SOLUTION MANUAL for Human Resource
Information Systems Basics, Applications,
and Future Directions
Chapter 1: The Evolution of HRM and HRIS
Question 1
Which historical era of HRM was characterized by a growing need to comply with employee
protection legislation, making senior managers aware of the HRM function's impact on the
firm's "bottom line"?
A) Pre–World War II era
B) Post–World War II era
C) Social Issues era
D) Cost-Effectiveness era
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Social Issues era was defined by an increasing need for compliance with
numerous pieces of employee protection legislation or facing significant monetary penalties.
This compliance pressure made senior managers aware of the importance of HRM, as
effective practices began to affect the firm's bottom line .
Question 2 (SATA)
According to the historical evolution of HRM, which of the following were major factors that
changed the primary role of HRM from a caretaker of records to a strategic partner? (Select all
that apply.)
A) The mobilization and utilization of labor during World War II
B) The human relations movement emphasizing social and psychological motivators
C) The need to comply with employee protection legislation
D) The increased use of technology and focus on adding value to products/services
E) The complete elimination of transactional HR activities
Correct Answers: A, B, C, D
Rationale: The major factors included: the impact of labor mobilization during World War
II on productivity and motivation; the human relations movement's emphasis on non-
monetary motivators; the compliance pressures of the Social Issues era; and the increased use
,of technology combined with a focus on adding value, which led to the HR department's
emergence as a strategic partner . Transactional activities still exist; they are simply
automated or delegated, not eliminated .
Question 3
Which type of HR activity involves routine bookkeeping tasks such as changing an employee's
home address or healthcare provider?
A) Transformational activity
B) Traditional activity
C) Transactional activity
D) Strategic activity
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Transactional activities are defined as routine bookkeeping tasks, such as
updating an employee's address or healthcare provider. Traditional HR activities focus on HR
programs like selection and compensation, while transformational activities add value to the
firm's product or service .
Question 4
The resource-based view of the firm treats human capital as which of the following?
A) A transactional cost to be minimized
B) A strategic asset and a source of competitive advantage
C) A compliance obligation
D) A routine administrative function
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Strategic HRM (SHRM) derives its theoretical significance from the resource-
based view of the firm, which treats human capital as a strategic asset and a competitive
advantage in improving organizational performance .
Question 5
During which era did computer technology become cheaper and more powerful, allowing
even small and medium firms to afford computer-based HR systems?
A) Pre–World War II
B) Post–World War II
,C) Social Issues
D) Cost-Effectiveness
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: During the Cost-Effectiveness phase, HR departments came under pressure to
harness technology that was becoming cheaper and more powerful. Even small and medium
firms could afford computer-based HR systems run by increasingly user-friendly
microcomputers .
Question 6
Which of the following best describes the primary role of technology in early HRM?
A) To support strategic decision-making
B) To automate routine and manual tasks
C) To replace HR professionals entirely
D) To conduct performance evaluations
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The primary role of technology in HR has been to automate routine and
manual tasks, which increases efficiency, reduces errors, and allows HR professionals to focus
on strategic functions. While technology can support communication and other functions, its
core historical function has been to streamline processes like payroll and data entry .
Question 7 (SATA)
Which of the following are phases in the historical evolution of HRM as classified by the
development of industry in the United States? (Select all that apply.)
A) Pre–World War II
B) Post–World War II
C) Social Issues
D) Cost-Effectiveness
E) Technological Advancement
Correct Answers: A, B, C, D, E
Rationale: The historical evolution of HRM is classified into five broad phases: Pre–World
War II, Post–World War II, Social Issues, Cost-Effectiveness, and Technological Advancement
Era .
, Question 8
How did the human relations movement after World War II influence the development of
HRM?
A) It emphasized that employees were motivated solely by money
B) It emphasized that employees were motivated by social and psychological factors such as
recognition and work norms
C) It led to the elimination of HR departments
D) It focused exclusively on compliance with legislation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The human relations movement after the war emphasized that employees
were motivated not just by money but also by social and psychological factors such as
recognition of work achievements and work norms .
Question 9
The emergence of the HR department as a strategic partner was primarily driven by which
combination of factors?
A) Increased use of technology and focus on adding value to the organization's product or
service
B) Decreased government regulation and reduced labor costs
C) Elimination of transactional HR activities
D) Decline in the importance of human capital
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The increased use of technology and the changed focus of the HRM function as
adding value to the organization's product or service led to the emergence of the HR
department as a strategic partner .
Question 10
Which of the following statements best describes the evolution of HRIS in relation to
computer technology?
A) HRIS developed independently of advances in computer technology
B) HRIS emerged as a result of advances in database management systems
C) HRIS was first developed during the Pre–World War II era
D) HRIS has remained unchanged since its inception
Information Systems Basics, Applications,
and Future Directions
Chapter 1: The Evolution of HRM and HRIS
Question 1
Which historical era of HRM was characterized by a growing need to comply with employee
protection legislation, making senior managers aware of the HRM function's impact on the
firm's "bottom line"?
A) Pre–World War II era
B) Post–World War II era
C) Social Issues era
D) Cost-Effectiveness era
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Social Issues era was defined by an increasing need for compliance with
numerous pieces of employee protection legislation or facing significant monetary penalties.
This compliance pressure made senior managers aware of the importance of HRM, as
effective practices began to affect the firm's bottom line .
Question 2 (SATA)
According to the historical evolution of HRM, which of the following were major factors that
changed the primary role of HRM from a caretaker of records to a strategic partner? (Select all
that apply.)
A) The mobilization and utilization of labor during World War II
B) The human relations movement emphasizing social and psychological motivators
C) The need to comply with employee protection legislation
D) The increased use of technology and focus on adding value to products/services
E) The complete elimination of transactional HR activities
Correct Answers: A, B, C, D
Rationale: The major factors included: the impact of labor mobilization during World War
II on productivity and motivation; the human relations movement's emphasis on non-
monetary motivators; the compliance pressures of the Social Issues era; and the increased use
,of technology combined with a focus on adding value, which led to the HR department's
emergence as a strategic partner . Transactional activities still exist; they are simply
automated or delegated, not eliminated .
Question 3
Which type of HR activity involves routine bookkeeping tasks such as changing an employee's
home address or healthcare provider?
A) Transformational activity
B) Traditional activity
C) Transactional activity
D) Strategic activity
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Transactional activities are defined as routine bookkeeping tasks, such as
updating an employee's address or healthcare provider. Traditional HR activities focus on HR
programs like selection and compensation, while transformational activities add value to the
firm's product or service .
Question 4
The resource-based view of the firm treats human capital as which of the following?
A) A transactional cost to be minimized
B) A strategic asset and a source of competitive advantage
C) A compliance obligation
D) A routine administrative function
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Strategic HRM (SHRM) derives its theoretical significance from the resource-
based view of the firm, which treats human capital as a strategic asset and a competitive
advantage in improving organizational performance .
Question 5
During which era did computer technology become cheaper and more powerful, allowing
even small and medium firms to afford computer-based HR systems?
A) Pre–World War II
B) Post–World War II
,C) Social Issues
D) Cost-Effectiveness
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: During the Cost-Effectiveness phase, HR departments came under pressure to
harness technology that was becoming cheaper and more powerful. Even small and medium
firms could afford computer-based HR systems run by increasingly user-friendly
microcomputers .
Question 6
Which of the following best describes the primary role of technology in early HRM?
A) To support strategic decision-making
B) To automate routine and manual tasks
C) To replace HR professionals entirely
D) To conduct performance evaluations
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The primary role of technology in HR has been to automate routine and
manual tasks, which increases efficiency, reduces errors, and allows HR professionals to focus
on strategic functions. While technology can support communication and other functions, its
core historical function has been to streamline processes like payroll and data entry .
Question 7 (SATA)
Which of the following are phases in the historical evolution of HRM as classified by the
development of industry in the United States? (Select all that apply.)
A) Pre–World War II
B) Post–World War II
C) Social Issues
D) Cost-Effectiveness
E) Technological Advancement
Correct Answers: A, B, C, D, E
Rationale: The historical evolution of HRM is classified into five broad phases: Pre–World
War II, Post–World War II, Social Issues, Cost-Effectiveness, and Technological Advancement
Era .
, Question 8
How did the human relations movement after World War II influence the development of
HRM?
A) It emphasized that employees were motivated solely by money
B) It emphasized that employees were motivated by social and psychological factors such as
recognition and work norms
C) It led to the elimination of HR departments
D) It focused exclusively on compliance with legislation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The human relations movement after the war emphasized that employees
were motivated not just by money but also by social and psychological factors such as
recognition of work achievements and work norms .
Question 9
The emergence of the HR department as a strategic partner was primarily driven by which
combination of factors?
A) Increased use of technology and focus on adding value to the organization's product or
service
B) Decreased government regulation and reduced labor costs
C) Elimination of transactional HR activities
D) Decline in the importance of human capital
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The increased use of technology and the changed focus of the HRM function as
adding value to the organization's product or service led to the emergence of the HR
department as a strategic partner .
Question 10
Which of the following statements best describes the evolution of HRIS in relation to
computer technology?
A) HRIS developed independently of advances in computer technology
B) HRIS emerged as a result of advances in database management systems
C) HRIS was first developed during the Pre–World War II era
D) HRIS has remained unchanged since its inception
