Staffing Exam 1

Selecting

assessing job candidates and deciding whom to hire.

deploying

assigning talent to appropriate jobs and roles in the organization

Axis Auto tries to keep its operational spending as low as possible so that it can pass its savings on to customers in the form of lower prices. This is known as a ________ strategy. A) cost-leadership B) differentiation C) specialization D) growth

cost-leadership

1) Staffing can be considered a cornerstone of human resource management because it ________. A) takes the largest part of the human resource budget B) determines the workforce representing the company C) takes the most time of any human resource management function D) is the only function performed by human resources

determines the workforce representing the company

Differentiation strategy

developing a product or service that has unique characteristics valued by customers (Apple, Johnson & Johnson, Nike, 3M)

Acquiring

involves putting together job offers that appeal to chosen candidates, and persuading job offer recipients to accept those job offers and to join the organization.

A systematic process of identifying and describing the important aspects of a job and the characteristic a worker needs to perform the job well is a ________. A) legal audit B) job analysis C) bona fide occupational qualification D) job specification

job analysis

Sourcing

locating qualified individuals and labor markets from which to recruit

Seven components of Strategic Staffing: Deploying Talent

Assigning people to appropriate jobs and roles in the organization to best utilize their talents

What is Growth Strategy?

Company expansion organically (happening as the organization expands within by opening new locations) or through mergers and acquisitions)

Specialization Strategy:

Focus on a narrow market segment or niche and pursue either a differentiation or cost leadership strategy within that market segment (Starbucks, Red Lobster, Seiko)

Seven components of strategic staffing: Retaining Talent:

Keeping successful employees engaged and committed to the firm

Seven components of Strategic Staffing: Sourcing Talent

Locating qualified individuals and labor markets from which to recruit

What is succession planning?

Looking at the roles in a company and looking at leadership roles, when those people move on, make sure there is an adequate amount of people to replace them.

Seven components of Strategic Staffing: Recruiting Talent

Making decisions and engaging in practices that affect either the number or types of individuals willing to apply for and accept job offers

Operational excellence

Maximizing the efficiency of the manufacturing or product development process to minimize costs.

What are some different ways companies can get competitive advantages?

Operational excellence --> maximizing the efficiency of the manufacturing/ or product development process to minimize costs Product innovation Customer intimacy--> Deliver unique and customizable products or services to meet their customers' needs and increase customer loyalty

Organic Growth

Requires an investment in recruiting, selecting, and training the right people to expand the company's operations

What enhances deployment options?

Secession planning and career development

Competitive Advantage

Something that a company can do differently from its competitors allowing it to perform better, survive, and succeed in its industry.

Difference between sourcing and recruiting?

Sourcing identifies people who would be good recruits. Recruiting activities entice them to apply to the organization and accept job offers, if extended.

What are some process goals when staffing a company?

-Attracting sufficient numbers of appropriately qualified applicants -Complying with the law and organizational policies -Fulfilling any affirmative action obligations -Meeting hiring timeline goals -Staffing efficiently

What are some outcome goals when staffing a company?

-Hiring successful employees who will contribute to enhancing the business strategy -Hiring individuals who will be eventually promoted (in most cases) -Reducing turnover rates among high performers -Meeting stakeholder needs -Maximizing the financial return on the firm's staffing investment -Enhancing employee diversity -Enabling organization flexibility

Why does one company succeed and another fail?

-differences in their strategic, financial, and capabilities. -differences in organization; capabilities generated by attracting, retaining, motivating, and developing talented employees. -staffing therefore plays a central role in creating and enhancing any organization's competitive advantage.

Why might a company want to retain talent?

-succession management and career development are effective tools. -turnover of high performers can be expensive -turnover of low performers can be beneficial -retention saves money in recruiting and hiring replacements for those leaving.

What are the five requirements of a competitive advantage?

1. The resource must be valuable 2. Must be rare. 3. Must not be easily imitated. 4. Not be easily substituted or replaced with another resource. 5. Must be organized and able to exploit the resource.

Define Competitive Advantage:

Anything that gives a firm an edge over rivals in attracting customers and defending itself against competition. (Company must be able to give customers superior value for their money, a combo of quality, service, and acceptable price).

Seven components of Strategic Staffing: Selecting Talent

Assessing job candidates and deciding who to hire

What are the three types of business strategies?

Cost leadership strategy, differentiation strategy, and specialization strategy

When a firm pursues a differentiation strategy, it is attempting to ________. A. Achieve the efficient production and delivery of products B. Be the lowest-cost producer for a particular level of product quality C. expand the company to increase the firm's sales D. develop products that have unique characteristics

Develop products that have unique characteristics

A manager only hires hispanic women, this is an example of _______. A) disparate treatment B) adverse impact C) an unintentional staffing strategy D) sexual harassment

Disparate Treatment

Organic growth takes place when an organization _____________. A. Expands from within by opening new factories or stores B. Acquires those companies with which it used to compete C. Focuses on just one specific line of production D. Changes it overall business strategy

Expands from within by opening new factories or stores

Define Business Strategy

How a company will compete in its marketplace

What are some sources of competitive advantage?

Innovation, cost, service, quality, branding, distribution, speed, convenience, first to market.

A summary of the characteristics of someone able to perform the job well is a _________. A) job requisition B) job analysis C) job description D) person specification

Person Specification

Affirmative action means ________. A) proactive plans to ensure nondiscriminatory results in employment practices B) employment practices are designed and used in a "facially neutral" manner (this would be equal opportunity) C) employers must meet quotas to ensure employee diversity D) protection for employees against retaliatory discharge

Proactive plans to ensure nondiscriminatory results in employment practices

Seven components of Strategic Staffing: Acquiring Talent

Putting together job offers that appeal to chosen candidates, and persuading job offer recipients to accept those job offers

Strategic staffing means __________________. A. Filling a job as quickly and cheaply as possible in order to add manpower to an organization B. Staffing an organization in future-oriented and goal-directed ways that support the organization's business strategy and enhance organizational effectiveness C. investing large amounts of money on staffing activities D. recruiting from as many places as possible to generate the largest possible number of applicants

Staffing an organization in future-oriented and goal-directed ways that support the organization's business strategy and enhance organizational effectiveness

Why is staffing important?

Staffing outcomes determine who will work for and represent the firm, and what its employees will be willing and able to do. -Staffing influences the success of future training, performance management, and compensation programs, as well as the organization's ability to execute its business strategy.

Seven components of Strategic Staffing: Workforce Planning

Strategically evaluating the company's current lines of business, new businesses it will be getting into, businesses it will be leaving, and the gaps between the current skills in the organization and the skills it will need to execute its business strategy

What is cost leadership strategy?

Strive to be the lowest cost producer for a particular level of product quality (Wal-Mart, Dell, FedEx"

Socializing

The process of familiarizing newly hired and promoted employees with their job, workgroup, and organization as a whole.

Workforce Planning

The process of predicting an organization's future employment needs, and the availability of current employees and external hires to meet those employment needs, and execute the organization's business strategy.

What is Strategic Staffing?

The process of staffing an organization in future-oriented and goal directed ways that support the organization's business strategy and enhance organizational effectiveness. -Involves the movement of people into, through, and out the organization

What is the primary staffing goal?

To match the competencies, styles, values, and traits of job candidates with the requirements of the organization and its jobs.

How do Strategic staffing differ from traditional staffing?

Traditional staffing: -less tied to strategy -more reactive and likely to be done in response to an opening -Lacks continuous improvement effort Strategic staffing systems incorporate: -Longer-term planning -Alignment with the firm's business strategy -Alignment with the other areas of HR -Alignment with the labor market -Targeted recruiting -Sound candidate assessment on factors related to job success and longer-term potential -The evaluation of staffing outcomes against pre-identified goals

Can a company's resources and competencies produce a sustained competitive advantage?

Yes, by lowering costs of products or services, providing something of unique value, or a combination of both. Think of Dollar Tree, Walmart, Apple, Gucci, etc.

Can workforce planning be short term?

Yes, focus on an immediate hiring need.

Can workforce planning be long term?

Yes, focus on the organization's needs in the future. Workforce planning is better strategically the more it addresses both the firm's short- and long-term needs.

Recruiting

all organizational practices and decisions that affect either the number or types of individuals willing to apply for and accept job offers

Employment-at-will is an employment relationship which ________. A.) allows either the employee or employer to terminate the employment at any time B. ) offers blanket protection to employers for all employee discharges C.) allows an employer to terminate employment only for a just cause D.) offers employees a contract for a definite term of employment

allows either the employee or employer to terminate the employment at any time