SPHR Study Guide with Complete
Solutions
Effectiveness - ANS-measures the extent to which objectives are achieved
Correlational Study - ANS-is a study that measures and correlates the relationship
between several processes in an organization; cannot be used to measure a single
internal process
ROI, Cost Benefit Analysis, Break Even Analysis - ANS-are techniques that measures
the effectiveness and efficiency of a single process
Hypothesis - ANS-a tentative explanation for an observation or phenomena that can be
tested through experimentation
Internal Consistency - ANS-is used to assess the consistency of results across items
within a test it is a testing method that test reliability divides two equal parts of one
whole test to measure the degree to which they are all measuring the same variable
Evaluating change process - ANS-an important aspect of ensuring the plan is on track
and that objectives are being met within a pre determined specified timeline
Zero based budgeting - ANS-provides for the analysis of alternative methods of
operation and various levels of effort. It places new objectives and operations on an
equal footing with existing ones by requiring that program priorities be ranked thereby
providing a systematic basis for allocating resources
Incremental budgeting - ANS-bases the new budget on the utilization of the prior budget
and the new needs and objectives for each program in the coming year
Formula budgeting - ANS-applies a specific formula across the organization to calculate
funding.
Incremental budgeting and Formula budgeting - ANS-do not build accountability for
allocating resources to programs that will maximize the return on investments spent
which is required in q recession economy
Benchmarking - ANS-a means of assessing the best practices and performance goals
out in the market amongst the top competitors
, Mean - ANS-calculated by adding the values of the total numbers, divided by the total
number, i.e. 11+5+10+8=34/4 = 8.5
Mission - ANS-a statement that captures an organization's purpose, customer
orientation and business philosophy. It outlines the scope of the organizations specific
activities, provides overall direction and gives a framework to achieve success
Vision - ANS-a statement about what your organization wants to become - definition of
its own success
Strategic plan - ANS-a detailed plan that identifies the activities that an organization/
group will pursue to meet specified objectives.
Organizational values - ANS-has nothing to do with the success or objectives of the
organization; they are acceptable standards, which govern the behavior of individuals
within the organization - it's general ethical code of conduct
Core purpose of environmental scanning - ANS-to identify potential external effects on
an organization, i.e. economic factors, international factors, technical factors, social
factors, political factors, etc.
Economic factors - ANS-inflation, interest rates
International factors - ANS-wage comparisons, trade agreements
Technological factors - ANS-new required skills
Social factors - ANS-corporate responsibility
Employment factors - ANS-immigration, migration shift, unemployment trends,
contingency workforce
Demographic factors - ANS-age differences, percentge unskilled labor
Political factors - ANS-partisan climate, civil unrest
Decentralized environment - ANS-allows for fast paced decision making which is
required in a small company and its growth phase
Break even analysis - ANS-cost benefit analysis which measures the cost of
effectiveness of a program/investment; it is the point at which costs of implementing a
program equal the savings made from investing in the program
Statistical forecasting - ANS-statistics used in order to forecast future trends and
outcomes
Solutions
Effectiveness - ANS-measures the extent to which objectives are achieved
Correlational Study - ANS-is a study that measures and correlates the relationship
between several processes in an organization; cannot be used to measure a single
internal process
ROI, Cost Benefit Analysis, Break Even Analysis - ANS-are techniques that measures
the effectiveness and efficiency of a single process
Hypothesis - ANS-a tentative explanation for an observation or phenomena that can be
tested through experimentation
Internal Consistency - ANS-is used to assess the consistency of results across items
within a test it is a testing method that test reliability divides two equal parts of one
whole test to measure the degree to which they are all measuring the same variable
Evaluating change process - ANS-an important aspect of ensuring the plan is on track
and that objectives are being met within a pre determined specified timeline
Zero based budgeting - ANS-provides for the analysis of alternative methods of
operation and various levels of effort. It places new objectives and operations on an
equal footing with existing ones by requiring that program priorities be ranked thereby
providing a systematic basis for allocating resources
Incremental budgeting - ANS-bases the new budget on the utilization of the prior budget
and the new needs and objectives for each program in the coming year
Formula budgeting - ANS-applies a specific formula across the organization to calculate
funding.
Incremental budgeting and Formula budgeting - ANS-do not build accountability for
allocating resources to programs that will maximize the return on investments spent
which is required in q recession economy
Benchmarking - ANS-a means of assessing the best practices and performance goals
out in the market amongst the top competitors
, Mean - ANS-calculated by adding the values of the total numbers, divided by the total
number, i.e. 11+5+10+8=34/4 = 8.5
Mission - ANS-a statement that captures an organization's purpose, customer
orientation and business philosophy. It outlines the scope of the organizations specific
activities, provides overall direction and gives a framework to achieve success
Vision - ANS-a statement about what your organization wants to become - definition of
its own success
Strategic plan - ANS-a detailed plan that identifies the activities that an organization/
group will pursue to meet specified objectives.
Organizational values - ANS-has nothing to do with the success or objectives of the
organization; they are acceptable standards, which govern the behavior of individuals
within the organization - it's general ethical code of conduct
Core purpose of environmental scanning - ANS-to identify potential external effects on
an organization, i.e. economic factors, international factors, technical factors, social
factors, political factors, etc.
Economic factors - ANS-inflation, interest rates
International factors - ANS-wage comparisons, trade agreements
Technological factors - ANS-new required skills
Social factors - ANS-corporate responsibility
Employment factors - ANS-immigration, migration shift, unemployment trends,
contingency workforce
Demographic factors - ANS-age differences, percentge unskilled labor
Political factors - ANS-partisan climate, civil unrest
Decentralized environment - ANS-allows for fast paced decision making which is
required in a small company and its growth phase
Break even analysis - ANS-cost benefit analysis which measures the cost of
effectiveness of a program/investment; it is the point at which costs of implementing a
program equal the savings made from investing in the program
Statistical forecasting - ANS-statistics used in order to forecast future trends and
outcomes
