Deck 15: Working in the Hrm Field

Question 1

HR professionals are responsible for ensuring that employees are treated ethically.

Answer 1

True
Two important responsibilities that HRM professionals have are ensuring that employees are treated ethically and ensuring that their own talents are appropriately utilized by their companies.

Question 2

Smaller organizations provide the generalists with the greatest opportunities for HRM career growth.

Answer 2

False
Large organizations provide the greatest opportunities for HRM career growth.

Question 3

HR professionals have traditionally been held in high regard for their contributions to competitive advantage.

Answer 3

False
Just the opposite, HR professionals have traditionally not been held in high regard for their contributions to competitive advantage.

Question 4

When looking to fill entry-level HRM positions, companies want candidates who possess knowledge of business basics.

Question 5

SHRM certification of HR professionals is earned through the Academy of Management.

Question 6

Business school graduates have little chance of securing entry-level positions in HRM.

Question 7

HR professionals who are not willing to take a strong stand in ethical situations risk becoming part of the problem and must assume some of the blame.

Question 8

Those wishing to become HR professionals must first develop an area of specialization.

Question 9

Upper-level managers in many organizations often reject HRM professionals' advice with respect to best practices.

Question 10

Senior-level managers rarely rely on quick-fixes to solve HR problems.

Question 11

Entry-level HRM generalist positions are most often found in small to midsized organizations.

Question 12

Relatively few companies have established practices for assessing training needs.

Question 13

HR generalists in small organizations generally conduct in-depth projects like revamping of the corporation's compensation system.

Question 14

Almost all HRM decisions have ethical consequences.

Question 15

Very few individuals who go through a self-directed career change enter HRM by transferring from another part of the company.

Question 16

To keep current in their field, HR professionals must continually update and expand their HRM knowledge.

Question 17

A manager under pressure to meet an affirmative action goal who hires an unqualified minority to meet the goal has not behaved unethically.

Question 18

HR generalists are HR professionals who tend to be more focused, zeroing in on particular HRM tasks.

Question 19

HRM professionals may enter the profession in a variety of ways.

Question 20

The Society for Human Resource Management is the largest professional organization for HRM professionals.

Question 21

HR professionals should not use external resources for technical input if they want to gain credibility with the firm's board of directors.

Question 22

Benefits derived from effective HRM practices are often difficult to translate into dollars and cents.

Question 23

Career opportunities in the field of HRM are rapidly expanding because firms are becoming increasingly aware of the impact of HRM practices on:

A) strategic goals.
B) strategic planning.
C) organizational commitment.
D) organizational effectiveness.

Question 24

To provide input on important management decisions, HR professionals must become more knowledgeable of areas traditionally outside the HRM realm.

Question 25

What is the average annual salary that an entry-level HRM generalist can expect?

A) $37,000
B) $45,000
C) $57,000
D) $65,000

Question 26

To increase his/her sphere of influence within an organization, an HR professional must refine his/her HR generalist skills.

Question 27

HR professionals can gain credibility with top managers by demonstrating how proposed HRM practices address the firm's strategic plan.

Question 28

Top corporate HRM executive generalists earn an average salary of about:

A) $37,000.
B) $152,000.
C) $170,000.
D) $218,000.

Question 29

Entry-level HRM generalists positions are most often found in:

A) small to midsized organizations.
B) midsized to large organizations.
C) large state governments.
D) large private sector corporations.

Question 30

Individuals that perform a variety of HRM activities in an organization are known as:

A) HR assistants.
B) HR specialists.
C) HR generalists.
D) HR associates.

Question 31

A typical HRM generalist's day might consist of all but which of the following activities?

A) Conduct a reference check on an applicant.
B) Arrange an employment interview.
C) Conduct an in-depth training needs assessment.
D) Clarify the wording of a section in the company's handbook.

Question 32

____ have neither time nor resources to conduct in-depth studies or projects.

A) HRM specialists
B) HRM generalists
C) HRM academics
D) HRM consultants

Question 33

To be considered a full business partner, HR professionals must shift from being the narrow specialist of the past to being a member of general management teams.

Question 34

____ perform virtually all facets of HRM.

A) HRM analysts
B) HRM generalists
C) HRM specialists
D) HRM consultants

Question 35

To gain credibility with line managers, HR professionals should solicit managers' and employees' input when attempting to develop human resource programs.

Question 36

Who among the following could be expected to answer employee questions regarding pension plans, create a presentation on the company's new health care program, and bargain with a vendor over the cost of an HRIS?

A) HRM analysts
B) HRM generalists
C) HRM specialists
D) HRM consultants

Question 37

Estimating the return on investment attributed to HRM practices is impossible.

Question 38

HR professionals do not need to get out on the floor to gain credibility with line managers.

Question 39

To provide input into important management decisions, HR professionals must gain as much knowledge in the HRM realm as possible.

Question 40

Someone wishing to enter the HRM field may choose one of two routes:

A) specialist or apprentice.
B) specialist or generalist.
C) generalist or apprentice.
D) apprentice or intern.

Question 41

____ of HR professionals entering the field through self-directed career changes have entered HRM by transferring from another part of the company.

A) One-third
B) One-fourth
C) One-half
D) Three-fourths

Question 42

____ provide the greatest opportunity for HRM career growth.

A) Small organizations
B) Large organizations
C) Midsized organizations
D) Local governmental organizations

Question 43

Individuals that focus on a particular set of HRM tasks are called:

A) HR associates.
B) HR specialists.
C) HR generalists.
D) HR assistants.

Question 44

SHRM's mission includes all but which of the following?

A) Provide its membership with professional journals.
B) Provide its membership with certification designations.
C) Provide its membership with education and information services.
D) Provide its membership with government and media representation.

Question 45

What fraction of HR professionals enter the field directly out of college?

A) One-third
B) One-fourth
C) One-half
D) Three-fourths

Question 46

The criteria for considering an individual for the post of VP human resources includes all the following EXCEPT:

A) the ability to manage people.
B) job performance.
C) skills in all areas of HR.
D) interpersonal skills

Question 47

____ usually are responsible for developing job descriptions and facilitating the job evaluation process.

A) Compensation specialists
B) Diversity specialists
C) Industrial relations specialists
D) Training and development specialists

Question 48

HR professionals can keep current in their field by doing all but which of the following?

A) Changing jobs often
B) Attending conferences sponsored by SHRM
C) Participating in advanced degree programs
D) Reading professional journals

Question 49

The largest professional association of HR professionals is the:

A) Society for Human Resource Management.
B) American Society for Training and Development.
C) American Society of Personnel Administrators.
D) Academy of Management.

Question 50

Most of today's HR professionals enter the HR field through:

A) apprenticeship programs.
B) internship programs.
C) self-directed career steps.
D) MBA programs.

Question 51

Which of the following professional HRM associations strives to be the voice of the profession on human resource management issues?

A) Academy of Management
B) Society for Human Resource Management
C) International Personnel Management Association
D) Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Question 52

Bell Atlantic considers business school graduates with concentrations in all but which of the following fields when they hire recent graduates for entry-level HRM positions?

A) Economics
B) Industrial relations
C) Finance and commerce
D) Business administration

Question 53

In deciding who can successfully climb to the top of the career ladder in HR, companies consider all but which of the following criteria?

A) Job performance
B) Interpersonal skills
C) Race
D) Credibility with senior management

Question 54

All but which of the following are steps taken by an HRM specialist while climbing the corporate ladder?

A) Begin the career as a specialist.
B) Become the manager of the specialty unit.
C) Broaden skills and become an HRM generalist.
D) Move to a smaller unit in an HRM managerial role.

Question 55

Which of the following professional HRM associations aims to facilitate the development and guide the direction of the HRM profession in its mission?

A) Academy of Management
B) Human Resource Certification Institute
C) Society for Human Resource Management
D) International Personnel Management Association

Question 56

New HRM specialty areas that have emerged in recent years include all but which of the following?

A) Work and family programs
B) EEO/affirmative action
C) Cross-cultural training
D) Managed care

Question 57

Which of the following criteria is not considered when organizations determine the career growth prospects of HR managers?

A) Ability to "play politics"
B) Skill in specialty areas
C) Ability to manage people
D) Intrapersonal skills

Question 58

____ usually conduct training needs analysis and develop and implement succession planning programs.

A) Compensation specialists
B) Diversity specialists
C) Industrial relations specialists
D) Training and development specialists

Question 59

HRM new hires in the recent years generally have degrees in all but which of the following areas?

A) HRM
B) Information technology
C) Management
D) General business

Question 60

Which of the following professional HRM associations has establishing, monitoring, and updating the standards of the profession as its mission?

A) Academy of Management
B) Personnel Testing Council
C) Human Resource Certification Institute
D) Society for Human Resource Management

Question 61

The failure to universally adopt many of HRM's best practices can be attributed to all but which of the following factors?

A) Resistance to change
B) High expenses involved
C) Political considerations
D) Ignorance on the part of decision makers

Question 62

Specialized degrees provide more in-depth training in which of the following?

A) Accounting
B) Finance
C) HRM
D) Economics

Question 63

Which of the following courses is advisable for nonbusiness majors seeking a graduate course to pursue?

A) MBA
B) Specialized master's program in HRM
C) Specialized master's program in organizational psychology
D) Specialized master's program in industrial and labor relations

Question 64

Which type of HRM journals focus on applied HRM research and on theory development/testing?

A) Trade journals
B) Research-oriented journals
C) Practitioner-oriented journals
D) Development-oriented journals

Question 65

The SHRM code of ethics dictates that HR professionals should do all but which of the following?

A) Maintain loyalty to employees when confronting top management.
B) Uphold all laws and regulations relating to employer activities.
C) Maintain the confidentiality of privileged information.
D) Maintain the highest standards of professional and personal conduct.

Question 66

HRM best practices include all but which of the following?

A) Monitoring the effectiveness of recruiting sources.
B) Validating selection practices.
C) Conducting unstructured, rather than structured, employment interviews.
D) Use cognitive ability tests and biographical inventories when selecting candidates for most jobs.

Question 67

Certification as PHR or SPHR involves passing a comprehensive exam covering all but which of the following topics?

A) Strategic management
B) Labor relations
C) Legal compliance
D) Risk management

Question 68

Which type of HRM journals contain articles dealing primarily with new ideas, practices, and solutions to specific problems in the field?

A) Academic journals
B) Research-oriented journals
C) Application-oriented journals
D) Practitioner-oriented journals

Question 69

Which of the following degrees provide strong training in all major areas of business and thus give HRM students the overall business perspective that most firms now desire?

A) BBA
B) MBA
C) Specialized master's program in organizational psychology
D) Specialized master's program in industrial and labor relations

Question 70

____ represent(s) a recognition that an individual has demonstrated a mastery of a defined body of knowledge required for success in a field.

A) Education
B) Merit pay
C) Honors
D) Certification

Question 71

HRM professionals are often ignored by top management because:

A) they perceive that HRM practices do not contribute to competitive advantage.
B) HRM professionals have limited business experience.
C) HRM certification is not widely respected.
D) they perceive that HRM professionals are incompetent.

Question 72

The most serious ethical problems in workplace behavior involve HRM decisions that are based on:

A) prejudice.
B) favoritism.
C) differential standards.
D) biased performance appraisals.

Question 73

____ serve as company spokespeople by defending the company's actions when confronted by a regulatory agency or the media.

A) PR executives
B) Line managers
C) HR consultants
D) HR professionals

Question 74

The downside of MBAs for HR professionals is that MBA programs usually provide only a few courses in:

A) HRM.
B) finance.
C) accounting.
D) marketing.

Question 75

HR professionals play all but which of the following roles in the area of workplace ethics?

A) Monitoring
B) Designing the organization's ethical code of conduct
C) Serving as company spokespeople
D) Investigating

Question 76

What fraction of the certified PHR and SPHR professionals have had some post-baccalaureate study?

A) One-third
B) One-fourth
C) Half
D) Three-fourths

Question 77

As part of which of their roles must HR professionals observe the actions of organizational members to ensure that all individuals are treated fairly and legally?

A) Monitoring
B) Handling grievances
C) Ensuring legal compliance
D) Investigating complaints bearing on ethical issues

Question 78

HR professionals are primarily responsible for all but which of the following?

A) Developing HRM practices that enhance competitive advantage.
B) Ensuring that employees are treated ethically.
C) Ensuring that their own talents are appropriately utilized by their companies.
D) Ensuring that the organization's top managers are engaging in ethical accounting practices.

Question 79

____ are primarily responsible for developing HRM practices that enhance competitive advantage.

A) HRM academics
B) HR professionals
C) Executive managers
D) Functional managers

Question 80

Firms that employ HRM best practices generally experience all but which of the following?

A) Higher profits
B) Higher turnover
C) Higher overall performance
D) Higher levels of profit growth