Page | 1
HRIR 3450 - Chapter 3
Questions and Verified
Answers
Question: Since 2000, unionization rates in Canada have..
Ans: Declined by over 18% in the private sector.
The largest decrease occurring in manufacturing where 300,000 jobs were lost.
Question: In the private sector, the conventional wisdom is that management has two
core objectives:
Ans: 1. The maximization of profit
2. Maintaining control over the business
Question: In the public and non-profit sectors employers seek..
Ans: To balance operating budgets, comply with government policy initiatives and
meet demands for public services at reasonable costs.
Question: To maximize profits, private sector employers will seek...
Ans: To increase efficiency or productivity.
Question: Productivity from a human resources management perspective may be
expressed as a function of three variables..
, Page | 2
Ans: 1. Ability
2. Motivation
3. Environment
Question: Output may be declining due to the worker's ability to perform job duties.
What question is asked?
Ans: "Can the individual perform the assigned work?"
Question: "Can the individual perform the assigned work?"
Ans: This may be due to a skill, knowledge or ability gap.
Also could be due to physical or emotional factors that prevent the worker from
performing at an optimal level.
Question: In regards to motivation..
"Will the person perform the assigned work?"
, Page | 3
Ans: Stress can be caused by workplace or external factors, lack of job performance
feedback and interpersonal relationships with supervisors or peers.
The employee may have the required abilities and may be motivated to perform
their job, but factors in the environment may interfere with set goals for work
output. Including:
Poorly maintained equipment integral to the performance of assigned duties
A poisoned work setting caused by harassment or bullying
Inventory supply
Work team dynamics
Question: While the focus in the media is most often on productivity growth rates, the
actual level of productivity is equally of interest.
Ans: Low productivity levels present an enormous challenge for Canada's future
economic prosperity.
Question: Processes employers have used to deal with productivity improvement
, Page | 4
Ans: Production/ job design
Technology
re-engineering
Question: Production design
Ans: A process that leads to the efficient and effective generation of a product or
service.
Question: Fordism "Continuous flow" production design
Ans: De-skileld workers remaining stationary while the assembly lines brought
gradually assembled vehicles and parts to be added to their stationary location on
the line.
Question: While greater efficiencies in support of productivity were achieved through
Fordism..
Ans: Unions now gain an advantage by groups of strategically placed production
workers able to stop production due to a labour grievance.
Question: Job design
Ans: An approach to enhance organizational efficiency and worker satisfaction
through technological and human considerations.
Question: Why has the notion of a job as as et of well defined and clearly stated
responsibilities changed?
Ans: External forces such as global competition, technological advances, and the
rise of a service economy.
HRIR 3450 - Chapter 3
Questions and Verified
Answers
Question: Since 2000, unionization rates in Canada have..
Ans: Declined by over 18% in the private sector.
The largest decrease occurring in manufacturing where 300,000 jobs were lost.
Question: In the private sector, the conventional wisdom is that management has two
core objectives:
Ans: 1. The maximization of profit
2. Maintaining control over the business
Question: In the public and non-profit sectors employers seek..
Ans: To balance operating budgets, comply with government policy initiatives and
meet demands for public services at reasonable costs.
Question: To maximize profits, private sector employers will seek...
Ans: To increase efficiency or productivity.
Question: Productivity from a human resources management perspective may be
expressed as a function of three variables..
, Page | 2
Ans: 1. Ability
2. Motivation
3. Environment
Question: Output may be declining due to the worker's ability to perform job duties.
What question is asked?
Ans: "Can the individual perform the assigned work?"
Question: "Can the individual perform the assigned work?"
Ans: This may be due to a skill, knowledge or ability gap.
Also could be due to physical or emotional factors that prevent the worker from
performing at an optimal level.
Question: In regards to motivation..
"Will the person perform the assigned work?"
, Page | 3
Ans: Stress can be caused by workplace or external factors, lack of job performance
feedback and interpersonal relationships with supervisors or peers.
The employee may have the required abilities and may be motivated to perform
their job, but factors in the environment may interfere with set goals for work
output. Including:
Poorly maintained equipment integral to the performance of assigned duties
A poisoned work setting caused by harassment or bullying
Inventory supply
Work team dynamics
Question: While the focus in the media is most often on productivity growth rates, the
actual level of productivity is equally of interest.
Ans: Low productivity levels present an enormous challenge for Canada's future
economic prosperity.
Question: Processes employers have used to deal with productivity improvement
, Page | 4
Ans: Production/ job design
Technology
re-engineering
Question: Production design
Ans: A process that leads to the efficient and effective generation of a product or
service.
Question: Fordism "Continuous flow" production design
Ans: De-skileld workers remaining stationary while the assembly lines brought
gradually assembled vehicles and parts to be added to their stationary location on
the line.
Question: While greater efficiencies in support of productivity were achieved through
Fordism..
Ans: Unions now gain an advantage by groups of strategically placed production
workers able to stop production due to a labour grievance.
Question: Job design
Ans: An approach to enhance organizational efficiency and worker satisfaction
through technological and human considerations.
Question: Why has the notion of a job as as et of well defined and clearly stated
responsibilities changed?
Ans: External forces such as global competition, technological advances, and the
rise of a service economy.
