Question 1

Which of the following is a human resource management (HRM) practice that can lead to improved firm performance?

Accepted Answer

A)  Having self-directed work teams 
B)  Having pay secrecy and pay compression policies 
C)  Using pay inversion to motivate employees 
D)  Conducting informal performance appraisals 
A)  Having self-directed work teams 
B)  Having pay secrecy and pay compression policies 
C)  Using pay inversion to motivate employees 
D)  Conducting informal performance appraisals

Question 2

Briefly explain the influence of an organization's purpose and mission on its human resource practices.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary. An organization's pur

Question 3

Compare related and unrelated diversification.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary. A corporation that us

Question 4

If we examine fundamental human resource management (HRM) practices, it seems reasonable to suggest that:

Accepted Answer

A)  it is enough to hire a competitor's employees to gain significant competitive advantage. 
B)  HRM teams do not play a significant role in firms using a growth strategy. 
C)  using systematic selection techniques is better than hiring based on intuition. 
D)  chief executive officers are the true owners of modern corporations-not the stockholders. 
A)  it is enough to hire a competitor's employees to gain significant competitive advantage. 
B)  HRM teams do not play a significant role in firms using a growth strategy. 
C)  using systematic selection techniques is better than hiring based on intuition. 
D)  chief executive officers are the true owners of modern corporations-not the stockholders.

Question 5

A company that attempts to develop an image or reputation for its product or service that sets the company apart from its competitors most likely uses a _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  diversification strategy 
B)  differentiation strategy 
C)  stability strategy 
D)  defender strategy 
A)  diversification strategy 
B)  differentiation strategy 
C)  stability strategy 
D)  defender strategy

Question 6

According to the adaptation model of business strategy, which of the following strategies is most appropriate in relatively stable conditions with a moderate degree of uncertainty and risk?

Accepted Answer

A)  The reactor strategy 
B)  The prospector strategy 
C)  The analyzer strategy 
D)  The defender strategy 
A)  The reactor strategy 
B)  The prospector strategy 
C)  The analyzer strategy 
D)  The defender strategy

Question 7

In the context of the adaptation model, which of the following is a strategic alternative that managers can select to match their organization's strategy with the basic conditions of their organization's environment?

Accepted Answer

A)  The defender strategy 
B)  The focus strategy 
C)  Retrenchment 
D)  Unrelated diversification 
A)  The defender strategy 
B)  The focus strategy 
C)  Retrenchment 
D)  Unrelated diversification

Question 8

Corporate strategies deal with how a firm will compete in each market where it conducts business.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

The set of values that helps an organization's members understand what the organization stands for, how it accomplishes what it wants to accomplish, and what it considers important is called the organization's _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  profile 
B)  purpose 
C)  culture 
D)  design 
A)  profile 
B)  purpose 
C)  culture 
D)  design

Question 10

A key challenge for HR managers with firms using a retrenchment strategy is recruiting and training the large numbers of qualified employees.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

A prospector strategy works best when a business operates in an environment with relatively little uncertainty and risk and high stability.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Which of the following statements is true of a mission statement?

Accepted Answer

A)  It specifies the basic reason for the existence of an organization. 
B)  It attempts to identify the weaknesses of an organization and the threats that it is likely to face. 
C)  It often provides subtle cues about the importance that an organization places on its human resources. 
D)  It always signals an organization's true priorities. 
A)  It specifies the basic reason for the existence of an organization. 
B)  It attempts to identify the weaknesses of an organization and the threats that it is likely to face. 
C)  It often provides subtle cues about the importance that an organization places on its human resources. 
D)  It always signals an organization's true priorities.

Question 13

Which of the following statements is true of the union in an organization?

Accepted Answer

A)  Unionized firms tend to have fewer rules than nonunionized firms. 
B)  Labor unions in the United States are more concerned with social issues than they are in most other countries. 
C)  It can play an important role in formulating and implementing the human resource strategy of the organization. 
D)  It cannot facilitate strategic changes in the organization. 
A)  Unionized firms tend to have fewer rules than nonunionized firms. 
B)  Labor unions in the United States are more concerned with social issues than they are in most other countries. 
C)  It can play an important role in formulating and implementing the human resource strategy of the organization. 
D)  It cannot facilitate strategic changes in the organization.

Question 14

Which of the following statements is true of flat organizations?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are highly bureaucratic. 
B)  They rely heavily on teamwork. 
C)  They are more rigid than vertical organizations. 
D)  They cannot adapt easily to changing environments. 
A)  They are highly bureaucratic. 
B)  They rely heavily on teamwork. 
C)  They are more rigid than vertical organizations. 
D)  They cannot adapt easily to changing environments.

Question 15

Straps Inc. is a leading manufacturer of high-end watches. It is renowned for its reliability and quality and enjoys a monopoly in its home market. It has now adopted a differentiation strategy to expand its business into neighboring countries. Which of the following human resource strategies should Straps Inc. follow to maintain the same momentum in the new markets?

Accepted Answer

A)  It should exclusively focus on marketing to people from the business industry. 
B)  It should hire workers who can provide exemplary customer service. 
C)  It should keep the size of its workforce small to increase efficiency. 
D)  It should hire employees on short-term contracts. 
A)  It should exclusively focus on marketing to people from the business industry. 
B)  It should hire workers who can provide exemplary customer service. 
C)  It should keep the size of its workforce small to increase efficiency. 
D)  It should hire employees on short-term contracts.

Question 16

In the context of the strategic alternatives of the adaptation model, which of the following strategies is assumed to work best when a business operates in an environment with relatively little uncertainty and risk and a high degree of stability?

Accepted Answer

A)  A defender strategy 
B)  The prospector strategy 
C)  The analyzer strategy 
D)  A turnaround strategy 
A)  A defender strategy 
B)  The prospector strategy 
C)  The analyzer strategy 
D)  A turnaround strategy

Question 17

Briefly explain the impact of an organization's culture on the formulation of its human resource strategies.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary. The culture of an org

Question 18

When a fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company faced bankruptcy, the company decided to encourage its employees to contribute their ideas toward organizational development and growth. The organization also asked its human resource team to assess the employees' levels of commitment toward organizational effectiveness. To improve the FMCG company's organizational performance, it is evident that the company most likely used _____.

Accepted Answer

A)  self-directed work teams 
B)  attitude surveys 
C)  job enrichment 
D)  job embeddedness 
A)  self-directed work teams 
B)  attitude surveys 
C)  job enrichment 
D)  job embeddedness

Question 19

In the context of the adaptation model, which of the following is a similarity between an organization using the defender strategy and an organization using the focus strategy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both focus on diversifying their products and services. 
B)  Both ignore the environment in which their businesses operate. 
C)  Both target a specific segment of the market for their products or services. 
D)  Both work best in conditions of high uncertainty and risk. 
A)  Both focus on diversifying their products and services. 
B)  Both ignore the environment in which their businesses operate. 
C)  Both target a specific segment of the market for their products or services. 
D)  Both work best in conditions of high uncertainty and risk.

Question 20

Employees are potentially an excellent source of competitive advantage for an organization because:

Accepted Answer

A)  they cannot refuse to follow the commands of the top executives of the organization. 
B)  they are difficult to copy or replace. 
C)  they formulate the organization's purpose and mission statement. 
D)  they cannot be hired by the competitors of the organization. 
A)  they cannot refuse to follow the commands of the top executives of the organization. 
B)  they are difficult to copy or replace. 
C)  they formulate the organization's purpose and mission statement. 
D)  they cannot be hired by the competitors of the organization.

Which of the following is a human resource management (HRM) practice that can lead to improved firm performance?

Briefly explain the influence of an organization's purpose and mission on its human resource practices.

Compare related and unrelated diversification.

If we examine fundamental human resource management (HRM) practices, it seems reasonable to suggest that:

A company that attempts to develop an image or reputation for its product or service that sets the company apart from its competitors most likely uses a _____.

According to the adaptation model of business strategy, which of the following strategies is most appropriate in relatively stable conditions with a moderate degree of uncertainty and risk?

In the context of the adaptation model, which of the following is a strategic alternative that managers can select to match their organization's strategy with the basic conditions of their organization's environment?

Corporate strategies deal with how a firm will compete in each market where it conducts business.

The set of values that helps an organization's members understand what the organization stands for, how it accomplishes what it wants to accomplish, and what it considers important is called the organization's _____.

A key challenge for HR managers with firms using a retrenchment strategy is recruiting and training the large numbers of qualified employees.

A prospector strategy works best when a business operates in an environment with relatively little uncertainty and risk and high stability.

Which of the following statements is true of a mission statement?

Which of the following statements is true of the union in an organization?

Which of the following statements is true of flat organizations?

In the context of the strategic alternatives of the adaptation model, which of the following strategies is assumed to work best when a business operates in an environment with relatively little uncertainty and risk and a high degree of stability?

Briefly explain the impact of an organization's culture on the formulation of its human resource strategies.

In the context of the adaptation model, which of the following is a similarity between an organization using the defender strategy and an organization using the focus strategy?

Employees are potentially an excellent source of competitive advantage for an organization because:

The Nature of Human Resource Management

The Legal Environment

The Global Environment

Information for Making Human Resource Decisions

Human Resource Decision-Making in Organizations

Recruiting, Selecting, Training, and Developing Employees

Managing a New and Diverse Workforce

Compensation and Benefits

Performance Appraisal and Career Management

Managing Labor Relations

Safety, Health, Well-Being, and Security

Motivation at Work

Managing and Enhancing

Filters

Exam 4: The Competitive Environment

Which of the following is a human resource management (HRM) practice that can lead to improved firm performance?

Briefly explain the influence of an organization's purpose and mission on its human resource practices.

Compare related and unrelated diversification.

If we examine fundamental human resource management (HRM) practices, it seems reasonable to suggest that:

A company that attempts to develop an image or reputation for its product or service that sets the company apart from its competitors most likely uses a _____.

According to the adaptation model of business strategy, which of the following strategies is most appropriate in relatively stable conditions with a moderate degree of uncertainty and risk?

In the context of the adaptation model, which of the following is a strategic alternative that managers can select to match their organization's strategy with the basic conditions of their organization's environment?

Corporate strategies deal with how a firm will compete in each market where it conducts business.

The set of values that helps an organization's members understand what the organization stands for, how it accomplishes what it wants to accomplish, and what it considers important is called the organization's _____.

A key challenge for HR managers with firms using a retrenchment strategy is recruiting and training the large numbers of qualified employees.

A prospector strategy works best when a business operates in an environment with relatively little uncertainty and risk and high stability.

Which of the following statements is true of a mission statement?

Which of the following statements is true of the union in an organization?

Which of the following statements is true of flat organizations?

In the context of the strategic alternatives of the adaptation model, which of the following strategies is assumed to work best when a business operates in an environment with relatively little uncertainty and risk and a high degree of stability?

Briefly explain the impact of an organization's culture on the formulation of its human resource strategies.

In the context of the adaptation model, which of the following is a similarity between an organization using the defender strategy and an organization using the focus strategy?

Employees are potentially an excellent source of competitive advantage for an organization because:

The Nature of Human Resource Management

The Legal Environment

The Global Environment

Information for Making Human Resource Decisions

Human Resource Decision-Making in Organizations

Recruiting, Selecting, Training, and Developing Employees

Managing a New and Diverse Workforce

Compensation and Benefits

Performance Appraisal and Career Management

Managing Labor Relations

Safety, Health, Well-Being, and Security

Motivation at Work

Managing and Enhancing

Filters