Deck 14: Comparative IHRM

Question 1

Comparative IHRM examines how differences between countries create similarities and differences in IHRM policies and practices across countries and regions.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Comparative IHRM is a well-established field, and the challenge now is to find new areas to investigate.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

The diversity of IHRM policies and practices across nations are often examined using the convergence and divergence framework.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Today's MNEs have little difficulty in developing IHRM policies and practices that demonstrate consistency throughout the entire global organization and within regions.

Question 5

Countries in the European Union, an economic region within Europe, are economically and politically linked and operate with a single market.

Question 6

The various regional clusters within Europe share similarities in terms of their HRM practices.

Question 7

For HR planning purposes, many MNEs view the region of North America in terms of the U.S. and Canada.

Question 8

The U.S. has a less individualistic labor force than most other countries.

Question 9

An important HRM issue in the European region is the management of the challenges associated with talent flow ,

Question 10

There is a strong collectivistic and a paternalistic attitude toward work values in African countries.

Question 11

Comparative IHRM is a __________ field of inquiry.

A) developing
B) diverging
C) regional
D) all of the above

Question 12

The __________________ perspective suggests that over time organizational structures and business practices and values in differing countries and regions will become similar.

A) convergence
B) divergence
C) regional
D) none of these

Question 13

The _______________ perspective suggests that institutional, national and business values are deeply integrated and embedded in a society and resist change to accommodate policies and practices introduced by foreign MNEs.

A) convergence
B) regional
C) divergence
D) none of these

Question 14

A "region" can be described by various attributes, such as

A) economic system.
B) geography.
C) governmental jurisdiction.
D) all of these.

Question 15

The San Diego-Tijuana region is an example of a _________ region.

A) trade
B) macro-region
C) cross-border
D) all of these

Question 16

A(n) ___________ include independent countries that share certain attributes such as social, economic and cultural characteristics:

A) micro-region
B) cross-border region
C) macro-region
D) none of these

Question 17

Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America are examples of

A) micro-regions.
B) cross-border regions.
C) macro-regions.
D) sub regions.

Question 18

The flexibility-security nexus refers to

A) the balance needed under the free-trade rules of the EU as well as under global free-market competition to provide the increased flexibility within European labor markets
B) The general sense of responsibility toward various types of employee representation and protection
C) The extensive government regulations in terms of labor standards and legislation
D) The intrusiveness of labor laws

Question 19

Due to the flexibility-security nexus in the European Union, the HR function has an important role to

A) increase flexibility while still protecting employees.
B) be broker between management and the workforce.
C) develop, implement and maintain policies to satisfy multiple stakeholders.
D) all of the above.

Question 20

Compared to other regions, the HRM issues in North America include all of the following EXCEPT

A) the HRM function becoming a strategic business partner.
B) low levels of unionization.
C) a relatively fast population growth.
D) less intrusive labor laws.

Question 21

The transition from collectivism to individualism in HRM policies and practices, especially in countries such as ___________________ is an important issue and has major implications for HR practices such as compensation.

A) France and Germany
B) India and China
C) Australia and India
D) Canada and Mexico

Question 22

Employee's view a movement away from the traditional collectivist-oriented employment contract constitutes a violation of the ______________________.

A) psychological contract
B) employment contract
C) sociological contract
D) none of the above

Question 23

Governments in Latin American countries generally have an authoritarian approach that strongly ____________ the economy, labor markets and organizational relationships.

A) regulates
B) liberates
C) innovates
D) all of these

Question 24

Latin American employees

A) view the supervisor/manager as a 'father'
B) value hierarchy
C) dislike confrontation with superiors
D) all of these

Question 25

Compared to most European countries, the U.S. has relatively low levels of unionization. List three reasons for the decline in union membership.

Question 26

In North America in recent years the HRM function as become recognized as a strategic partner. Provide two examples of how HRM serves as a strategic partner to an MNE.

Question 27

What does "talent flow" mean, and what are the HRM challenges associated with talent flow in the Asia Pacific region?

Question 28

Compare and contrast the important features of IHRM in Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America.

Question 29

What are the major differences between macro- and micro-regions? What are the implications for MNEs and IHRM?