SHRM-CP Terms and Explanations
Updated 2026
ADAMAmendmentsMActM(ADAAA)M-
MAnswerMAmendmentsMtoMAmericansMwithMDisabilitiesMActMcoveringMtheMdefinitionMof
MindividualsMregardedMasMhavingMaMdisability,MmitigatingMmeasures,MandMotherMrulesMo
fMconstructionMtoMguideMtheManalysisMofMwhatMconstitutesMaMdisability.
ADDIEMmodelM-MAnswerMFive-
stepMinstructionalMdesignMprocessMthatMgovernsMtheMdevelopmentMofMlearningMprograms
.
AdverseMimpactM-
MAnswerMTypeMofMdiscriminationMthatMresultsMwhenMaMneutralMpolicyMhasMaMdiscrimin
atoryMeffect;MalsoMknownMasMdisparateMimpact.
AgeMDiscriminationMinMEmploymentMActM(ADEA)M-
MAnswerMActMthatMprohibitsMdiscriminationMinMemploymentMforMpersonsMageM40MandM
over.
AlternativeMdisputeMresolutionM(ADR)M-
MAnswerMUmbrellaMtermMusedMtoMdescribeMaMnumberMofMproblem-
solvingMandMgrievanceMresolutionMapproaches.
AmericansMwithMDisabilitiesMActM(ADA)M-
MAnswerMActMthatMprohibitsMdiscriminationMagainstMaMqualifiedMindividualMwithMaMdisa
bilityMbecauseMofMhis/herMdisability.
AnalyticsM-
MAnswerMToolsMthatMconvertMmetricsMtoMbeMusedMforMdecisionMsupportMbyMaddingMc
ontextMorMfurtherMsubclassifyingMcomparisonMgroups.
AndragogyM-MAnswerMStudyMofMhowMadultsMlearn.
ApplicantMtrackingMsoftwareM(ATS)M-
MAnswerMSoftwareMthatMprovidesManMautomatedMwayMforMorganizationsMtoMmanageMth
eMrecruitingMprocess.
,ApprenticeshipM-
MAnswerMRelatesMtoMtechnicalMskillsMtraining;MoftenMaMpartnershipMbetweenMemployers
MandMunions.
ArbitrationM-
MAnswerMProcedureMinMwhichMdisputesMareMsubmittedMtoMoneMorMmoreMimpartialMper
sonsMforMfinalMdetermination.
AssessmentMcentersM-
MAnswerMAssessmentMtoolsMthatMprovideMcandidatesMaMwideMrangeMofMleadershipMsitu
ationsMandMproblem-solvingMexercises.
AssigneesM-MAnswerMEmployeesMwhoMworkMoutsideMtheirMhomeMcountries.
At-willMemploymentM-MAnswerMCommon-
lawMprincipleMstatingMthatMemployersMhaveMtheMrightMtoMhire,Mfire,Mdemote,MandMpro
moteMwhomeverMtheyMchooseMforManyMreasonMunlessMthereMisMaMlawMorMcontractMto
MtheMcontraryMandMemployeesMhaveMtheMrightMtoMquitMaMjobMatManyMtime.
AuditoryMlearnersM-
MAnswerMPeopleMwhoMlearnMbestMbyMrelyingMonMtheirMsenseMofMhearing.
BalancedMscorecardM-
MAnswerMMeasurementMapproachMthatMprovidesManMoverallMpictureMofManMorganization'
sMperformanceMasMmeasuredMagainstMgoalsMinMfinance,Mcustomers,MinternalMbusinessMpr
ocesses,MandMlearningMandMgrowth.
BalanceMsheetM-
MAnswerMStatementMthatMreportsMtheMfinancialMpositionMofMtheMorganizationMatMaMsp
ecificMpointMinMtime;MshowsMassets,Mliabilities,MandMshareholderMequity.
BehavioralMinterviewM-
MAnswerMTypeMofMinterviewMthatMfocusesMonMhowMapplicantsMpreviouslyMhandledMreal
Msituations.
BenchmarkingM-
MAnswerMProcessMthatMcomparesMperformanceMlevelsMand/orMprocessesMofMoneMentity
,MwithMthoseMofManotherMtoMidentifyMperformanceMgapsMandMsetMgoalsMaimedMatMimp
rovingMperformance.
BenefitsM-
MAnswerMPaymentsMorMservicesMprovidedMtoMemployeesMtoMcoverMissuesMsuchMasMreti
rement,MhealthMcoverage,MsickMpay/disabilityMschemes,MlifeMinsurance,MandMpaidMtimeM
off.
BiasM-
MAnswerMOccursMwhenManMappraiser'sMvalues,Mbeliefs,MorMprejudicesMdistortMperforman
ceMratings.
BigMdataM-MAnswerMHigh-volume,Mhigh-velocity,MandMhigh-
varietyMinformationMassetsMthatMrequireMinnovativeMformsMofMinformationMprocessingMfo
rMenhancedMinsightMandMdecisionMmaking.
BlendedMlearningM-
MAnswerMPlannedMapproachMtoMlearningMthatMincludesMaMcombinationMofMinstructor-
ledMtraining,Mself-directedMstudy,Mand/orMon-the-jobMtraining.
BlogsM-MAnswerMBroadcast-
styleMcommunicationsMthatMenableMauthorsMtoMpublishMarticles,Mopinions,MproductMorMs
erviceMreviews,Metc.,MonMaMwebMpage.
BlueMoceanMstrategiesM-
MAnswerMStrategiesMthatMcreateMcompetitiveMadvantageMbyMcreatingMaMnewMmarketplac
eMarenaMinMwhichMthereMareMnoMotherMcompetitors.
BonaMfideMoccupationalMqualificationM(BFOQ)M-
MAnswerMSituationMinMwhichMreligion,Msex,MorMnationalMoriginMisMreasonablyMnecessary
MtoMcarryingMoutMaMparticularMjobMfunctionMinMtheMnormalMoperationsMofManMorganiz
ation.
BrainMdrainM-
MAnswerMExitMofMeducatedMandMskilledMcitizensMfromMemergingMandMdevelopingMcount
riesMforMbetter-payingMjobsMinMdevelopedMcountries.
, BroadbandingM-
MAnswerMCombiningMseveralMsalaryMgradesMorMjobMclassificationsMwithMnarrowMpayMran
gesMintoMoneMbandMwithMaMwiderMsalaryMspread.
BurlingtonMIndustries,MInc.Mv.MEllerthM-
MAnswerMCourtMrulingMthatMdistinguishedMbetweenMsupervisorMharassmentMthatMresults
MinMtangibleMemploymentMactionMandMsupervisorMharassmentMthatMdoesMnot.
BusinessMAcumenM-
MAnswerMTheMabilityMtoMunderstandMandMapplyMinformationMwithMwhichMtoMcontribute
MtoMtheMorganization'sMstrategicMplan.
BusinessMcaseM-
MAnswerMPresentationMtoMmanagementMthatMestablishesMthatMaMspecificMproblemMexists
MandMarguesMthatMtheMproposedMsolutionMisMtheMbestMwayMtoMsolveMtheMproblemMi
nMtermsMofMtime,McostMefficiency,MandMprobabilityMofMsuccess.
BusinessMintelligenceM-
MAnswerMAbilityMtoMgatherMandManalyzeMdataMfromMinsideMandMoutsideMtheMorganizati
onMsoMthatMinformationMisMavailableMforMdecisionMmakers.
CareerMdevelopmentM-
MAnswerMProcessMbyMwhichMemployeesMprogressMthroughMaMseriesMofMstagesMinMtheir
Mcareers,MeachMofMwhichMisMcharacterizedMbyMrelativelyMuniqueMissues,Mthemes,MandM
tasks.
CareerMmanagementM-
MAnswerMPreparing,Mimplementing,MandMmonitoringMemployees'McareerMpaths,MwithMaM
primaryMfocusMonMtheMgoalsMandMneedsMofMtheMorganization.
CareerMplanningM-
MAnswerMActionsMandMactivitiesMthatMindividualsMperformMinMorderMtoMgiveMdirectionM
toMtheirMworkMlives.
CashMflowsMstatementM-
MAnswerMStatementMthatMshowsMincomingMandMoutgoingMcashMinMtheMareasMofMopera
tions,Minvestments,MandMfinancingMandMremainingMcashMreserves;MreflectsManMorganizatio
n'sMabilityMtoMmeetMitsMcurrentMandMshort-termMobligations.
Updated 2026
ADAMAmendmentsMActM(ADAAA)M-
MAnswerMAmendmentsMtoMAmericansMwithMDisabilitiesMActMcoveringMtheMdefinitionMof
MindividualsMregardedMasMhavingMaMdisability,MmitigatingMmeasures,MandMotherMrulesMo
fMconstructionMtoMguideMtheManalysisMofMwhatMconstitutesMaMdisability.
ADDIEMmodelM-MAnswerMFive-
stepMinstructionalMdesignMprocessMthatMgovernsMtheMdevelopmentMofMlearningMprograms
.
AdverseMimpactM-
MAnswerMTypeMofMdiscriminationMthatMresultsMwhenMaMneutralMpolicyMhasMaMdiscrimin
atoryMeffect;MalsoMknownMasMdisparateMimpact.
AgeMDiscriminationMinMEmploymentMActM(ADEA)M-
MAnswerMActMthatMprohibitsMdiscriminationMinMemploymentMforMpersonsMageM40MandM
over.
AlternativeMdisputeMresolutionM(ADR)M-
MAnswerMUmbrellaMtermMusedMtoMdescribeMaMnumberMofMproblem-
solvingMandMgrievanceMresolutionMapproaches.
AmericansMwithMDisabilitiesMActM(ADA)M-
MAnswerMActMthatMprohibitsMdiscriminationMagainstMaMqualifiedMindividualMwithMaMdisa
bilityMbecauseMofMhis/herMdisability.
AnalyticsM-
MAnswerMToolsMthatMconvertMmetricsMtoMbeMusedMforMdecisionMsupportMbyMaddingMc
ontextMorMfurtherMsubclassifyingMcomparisonMgroups.
AndragogyM-MAnswerMStudyMofMhowMadultsMlearn.
ApplicantMtrackingMsoftwareM(ATS)M-
MAnswerMSoftwareMthatMprovidesManMautomatedMwayMforMorganizationsMtoMmanageMth
eMrecruitingMprocess.
,ApprenticeshipM-
MAnswerMRelatesMtoMtechnicalMskillsMtraining;MoftenMaMpartnershipMbetweenMemployers
MandMunions.
ArbitrationM-
MAnswerMProcedureMinMwhichMdisputesMareMsubmittedMtoMoneMorMmoreMimpartialMper
sonsMforMfinalMdetermination.
AssessmentMcentersM-
MAnswerMAssessmentMtoolsMthatMprovideMcandidatesMaMwideMrangeMofMleadershipMsitu
ationsMandMproblem-solvingMexercises.
AssigneesM-MAnswerMEmployeesMwhoMworkMoutsideMtheirMhomeMcountries.
At-willMemploymentM-MAnswerMCommon-
lawMprincipleMstatingMthatMemployersMhaveMtheMrightMtoMhire,Mfire,Mdemote,MandMpro
moteMwhomeverMtheyMchooseMforManyMreasonMunlessMthereMisMaMlawMorMcontractMto
MtheMcontraryMandMemployeesMhaveMtheMrightMtoMquitMaMjobMatManyMtime.
AuditoryMlearnersM-
MAnswerMPeopleMwhoMlearnMbestMbyMrelyingMonMtheirMsenseMofMhearing.
BalancedMscorecardM-
MAnswerMMeasurementMapproachMthatMprovidesManMoverallMpictureMofManMorganization'
sMperformanceMasMmeasuredMagainstMgoalsMinMfinance,Mcustomers,MinternalMbusinessMpr
ocesses,MandMlearningMandMgrowth.
BalanceMsheetM-
MAnswerMStatementMthatMreportsMtheMfinancialMpositionMofMtheMorganizationMatMaMsp
ecificMpointMinMtime;MshowsMassets,Mliabilities,MandMshareholderMequity.
BehavioralMinterviewM-
MAnswerMTypeMofMinterviewMthatMfocusesMonMhowMapplicantsMpreviouslyMhandledMreal
Msituations.
BenchmarkingM-
MAnswerMProcessMthatMcomparesMperformanceMlevelsMand/orMprocessesMofMoneMentity
,MwithMthoseMofManotherMtoMidentifyMperformanceMgapsMandMsetMgoalsMaimedMatMimp
rovingMperformance.
BenefitsM-
MAnswerMPaymentsMorMservicesMprovidedMtoMemployeesMtoMcoverMissuesMsuchMasMreti
rement,MhealthMcoverage,MsickMpay/disabilityMschemes,MlifeMinsurance,MandMpaidMtimeM
off.
BiasM-
MAnswerMOccursMwhenManMappraiser'sMvalues,Mbeliefs,MorMprejudicesMdistortMperforman
ceMratings.
BigMdataM-MAnswerMHigh-volume,Mhigh-velocity,MandMhigh-
varietyMinformationMassetsMthatMrequireMinnovativeMformsMofMinformationMprocessingMfo
rMenhancedMinsightMandMdecisionMmaking.
BlendedMlearningM-
MAnswerMPlannedMapproachMtoMlearningMthatMincludesMaMcombinationMofMinstructor-
ledMtraining,Mself-directedMstudy,Mand/orMon-the-jobMtraining.
BlogsM-MAnswerMBroadcast-
styleMcommunicationsMthatMenableMauthorsMtoMpublishMarticles,Mopinions,MproductMorMs
erviceMreviews,Metc.,MonMaMwebMpage.
BlueMoceanMstrategiesM-
MAnswerMStrategiesMthatMcreateMcompetitiveMadvantageMbyMcreatingMaMnewMmarketplac
eMarenaMinMwhichMthereMareMnoMotherMcompetitors.
BonaMfideMoccupationalMqualificationM(BFOQ)M-
MAnswerMSituationMinMwhichMreligion,Msex,MorMnationalMoriginMisMreasonablyMnecessary
MtoMcarryingMoutMaMparticularMjobMfunctionMinMtheMnormalMoperationsMofManMorganiz
ation.
BrainMdrainM-
MAnswerMExitMofMeducatedMandMskilledMcitizensMfromMemergingMandMdevelopingMcount
riesMforMbetter-payingMjobsMinMdevelopedMcountries.
, BroadbandingM-
MAnswerMCombiningMseveralMsalaryMgradesMorMjobMclassificationsMwithMnarrowMpayMran
gesMintoMoneMbandMwithMaMwiderMsalaryMspread.
BurlingtonMIndustries,MInc.Mv.MEllerthM-
MAnswerMCourtMrulingMthatMdistinguishedMbetweenMsupervisorMharassmentMthatMresults
MinMtangibleMemploymentMactionMandMsupervisorMharassmentMthatMdoesMnot.
BusinessMAcumenM-
MAnswerMTheMabilityMtoMunderstandMandMapplyMinformationMwithMwhichMtoMcontribute
MtoMtheMorganization'sMstrategicMplan.
BusinessMcaseM-
MAnswerMPresentationMtoMmanagementMthatMestablishesMthatMaMspecificMproblemMexists
MandMarguesMthatMtheMproposedMsolutionMisMtheMbestMwayMtoMsolveMtheMproblemMi
nMtermsMofMtime,McostMefficiency,MandMprobabilityMofMsuccess.
BusinessMintelligenceM-
MAnswerMAbilityMtoMgatherMandManalyzeMdataMfromMinsideMandMoutsideMtheMorganizati
onMsoMthatMinformationMisMavailableMforMdecisionMmakers.
CareerMdevelopmentM-
MAnswerMProcessMbyMwhichMemployeesMprogressMthroughMaMseriesMofMstagesMinMtheir
Mcareers,MeachMofMwhichMisMcharacterizedMbyMrelativelyMuniqueMissues,Mthemes,MandM
tasks.
CareerMmanagementM-
MAnswerMPreparing,Mimplementing,MandMmonitoringMemployees'McareerMpaths,MwithMaM
primaryMfocusMonMtheMgoalsMandMneedsMofMtheMorganization.
CareerMplanningM-
MAnswerMActionsMandMactivitiesMthatMindividualsMperformMinMorderMtoMgiveMdirectionM
toMtheirMworkMlives.
CashMflowsMstatementM-
MAnswerMStatementMthatMshowsMincomingMandMoutgoingMcashMinMtheMareasMofMopera
tions,Minvestments,MandMfinancingMandMremainingMcashMreserves;MreflectsManMorganizatio
n'sMabilityMtoMmeetMitsMcurrentMandMshort-termMobligations.