HRM - 201 - Chapter 9 HW & Quiz

IntraCom Corporation is adopting a new human resource information system that uses cloud computing. In which way is cloud computing most likely to affect the work environment for IntraCom's HR staff? (QUIZ)

By connecting them to the department all the time, everywhere, via mobile devices.

What is a condition that underlies the formation of a high-performance work system? (QUIZ)

Ongoing training is emphasized and rewarded.

What is a measure of customer satisfaction that indicates the success of the staffing activities implemented by the HR department of an organization? (QUIZ)

Adaptability to changing labor market conditions.

Athaliah, a human resource manager, is helping her company develop into more of a high-performance work system. She suggests that executives start sharing information about the company's financial performance with its employees. How would this effort most directly support the goal of becoming a high-performance work system? (QUIZ)

By increasing employee empowerment and job satisfaction.

Anthony, an HR executive, is helping his company plan how to become a high-performance work system. The company's managers have agreed to redesign the recruitment and selection process so it will be performed by teams of empowered employees. How should the company's selection process support this change? (QUIZ)

By using group interviews and psychological tests to identify candidates with teamwork skills.

A telecommunication company is conducting an HRM audit. It uses business indicators of measurement, focusing on items such as percentage of sick leave to total pay, and the average workers' compensation payment (WCP). Which activity is the firm most likely trying to measure with such indicators? (QUIZ)

Benefits.

John is a supervisor of one of the teams in the main manufacturing facility for Footlight Shoe Company. He recently met with Ms. Jones to describe to her a concern he had with the way the team responsibilities were grouped. He provided a suggestion that may assist in improving the efficiency while also encouraging quality shoes be assembled. John's primary recommendation to Ms. Jones is to improve the _______ design. (HW)

Task.

The main goal of implementing a high performance work system at Footlight Shoe Company is to: (HW)

All of these answers are correct.

Ms. Jones is working diligently to create new policies and practices. As a manufacturer of shoes for large retailers, she recognizes the importance of satisfied workers. Outcomes of a high performance work system include lower employee turnover and satisfied: (HW)

Customers.

(T/F)Ethical behavior is most likely to result from values held by the organization's leaders combined with systems that promote ethical behavior. (QUIZ)

True.

Human resource departments can improve their own and their organization's performance by appropriately using new technology. Technological systems allow human resource practices to become more employee driven and focused. Employees can enroll in training and select benefits online, receive and share knowledge, complete work in the office or at home, and more effectively manage their own performance. Technological advantages for human resources include streamlining of departmental work, knowledge-based decision support systems that organize and disseminate knowledge, closer monitoring of employee skill and experience, and easy-to-scan performance reviews. New technologies involve knowledge, procedures, and equipment that automate or replace human labor. New technologies can also be used to facilitate interaction among employees, so they can work on projects and discuss work-related issues. The use of HR dashboards and social media is also increasing in many companies as they recognize the benefits of these technologies. Read the section "HRM Technology" in your textbook. This activity is important because it will help you better understand transaction processing, decision support systems, and expert systems, which are often part of a human resource information system (HRIS). An HRIS uses a relational database to store data in separate files that can be linked by common elements. The goal of this activity is to discuss the role of HRM technology in high-performance work systems. Read each HRM technology practice, then select the appropriate category to which it applies. (HW)

1. Honda uses an online system that analyzes data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on skill availability in the labor market to predict what the labor supply will look like in the upcoming year. A: [Decision Support Systems] 2. Because State Farm Insurance has offices located throughout the United States, the organization uses HR technology to document employee relocation information. A: [Transaction Processing Systems] 3. Managers at Ford wanted to understand the correlation between training and employee injuries. They used an online database of safety information to examine this relationship. A: [Decision Support Systems] 4. To increase efficiency, HR employees at Giant Eagle implemented a system that scans résumés for potential keywords and conducts automated initial interviews. A: [Expert Systems] 5. Johnson & Johnson has developed an automated e-learning kiosk in which employees can enroll for new training courses and fill out course evaluations. A: [Transaction Processing Systems] 6. Instead of paying compensation specialists, 3M created an electronic system to decide how stock options should be distributed. A: [Expert Systems] 7. McKinsey used to have an administrator who served as the travel coordinator. Now, an online system uses details of an individual's trip to coordinate travel arrangements. A: [Expert Systems] 8. To determine how many employees they will need to hire, Columbia Gas designed an electronic system that predicts turnover for certain positions. A: [Decision Support Systems] 9. Fifth-Third Bank uses interactive voice technology to help employees gain information about benefits through their mobile phones. A: [Transaction Processing Systems] 10. Instead of using retirement consultants, Kellogg's designed a system that uses employee data to make recommendations about retirement options. A: [Expert Systems] 11. JCPenney wanted to know the financial impact of pay raises for various groups. Compensation and benefit information were analyzed electronically to determine these effects. A: [Decision Support Systems] 12. Shared access to a central network provides recruiters at GE access to potential employee's résumés, skills, and interview information. A: [Transaction Processing Systems]

Jack is using his organization's newest HRM application. The application includes a "what if?" feature that allows Jack to enter different assumptions and see how the likely outcomes will change. What type of HRM application is Jack using? (QUIZ)

Decision support system.

Based on the information presented in the case, what changes in employees' jobs should Jordan consider? (HW)

Determine whether the jobs can be redesigned to empower employees.

At the Blue Restaurants Corporation, an employee survey reports that efforts to increase worker satisfaction by redesigning jobs led to greater job satisfaction. The human resource department also measured lower rates of absenteeism and employee turnover. What will be the most likely impact of these trends on the profits of Blue Restaurants? (QUIZ)

Lower costs, leading to higher profits.

Due to the high turnover rate, the HR department at Footlight Shoe Company will need to work quickly to replace the employees before the next customer deadline. When discussing the concerns with the HR manager, Mrs. Jones reminds him that it is imperative the selection process is handled with extreme care because the right _______ are/is a key element of high-performance work systems: (HW)

People.

Which HRM practice should be changed based on Jordan's evaluation? (HW)

Performance management.

The HR team of a firm establishes the guidelines for the performance management of its new and experienced employees. The measurement targets are defined in terms of sales targets achieved and the number of customer service calls made. Which guideline is being used by the HR department to measure the performance management system? (QUIZ)

Precise terms.

When discussing the advantages of implementing a High Performance Work System with the managers in the Footlight Shoe Company, Ms. Jones described the importance of using _______, which are/is found to contribute to high performance by encouraging people to strive for objectives that support the organizations' overall goals. (HW)

Reward systems.

To improve knowledge sharing at Scranton, Inc., Jordan should: (HW)

Shift the focus of training from teaching skills toward a broader focus on generating knowledge.

What can help organizations achieve high performance? (QUIZ)

Swift disciplinary action.

Which element of a high-performance work system makes jobs efficient while encouraging high quality? (QUIZ)

Task design.

Tutu Designs is a small-scale apparel manufacturing company. Its marketing team is planning to bring about a new line of clothing, and the marketing manager wants to involve employees in generating and evaluating ideas for the new product line. In the context of knowledge sharing, how can Tutu Designs best promote critical thinking? (QUIZ)

By encouraging employees to test assumptions and observe results.

A leading IT firm conducts an HRM audit. It identifies two key measures for customer satisfaction as its employees' satisfaction with pay and the competitiveness of pay provided in the local market. Which activity is the firm most likely trying to measure with such indicators? (QUIZ)

Compensation.

The challenge facing managers today is how to make their organizations into high-performance work systems, with the right combination of people, technology, and organizational structure to make full use of resources and opportunities in achieving their organizations' goals. To function as a high-performance work system, each of these elements must fit well with the others in a smoothly functioning whole. Alan Boynton is vice president of human resources for a pharmaceutical company in Denver, Colorado. He has been charged with identifying and implementing organizational strategies to help transform the company into a high-performance work system. This activity is important because it will give you the opportunity to understand the work system elements HR professionals must use. The goal of this activity is to identify the elements of high-performance work systems. 1.) Training and Development 2.) Task Design 3.) Organizational Structure 4.) Information Systems 5.) Reward Systems (HW)

Creating a company intranet that will give employees access to information about benefits, training, and job openings. A: [ 4: Information Systems ] Combining a large number of simple jobs into a smaller number of jobs with more complex tasks. A: [ 2: Task Design ] Grouping employees into teams according to the customers they serve. A: [ 3: Organizational Structure ] Motivating employees to increase their skills sets and expand their knowledge base. A: [ 1: Training and Development ] Revising company policies regarding the "hardship bonus" paid to expatriates as the number of expatriates needed will double as part of the company's growth strategy. A: [ 5: Reward Systems ]

Moving forward, what should Jordan consider regarding the performance management process? (HW)

Ensure that employees receive feedback on how their performance relates to the company's performance goals.

Which element of a high-performance work system deals with performance measures by which employees are judged and the methods of measuring such performance? (QUIZ)

Reward systems.

Why should Jordan be concerned about whether or not employees are satisfied? (HW)

Satisfied employees will likely perform better.

An automobile manufacturer is recruiting fresh and experienced employees. The manufacturing and assembly departments have the majority of the open positions. These departments have previously notified the senior management that their previous recruits were not the right fit for the demands of their units, as they had hampered teamwork, efficiency, and eventually affected the overall financial health of the firm. Which of the following, if true, would most likely strengthen teamwork within the organization? (QUIZ)

The firm should allow the manufacturing and assembly teams to participate in employee selection.