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Chapter 4 – Multiple Choice - Questions
1. Which one of the following statements is INCORRECT?
1 If the organisation has no process by which to engage in strategic
management at the corporate and business level, it will not be possible for
the HR function to develop a strategic thrust, since the HR strategy flows
from the corporate or business strategy.
2 HR professionals - in their capacity as business partners - must play a
number of new roles to be successful, one of them being the strategic
partner role, which involves linking the human resource management
practices, systems and policies with the strategic initiatives of the
company.
3 Strategic management involves a process that deals with organisational
renewal and growth, with the development of strategies, structures and
systems necessary to achieve renewal and growth, and with the
organisational systems needed to effectively manage the strategy
formulation and implementation processes.
4 For the HR function to operate at the strategic level, it needs to reorganise
the existing HR administrative function into two distinct levels, namely
strategic and functional.
2. For the HR function to operate at the strategic level within an organisation, it
must reorganise the existing HR administrative function into three distinct levels,
namely…
1 strategic, functional, admin
2 strategic, operational, admin
3 strategic, admin, HR maintenance
4 strategic, operational, functional
3. According to Tichy, organisations are continually confronted by three basic
problems that must be managed effectively. Which of the following is not one of
these problems?
1 A cultural problem
2 A political problem
3 A functional problem
4 A technical problem
4. According to Dyer & Holder, strategic human resource management consists of
three major tasks. Which of the following is not one of these tasks?
1 Ensuring that the HR issues and implications of various alternatives or
proposals are fully considered.
, 2
2 Establishing HR goals and action plans, that is, HR strategies, at all levels
to support the business strategies.
3 Working with line managers as principal clients to ensure that established
plans are indeed implemented.
4 Improving cooperation between the human resource management
department and trade unions.
5. Tichy suggests that, to manage the three basic systems within an organisation
properly, certain aids are required. Which of the following is not one of these
aids?
1 The mission and strategy of the organisation
2 The structure of the organisation, including the administrative procedures
3 The employment equity and skills development plans
4 The HRM systems of the organisation
6. The formulation of an HR strategy does not take place in isolation but is
influenced by both external and internal issues. Which of the following is not an
external issue?
1 Economical
2 Social
3 Operational
4 Political
7. Choose from the list below the components that should be included in an HR
strategy according to Dyer and Holder:
a mission statement or a set of prioritised goals for the function and the
major subfunctions
b a proposed organisation structure
c a programme portfolio to outline priorities and policies
d a budget to address the issue of resource allocation
1 a, b, c and d
2 a and b
3 b and c
4 c and d
8. Two types of HR strategies can be distinguished, namely…
1 organisational and cultural
2 organisational and operational
3 organisational and functional
4 organisational and political
Chapter 4 – Multiple Choice - Questions
1. Which one of the following statements is INCORRECT?
1 If the organisation has no process by which to engage in strategic
management at the corporate and business level, it will not be possible for
the HR function to develop a strategic thrust, since the HR strategy flows
from the corporate or business strategy.
2 HR professionals - in their capacity as business partners - must play a
number of new roles to be successful, one of them being the strategic
partner role, which involves linking the human resource management
practices, systems and policies with the strategic initiatives of the
company.
3 Strategic management involves a process that deals with organisational
renewal and growth, with the development of strategies, structures and
systems necessary to achieve renewal and growth, and with the
organisational systems needed to effectively manage the strategy
formulation and implementation processes.
4 For the HR function to operate at the strategic level, it needs to reorganise
the existing HR administrative function into two distinct levels, namely
strategic and functional.
2. For the HR function to operate at the strategic level within an organisation, it
must reorganise the existing HR administrative function into three distinct levels,
namely…
1 strategic, functional, admin
2 strategic, operational, admin
3 strategic, admin, HR maintenance
4 strategic, operational, functional
3. According to Tichy, organisations are continually confronted by three basic
problems that must be managed effectively. Which of the following is not one of
these problems?
1 A cultural problem
2 A political problem
3 A functional problem
4 A technical problem
4. According to Dyer & Holder, strategic human resource management consists of
three major tasks. Which of the following is not one of these tasks?
1 Ensuring that the HR issues and implications of various alternatives or
proposals are fully considered.
, 2
2 Establishing HR goals and action plans, that is, HR strategies, at all levels
to support the business strategies.
3 Working with line managers as principal clients to ensure that established
plans are indeed implemented.
4 Improving cooperation between the human resource management
department and trade unions.
5. Tichy suggests that, to manage the three basic systems within an organisation
properly, certain aids are required. Which of the following is not one of these
aids?
1 The mission and strategy of the organisation
2 The structure of the organisation, including the administrative procedures
3 The employment equity and skills development plans
4 The HRM systems of the organisation
6. The formulation of an HR strategy does not take place in isolation but is
influenced by both external and internal issues. Which of the following is not an
external issue?
1 Economical
2 Social
3 Operational
4 Political
7. Choose from the list below the components that should be included in an HR
strategy according to Dyer and Holder:
a mission statement or a set of prioritised goals for the function and the
major subfunctions
b a proposed organisation structure
c a programme portfolio to outline priorities and policies
d a budget to address the issue of resource allocation
1 a, b, c and d
2 a and b
3 b and c
4 c and d
8. Two types of HR strategies can be distinguished, namely…
1 organisational and cultural
2 organisational and operational
3 organisational and functional
4 organisational and political
