Workforce Planning
Replacement planning
"Snapshot" assessment of the availability of qualified backup for key positions.
what steps are involved for an intervention that is aimed at cultural transformation?
1. Describe the current culture/2. Identify the aspirational culture/3. Identify gaps and conflicts/4. Develop change initiatives
The sales forecast for the coming year is $9 million, and labor productivity is forecast at $26,000. Assuming no turnover, how many employees will be needed?
346; $9,000,000 / $26,000
Which of the examples demonstrates an HR VP's role in creating a service culture?
A VP of HR negotiates time-to-hire goals with the organization's functional leaders.
simple linear regression
A projection of future demand based on a past relationship between employment level and a single variable related to employment.
HR information system (HRIS)
A type of technology that supports HR functions and enables HR to gather, store, maintain, retrieve, revise, analyze, and report HR data.
information system (IS)
A way to collect, organize, store, analyze, and share data.
Artificial intelligence (AI)
Ability of a computer to imitate human thought and behavior.
What is required for a supply analysis to be accurate?
Accounting for employee movement inside and outside of the organization
what are some examples of HR showcasing cross-functional support?
Accounting/Finance - Budgeting for people costs; IT - HRIS and ESS, using Internet; Operations - Talent acquisition and retention, labor relations
Hacking
Act of deliberately accessing computer data without permission.
Restructuring
Act of reorganizing the legal, ownership, operational, or other structures of an organization.
Turnover
Act of replacing employees leaving an organization; attrition or loss of employees.
Workforce planning
Activities needed to ensure that workforce size and competencies meet current and future organizational and individual needs.
Which initiative is most likely to provide the best outcome for a multinational organization incorporating a new knowledge management system?
Adding translations for a wide range of languages
An organization decides not to replace employees who leave. This organizational strategy initially proves effective; however, the strategy fails to reap long-term benefits. What type of initiative might have prevented this?
Administering a proactive intervention aimed at assessing organizational strength in various positions
how is a merger & acquisition planned out as it relates to HR?
After due diligence research, HR can begin to map and compare the two organizations' structures and processes and decide how to manage differences. Key talent can be identified and plans laid for retaining it.
In an effort to sustain change, how can HR ensure a positive relationship between strategy and organizational culture?
Align culture and strategy for maximum effectiveness.
Centralized HR Structure
All HR personnel located within HR department; delivers services to entire organization.
Workforce management
All activities needed to ensure that workforce size and competencies meet the organization's strategic needs.
what is important to remember about measuring talent management effectiveness?
All talent management programs should be evaluated on a regular basis to ensure the effectiveness of each program in helping to maintain a high-performance workforce.
extended organization
Alliance between organizations to create processes and information channels that allow communication and collaboration. Formed through the use of outsourcing, strategic alliances, or partnerships.
Dedicated HR Structure
Allows organizations with different strategies in multiple units to apply HR expertise to each unit's specific strategic needs.
Outsourcing
An independent organization with expertise in operating a specific function contracts with an organization to assume full responsibility for the function
Center of excellence (COE)
An organizational structure that leverages staff expertise in certain areas to improve the entire organization's strategic performance.
During a period of unprecedented turnover, what action should HR recommend to reduce the high turnover?
Analyze the current workforce to ensure that the current talent meets future needs.
Turnover rate
Annualized formula that tracks number of separations and total number of workforce employees per month.
judgmental forecasts
Apply expert judgment to information from the past and present to predict future conditions and staffing needs and to understand opportunities that can affect the staffing plan; The success of this method is entirely dependent upon the quality of information provided to managers to use in making estimates.
informal knowledge management systems
Arise as employees and teams gain experience and develop the ability to recognize and identify critical information, best practices, and experiences.
Cosourcing
Arrangement in which an enterprise and a vendor share different tasks within a larger complex, often strategic responsibility.
As part of an organization's merger/acquisition, the HR talent management director is tasked with developing a formal knowledge management system for the new, combined organization. What should the HR director do first?
Assemble an HR team to gather and analyze existing documents from both organizations.
An organization's vision is to enhance interrelationships between functions. Which objective would be the best addition to HR's business plan?
Assign specific HR staff as a resource to each function.
what should HR use software for?
Automate complex processes, produce accurate data, support data analysis, support compliance-related activities
what are examples of workplace policies that impact technology?
BYOD, social networks, privacy
What type of technology arrangement would best meet the needs of an organization with highly distinctive demands, a need for a high level of security, and an uninhibited budget?
Best-of-breed solution, hosted off-site
what is the main concept of McKinsey 7-S Framework and Burke-Litwin Performance and Change Model?
Both state that in order for an organization to implement its strategy successfully, it must align its various components.
An organization is adding an enterprise that requires a large number of highly knowledgeable and skilled workers. HR has noted the time required to fill open positions has increased because of the poor quality of applicants. How should HR advise management?
Budgets must include expanded training programs.
An HR manager is preparing a communication about how an IT purchase will align strategically with the organization's objectives, what capabilities will be added, what risk will be reduced, and what type of return the organization will receive for the investment. At what step in the technology acquisition process is the HR manager?
Building a business case
As HR's role becomes more strategic, how must HR executives transform their skill sets?
By deepening their understanding of the organization's business, internal partners, and external business factors
How can a balanced scorecard assessment help an organization with a clear strategic plan to meet its objectives?
By identifying key performance areas where the strategy may be ineffective
How can HR most contribute to an organization's strategy in developing a new product line for its largest customer base?
By stabilizing the research and development workforce through technology recruiting and retention policies.
Which should an HR director do to encourage continued high performance in a team showing high levels of productivity comprised of members with demonstrated self-direction and initiative?
Celebrate accomplishments and foster improvement.
HR is charged with remediating customer service delays in an organization where cumbersome and redundant service tickets require multiple approvals by different divisions. Which structural characteristic will the team probably examine?
Chain of command
formal knowledge management systems
Characterized by a structured, formal procedure for capturing information and a specific repository for the information that is gathered.
The VP of HR has created a Total Rewards team composed of HR managers from different divisions and countries. The team leader complains that the team is too "territorial," and members see their own approaches as "best practices." What would you advise?
Coach team members in listening and negotiation skills.
What is one of HR's primary roles in managing technology?
Collect new employee data
matrix structure
Combines departmentalization by division or program and function to gain the benefits of both; Includes cross-functional teams who may work together to design, develop, and market products; Creates a dual chain of command so employees may report to more than one manager
The HR function is assessing a new HR information system (HRIS). Leaders are particularly concerned about the visibility and accessibility that the system will provide to mobile workers and external business partners (e.g., recruiters). What component of the HRIS options should they examine closely?
Communication tier
Which is the critical first step HR should take in reviewing a talent management plan?
Conduct a thorough review of the organization's strategic plan and goals.
An organization has been rocked by an internal financial scandal that involved different levels of management and affected customers. HR has been charged with helping the organization recover. What would be the best first step?
Conduct an organization-wide assessment of ethical behavior.
What would be the best solution for an HR director to strengthen teamwork in a globally dispersed organization?
Conduct regular staff webconferences during appropriate times for each location.
When opening a new software facility in China, what first step should be accomplished as soon as possible to evaluate the labor market for the new facility?
Conducting a supply analysis of available employees
What is the best outcome of effective succession planning for leadership positions in an organization?
Continuity in leadership and key positions
Encryption
Conversion of data into a format that protects or hides its natural presentation or intended meaning.
Which type of third-party contract relationship is best for an organization that is hesitant to relinquish managerial control?
Cosourcing
Which step should HR take to address a team leader posting negative comments on social media about recent budget cuts??
Create a social media policy that provides guidelines and usage rules.
An organization with a non-tech workforce is looking to create a more efficient way to handle technology questions. Currently, the IT department reports that 40% of help desk calls are seeking direction on common tasks, such as archiving an e-mail or accessing the organization's parts ordering system. Which option is the best way to address repeated questions like these and free up time for the IT department to complete other crucial projects?
Create an FAQ web page, accessible from the intranet home page, with step-by-step instructions for performing common tasks.
Which benefit is most advantageous when considering a best-of-breed solution compared to an integrated solution?
Creates customized solutions for different functional areas
In a highly competitive industry, which recommendation by HR leadership will have the greatest impact on retaining an organization's proprietary knowledge?
Creating a comprehensive Knowledge Management System
An organization risked release of customer data when an employee had a personal digital device stolen from a locked car. What should HR recommend be included in a policy update to reduce the risk of this occurring in the future?
Customer data must be stored in an encrypted format.
velocity
Data can flow into a system so quickly that its currency becomes an issue. Data analysis now requires real-time or almost real-time information. Data must be updated frequently or continuously throughout all points in the system.
variety
Data is not only numbers now. It may be still images, videos, or audio recordings. Systems must be capable of taking in these diverse forms and integrating them for storage and access.
volume
Datasets have grown so large that new tools are required to store, access, and analyze them. Cloud computing services has become a popular storage option.
Which HR structure is being used by a soft drink company that has bottling plants in Europe, Asia, and North America where HR controls its issues within each area but policy and strategy decisions are made at headquarters?
Decentralized
what is a responsibility assignment matrix (RACI chart)?
Defines the roles and responsibilities of each person. These roles include the responsible role, the accountable role, the consulting role, and the informed role.
While completing a job analysis of management positions, HR finds evidence of confusion among the roles regarding responsibilities. Which intervention should HR identify as a way to optimize the strategic performance of the organization?
Departmentalization
functional structure
Departments are defined by the services they contribute to the organization's overall mission, such as marketing and sales, operations, and HR; most common structure
what is HR's role when it comes to flexible staffing strategies?
Depending on the staffing alternative, HR may need to work with legal counsel experienced in writing staffing contracts when orchestrating the terms for flexible staffing.
co-employment/joint employment
Describes a situation in which an organization shares responsibility and liability for their alternative workers with the alternative staffing supplier
decision-making authority
Describes how decisions are made within the organization. It relates to the scope of responsibilities that define the area in which a manager or supervisor is empowered to make decisions.
"Big Data"
Describes the explosion of data that could be captured and stored as the result of computing and communication advances.
staffing plan
Describes—in some detail—how the tactical objectives are going to be achieved through the delegation of tasks and the application of resources
Which of the following recommendations should HR leadership offer for a service organization seeking to reduce expenses due to declining revenue?
Designing an organizational restructuring plan
what is the HR audit process?
Determine the scope and type of audit/Develop the audit questionnaire/Collect the data/Benchmark the findings/Provide feedback about results/Develop action plans/Foster a climate of continuous improvement
What is a key responsibility of the operations function in an organization?
Determining the ability of the company to meet product demand
Which step would be most effective in addressing an organization's concerns about technology breaches?
Develop and distribute a 'bring your own device' policy to all employees.
Which type of workforce management strategy would best fit the needs of a global advertising/digital media firm that is heavily impacted by volatility in the regional accounts it holds?
Developing a pool of skilled individuals who will work on a payrolling basis
The human resources director has been assisting a plant manager with developing a high-potential team of employees in their facility by setting goals, priorities, roles, responsibilities, and processes. Which activity remains?
Developing interpersonal relationships
Which is a common mistake made during succession planning?
Developing succession planning during the annual evaluation period for current management employees
Talent management
Development and integration of HR processes that attract, develop, engage, and retain the knowledge, skills, and abilities of employees that will meet current and future organizational needs.
A CEO forms an executive team by hiring four senior VPs who, with their respective subject matter expertise, share responsibility and accountability for the organization's success. Which dynamic is most likely to emerge among the team in its first few months?
Discord
Shared Services HR Structure
Each business unit can supplement its resources by selecting what it needs from a menu of shared HR services (usually transactional) that the units agree to share.
An organization that has decided to sell a long-held subsidiary is considering potential buyers. What information should the HR leader provide to leadership in this phase?
Employee census for the subsidiary that includes current roles and total current compensation; The value of the workforce that has been selected for divestiture is useful information that HR can provide as the organization is considering target buyers.
Which is an example of a tactical HR task being automated and replaced by a new HR system?
Employee self-service
Temporary employees
Employees hired to work directly on the organization's payroll on a short-term basis or for a specific period of time to rotate among several positions or departments as needed.
Temporary assignments
Employees hired to work on a specified job to supplement the regular workforce on a short-term basis or for a specific period of time.
Part-time employees
Employees scheduled to work less than a regular workweek on an ongoing basis; benefits eligibility may depend on various factors (e.g., number of hours worked).
On-call workers
Employees who report to work only when needed.
communications tier
Enables sharing of data and applications by networking a computer (or mobile device) with other computers or servers
what is the leader's role during the storming stage?
Enforce ground rules, increase levels of engagement and provide coaching
Which approach should HR recommend in order to assist a dysfunctional team with productivity issues?
Enhancing communication skills and processes
The accounting department was recently restructured. While the department management team is engaged and excited about the new direction, there have been many interpersonal conflicts among staff, causing service delays and poor perceptions of the department. What should HR advise the department director to do next?
Ensure that roles and responsibilities are clearly specified, starting at the functional level.
A company has invested in a comprehensive new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that will make data from many parts of the organization readily available to HR. Which of the following is most likely to improve the usefulness of all this information?
Ensure that the data in the ERP is current and reliable.
How should HR best ensure operational activities are accomplishing the organization's strategic objectives?
Evaluating the organization's talent management strategy for alignment with its strategic goals
flow analysis
Examining how employees can flow in, up, down, across, and out of an organization
Which is the best way for an HR director to influence staff that are resistant to adopting new processes that measure and report on the HR function's performance?
Explain the new processes impact on the perception of HR by other functions.
An organization previously competed on the basis of innovation. Its employees were rewarded for independent decision making and risk taking. As the market has matured, however, competition has forced leaders to shift to a strategy that increases management control over decisions and relies on processes to resolve the minor but embarrassing quality problems that have always been associated with its products. The leaders look to HR to help support this strategy. What first step should HR suggest?
Explain to the leaders that the new strategy will require changes in structure, policies, processes, and culture.
Senior management is concerned that the lack of technical skills in-house will make building a human resource information system (HRIS) impossible. What is the best option to procure a robust and functional HRIS?
Explore outsourcing to a third party.
what is the leader's role during the norming stage?
Facilitate communication and group decision-making
what are the four perspectives of the HR balanced scorecard?
Financial, Customers, Internal business process, Learning and growth
What is the term for software and/or hardware that creates a barrier between the system and external networks and users?
Firewall
HR Function-Specific Audit
Focuses on a specific area in the HR function (e.g., payroll, performance management, records retention, etc.)
HR Compliance Audit
Focuses on how well the organization is complying with current employment laws and regulations
HR Strategic Audit
Focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of systems and processes to determine whether they align with the HR departmental and/or the organizational strategic plan
What is the primary role of HR during the merger and acquisition process?
Focusing on the "people" aspect during the due diligence and integration processes
what are the four stages of team development according to Tuckman's Ladder of Team Development?
Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing
product/customer structure
Functional departments are grouped under major product divisions; Each division will have its own marketing, sales, manufacturing, and finance functions.
HR works with the executive leadership team to redesign the company's operational structure. HR brings on an external consultant to determine next steps. What should be the consultant's initial recommendation to HR?
Gain agreement on the initiative's objectives.
As part of a new CHRO's onboarding activities, a workforce analysis was conducted. As a team building exercise, she is facilitating the HR team in the development of a staffing plan that will be presented to leadership. What guides the goals for the plan?
Gap analysis data
workforce analysis
Gathers data about the current workforce and forecasts future workforce needs. This information is analyzed to provide the data to support the organization's staffing strategy.
A company has chosen a growth strategy that entails buying existing brands in different countries. Which structure should the HR director recommend to group its jobs and align its efforts in local markets?
Geographic
what is HR's role during the RIF?
HR can help the retained employees confront various challenges. (increased workload, diminished job security, different work assignments, etc)
How can the performance of HR during the due diligence process maximize the success of a merger or acquisition?
HR can uncover obstacles that affect agreements and implementation plans.
Which role should be hired for an HR department of one?
HR generalist
An organization implements employee self-service through an HR portal for employees to check their personal data, update information, and handle expense reporting. What will likely be the most important impact of this initiative?
HR head count may be reduced due to time savings.
what is HR's due diligence in divestiture?
HR must analyze the skills and functions of the divested unit and, if the divestiture leaves a gap, determine if the cost of filling the gap outweighs the financial benefits of the divestiture.
what are important things to remember when it comes to mergers and acquisitions?
HR performing due diligence, planning the M&A and implementing the M&A
Decentralized HR Structure
HR staff within each function, business unit, or location carrying out required activities.
Shared services HR model
HR structural alternative in which centers with specific areas of expertise develop HR policies in those areas; each unit can then select what it needs from a menu of these services.
Functional HR
HR structural alternative in which headquarters HR specialists craft policies and HR generalists located within divisions or other locales implement the policies, adapt them as needed, and interact with employees.
Dedicated HR
HR structural alternative that allows organizations with different strategies in multiple units to apply HR expertise to each unit's specific strategic needs.
An organization that began as a small family business has decided, because of significant growth, to transition from a privately held company to a publicly traded and owned company. Which impact on HR processes will this transition most likely create?
HR will have to develop and implement new performance standards.
what are the different core business functions?
HR, Finance/Accounting, Marketing/Sales, R&D, Operations, IT
Functional HR Structure
Headquarters HR is staffed with specialists who craft policies. HR generalists, who may be located within divisions or other locales, implement these policies, adapt them as needed, and interact with employees.
what is the purpose of a RACI matrix?
Helps better define the roles and responsibilities of each member in the structure
Succession planning
Helps identify and foster the development of high-potential employees.
HR Best Practices Audit
Helps the organization maintain or improve a competitive advantage by comparing its practices to those of employers identified as having exceptional HR practices
How could an organization that is experiencing management turnover reduce its recruitment budget and position itself to attain its goals and objectives?
Identify internal candidates with potential to meet the long-range needs.
The vice president of HR is participating in a strategy-setting session with senior management and functional leaders across the organization. What is the most useful role HR can play in this situation?
Identifying and communicating potential challenges and opportunities related to human capital
what is due diligence in M&As?
Identifying wide-ranging workforce issues that may result from the change
how is a succession plan deemed successful?
If it includes all individuals who have development potential, including current management and non-management employees.
what is important to remember about talent pools?
If used appropriately, talent pools can be created and developed to fill the gaps between the talent that the organization will need and the talent that is likely to be available.
Which is the best way to create a supportive knowledge management culture?
Implement systems that encourage information sharing at all levels throughout the organization.
Which strategy best positions an organization to handle the departure of key leaders?
Implementing an integrated succession management and leadership development program
Social engineering
In a computer context, tricking a user into sharing information that can then be used to access systems.
Employee leasing or professional employer organization (PEO)
In an explicit joint venture, an organization transfers all or substantially all employees at a discrete site or facility to the payroll of an employee leasing firm; the PEO leases employees back to the organization while handling most of the HR administrative functions
Which initiative enables processes of a newly acquired organization with several industry leading processes to be most cost-effectively shared with all employees?
Incorporating the manufacturing processes into the knowledge management system
Human resource information system (HRIS)
Information technology framework and tools for gathering, storing, maintaining, retrieving, revising, and reporting HR data.
The current HR structural model in a high-growth organization with multiple business units has resulted in HR talent management processes that are inconsistent, strain budgets, and produce poor-quality data. What is the most significant benefit the organization can expect from using a shared services model with a designated center that specializes in talent management?
Integrated processes across the organization
what are some things that workforce analysis can track?
Internal talent mobility across global divisions, the number of promotions within each of those divisions, and attrition rates, broken down by job position, gender, ethnicity, time with the organization, and myriad other data.
logic tier
Is composed of system software and application software that enable operations.
presentation tier
Is the user interface with the system, the point at which the user can enter requests and receive responses.
Discussions on pursuing new customers and taking the organization global have begun. The CHRO recommends publishing assignee qualifications now and inviting employees to apply. The CFO suggests waiting until a facility has been purchased and then informing needed employees that they must go on assignment. Why is the CHRO's recommendation a better option?
It identifies willing employees who can be developed specifically for this assignment.
Which model is being used by an HR director who analyzes reports from the past and the present to determine future staffing needs?
Judgmental forecasts
what does HR's operational role include?
Knowledge management, Targeted talent acquisition and development, Incentive systems, employee engagement programs
After completing a balanced scorecard for the HR function, a leader proposes revising the performance management system to require evidence of completed certifications and/or training every year. What area of the balanced scorecard is the leader focusing on?
Learning and growth
A small organization does not have the time or resources to administer benefits programs, payroll, or employee records. Which flexible staffing alternative is an option for them?
Leasing employees from a professional employer organization
Chain of command
Line of authority within an organization.
How does workforce planning affect the organization?
Makes the organization more competitive
Which approach provides a qualitative understanding of current skills after the organization has installed new technologies?
Manager interviews
turnover rate
Metric that is normally expressed using an annualized formula that tracks the number of separations and the total number of workforce employees per month
what is the leader's role during the performance stage?
Monitor, evaluate and foster improvement; motivate by celebrating accomplishments
Which is the most likely outcome should HR leadership expect on human capital for an organization shifting from service oriented retail sales transactions to a technologically integrated enterprise sales model?
New staffing model for sales staff
Can workforce analysis only spot negative items?
No, they also spot high-growth talent trends that could validate HR's acquisition, development, and retention programs.
Social networks
Online clustering of individuals in groups with common or shared interests.
multiple linear regression
Operates the same as simple linear regression, except that several variables are used to project future demand
Functional Structure
Organizational structure in which departments are defined by the services they contribute to the organization's overall mission, such as marketing and sales, operations, and HR.
Product Structure
Organizational structure in which functional departments are grouped under major product divisions.
Geographic Structure
Organizational structure in which geographic regions define the organizational chart.
Matrix Structure
Organizational structure that combines departmentalization by division and function to gain the benefits of both; results in some employees reporting to two managers rather than one, with neither manager assuming a superior role.
how is downsizing defined as it relates to org restructuring?
Organizations commonly downsize to remain functional during a loss of revenue. They may choose to close departments, drop product lines, lay off staff, or sell facilities. Restructuring may then be required to meet the needs of the new, smaller organization.
how is structure defined as it relates to org restructuring?
Organizations may rearrange their structure to follow a new business model, improve efficiency, or reduce costs. Restructuring is then required to meet the needs of the new organization.
what is the norming stage of team development?
Over time, effective groups build trust and establish relationships. They create rules that guide behavior. They begin to establish a group identity and to identify "outsiders." This can sometimes take a negative form. "Groupthink" can impel members to adopt the same positions and reject outside views; this can dampen innovation and creative problem solving. During this stage, the mission is defined and cliques are formed.
A small organization is using a legacy system to run their HR functions. The HR vice president is preparing a proposal for moving to a newer system to present to the CEO. What would be one of the prime factors the HR VP should use in the proposal?
Overall cost savings and efficiencies a new system will provide
Service-level agreement (SLA)
Part of a service contract where the service expectations are formally defined.
Seasonal workers
Part-time or "casual" workers hired to perform seasonal work in a variety of industries (e.g., agriculture, construction, tourism, and recreation); may or may not be eligible for benefits (e.g., paid time off).
what does HR's strategic role include?
Participation in creating the org's strategy, aligning the HR strategy with the org's strategy, and supporting other functions in their strategic roles
key talent retention
Percentage of key talent retained; Used to demonstrate effectiveness of employee development and reward strategies
How can HR ensure that its labor suppliers conform to local laws and labor standards?
Perform due diligence
Which launch strategy for a new HR technology will build employee acceptance across the organization most quickly and completely?
Piloting a test launch to a small group of well-networked leaders in the business
The HR department is creating a program to help managers successfully manage, develop, and evaluate employees. Which components must be part of this performance management program?
Position description review and performance planning
Knowledge management (KM)
Process of creating, acquiring, sharing, and managing knowledge to augment individual and organizational performance.
Organizational development
Process of enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of an organization and the well-being of its members through planned interventions.
Succession Planning
Process of implementing a talent management strategy for identifying and fostering the development of high-potential employees or other job candidates who, over time, may move into leadership positions of increased responsibility.
Due diligence
Process of investigating a decision thoroughly before finalizing it to identify all potential factors that could affect the positive and negative impacts of the decision.
Marketing and IT are collaborating on a new system that will allow employees to access and change customer accounts. Which would be HR's most valuable contribution to this effort?
Process training for users
how can work process obstacles be overcome?
Processes must be routinely audited for efficiency and the need for updating and then redesigned and tested.
what is the leader's role during the forming stage?
Provide vision, describe expectations and encourage perseverance
what are tasks roles?
Purpose is to help get the work done. Those performing this role propose solutions or collaborate in group problem solving. They share task information and perform their assigned tasks.
what are social roles?
Purpose is to help maintain relationships and positive group function. This role recognizes the importance of social and interpersonal ties within a group. Group members in this role promote harmony, conflict resolution, and involvement of all group members.
what are dysfunctional roles?
Purpose is to weaken the group and reduce its productivity. In a dysfunctional role, a group member may attack others, dominate discussions, resist others' ideas, or damage group focus and energy through negativity.
human capital ROI
Ratio of employment-related expenses to revenue minus nonemployment expenses; Used to demonstrate value of HR programs
absence rate
Ratio of lost days to # of employees; used to reflect benefits of a change in workplace conditions
what are the requirements of managing group dynamics?
Recognizing the need for both task and social roles, quickly identifying and correcting dysfunctional roles, understanding the usefulness of certain roles at certain points in the group process and making sure that these roles are present when needed and managed when they obstruct progress
What is the advantage of an integrated information system?
Reduced work and errors
work specialization
Refers to the degree to which tasks are performed as separate jobs
talent management
Refers to the development and integration of HR processes that attract, develop, engage, and retain the knowledge, skills, and abilities of employees that will meet current and future organizational needs.
Formalization
Refers to the extent to which rules, policies, and procedures govern the behavior of employees in an organization.
formalization
Refers to the extent to which rules, policies, and procedures govern the behavior of employees in the organization. The more formal the organization, the greater the written documentation, rules, and regulations.
Span of Control
Refers to the number of individuals who report to a supervisor.
span of control
Refers to the number of individuals who report to a supervisor.
reduction in force (RIF)/downsizing
Refers to the termination of employment of individual employees or groups of employees for reasons other than performance—i.e., economic necessity or restructuring.
departmentalization
Refers to the way an organization groups its jobs and aligns effort
Which states the purpose of an organizational effectiveness intervention?
Removing design, structural, or cultural obstacles to success
As part of the organization's new strategy to compete on the basis of on-time, error-free delivery of services, the VP of HR has implemented new recruitment criteria and onboarding/training programs that focus on quality, continuous improvement, and customer focus. What should the VP do next?
Report to senior management on changes in key quality metrics.
simulations
Representations of real situations in abstract form; they are often referred to as "what if" scenarios. They provide organizations with the opportunity to speculate as to what would happen if certain courses of action are pursued.
Simulations
Representations of real situations; give organizations the opportunity to speculate as to what would happen if certain courses of action were pursued.
The IT function wants to implement a new technology policy as a result of improper technology use. Senior leaders are hesitant about supporting another policy. Which recommendation should HR make to encourage support of a technology use policy?
Reputation risk will be reduced while productivity will increase.
An HR director completes the monthly head count report and sends it to the Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO). After review and approval, the CHRO submits the report to the finance team for review. Which tool should be used to convey responsibility for this essential job function?
Responsibility assignment matrix
what does RACI stand for?
Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed
Which is a reasonable approach to a company-wide social media policy?
Restrict the use of social media on company time and with company devices.
What is a measure of the business impact of an organizational effectiveness and development (OED) initiative?
Retention rate for high-value employees
Which action should HR recommend before implementing a reduction in force (RIF)?
Review national and local labor laws.
Which organizational change would be most effective in aligning the talent selection process with HR's strategic mission to provide service to internal customers?
Reviewing and revising the organizational structure.
independent contractors
Self-employed individuals hired on a contract basis for specialized services.
what is the main purpose of an HR scorecard?
Serves as a way of focusing human resource staff on activities that will support the company's goals
What initial action should HR take when it recognizes a lack of diversity throughout the organization?
Set goals and objectives for future staffing.
An organization with several regional locations is migrating to centralizing recruitment and benefits administration. Primary goals are economies of scale and better management of information. Local HR and line managers will be able to select options. Which HR structural alternative does this exemplify?
Shared services
What is the role of an informal knowledge management system in an organization?
Sharing critical information and experiences from an individuals' networks
Joint employment
Situation in which an organization shares responsibility and liability for their alternative workers with an alternative staffing supplier; also known as co-employment.
Co-employment
Situation in which an organization shares responsibility and liability for their alternative workers with an alternative staffing supplier; also known as joint employment.
Why should an organization measure the retention rates of high-potential employees?
So strategies can be pursued to keep targeted future leaders
Firewalls
Software and/or hardware that filters incoming and outgoing communication according to preset rules.
Applicant tracking system (ATS)
Software application that automates organizations' management of the recruiting process (such as accepting application materials, screening applicants, etc.).
Software as a service (SaaS)
Software that is owned, delivered, and managed remotely and delivered over the Internet to contracted customers on a pay-for-use basis or as a subscription based on use metrics.
An HR director is leading an HR team charged with finding reasons why front-line managers complain that they do not have the time to support a new strategic initiative. Which organizational characteristic may be contributing to this problem?
Span of control that is too large
data tier
Stores the information that will be used by the application tier to respond to user queries
Due to the increased use of technology, an organization is considering closing two branches. The HR director completes a job analysis of the company's open positions to determine if there is overlap with the skill sets of employees who would be outplaced in this plan. What role is the HR director demonstrating?
Strategic
Which concern would be closely examined during a merger and acquisition (M&A) if the organization wanted to avoid redundancy in staff resources?
Structure
Cloud computing
Style of computing in which scalable IT-enabled capabilities are delivered as a service using Internet technologies.
Which process could help an organization challenged with local talent shortages and expensive and time-consuming recruiting and onboarding?
Succession planning
what is the workforce analysis process?
Supply analysis (where are we now? what do we have?), Demand analysis (where do we want to be? what do we need?), Gap analysis (what is lacking? what KSAs currently exist and which do we need in the future?), Solution analysis (what can we afford? how will we get what we need?)
The HR team of a global operation implemented an employee self-service system with 24/7 access. The new system was rolled out with social media and a video presentation on the organization's intranet. Soon after the launch, the HR team finds that they are spending their time returning voice mails and emails from employees reporting errors in their data profiles. The experience is eroding HR's image as a service provider. What should the HR VP do?
Suspend the organization-wide launch and conduct a beta test in the home office.
HR audit
Systematic and comprehensive evaluation of an organization's HR policies, practices, procedures, and strategies.
Workforce analysis
Systematic approach to anticipate human capital needs and data HR professionals can use to ensure that appropriate knowledge, skills, or abilities will be available when needed to accomplish organizational goals and objectives.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Systems that are designed to allow the different parts of an organization to access the same data and perform more efficiently.
A division implemented a new structure a year ago. In general, things seem to be going well. Productivity has already reached pre-change levels. Employee satisfaction metrics have met expectations. HR has been asked if further action is needed. What would you advise?
Take no further action.
An organization receives reports of poor performance that do not appear to be related to gaps in individual employees' qualifications. There are also reports of frequent conflicts in meetings, offices, and even hallways. Which intervention should HR use to identify and better these problems?
Team building
Employee self-service (ESS)
Technologies that provide employees with access to their personal HR data and the ability to handle many questions and job-related transactions that otherwise would fall to management or administrative staff.
Reduction in force (RIF)
Termination of employment of individual employees or groups of employees for reasons other than performance, for example, economic necessity or restructuring; also known as downsizing.
Downsizing
Termination of employment of individual employees or groups of employees for reasons other than performance, for example, economic necessity or restructuring; also known as reduction in force (RIF).
what is the key thing to remember about privacy policies?
The best strategy here is to tell employees ahead of time that their communications may be read or tracked.
An HR function with multiple locations is considering centralizing its project management expertise in one center. The various HR departments can seek guidance on their projects from HR managers at this center. Which potential risk should management be warned about?
The center will be underused and its benefits unrealized.
how is the effectiveness of an intervention measured?
The degree to which the intervention has improved the organization's ability to attain its strategic goals.
workforce planning
The first step in the workforce management process. It involves all the activities needed to ensure that workforce size and competencies meet current and future organizational and individual needs.
what is the performing stage of team development?
The group becomes fully productive, collaborative, and mutually supportive. During this stage collaboration is the common goal.
Job sharing
The practice of having two different employees performing the tasks of one full-time position. Each of the job-sharing partners works a part-time schedule, but together they are accountable for the duties of one full-time position. Communication between the two employees is a key to success.
skills gap analysis
The process of comparing the supply analysis to the demand analysis to identify the differences in staffing levels and competencies needed for the future. May identify deficiencies in staffing needs as well as any surplus of staffing levels in certain jobs and/or competencies
due diligence
The process of investigating a decision thoroughly before finalizing it to identify all potential factors that could affect the positive and negative impacts of the decision.
how are judgmental forecasts successful?
The quality of the information used in making the estimates.
Which would be true about the technology needs of a small but growing organization and an established global enterprise?
The smaller organization may need more scalable technology.
what describes the "consulted" role in a structure?
These are the people who are not directly involved with carrying out the task, but who are consulted; may be stakeholder or SME
what describes the "informed" role in a structure?
These are the people who receive output from the process or task or who have a need to stay informed
why does a gap analysis need to be performed when it comes to org development?
These must be performed between the skill set needed now or in the near future and the skill set as defined in current job descriptions. These problems may be addressed through different types of training, coaching, and mentoring. Job descriptions must be revised to align with current needs.
what describes the "responsible" role in a structure?
This is the person who actually carries out the process or task assignment and is responsible for getting the job done.
what describes the "accountable" role in a structure?
This is the person who is ultimately accountable for the process or task being completed appropriately; the people in the responsible role are accountable to this person
what is the forming stage of team development?
This is the stage where individuals come together around common activity and shared goals. Members are polite, but there is little sense of trust, shared experience, or common values. Also new members look to the leader for guidance.
what is the storming stage of team development?
This is the stage where individuals move past politeness, and there may be higher levels of discord as perspectives, styles, and agendas clash. This may be painful, but valuable communication is occurring.
how can inadequate technology issues be addressed?
Through new or expanded technology
Why is it important for HR leaders to identify and measure HR key performance indicators (KPIs)?
To align HR team performance with the organization's mission and goals
Why do HR departments conduct annual compliance audits?
To ensure that HR activities are aligned with current and new legal requirements
what is the purpose of a proactive OED intervention?
To identify and correct potential problems before they begin affecting performance; May also prepare the organization to take advantage of anticipated opportunities
Cost per hire
Total costs of hiring divided by number hired; Used to demonstrate increased efficiencies in recruitment and hiring process
Which approach best demonstrates an effective talent management activity?
Tracking and reviewing retention and turnover rates compared to organizational goals
Faced with declining sales for an older product line, management decides to eliminate one sales group and shift responsibilities to another sales group. How will this affect costs related to human capital?
Training costs will increase.
how can talent management be effective?
Understand implications of strategy and required competencies, track external conditions that affect talent and reflect organizational values
Which recommendation would you make to a new HR practitioner tasked with developing working arrangements with independent contractors (ICs)?
Understand local laws regarding employment status.
Judgmental forecasts
Use of information from past and present to predict future conditions.
Which is an example of how managers can best leverage the social sharing of knowledge?
Using coaching and mentoring programs to transfer knowledge throughout the organization
what does HR's administrative role include?
Using technology to capture and analyze data, Using technology to reduce transactional time, Focusing on core capabilities
After a period of steady growth, business has leveled off, and HR has been tasked with finding areas in which to cut costs. Which metric could be used to support a decision to outsource a function or area and decrease internal head count?
Vacancy costs
geographic structure
Very similar to a product structure, with the exception that geographic regions or countries—rather than products—define the organizational chart
Departmentalization
Way an organization groups jobs to coordinate work.
Information system (IS)
Way to collect, organize, store, analyze, and share data.
Manager self-service (MSS)
Websites that provide managers with access to current data on their employees and budgets and allow them to perform for themselves transactions that previously required HR's implementation.
when are organizational interventions needed?
When an org is failing to meet its strategic objectives because its structure is inefficient and/or ineffective and when an org has changed its competitive strategies and needs to develop new skills and traits
divestiture
When an org is shedding assets that do not contribute to the bottom line
how is expansion defined as it relates to org restructuring?
When an organization expands, new departments may be required to accommodate new products or facilities. The structure is then rearranged to include new staff and departments.`
social sharing
When knowledge moves throughout the organization in a social manner as employees transfer into new positions or locations and form new work relationships.
how is strategy defined as it relates to org restructuring?
When organizations change their strategy, they may create new divisions to facilitate new products or services or to move into new markets. The new strategy may mean staff increases in some areas and decreases in others, which will then require restructuring.
merger & acquisition
When organizations try to enhance their productivity and competitiveness by adding to the value of the firm (e.g., increasing assets or accessing new markets)
Staff units
Work groups that assist line units by providing specialized services, such as HR.
Line Units
Work groups that conduct the major business of an organization.
A multinational organization discovers that more women than men move internally across borders to work; however, more men are being promoted. Additionally, the attrition rate for women is much higher compared to global benchmark data from other organizations. Which process could help HR proactively identify these types of trends and implement corrective measures?
Workforce analysis
what are some examples of HR metrics?
absence rate, human capital ROI, key talent retention, cost per hire
Team building
activities designed to help team members examine how they function currently and how they could function better in the future
integrated systems
allows users to access data across the organization's or function's systems
what is an HR audit?
an organization's HR policies, practices, procedures, and strategies undergo a systematic and comprehensive evaluation to establish whether specific HR practices are adequate to achieve the function's goals
what other HR management functions should succession planning be tied closely with?
career management, training and learning and performance management
what are the different types of HR structure?
centralized, decentralized, functional, dedicated, shared services
what are three ways that big data can help HR?
collecting new data, using existing data effectively and allows for better strategic analysis
how is a merger & acquisition implemented as it relates to HR?
communicating M&A plan honestly and quickly before rumors start, making required changes quickly, and supporting efforts to blend or revise work processes
what are the types of HR audits?
compliance, best practices, strategic, and function-specific
replacement planning
concentrates on immediate needs and a "snapshot" assessment of the availability of qualified backup for individuals in key positions
demand analysis
considers the model organization of the future and its human capital needs
what are examples of opportunities and risks posed by technology?
data and system security, data privacy (data compliance) and social and ethical implications (how will the data be used?)
what are two key elements of a knowledge management system?
expertise sharing and organizational learning and knowledge retention and reduction of knowledge loss from attrition
what are the four types of organizational structure?
functional, product, geographic, matrix
what are some focuses of teambuilding?
goal and priorities, roles and responsibilities, processes and interpersonal relationships
what is HR's role in organizational design?
helping leaders identify root causes of organizational performance issues, evaluating design options, helping leaders align org design design decisions with strategic goals, helping leaders understand their role in org design/structure, continually monitoring the design/structure
what are examples of reasons for team interventions?
high levels of unresolved conflict within the team, poor leadership, and poor communication
what are team interventions?
interventions that focus on processes and interactions within and between teams
what are key concepts of a staffing plan?
involve key stakeholders in developing the plan, identify resources needed to create the plan, communicate the plan and continuously improve the plan
what are examples of techniques used in demand analysis?
judgmental forecasts, statistical forecasts and regression analysis
what are the components of an IS?
presentation tier, logic tier, data tier and communications tier
what are the two components of statistical analysis?
regression analysis and simulations
Data MUST be:
scalable and secure
what are the two types of regression analysis?
simple linear regression and multiple linear regression
what are two important concepts to remember when it comes to layers of hierarchy?
span of control and chain of command
what are the various roles that HR can hold?
strategic, administrative, operational
what are drivers of organizational restructuring?
strategy, structure, downsizing, and expansion
what are the major organizational elements that must be aligned with strategy?
structure, systems, culture, values and leadership
what are the different group dynamics?
task roles, social roles and dysfunctional roles
what are examples of flexible staffing arrangements?
temporary assignments, temporary employees, on-call workers, part-time employees, job sharing, seasonal workers, PEO, outsourcing
artificial intelligence (AI)
the ability of a computer to imitate human thought and behavior
turnover
the act of replacing employees leaving an organization or the attrition or loss of employees
what is the purpose of supply analysis?
to identify the current number of employees in various positions and their competency levels
An organizational effectiveness and development intervention is not an ongoing process
true
Big data makes it more possible to see patterns and trends, to create models that isolate possible causes and predict outcomes.
true
Cosourcing can be more expensive than outsourcing, but there is more managerial control over the contractor.
true
HR is well positioned to serve as a cross-functional bridge.
true
Informal systems are based more on personal networks.
true
It is unlikely that a one-person HR department will assume a leadership role.
true
Knowledge management systems can be formal or informal.
true
Once the gaps have been identified, they must be analyzed and prioritized to determine which ones will be addressed.
true
Organizations today realize that the most effective strategies are not driven by a single function, such as marketing/sales or operations, but are produced by cross-functional collaboration.
true
Outsourcing can provide cost savings for an organization, but there is a loss of managerial control.
true
The OED strategy should include the correct number and type of interventions, aimed at the correct audiences and sequenced and scheduled for maximum effectiveness.
true
The creation and management of formal talent pools is a critical aspect of an organization's talent management strategy.
true
what are the different parts of a staffing analysis?
turnover analysis, flow analysis, demand analysis and skills gap analysis
flexible staffing
uses alternative recruiting sources and workers who are not regular employees
what are the three features of "big data"?
volume, velocity, variety
what are some key components of organizational design?
work specialization, decision-making authority, layers of hierarchy, formalization
