A small start-up software company realizes that the technology skillsets of newly hired programmers are more advanced than the existing programmers'
... [Show More] skillsets. Recognizing the constant business need for these evolving, state-of-the-art skillsets, which is the best workforce development strategy to implement?
A. Partner with a local community college to offer programmers the opportunity to update their skillsets.
B. Offer new hires shorter-term contracts to allow for a continual hiring of programmers with the most up-to-date skills.
C. Design a rigorous in-house training program to get longer-tenured programmers up to speed with the newer programmers.
D. Perform a job redesign for the existing employees that will not require new, updated skills.
B. Offer new hires short-term contracts to allow for a continual hiring of programers with the most up-to-date skills.
Rationale: If the skillsets of employees who have been with the company for several years become inferior to those of new hires, planning for churn by offering smaller contracts is a better strategy. Repeatedly training an entire staff with new skills that they may or may not grasp will not be cost-effective to the organization, and there may not be enough work at the company to support a job redesign.
Which hands-on training method best allows an onboarding manufacturing employee to practice his job in a risk-free setting?*
A. Apprenticeship
B. Simulation
C. Team Training
D. Role Play
B. Simulation
Rationale: Simulations can be used to teach production and process skills in a risk-free environment. A role play is best used to assess and train interpersonal skills. Apprenticeship is a type of on-the-job training where the trainee will still be exposed to risk. Team training is used to improve the effectiveness of group interactions.
Brainpower
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An HR manager has been asked to design a training program for the company. Which HR metric should be considered first in designing the program?*
A. Average tenure of employees
B. Percentage of employees with a career plan
C. Total costs for training
D. Performance quality of one-year employees
C. Total costs for training
Rationale: Total cost for training is the only metric that is specific to all training programs, so it must be considered in the initial stages of all program development. Response options A, B, and C are factors that may or may not be considered for some training programs.
A valued employee arrives 15 minutes late for work without explanation. Using the company's positive approach to discipline, which action should be taken to course-correct the employee's tardiness?*
A. Final warning
B. Written reprimand
C. Verbal caution
D. Counseling
D. Counseling
Rationale: Positive approach to discipline builds on the theory that violations are actions that usually can be corrected constructively without penalty. Counseling is the first step that does not implement a penalty. The other options are all examples of penalties.
An HR director believes it is important that managers take more responsibility for performance appraisals. Which responsibility should the HR director assign specifically to the managers?*
A. Track timely receipt of appraisals
B. Identify development areas
C. Design appraisal system
D. Train staff to use performance system
B. Identify development areas
Rationale: "Identify development areas" is best determined by managers because they know more of the job specifics. The other options are responsibilities that HR would typically handle.
Which is a significant benefit of recruiting from internal sources?
A. Minimizes inflated expectations about the job
B. Innovation increases with each infusion of new talent
C. Provides a continuous pool of applicants
D. Employees will all be of the existing mindset
A. Minimizes inflated expectations about the job
Rationale: Internal applicants who apply for positions will have a better understanding of what the job entails because they are more knowledgeable about the company and how it operates. Innovation is not guaranteed from new talent. Employees with the same mindset can be hesitant to suggest change. Internal recruiting may not always provide a continuous pool of applicants if current employees are not interested in applying.
The CEO asked the HR director to support this new staffing need of moving the operation to headquarters by supplying 70 new jobs. Which is the best action for HR to take first to begin supporting this initiative?*
A. Identify a recruiting firm to attract talent to fill the new positions.
B. Survey employees to gauge interest in relocating to company headquarters.
C. Review job descriptions and total rewards structure to align them with staffing goals.
D. Identify employees unwilling to relocated so they can convey historical knowledge to new hires.
C. Review job descriptions and total rewards to align them with staffing goals.
Situational judgment test (SJTs) require you, as an examinee, to think about what is occurring in the scenario and decide which response option identifies the most effective course of action. Other response options may be something you could do to respond in the situation, but SJTs require thinking and acting based on the best of the available options. Do not base your answer on your organization's approach to handling the situation, but rather, answer based on what you know should be done according to best practice. Panels of SHRM-certified subject matter experts rate the effectiveness of each response option, and the "best" answer is derived by statistical analysis of those expert opinions.
A month after the move, many of the relocated staff threaten to quit. HR conducts a survey and discovers three main causes of dissatisfaction: higher cost of living, unaffordable housing, and low-rated schools. Which is the best course of action for HR to endorse to leadership to prevent departures?*
A. Create a program for leadership to provide resources to assist staff.
B. Reveal the long-term growth strategy to promote staff buy-in.
C. Recommend leadership to focus on the biggest obstacle to retention.
D. Advise leadership to offer incentives to retain high-performing staff.
A. Create a program for leadership to provide resources to assist staff.
Situational judgment test (SJTs) require you, as an examinee, to think about what is occurring in the scenario and decide which response option identifies the most effective course of action. Other response options may be something you could do to respond in the situation, but SJTs require thinking and acting based on the best of the available options. Do not base your answer on your organization's approach to handling the situation, but rather, answer based on what you know should be done according to best practice. Panels of SHRM-certified subject matter experts rate the effectiveness of each response option, and the "best" answer is derived by statistical analysis of those expert opinions.
After being acquired twice and many layoffs resulting in low morale, Many employees suffer anxiety because of the increased workload and the fact their long-time friends are gone while they remain. Which is the most important first step for the HR director to take to mitigate the effects of survivor syndrome being experienced by remaining employees?*
A. Offer one-to-one career coaching so employees can manage increased workload.
B. Communicate with employees to acknowledge that management is aware employees are struggling and intends to help.
C. Invite a representative of the employee assistance program (EAP) to a town hall meeting to review EAP benefits for all employees.
D. Encourage department heads to actively increase individual recognition of employee contributions to the business.
B. Communicate with employees to acknowledge that management is aware employees are struggling and intends to help.
Situational judgment test (SJTs) require you, as an examinee, to think about what is occurring in the scenario and decide which response option identifies the most effective course of action. Other response options may be something you could do to respond in the situation, but SJTs require thinking and acting based on the best of the available options. Do not base your answer on your organization's approach to handling the situation, but rather, answer based on what you know should be done according to best practice. Panels of SHRM-certified subject matter experts rate the effectiveness of each response option, and the "best" answer is derived by statistical analysis of those expert opinions.
The VP of research and development asks for HR's help resolving pay discrepancies, discovered during due diligence, among the senior engineers. The staff has been discussing this frequently and it is now affecting the team. Which is the best way for HR to reassure the employees?*
A. Promise employees that everyone will be compensated fairly and equitably within 90 days.
B. Analyze the competitive market, related compensation philosophies and strategy to implement a new pay program.
C. Tell the company to adopt the higher of the two salary structures then adjust everyone's salary based on experience, education, and work assignments.
D. Make a commitment that a comprehensive review of pertinent issues will be swiftly concluded.
D. Make a commitment that a comprehensive review of pertinent issues will be swiftly concluded.
Situational judgment test (SJTs) require you, as an examinee, to think about what is occurring in the scenario and decide which response option identifies the most effective course of action. Other response options may be something you could do to respond in the situation, but SJTs require thinking and acting based on the best of the available options. Do not base your answer on your organization's approach to handling the situation, but rather, answer based on what you know should be done according to best practice. Panels of SHRM-certified subject matter experts rate the effectiveness of each response option, and the "best" answer is derived by statistical analysis of those expert opinions. [Show Less]