WGU D351 FUNCTIONS OF HUMAN
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT EXAM STUDY
GUIDE 2026
◉ A human resources (HR) department develops a policy that
defines requirements for a promotion and includes the following:
- two years of highly rated performance appraisals
- two years of tenure in the current role
- management sign-off
Which motivation theory is the HR policy based on? Answer:
Expectancy Theory
◉ A company is hiring underwriters at 15 percent more than its
current underwriters' salary due to the high demand for this role.
Which factor will have an impact on the company's compensation
plan? Answer: Wage compression
◉ A human resources (HR) analyst is applying the duties test for
employee exemptions for the new position of redevelopment
planner. The position criteria include:
- earns $2,500 per week
,- performs primary duties related to commercialized planning in city
redevelopment zones
- exercises discretion and independent judgment in decision-making
Which exemption applies to this position? Answer: Professional
◉ A human resources (HR) department wants to better understand
employee perceptions regarding the company's advancement
process.
Which motivational theory should the HR department reference?
Answer: Equity
◉ Several of a team's high performers complain to their human
resources (HR) director that their current bonus structure is
outdated and does not inspire them to achieve increased results. The
HR director sets up a meeting with the executive team to propose
revising the bonus structure.
Which motivational theory does the HR director believe this
proposal fits? Answer: Expectancy
◉ A total rewards director notices adverse selection in the way
employees are selecting annual coverage plans.
,Which action is associated with this type of selection? Answer:
Manipulating benefits by adding and dropping various options
◉ What is employee engagement? Answer: a combination of job
satisfaction, ability, and a willingness to perform for the organization
at a high level and over an extended period of time
◉ What is a cost center? Answer: a division or department that
brings in no revenue or profit for the organization - running this
function only costs the organization money
◉ What is a revenue center? Answer: divisions or departments that
generate monetary returns for the organization
◉ Is a revenue center or cost center present view? Answer: Revenue
Center
◉ What is a productivity center? Answer: A revenue center that
enhances the profitability of the organization through enhancing the
productivity of the people within an organization
◉ What is productivity? Answer: the amount of output an
organization gets per unit of input, with human input usually
expressed in terms of units of time
, ◉ Productivity is the end result of what two components? Answer:
Effectiveness and efficency
◉ What question does effectiveness answer? Answer: "Did we do the
right things?"
◉ What question does efficiency answer? Answer: "Did we do things
right?"
◉ What is one way we can improve efficiency of workers? Answer:
Use of technology and people analytics
◉ What is staffing? Answer: Includes all of the things to get people
interested in applying, going through recruitment, selecting the best
candidate, and getting them settled in their new job
◉ What do HR managers in labor relations do? Answer: involved in
union votes, negotiations for union agreements, contract collective
bargaining, handling grievances, etc.
◉ What do specialists in people analytics do? Answer: utilize
computers and large databases to analyze patterns in our work
environment
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT EXAM STUDY
GUIDE 2026
◉ A human resources (HR) department develops a policy that
defines requirements for a promotion and includes the following:
- two years of highly rated performance appraisals
- two years of tenure in the current role
- management sign-off
Which motivation theory is the HR policy based on? Answer:
Expectancy Theory
◉ A company is hiring underwriters at 15 percent more than its
current underwriters' salary due to the high demand for this role.
Which factor will have an impact on the company's compensation
plan? Answer: Wage compression
◉ A human resources (HR) analyst is applying the duties test for
employee exemptions for the new position of redevelopment
planner. The position criteria include:
- earns $2,500 per week
,- performs primary duties related to commercialized planning in city
redevelopment zones
- exercises discretion and independent judgment in decision-making
Which exemption applies to this position? Answer: Professional
◉ A human resources (HR) department wants to better understand
employee perceptions regarding the company's advancement
process.
Which motivational theory should the HR department reference?
Answer: Equity
◉ Several of a team's high performers complain to their human
resources (HR) director that their current bonus structure is
outdated and does not inspire them to achieve increased results. The
HR director sets up a meeting with the executive team to propose
revising the bonus structure.
Which motivational theory does the HR director believe this
proposal fits? Answer: Expectancy
◉ A total rewards director notices adverse selection in the way
employees are selecting annual coverage plans.
,Which action is associated with this type of selection? Answer:
Manipulating benefits by adding and dropping various options
◉ What is employee engagement? Answer: a combination of job
satisfaction, ability, and a willingness to perform for the organization
at a high level and over an extended period of time
◉ What is a cost center? Answer: a division or department that
brings in no revenue or profit for the organization - running this
function only costs the organization money
◉ What is a revenue center? Answer: divisions or departments that
generate monetary returns for the organization
◉ Is a revenue center or cost center present view? Answer: Revenue
Center
◉ What is a productivity center? Answer: A revenue center that
enhances the profitability of the organization through enhancing the
productivity of the people within an organization
◉ What is productivity? Answer: the amount of output an
organization gets per unit of input, with human input usually
expressed in terms of units of time
, ◉ Productivity is the end result of what two components? Answer:
Effectiveness and efficency
◉ What question does effectiveness answer? Answer: "Did we do the
right things?"
◉ What question does efficiency answer? Answer: "Did we do things
right?"
◉ What is one way we can improve efficiency of workers? Answer:
Use of technology and people analytics
◉ What is staffing? Answer: Includes all of the things to get people
interested in applying, going through recruitment, selecting the best
candidate, and getting them settled in their new job
◉ What do HR managers in labor relations do? Answer: involved in
union votes, negotiations for union agreements, contract collective
bargaining, handling grievances, etc.
◉ What do specialists in people analytics do? Answer: utilize
computers and large databases to analyze patterns in our work
environment
