Chapter 1: Managing Employees For Competitive Advantage

1. Who are employees?

The suppliers of a company.

The individuals who work for a company.

The customers of a company.

The shareholders of a company.

Employees are individuals who are hired by a company to perform tasks and duties in exchange for compensation. They are different from customers, shareholders, and suppliers as they are directly employed by the company.

Explanation

Employees are individuals who are hired by a company to perform tasks and duties in exchange for compensation. They are different from customers, shareholders, and suppliers as they are directly employed by the company.

2. What are environmental influences in the context of business management?

The political beliefs of employees.

The internal factors within a company that impact employee performance.

The pressures that exist outside companies that managersmust consider to strategically manage their employees.

The effects of climate change on business operations.

The impact of social media on employee morale.

Environmental influences refer to external factors that affect a company's ability to achieve its business goals, such as economic conditions, government regulations, and market trends.

Explanation

Environmental influences refer to external factors that affect a company's ability to achieve its business goals, such as economic conditions, government regulations, and market trends.

3. What is meant by External Alignment in HR?

The practice of outsourcing HR functions to external consultants.

The process of aligning employees with external stakeholders.

The act of coordinating HR activities with other departments within the organization.

The extent to which the three primary HR activities that acompany uses help them meet their organizational demands, cope withenvironmental factors, and comply with regulatory issues.

4. What does globalization refer to?

The expansion of physical boundaries between countries.

The blurring of country boundaries in business activities.

The restriction of trade and cultural exchange between nations.

The process of localizing businesses within a single country.

Globalization is the phenomenon of increasing interconnectedness between countries, resulting in the blurring of traditional boundaries in business activities.

Explanation

Globalization is the phenomenon of increasing interconnectedness between countries, resulting in the blurring of traditional boundaries in business activities.

5. What are HR Challenges?

Challenges in financial management

Challenges in customer service

Challenges that managers must consider in the management ofemployees that relate to (1) Organizational demands; (2) Environmentalinfluences; and (3) Regulatory issues.

Challenges faced in marketing

HR Challenges specifically refer to the difficulties that managers face in managing employees within an organization, not related to marketing, financial management, or customer service.

Explanation

HR Challenges specifically refer to the difficulties that managers face in managing employees within an organization, not related to marketing, financial management, or customer service.

6. What is the purpose of the Human Resource Department (HR Department)?

A support function within companies that serves a vital rolein designing and implementing company policies for managing employees.

A department that solely focuses on technology implementation within a company.

A unit responsible for procurement of raw materials for production.

A department that oversees marketing and sales strategies within a company.

7. What are Human Resource Practices (HR Practices)?

The practices that a company has put in place to manage finances.

The practices that a company has put in place to manageemployees.

The practices that a company has put in place to market products.

The practices that a company has put in place to develop software.

Human Resource Practices (HR Practices) specifically refer to the practices related to managing employees within a company, not finances, marketing, or software development.

Explanation

Human Resource Practices (HR Practices) specifically refer to the practices related to managing employees within a company, not finances, marketing, or software development.

8. What does 'Internal Alignment' refer to in HR?

The coordination between different departments within a company to ensure HR compliance.

The extent to which specific practiced used within each HRactivity are consistent with one another as well as aligned across the primaryHR activities.

The process of HR departments aligning with external organizations.

The alignment of HR departments with legal regulations and requirements.

Internal Alignment in HR refers to the consistency and alignment of practices within HR activities with each other as well as across all primary HR activities, focusing on internal coherence rather than external alignment.

Explanation

Internal Alignment in HR refers to the consistency and alignment of practices within HR activities with each other as well as across all primary HR activities, focusing on internal coherence rather than external alignment.

9. What is meant by Organizational Culture?

The CEO of a company.

The physical location of a company's headquarters.

The annual revenue of a company.

The set of underlying values and beliefs that employees of acompany share.

Organizational culture refers to the shared values and beliefs within an organization that shape employee behavior and company practices. It is not directly related to the CEO, headquarters, or revenue of a company.

Explanation

Organizational culture refers to the shared values and beliefs within an organization that shape employee behavior and company practices. It is not directly related to the CEO, headquarters, or revenue of a company.

10. What do Organizational Demands refer to?

The financial obligations a company has to meet.

The physical infrastructure of a company's offices and facilities.

The factors within a firm that affect decisions regardinghow to manage employees.

The external market forces that impact a business.

Organizational Demands specifically focus on the internal factors within a company that influence decisions related to employee management.

Explanation

Organizational Demands specifically focus on the internal factors within a company that influence decisions related to employee management.

11. What are the primary human resource activities?

Office supplies procurement

Employee payroll processing

The strategic management of employees centers around threecategories of HR activities (1) Work design and workforce planning; (2)Managing employee competencies; and (3) Managing employee attitudes andbehaviors.

Recruitment and selection of candidates

The primary human resource activities involve strategic management of employees focusing on work design, workforce planning, employee competencies, attitudes, and behaviors. Recruitment, selection, payroll processing, or office supplies procurement are not classified as primary HR activities.

Explanation

The primary human resource activities involve strategic management of employees focusing on work design, workforce planning, employee competencies, attitudes, and behaviors. Recruitment, selection, payroll processing, or office supplies procurement are not classified as primary HR activities.

12. What does alignment refer to in the context of HR activities?

The method of balancing objects in a straight line to create a visually pleasing design.

The act of adjusting the spacing and arrangement of text in a document.

The process of arranging employees alphabetically in an organization.

The extent to which the three primary HR activities aredesigned to achieve the goals of the organization.

13. What do competencies refer to?

The location of a company's headquarters.

The frequency of employee evaluations.

The knowledge, skills, abilities, and other talents thatemployees possess.

The number of employees in a company.

The training programs available to employees.

Competencies encompass the overall skills, knowledge, and abilities that employees bring to their roles, enabling them to perform effectively and contribute to the organization's success.

Explanation

Competencies encompass the overall skills, knowledge, and abilities that employees bring to their roles, enabling them to perform effectively and contribute to the organization's success.