Chapter 1: Pre-assessment Test: SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP Questions and Answers 2023

Chapter 1: Pre-assessment Test: SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP Questions and Answers 2023 1. One of the key PEST factors that can influence an organization's global talent acquisition and retention strategies is the following question: Do tax and other socialized incentives exist that could influence hiring decisions? This factor is identified as: A. Political B. Economic C. Social D. Technological A. Political A. The factor that addresses whether tax or other socialized incentives exist that could influence hiring decisions is a political factor. 2. What is behavioral engagement? A. The inherent personality-based elements that make an individual predisposed to being engaged B. Workplace conditions or practices that can be improved through organizational interventions under management's control C. The effort employees put into their jobs, which leads to greater value D. When employees appear engaged but do not feel or think in an engaged way C. The effort employees put into their jobs, which leads to greater value C. Behavioral engagement is evident in the effort employees put into their jobs, which leads to greater value, creating higher performance from their less-engaged counterparts. 3. An employee opinion survey is a survey that: A. Attempts to determine employee perceptions of the quality of management and the effectiveness of compensation and benefits programs B. Attempts to measure data on specific issues such as safety procedures or work processes C. Focuses on the employee level of satisfaction, commitment, and morale D. Identifies quality and measure of work-life issues B. Attempts to measure data on specific issues such as safety procedures or work processes B. An employee opinion survey is a survey that is designed to measure important data on specific issues that the employer may be evaluating or considering 4. What is a participatory learning method called in which a group of learners, sitting in the center of a circle, debate or discuss a topic while the remaining learners observe the discussion? A. Round robin B. T-group C. Role play D. Fishbowl activity D. Fishbowl activities involve a group of learners sitting in the center of a circle debating or discussing a topic while the remaining learners observe the discussion. D. Fishbowl activity 5. Which of the following job analysis methods has the benefit of defining the job with a relatively objective approach and also enables analysis to be performed using computer models? A. Interview B. Highly structured questionnaire C. Open-ended questionnaire D. Work diary or log B. Highly structured questionnaire B. A highly structured questionnaire has the benefit of defining the job with a relatively objective approach and also enables analysis using computer models. This is good when a large number of jobs must be analyzed and there are limited resources to do it. 6. Which organizational lifecycle phase features efforts to maximize efficiency out of every existing element of the business? A. Introduction B. Standardization C. Maturity D. Decline C. Maturity C. During maturity, managers must focus on maximizing efficiency out of every existing element of the business. They must not only control the use of resources and manage risks but also be creative problem solvers. 7. What is the purpose of a SWOT analysis? A. To determine an organization's operating requirements during an upcoming fiscal year B. To identify current market pressures with potential negative impact on the organization C. To evaluate organizational merger prospects as part of a due diligence assessment D. To assess an organization's strategic capabilities in comparison to the threats and opportunities identified during environmental scanning D. The SWOT analysis is a simple and effective process for assessing an organization's strategic capabilities in comparison to the threats and opportunities identified as part of the analysis D. To assess an organization's strategic capabilities in comparison to the threats and opportunities identified during environmental scanning 8. What is the purpose of a mission statement? A. To specify what activities an organization intends to pursue B. To provide a guiding image of the future an organization plans to attain through its strategy C. To identify beliefs that are important to an organization and that often dictate employee behavior D. To identify high-level targets that can become specific measureable objectives A. To specify what activities an organization intends to pursue A. A mission statement specifies the activities an organization intends to pursue and the course management has charted for the future. It is a concise statement of its strategy. 9. Some organizations make sure that the key performance indicators they use to evaluate organizational strategy are aligned with various sources of value through a technique called: A. Balance sheet analysis B. Balanced scorecard technique C. SWOT analysis D. Blue ocean strategies B. Balanced scorecard technique B. Some organizations use a balanced scorecard approach to identify their key performance indicators and to make sure that the objectives used to measure performance are strategically aligned to the various sources of value to the organization. 10. What is the first thing HR leaders must do when engaged in the process of allocating resources to strategic activities when their HR budget is organized into two parts: an operational budget that funds ongoing operational activities and a strategic budget that funds projects aligned with the organization's strategic goals? A. Budget ongoing operational activities first. B. Budget strategic activities first. C. Compare previous and current activities and allocations with activities that support the proposed organizational strategy. Budget strategic activities first as projects. D. Compare previous and current activities and allocations with activities that support the proposed organizational strategy. Create a combined prioritized budget list. Budget based on this list. C. Compare previous and current activities and allocations with activities that support the proposed organizational strategy. Budget strategic activities first as projects. C. A comparison of previous and current activities and allocations is a first priority. Changes always affect a budget. Then, allocate funding to operating activities as affected by changes first. Next, fund strategic activities as projects. 11. What is the HR role, sometimes referred to as an "HR practitioner," that is usually the first point of contact for a variety of HR issues? A. Specialist B. Generalist C. Manager D. Leader B. Generalist B. An HR generalist is an HR professional who is a "jack of all trades." A generalist is usually the first point of contact for employees and supervisors on a wide variety of HR issues. 12. What are project leaders called when a Six Sigma process is implemented? A. Green Belt B. Master Green Belt C. Master Black Belt D. Black Belt D. Project leaders are referred to as Six Sigma Black Belts. D. Black Belt 13. Which of the following performance appraisal methods involves the employee defining what they intend to accomplish during the performance review period? A. Essay B. Critical incident C. Field review D. Management by objectives (MBO) D. Management by objectives (MBO) is a type of performance appraisal where the employee sets objectives for themselves that are aligned to the company strategy. The objectives must be measureable. D. Management by objectives (MBO) 14. Globally, what is the most common type of employment relationship? A. At-will for part-time staff only B. At-will C. Contractual D. Contractual for senior-level executives only C. Globally, excluding the United States, most employees have employment contracts. Even in the United States where the at-will doctrine is most common, there are numerous exceptions that have been established through litigation and nondiscrimination laws. C. Contractual 15. Sail Fleet Shipping recently implemented a new HRIS. Which of the following describes a security measure the company should take to ensure protection of employees' personal data? A. Decode B. Decrypt C. Encrypt D. Convert C. Encryption is the technical term used to describe converting data into a format that hides its intended meaning. All employee data should be stored in this format to protect employee privacy and personal information C. Encrypt 16. Factors that influence globalization decisions fall into two categories: "push" and "pull" factors. Which of the following competitive industry factors is classified as a "pull" factor? A. A need for new markets B. Increased competition C. Greater strategic control D. Government policies C. A "pull" factor is one that pulls an organization toward change by expecting greater organizational value through globalization. As an example, some organizations find that they have more control over their businesses by developing a multinational presence. Where they relied on distributors or franchises before, now they better control factors like brand image by opening subsidiaries in host countries. C. Greater strategic control 17. Which of the Four Layers of Diversity is described as "the results of life experiences and choices"? A. Organizational dimensions B. External dimensions C. Internal dimensions D. Personality B. External dimensions B. External dimensions describe the results of life experiences and choices. They include location, income, personal habits, education, and other similar external dimensions. 18. Which risk analysis tool measures the risk level as the probability of occurrence times the magnitude of impact? A. Risk register B. Risk scorecard C. Risk prioritization matrix (PAPA model) D. Risk equation D. The risk level is often expressed as the relationship between the probability of occurrence compared with the magnitude of impact. The tool used to describe this is the risk matrix. D. Risk equation 19. Which international initiative established ten principles that address human rights, labor, environmental principles, and anticorruption issues, as well as agreed to report annually on the progress of these principles? A. The United Nations Global Compact B. Caux principles C. SA 8000 D. ISO 26000 A. The United Nations Global Compact A. The United Nations Global Contract addresses human rights, labor, environmental principles, and corruption issues. 20. Which of the following U.S. employment laws covers private and public employers with 20 or more employees? A. 1964 Civil Rights Act B. 1967 Age Discrimination in Employment Act C. 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act D. 2009 ADA Amendments Act B. 1967 Age Discrimination in Employment Act B. The 1967 Age Discrimination in Employment Act applies to private and public employers with 20 or more employees. 21. You are an HR administrator working for a small retail sales company. A team member recently returned to work from a 5-day absence during which he used his accrued sick days. Employees have been disciplined in the past for using sick leave as time off to do paid work for others. A co-worker tells you confidentially that he knows the individual involved and that he was told that these were the circumstances involved with his absence. What do you do? A. Arrange to discuss this with your manager immediately as this cannot be allowed to continue. B. Confront the individual, making it clear that this behavior is unacceptable. C. Speak to the individual to find out whether this is true. D. Speak further with the co-worker to find out what other information he has on the matter. A. Arrange to discuss this with your manager immediately as this cannot be allowed to continue. A is the best answer because of the circumstances and history involved. As an HR administrator, you are not in the best position to effectively investigate the circumstances without first coordinating with management. 22. Your team is unhappy. They don't appear to receive information about important organizational developments in a timely manner or even at all. What do you do? A. Ask your team what sort of information they would like to receive. B. Use regular meetings to keep them up to date with relevant information that you receive. C. Reassure them that you will make further efforts to find out relevant information quickly. D. Suggest they can be more proactive in seeking out relevant information themselves. B. Use regular meetings to keep them up to date with relevant information that you receive. B is the best answer because it uses normal protocol, in other words, regular meetings, as the forum for discussion and resulting reassurance. 23. You are a team leader. You have a number of routine tasks to complete in addition to some other duties you volunteered for. You need to spread the workload. What should you do? A. Explain that in order to make sure everyone is developing, you are going to assign everyone extra duties. B. Explain that you are overworked and need some help and that you would appreciate some volunteers to take over some of your duties. C. Explain that you are looking for volunteers to take on some additional responsibilities, which is an opportunity for learning. D. Explain that you are going to assign everyone extra duties in order to make the team more effective. C is the best answer because it preserves the team leader authority while addressing the situation. C. Explain that you are looking for volunteers to take on some additional responsibilities, which is an opportunity for learning. Scenario 1: Relationship Management (Questions 24 and 25) You manage an extremely busy team of six people who are your organization's HR department. The November to December period is the busiest time of the year. December is approaching, and your department is undoubtedly beginning to feel the strain. Matters are reaching the breaking point. Staff morale is dropping, people are getting frustrated, and errors are increasing. Your staff is openly questioning what is expected of them. They seem confused about the department's overall objectives. However, the situation is not irretrievable if you act now. Complaints from company management and staff have not yet significantly increased. Urgent action is required. 24. What actions would you take under these circumstances? A. Set up weekly meetings with your team to review department status; set up some short-term objectives. B. Inform the team that there is too much careless work and announce the introduction of a formal record of errors. C. Establish formal target setting and review arrangements with each member of the team. D. Meet with your team; inform them that you will pay the best-performing team member in December a special performance bonus in January. A. Set up weekly meetings with your team to review department status; set up some short-term objectives. A. This is a situation that needs immediate action. A is the best answer because it involves establishing short-term objectives that are urgently needed under these circumstances. These objectives, in turn, are best supported by the enhanced communications that will result from the weekly meetings. Scenario 1: Relationship Management (Questions 24 and 25) You manage an extremely busy team of six people who are your organization's HR department. The November to December period is the busiest time of the year. December is approaching, and your department is undoubtedly beginning to feel the strain. Matters are reaching the breaking point. Staff morale is dropping, people are getting frustrated, and errors are increasing. Your staff is openly questioning what is expected of them. They seem confused about the department's overall objectives. However, the situation is not irretrievable if you act now. Complaints from company management and staff have not yet significantly increased. Urgent action is required. result, your staff has to improvise a number of normally routine process steps to get things done. This causes confusion and frustration for your staff and ultimately not only has a negative impact on the department's operations but also seems to be the source of your staff's confusion. 25. Given these circumstances, what additional actions, if any, would you take? A. Since this is only a temporary situation, simply admonish staff to work harder. B. Offer a bonus to anyone who will volunteer to update the department's guidelines to meet current requirements in addition to maintaining their current workload. C. Implement a mandatory overtime schedule until the department meets its productivity objectives. D. Offer a bonus to anyone who can improve their productivity by 10 percent or better. B. Offer a bonus to anyone who will volunteer to update the department's guidelines to meet current requirements in addition to maintaining their current workload. B is the best answer. Assuming that all are capable, offering a bonus is the best answer in that the need is immediate and the problem occurs during a peak production period. This approach has the advantage of providing an incentive to the person who takes on this additional responsibility. 26. Under what conditions would a company most likely rely on expatriates? A. The political situation is stable. B. Sufficient local talent is not available. C. Minimal cultural differences exist between home and host countries. D. Home-country personnel request international assignments. B. Sufficient local talent is not available. B. Expatriates are used most frequently when a pool of talented, experienced workers is not available in the host country. Since placing expatriates is expensive, there must be a compelling reason to hire expatriates over local nationals. 27. Which employee branding practice involves the identification or "mapping" of critical interaction points where the potential applicants or candidates most likely come in contact with the organization's brand? A. Benchmarking B. Online job and career portrayals C. Brand pillar identification D. Touchpoint mapping D. Touchpoint mapping involves the identification, or "mapping," of critical interaction points when the potential applicants and candidates come into contact with the organization's brand. D. Touchpoint mapping 28. What type of interview focuses on how a candidate previously handled real situations? A. Competency-based B. Stress C. Behavioral D. Unstructured C. Behavioral C. The behavioral interview focuses on how the candidate previously handled real situations that involved personal experiences for the candidate. 29. Which of Kirkpatrick's four levels of evaluation call for how participants increased or otherwise changed their knowledge, skills, and attitudes after training? A. Level 1: Reaction B. Level 2: Learning C. Level 3: Behavior D. Level 4: Results B. Level 2: Learning B. Kirkpatrick's level 2 is correct because learning measures how participants increased or otherwise changed their knowledge, skills, and attitudes as a result of training. 30. The global orientation of compensation and benefits strategies can have a direct and tangible impact on an organization's total rewards program. What are the implications called when an organization's total reward strategy leads to a transfer of the headquarters' total compensation policies from one location to another, with little or no consideration of local and cultural differences? A. Ethnocentric B. Polycentric C. Regiocentric D. Geocentric A. Ethnocentric A. An organization's ethnocentric orientation is more apt to lead to the transfer of headquarters' total compensation policies with little or no consideration of local and cultural differences. 31. Which profitability term is applicable to the percentage of total sales revenue after incurring the direct costs of producing goods and services? A. Earnings per share B. Return on investment C. Profit margin D. Gross margin D. The definition of gross margin is a profitability ratio showing the percentage of total sales revenue after incurring the direct costs of producing goods and services sold. D. Gross margin 32. What is a due diligence category that includes identifying mechanisms for communication and data tracking, the use of each organization's use and type of enterprise management tools, and the integration of technology known as? A. Structural issues B. Financial considerations C. Technological considerations D. Legal issues C. Technological considerations C. Due diligence is a business concept that refers to a full investigation of all factors involved in a business decision to ensure that all of the risks are identified, understood, and accepted. Due diligence usually divides into four categories: structural issues, technological issues, financial considerations, and legal issues. Structural issues involve identifying communications mechanisms, data tracking equipment, enterprise management tools, and the ability to integrate applicable technology. 33. Data analysis can overwhelm a presentation communicating strategic results. The best strategy is to communicate results as a narrative supported by data. Which of the following would be the best way to present information relative to a project to increase diversity goals set 3 years ago? A. A scattergram showing the overall effect of recruitment efforts over the past 3 years B. A combination bar chart showing actual and planned levels for each of the 3 years C. A tree diagram indicating the relative size of causes with their probability D. A Pareto chart showing where most of the budget for previous efforts was focused B. A combination bar chart showing actual and planned levels for each of the 3 years B. A combination bar chart would be the best display of data because it can be constructed to show the planned and actual goals achievement over the 3-year period. 34. Which component of a business case presentation to management discusses factors that could increase or decrease the project's chance for success? A. Statement of need B. Recommended solution C. Risks and opportunities D. Estimated costs and timeframe C. Risks and opportunities C. Risk and opportunities discuss outcomes that could decrease or increase the project's chance of success. Outcomes can also present new opportunities that call for action; they also create risks of doing nothing. 35. Which of the following is a characteristic of an income statement? A. Provides a "bottom-line" look at how the organization is performing B. Compares assets, liabilities, and equities C. Includes investments the company has made D. Includes long-term debt A. Provides a "bottom-line" look at how the organization is performing A. The bottom line is the relationship between revenue and expenses that equates to a company's net income, or the bottom line. This is data that is reflected on an income statement. 36. Senior leadership of a retail store chain is considering reducing the number of managers. What should be considered when determining which areas could be effectively managed with fewer supervisors? A. Which stores have the lowest financial performance? B. Do the employees perform repetitive simple tasks or is the work complex? C. Which stores are unionized? D. What is the highest level of education completed by the current management staff? B. Do the employees perform repetitive simple tasks or is the work complex? B. A wide span of control works best when the employees perform repetitive or simple tasks. For more complex, specialized functions, a narrow span of control is more fitting. The problem that senior leadership is trying to solve in this case is whether they can reduce management staff without negatively impacting employee supervision. It would make sense to look at the pros and cons of adjusting spans of control.