8/13/26, 4:51 PM HRIS Expansion Analysis
WGU D435 HR Technology and People Analytics | OA (Objective
Assessment) | 70 Questions and Correct Answers plus Rationale |
Graded A+ | New Update 2026/2027
CORE HR ADMINISTRATION
Question 1
Which human resources (HR) practice category involves HR software applications addressing
payroll, tax administration, and benefits administration?
A) Talent management
B) Core HR administration
C) Service delivery
D) Analytics and planning
Correct Answer: B) Core HR administration ✅
Rationale: Core HR administration applications oversee payroll, tax administration, benefits
administration, health, safety, and wellness. This category addresses the essential administrative and
transactional HR activities that form the foundation of HR operations.
Question 2
Which component of the human resources technology system is a group of programs designed
for end users?
A) Software module
B) Software application
C) Application programming interface (API)
D) Enterprise resource planning (ERP)
Correct Answer: B) Software application ✅
Rationale: A software application is defined as a program or group of programs designed for end-
users. This distinguishes it from software modules (which are parts of programs) or APIs (which enable
communication between applications).
,8/13/26, 4:51 PM HRIS Expansion Analysis
Question 3
How many years on average do organizations keep a core human resources administrative
application?
A) 1 to 3 years
B) 3 to 5 years
C) 6 to 10 years
D) 11 to 15 years
Correct Answer: C) 6 to 10 years ✅
Rationale: Organizations typically keep core HR administrative applications for 6 to 10 years on
average. This extended lifecycle reflects the significant investment, complexity, and organizational
impact of these systems.
TIME AND ATTENDANCE APPLICATIONS
Question 4
Which applications are used to track current employee numbers and the number of work hours
required to produce the goals desired by the organization?
A) Talent management applications
B) Service delivery applications
C) Labor or workforce budgeting applications
D) Analytics and planning applications
Correct Answer: C) Labor or workforce budgeting applications ✅
Rationale: Labor or workforce budgeting applications are used to track current employee numbers
and the number of work hours required to produce desired organizational goals. These applications
provide critical workforce data for operational planning and budgeting.
Question 5
What does an applicant tracking system (ATS) automate?
A) The opening of a job requisition, defines a job role, and allows job seekers to apply online
B) Payroll processing and tax calculations
,8/13/26, 4:51 PM HRIS Expansion Analysis
C) Employee performance reviews
D) Benefits enrollment and management
Correct Answer: A) The opening of a job requisition, defines a job role, and allows job
seekers to apply online ✅
Rationale: An ATS automates the opening of a job requisition, defines a job role, and allows job
seekers to apply online. This streamlines the recruitment process from job posting through applicant
management.
CLIENT-SERVER APPLICATION MODEL
Question 6
What is a distributed structure that partitions programs and workloads between back-office
servers and desktop clients?
A) Mainframe environment
B) Client-server application model
C) Public cloud environment
D) Single tenancy architecture
Correct Answer: B) Client-server application model ✅
Rationale: The client-server application model is a distributed structure that partitions programs and
workloads between back-office servers and desktop clients. The desktop clients run the applications
but request centralized data from remote servers.
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS
Question 7
Which application typically runs employee reviews?
A) Talent acquisition application
B) Learning management application
C) Performance management applications
D) Compensation and reward management
Correct Answer: C) Performance management applications ✅
, 8/13/26, 4:51 PM HRIS Expansion Analysis
Rationale: Performance management applications are designed to run employee reviews, track
performance metrics, and facilitate performance evaluation processes, enabling managers to make
operational and strategic decisions.
BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Question 8
A company's human resources (HR) department is preparing a list of specific benefits for its
employees to be included in nonpayroll benefits administration applications. The employees
suggest including health insurance in nonpayroll benefits. How should the HR department treat
health insurance to comply with nonpayroll benefits?
A) The HR department should exclude health insurance from benefits administration
B) The HR department should include 100% of health insurance in the benefits
administrationapplication
C) The HR department should only include health insurance for executives
D) The HR department should handle health insurance through payroll only
Correct Answer: B) The HR department should include 100% of health insurance in the
benefits administration application ✅
Rationale: Health insurance is a core employee benefit and should be fully included in the benefits
administration application as part of nonpayroll benefits administration.
PAYROLL RECORDKEEPING
Question 9
A manufacturing facility is planning to develop a setting that helps in establishing company-
wide payroll norms. It needs information on new hires, their legal status, supporting
documents, tax withholdings, and benefits. Which component of the payroll application will
help the company maintain this data on employees?
A) Payroll processing engine
B) Tax engine
C) Payroll recordkeeping
D) Withholding process management
WGU D435 HR Technology and People Analytics | OA (Objective
Assessment) | 70 Questions and Correct Answers plus Rationale |
Graded A+ | New Update 2026/2027
CORE HR ADMINISTRATION
Question 1
Which human resources (HR) practice category involves HR software applications addressing
payroll, tax administration, and benefits administration?
A) Talent management
B) Core HR administration
C) Service delivery
D) Analytics and planning
Correct Answer: B) Core HR administration ✅
Rationale: Core HR administration applications oversee payroll, tax administration, benefits
administration, health, safety, and wellness. This category addresses the essential administrative and
transactional HR activities that form the foundation of HR operations.
Question 2
Which component of the human resources technology system is a group of programs designed
for end users?
A) Software module
B) Software application
C) Application programming interface (API)
D) Enterprise resource planning (ERP)
Correct Answer: B) Software application ✅
Rationale: A software application is defined as a program or group of programs designed for end-
users. This distinguishes it from software modules (which are parts of programs) or APIs (which enable
communication between applications).
,8/13/26, 4:51 PM HRIS Expansion Analysis
Question 3
How many years on average do organizations keep a core human resources administrative
application?
A) 1 to 3 years
B) 3 to 5 years
C) 6 to 10 years
D) 11 to 15 years
Correct Answer: C) 6 to 10 years ✅
Rationale: Organizations typically keep core HR administrative applications for 6 to 10 years on
average. This extended lifecycle reflects the significant investment, complexity, and organizational
impact of these systems.
TIME AND ATTENDANCE APPLICATIONS
Question 4
Which applications are used to track current employee numbers and the number of work hours
required to produce the goals desired by the organization?
A) Talent management applications
B) Service delivery applications
C) Labor or workforce budgeting applications
D) Analytics and planning applications
Correct Answer: C) Labor or workforce budgeting applications ✅
Rationale: Labor or workforce budgeting applications are used to track current employee numbers
and the number of work hours required to produce desired organizational goals. These applications
provide critical workforce data for operational planning and budgeting.
Question 5
What does an applicant tracking system (ATS) automate?
A) The opening of a job requisition, defines a job role, and allows job seekers to apply online
B) Payroll processing and tax calculations
,8/13/26, 4:51 PM HRIS Expansion Analysis
C) Employee performance reviews
D) Benefits enrollment and management
Correct Answer: A) The opening of a job requisition, defines a job role, and allows job
seekers to apply online ✅
Rationale: An ATS automates the opening of a job requisition, defines a job role, and allows job
seekers to apply online. This streamlines the recruitment process from job posting through applicant
management.
CLIENT-SERVER APPLICATION MODEL
Question 6
What is a distributed structure that partitions programs and workloads between back-office
servers and desktop clients?
A) Mainframe environment
B) Client-server application model
C) Public cloud environment
D) Single tenancy architecture
Correct Answer: B) Client-server application model ✅
Rationale: The client-server application model is a distributed structure that partitions programs and
workloads between back-office servers and desktop clients. The desktop clients run the applications
but request centralized data from remote servers.
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS
Question 7
Which application typically runs employee reviews?
A) Talent acquisition application
B) Learning management application
C) Performance management applications
D) Compensation and reward management
Correct Answer: C) Performance management applications ✅
, 8/13/26, 4:51 PM HRIS Expansion Analysis
Rationale: Performance management applications are designed to run employee reviews, track
performance metrics, and facilitate performance evaluation processes, enabling managers to make
operational and strategic decisions.
BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
Question 8
A company's human resources (HR) department is preparing a list of specific benefits for its
employees to be included in nonpayroll benefits administration applications. The employees
suggest including health insurance in nonpayroll benefits. How should the HR department treat
health insurance to comply with nonpayroll benefits?
A) The HR department should exclude health insurance from benefits administration
B) The HR department should include 100% of health insurance in the benefits
administrationapplication
C) The HR department should only include health insurance for executives
D) The HR department should handle health insurance through payroll only
Correct Answer: B) The HR department should include 100% of health insurance in the
benefits administration application ✅
Rationale: Health insurance is a core employee benefit and should be fully included in the benefits
administration application as part of nonpayroll benefits administration.
PAYROLL RECORDKEEPING
Question 9
A manufacturing facility is planning to develop a setting that helps in establishing company-
wide payroll norms. It needs information on new hires, their legal status, supporting
documents, tax withholdings, and benefits. Which component of the payroll application will
help the company maintain this data on employees?
A) Payroll processing engine
B) Tax engine
C) Payroll recordkeeping
D) Withholding process management
