Exam 10: Managing Human Resources

Human Resources Selection (Scenario) Dani, the manager of selection in the human resources department, had been asked by Bashir, his boss, and the vice president of human resources, to review the selection methods their firm had been using and to recommend methods for future use. It seems that recent hires have not been working out, and this caused friction between the human resources group and the front- line managers, who had to utilize the talent sent to them. Additionally, there was also a need to hire executives in the company, and due to the responsibility these positions carry, the company wanted to ensure they selected the best possible people. Dani reviewed written tests as a selection method. -For the executive positions, Dani considered using _________, where candidates go through two to four day exercises that simulate real problems they would confront on the job.

A firm can do little to protect itself from sexual harassment claims. It is usually one employee's word against another's.

The New Human Resources Manager (Scenario) Mustafa is hired to manage the human resources department of a local manufacturing company. this company has the reputation of being the firm "where you work until you find another job." Employee turnover is high and morale is low. Mustafa is determined to change the situation and make the organization's human resources a competitive advantage and source of pride for the firm. -Mustafa believes that achieving competitive success in business today requires that managers change how they think about their employees and how they view the work relationship. He hopes to initiate workplace programs geared toward improving organizational commitment to improving the knowledge, skills, and abilities of employees, increasing employee motivation, and enhancing retention of quality employees. These traits have been found to be consistent with________ .

Asking a candidate for an automotive mechanic's position to deconstruct and reconstruct part of an engine motor would be an example of what kind of selection device?

In Egypt, workers are required by law to join labor unions.

Variable pay systems reward employees for the job skills and competencies they can demonstrate.

A Sign of the Times (Scenario) After hearing of the threat for a long time, Lina's company had finally decided that it must "right- size," and this meant coming up with a plan for reducing the current size of the workforce at her manufacturing plant. The job was left to her, and as much as she hated doing this part of her job, it was necessary for the survival of the company and not just an effort to inflate their stock price. She also appreciated that her company was willing to try many different routes to decrease their labor costs, which was consistent with the positive way the company had treated their employees in the past. -Another option that may help would be to have employees share jobs or perform their jobs on a part- time basis, an option known as________ .

The New Hire (Scenario) Fadia begins her career working in the human resources department of a major corporation in UAE. She is asked to help ensure that the organization is following the legal guidelines for employment. -A major source of potential employees is________, which has a large, centralized pool of candidates, but tends to only be good for entry- level positions.

In Jordan, the Ministry of Labor regulates foreign worker licensing, licensing fees, prohibited sectors, and employer liability.

The Internal Hire (Scenario) Wael is a new sales manager for The Nile Group, a healthcare finance consulting firm. Wael was hired from within the firm and he is now supervising many of the people he had formerly worked with, including two friends with whom he competed for his new job. Thus, Wael is especially aware of potential problems stemming from the performance evaluation process and is conducting lengthy research on the advantages and disadvantages of the various methods. -Over the course of the year, Wael had taken some time to compile and write down a series of anecdotes about his employees. Some reflect particularly superior or ineffective performance, others are just plain funny. All the anecdotes describe specific behaviors of his employees. During the national sales meeting, time is provided for a break- out session for each region to meet separately. Wael presents these stories, not revealing the identity of the salesperson. The salespeople all enjoy the funny stories. Wael makes a point of commending the superior performance behaviors. After each of the anecdotes reflecting ineffective behaviors, he asks the group to suggest ideas for handling the situation differently. This is most reflective of what appraisal technique?

Types of performance appraisal methods include written essays, multiperson comparisons, and graphic rating scales.

Which of the following is an example of selection device reliability?

Human Resources Selection (Scenario) Dani, the manager of selection in the human resources department, had been asked by Bashir, his boss, and the vice president of human resources, to review the selection methods their firm had been using and to recommend methods for future use. It seems that recent hires have not been working out, and this caused friction between the human resources group and the front- line managers, who had to utilize the talent sent to them. Additionally, there was also a need to hire executives in the company, and due to the responsibility these positions carry, the company wanted to ensure they selected the best possible people. Dani reviewed written tests as a selection method. -Since the technique provides little valid information, Dani has decided to spend less energy on________ _.

High- performance work practices are those that lead to high individual and high organizational performance.

A labor union is an organization that represents workers and seeks to protect their interests.

Which of the following is correct?

A Sign of the Times (Scenario) After hearing of the threat for a long time, Lina's company had finally decided that it must "right- size," and this meant coming up with a plan for reducing the current size of the workforce at her manufacturing plant. The job was left to her, and as much as she hated doing this part of her job, it was necessary for the survival of the company and not just an effort to inflate their stock price. She also appreciated that her company was willing to try many different routes to decrease their labor costs, which was consistent with the positive way the company had treated their employees in the past. -Lina suggests to management that by not filling openings created by voluntary resignations or normal retirements, the organization may avoid much of the pain associated with workforce reduction. This option is known as ________.

An organization's compensation system has been shown to have an impact on its________ .

To help survivors of downsizing cope with their new stress, managers might want to _________ .

What is considered a technology- based training method?