Chapter 15

What is the key difference between job descriptions and job specifications? Why are job descriptions and job specifications important to HR planning?

- job descriptions are an explanation of the responsibilities for a specific problem - job specifications are the specific qualifications necessary to hold a particular problem. because they are a key part of the planning process of figuring out where the company stands in terms of human resources.

How has management's attitude toward human resources changed in the past couple of decades? What factors have influenced this change?

Business competition across the globe has been rapidly accelerating. the increasing number of businesses, global competition, and the constricted economy due to the Great Recession in 2009

Which pieces of federal labor legislation do you believe are most important? Why?

Civil rights act of 1964- prohibiting discrimination

Which of the pay-for-performance methods do you believe works best, both from a business and a worker standpoint?

Commission - payment as a percentage of sales larger commissions go w smaller base pay Profit sharing plans reward employees with a share of company profits above and beyond predetermined goals

Compare and contrast computer-based training and classroom training. From a business perspective, which do you think is more effective? Why?

Computer- Employers teach a wide variety of topics from new computer programming languages, to negotiation skills, to stress management, and more

Given that employee referral programs are a low cost/high benefit employee recruitment tool, do you believe more companies—both large and small—will implement them? Explain your answer

New employees found through Employee Referral Programs have an excellent chance at success, since the person who recommended them also has a stake in their progress.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of hiring contingent workers from a business perspective? What are the pros and cons of contingent jobs from a worker standpoint?

The advantages of hiring contingent workers from a business perspective are they offer flexibility, which can lead to much lower costs. The disadvantages of hiring contingent workers from a business perspective are the workers are less committed and less experienced The pros of contingent jobs from a worker standpoint are there are many contingent jobs out there as they are becoming increasingly more popular, so it can be easier to get a contingent job. The cons of contingent jobs from a worker standpoint are they don't allow for regular, full-time dependable hours, which means that workers don't have a steady income and have to switch jobs often.

Looking ahead, do you believe that job flexibility options—from flextime, to telecommuting, to job sharing—will continue to grow at American businesses? Explain your answer.

There are many job flexibility options from flextime, to telecommuting, to compressed workweek, to telecommuting, to job sharing

Why do interviews tend to be ineffective at determining whether a candidate will perform well on the job? How can managers improve the interview process?

it is typically used as a get-to-know-you session, rather than focusing on the needs of the position. To improve give structured interview certain scenarios

Review the challenges that human resource departments face in today's business environment. Which issues are most daunting? Why

layoffs and outsourcing, wage gap, older workers, younger workers, women workers, work-life balance, and lawsuits layoffs and outsourcing