Question 1

Which statement best reflects the current view on the efficacy of offshoring as a cost reduction measure?

Accepted Answer

A)  While organizations can save with this practice,hidden costs,such as productivity loss during the transition,can chew up much of the financial gains.
B)  The practice of offshoring has been one of the most positive HR trends of the last ten years.
C)  The continuous shifting of global economies makes offshoring a necessary function for organizations to survive.
D)  Offshoring only works if top managers begin early in the process to plan their key strategies,such as alternative talent pools and workforce training. A

Question 2

One of the roles of HR managers is to act as employee advocates despite their positions as managers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

Outsourcing is positively related to improving key competencies of the firm.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 4

An increased reliance on outsourcing is likely to increase the morale and productivity of the employees that remain on the job.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

"Six Sigma" refers to the six criteria for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Employees and the public at large are demanding that employers demonstrate greater social responsibility.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

In a recent survey,only about two-thirds of companies reported having a formal change management program to support their change initiatives.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

In general,many companies are realizing diminished demand for "touch labour" and an increasing demand for "knowledge workers."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Employee productivity is directly driven by three key factors.Which of the following is NOT one of these factors?

Accepted Answer

A)  low labour costs
B)  employees' abilities
C)  employee motivation
D)  the work environment

Question 10

Which of the following trends is causing a major organizational concern that the expertise of employees will be rapidly drained from their companies?

Accepted Answer

A)  Generation nexus is thus far not demonstrating a dedication to training and education.
B)  There is an increase of uneducated women entering the workforce.
C)  Recruitment of lower-skilled immigrant workers is increasing.
D)  Large proportions of some workforces are nearing retirement.

Question 11

Family-friendly companies may risk alienating those employees who cannot utilize benefits provided.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Managers in general and HR managers in particular should be concerned with the makeup and expectations of their employees.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Approximately what percentage of the Canadian economy is affected by global competition?

Accepted Answer

A)  70-85%
B)  60-75%
C)  50-65%
D)  40-55%

Question 14

According to the diagram in the text,courage is an important aspect of being an HR professional.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Older workers now are choosing to work longer.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

HRIS systems in some organizations help managers to connect with employees and with the HR data they need.What type of technological effect is this?

Accepted Answer

A)  relational
B)  operational
C)  transformational
D)  configurational

Question 17

ABC Bank is experiencing rapid retirement of baby boomers.The bank needs to retain its employment levels because of the volume of work,and it does not want to increase the workload of its employees.Which of the following is a good strategy for the bank to pursue to address this situation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Do nothing as the situation will rectify itself.
B)  Offer higher compensation packages to attract qualified candidates.
C)  Downsize the firm to save on labour costs.
D)  Increase production efforts so as to gain more revenue.

Question 18

Dave Ulrich,a professor of management,is quoted as saying that,in terms of learning and development: "Learning capability is g times g…." What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

A)  an employee's knowledge,measured as g,multiplied by the employer's goodwill
B)  an organization's goodwill multiplied by its generosity to employees in terms of salaries and benefits
C)  an organization's grand image and brand multiplied by its goodwill
D)  an organization's ability to generate new ideas multiplied by its adeptness at generalizing them throughout the company

Question 19

What are the competencies of the human resources manager?

Accepted Answer

A)  business mastery,HR mastery,and executive mastery
B)  business mastery,HR mastery,and personal credibility
C)  business mastery,HR mastery,personal credibility,and change mastery
D)  change mastery,personal credibility,union mastery,and HR mastery

Question 20

Company A has decided to hire someone outside the company to perform tasks that could be done internally.What is this practice called?

Accepted Answer

A)  contracting
B)  outplacement
C)  employee leasing
D)  outsourcing

Exam 1: The World of Human Resources Management

Which statement best reflects the current view on the efficacy of offshoring as a cost reduction measure?

One of the roles of HR managers is to act as employee advocates despite their positions as managers.

Outsourcing is positively related to improving key competencies of the firm.

An increased reliance on outsourcing is likely to increase the morale and productivity of the employees that remain on the job.

"Six Sigma" refers to the six criteria for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

Employees and the public at large are demanding that employers demonstrate greater social responsibility.

In a recent survey,only about two-thirds of companies reported having a formal change management program to support their change initiatives.

In general,many companies are realizing diminished demand for "touch labour" and an increasing demand for "knowledge workers."

Employee productivity is directly driven by three key factors.Which of the following is NOT one of these factors?

Which of the following trends is causing a major organizational concern that the expertise of employees will be rapidly drained from their companies?

Family-friendly companies may risk alienating those employees who cannot utilize benefits provided.

Managers in general and HR managers in particular should be concerned with the makeup and expectations of their employees.

Approximately what percentage of the Canadian economy is affected by global competition?

According to the diagram in the text,courage is an important aspect of being an HR professional.

Older workers now are choosing to work longer.

HRIS systems in some organizations help managers to connect with employees and with the HR data they need.What type of technological effect is this?

ABC Bank is experiencing rapid retirement of baby boomers.The bank needs to retain its employment levels because of the volume of work,and it does not want to increase the workload of its employees.Which of the following is a good strategy for the bank to pursue to address this situation?

Dave Ulrich,a professor of management,is quoted as saying that,in terms of learning and development: "Learning capability is g times g…." What does this mean?

What are the competencies of the human resources manager?

Company A has decided to hire someone outside the company to perform tasks that could be done internally.What is this practice called?