Question 1

Value creation is what the firm adds to a product or service by virtue of making it; it's the amount of benefits provided by the product or service once the costs of making it are subtracted.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

When an organization monitors demographic and labour market trends as well as technological and IT changes, it is most likely performing which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  a competitive environment scan 
B)  an environment scan 
C)  a strategic plan 
D)  a labour market scan

Question 3

Organizational core values are the strong enduring beliefs and principles that a company uses as a foundation for its decisions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Benchmarking is the process of comparing the organization's processes and practices with those of other companies.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

HR planning is the process of setting major organizational objectives and developing comprehensive plans to achieve those objectives.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Replacement charts are listings of current jobholders who are potential replacements if an opening occurs.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Kappa Technology is a firm in the high-technology sector. It needs to hire individuals with very specific knowledge and abilities, and it needs to do so quickly. Which aspect of employee forecasting will be most important for this company?

Accepted Answer

A)  skills inventories 
B)  staffing tables 
C)  Markov analysis 
D)  succession planning

Question 8

What is an important difference between small and large businesses in terms of alignment between organization and people strategies?

Accepted Answer

A)  Large businesses are constrained by existing internal processes; small businesses have less bureaucracy and can change faster. 
B)  Large businesses have more strategy to align; small businesses keep it simple. 
C)  Large businesses have more competitors; small businesses can keep a closer eye on fewer rivals. 
D)  Large businesses have more overhead and constraints; small businesses are leaner and meaner.

Question 9

Scenario 2.2
Avie Products Inc. is planning to add a third shift to its production schedule. It currently has 450 workers involved in all aspects of its fertilizer business, best done in Canada. A recent surge in demand from its global customers is driving the need for more workers; however, Simi Meher, the CEO, is concerned that the surge may be temporary, especially in light of the recent economic downturns in the global environment where Avie does business.
-Refer to Scenario 2.2. What is the best strategy for Avie to follow with respect to workers on the third shift?

Accepted Answer

A)  hire full-time employees to get their commitment 
B)  hire part-time staff 
C)  get management to do the extra work 
D)  outsource the work to India

Question 10

What are the three Cs in strategic planning?

Accepted Answer

A)  culture, capabilities, and composition 
B)  culture, clarity, and composure 
C)  culture, competition, and clarity 
D)  culture, creativity, and composition

Question 11

HR managers must be concerned with aligning HR planning and which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  the organization's strategic plan 
B)  the organization's marketing position 
C)  the organization's return on its human assets 
D)  the competitive environment

Question 12

Organization Z is planning its future. In the process, the firm is making decisions such as what type of market it wants to be the leader in and what path to take to achieve this goal. What is Organization Z doing?

Accepted Answer

A)  strategic planning 
B)  human resources planning 
C)  performing a Markov analysis 
D)  applying principles of strategic human resources management

Question 13

What is a major reason why many mergers do not go well?

Accepted Answer

A)  strategic planning failures 
B)  failures in context analysis 
C)  cultural inconsistencies and conflicts 
D)  a competitive business environment

Question 14

Trend analysis relies on a single business factor.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Which of the following can be used to classify different skill groups in an organization by the degree to which they create strategic value and are unique?

Accepted Answer

A)  internal environmental scanning 
B)  a human capital architecture map 
C)  a skills inventory 
D)  strategic planning

Question 16

Human resources planning plays a key role in organizational strategy implementation because organizational leaders must make decisions regarding resource allocations to human capital, among other things.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Which statement best describes the skills of contract labour workers?

Accepted Answer

A)  Their skills are not directly related to company strategy. 
B)  They have firm-specific skills directly related to company strategy. 
C)  They have skills that are valuable but not unique. 
D)  Their skills are available to all firms.

Question 18

National and regional unemployment rates are often considered a general barometer of labour supply.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Over time, organizations may try to reduce their workforce by relying on attrition.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

The Delphi technique works best in organizations where dynamic technological changes affect staffing levels.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 2: Strategy and Human Resources Planning

Value creation is what the firm adds to a product or service by virtue of making it; it's the amount of benefits provided by the product or service once the costs of making it are subtracted.

When an organization monitors demographic and labour market trends as well as technological and IT changes, it is most likely performing which of the following?

Organizational core values are the strong enduring beliefs and principles that a company uses as a foundation for its decisions.

Benchmarking is the process of comparing the organization's processes and practices with those of other companies.

HR planning is the process of setting major organizational objectives and developing comprehensive plans to achieve those objectives.

Replacement charts are listings of current jobholders who are potential replacements if an opening occurs.

Kappa Technology is a firm in the high-technology sector. It needs to hire individuals with very specific knowledge and abilities, and it needs to do so quickly. Which aspect of employee forecasting will be most important for this company?

What is an important difference between small and large businesses in terms of alignment between organization and people strategies?

What are the three Cs in strategic planning?

HR managers must be concerned with aligning HR planning and which of the following?

Organization Z is planning its future. In the process, the firm is making decisions such as what type of market it wants to be the leader in and what path to take to achieve this goal. What is Organization Z doing?

What is a major reason why many mergers do not go well?

Trend analysis relies on a single business factor.

Which of the following can be used to classify different skill groups in an organization by the degree to which they create strategic value and are unique?

Human resources planning plays a key role in organizational strategy implementation because organizational leaders must make decisions regarding resource allocations to human capital, among other things.

Which statement best describes the skills of contract labour workers?

National and regional unemployment rates are often considered a general barometer of labour supply.

Over time, organizations may try to reduce their workforce by relying on attrition.

The Delphi technique works best in organizations where dynamic technological changes affect staffing levels.