its suppliers.When it was discovered that Acme Global used suppliers who were 1,000 miles from the plant,the citizens asked Acme Global to consider using more local suppliers.Acme Global agreed and found similar suppliers closer to its plant.This represents the influence of ______ in the external environment on the organization.

Accepted Answer

The citizens' request for Acme Global to consider using local suppliers represents the influence of society in the external environment on the organization. Acme Global recognized the importance of being a good neighbor and meeting the needs and concerns of the local community.

Question 12

Acme Global recently won a bid to provide a large number of widgets for a government contract.To complete the order,the organization will need to order more raw materials.This will require Acme to rely in part on ______ to ensure organizational success.

Accepted Answer

To complete the government contract, Acme Global will need raw materials to produce the widgets. Since they will need more raw materials than usual, they will need to rely on suppliers to provide them with the necessary resources to complete the order and ensure organizational success. Shareholders, technology, and competition may also play a role in Acme's success, but in this particular scenario, suppliers are the most essential.

Question 13

Internal (company)and external (competitors,customers,governments,etc.)environments largely determine how managers must act to provide the organization with the right combination of people to help the organization reach its ______ goals.

Accepted Answer

The statement suggests that managers must act in accordance with both internal and external environments to provide the organization with the right combination of people to help achieve the organization's strategic goals. Therefore, the best choice is C, strategic.

Question 14

Human resource management is a critical component of meeting ______ goals,because without the right people with the right types of education,skills,and mind-set,an organization cannot expect to accomplish its objectives.

Accepted Answer

Organizational goals are the objectives that an organization sets for itself. Human resource management is critical to meeting these goals because it ensures that the organization has the right people with the right skills and mindset to achieve them.

Question 15

______ planning is about planning for the long-term future; to be successful,you need to plan using goals and measurable standards.

Accepted Answer

Strategic planning involves long-term planning and setting specific goals with measurable standards. Organizational planning focuses on the internal structure and processes of an organization, while environmental planning is about adapting to external changes and challenges. Objectives may be a part of strategic planning, but they do not encompass the entire process.

Question 16

Acme Global hired a director of safety to help the organization ensure compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act.This represents the influence of ______ in the external environment on the organization.

Accepted Answer

The hiring of a director of safety is a response to the external influence of government regulations, specifically the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). The government has the power to create laws and regulations that impact organizations and their operations. In this case, Acme Global is responding by hiring someone to ensure compliance with OSHA, which demonstrates the influence of the government on the organization.

Question 17

Acme Global created an application that allows customers to send in orders quickly and easily.Since rolling out the new app,orders have increased by 20%.This represents the influence of ______ in the external environment on the organization.

Accepted Answer

The increase in orders can be attributed to the influence of technology, specifically the new app developed by Acme Global. The app allowed customers to send in orders quickly and easily, leading to an increase in sales.

Question 18

Acme Global seeks to hire skilled employees who are willing to use their creativity to improve the organization's products and services.Acme Global does this because the organization recognizes the influence of ______ in the external environment on the organization.

Accepted Answer

Customers are the external environment that influences Acme Global's hiring practices because the organization recognizes the importance of meeting customer needs and expectations.

Question 19

The managers and executives at Acme Global have decided on a statement that identifies what they expect the business to become within 6 years.They have identified Acme Global's ______.

Accepted Answer

A vision statement is a statement that defines what the organization wants to become in the future. It outlines the goals and aspirations of the organization and serves as a guide for decision-making and future planning. Therefore, the executives at Acme Global have identified their vision statement for the business within the next six years.

Question 20

A vision provides a ______ for the future.It describes where the organization is headed.

Accepted Answer

A vision acts as a focus point, guiding an organization towards its future goals and aspirations. It is broader and more aspirational than a specific or formal plan, and distinct from a mission, which defines the organization's current purpose.

Quiz 2: Strategy-Driven Human Resource Management

A(n) ______ describes what an organization plans to become at a particular point in time in the future.