,WGU C202 - Managing Human Capital | Questions and Answers |
2026 Updates
1. Which of the following best describes the primary shift from traditional personnel
management to strategic human capital management?
A) A focus on increasing the volume of paperwork for employee records
B) A shift from administrative tasks to aligning HR with organizational strategy to drive
business results
C) A reduction in employee training programs to cut costs
D) A movement toward hiring more temporary workers to increase flexibility
Correct Answer: A shift from administrative tasks to aligning HR with organizational strategy
to drive business results
Rationale: Strategic human capital management moves beyond the administrative record-
keeping of traditional personnel management. Its core purpose is to leverage human resources
to achieve organizational goals, improve performance, and create a competitive advantage .
This alignment with business strategy is the defining characteristic of this evolution.
2. What is the primary goal of affirmative action in an organization?
A) To bar employment decisions based solely on ability and qualifications
B) To rely on legal remedies to punish past discriminatory practices
C) To seek to remedy past practices that have had an adverse effect on applicants
D) To focus exclusively on changing institutional demographics from the top-down
Correct Answer: To seek to remedy past practices that have had an adverse effect on
applicants
, Rationale: Affirmative action involves proactive efforts to eliminate discrimination and its past
effects . It aims to remedy the results of past practices that have negatively impacted protected
groups, rather than simply punishing past discrimination or focusing only on demographics .
3. According to the course syllabus, which of the following is a core competency for the WGU
C202 Managing Human Capital course?
A) The graduate determines the strategic impact of human resource management on
organizations
B) The graduate creates a comprehensive financial budget for the HR department
C) The graduate manages the company's supply chain and logistics operations
D) The graduate develops marketing strategies for new products and services
Correct Answer: The graduate determines the strategic impact of human resource
management on organizations
Rationale: The "Strategic Human Resource Management" competency explicitly requires the
graduate to determine the strategic impact of HRM on organizations . The other options
describe functions outside the scope of this specific course.
4. A human resources manual specifies that employees cannot be terminated or punished for
refusing to follow an illegal request made by a supervisor. Which ethical standard is being
applied to resolve this dilemma?
A) Virtue standard
B) Utilitarian standard
C) Common good standard
D) Rights standard
Correct Answer: Rights standard
, Rationale: The rights standard dictates that the ethical action is the one that best respects
and protects the moral rights of everyone affected . Protecting an employee from retaliation for
not following an illegal order safeguards their fundamental rights and is a clear application of
this standard .
5. An employee breaks an arm while at work performing their regular duties. Which of the
following should cover this event?
A) The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
B) The organization's short-term disability policy
C) Workers' compensation
D) The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)
Correct Answer: Workers' compensation
Rationale: Workers' compensation provides benefits to employees who suffer work-related
injuries or illnesses . An injury sustained while performing regular job duties falls under this
coverage, which is a mandated benefit for most employers.
6. An employer terminates an employee for being unattractive and putting less effort into
personal appearance. Why is this permitted under an at-will employment relationship?
A) The employer has a legitimate business reason for the termination
B) The employee is not a member of a protected class
C) An employer can terminate an employee for an immoral reason
D) The employee violated a company policy on appearance
Correct Answer: An employer can terminate an employee for an immoral reason
2026 Updates
1. Which of the following best describes the primary shift from traditional personnel
management to strategic human capital management?
A) A focus on increasing the volume of paperwork for employee records
B) A shift from administrative tasks to aligning HR with organizational strategy to drive
business results
C) A reduction in employee training programs to cut costs
D) A movement toward hiring more temporary workers to increase flexibility
Correct Answer: A shift from administrative tasks to aligning HR with organizational strategy
to drive business results
Rationale: Strategic human capital management moves beyond the administrative record-
keeping of traditional personnel management. Its core purpose is to leverage human resources
to achieve organizational goals, improve performance, and create a competitive advantage .
This alignment with business strategy is the defining characteristic of this evolution.
2. What is the primary goal of affirmative action in an organization?
A) To bar employment decisions based solely on ability and qualifications
B) To rely on legal remedies to punish past discriminatory practices
C) To seek to remedy past practices that have had an adverse effect on applicants
D) To focus exclusively on changing institutional demographics from the top-down
Correct Answer: To seek to remedy past practices that have had an adverse effect on
applicants
, Rationale: Affirmative action involves proactive efforts to eliminate discrimination and its past
effects . It aims to remedy the results of past practices that have negatively impacted protected
groups, rather than simply punishing past discrimination or focusing only on demographics .
3. According to the course syllabus, which of the following is a core competency for the WGU
C202 Managing Human Capital course?
A) The graduate determines the strategic impact of human resource management on
organizations
B) The graduate creates a comprehensive financial budget for the HR department
C) The graduate manages the company's supply chain and logistics operations
D) The graduate develops marketing strategies for new products and services
Correct Answer: The graduate determines the strategic impact of human resource
management on organizations
Rationale: The "Strategic Human Resource Management" competency explicitly requires the
graduate to determine the strategic impact of HRM on organizations . The other options
describe functions outside the scope of this specific course.
4. A human resources manual specifies that employees cannot be terminated or punished for
refusing to follow an illegal request made by a supervisor. Which ethical standard is being
applied to resolve this dilemma?
A) Virtue standard
B) Utilitarian standard
C) Common good standard
D) Rights standard
Correct Answer: Rights standard
, Rationale: The rights standard dictates that the ethical action is the one that best respects
and protects the moral rights of everyone affected . Protecting an employee from retaliation for
not following an illegal order safeguards their fundamental rights and is a clear application of
this standard .
5. An employee breaks an arm while at work performing their regular duties. Which of the
following should cover this event?
A) The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
B) The organization's short-term disability policy
C) Workers' compensation
D) The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)
Correct Answer: Workers' compensation
Rationale: Workers' compensation provides benefits to employees who suffer work-related
injuries or illnesses . An injury sustained while performing regular job duties falls under this
coverage, which is a mandated benefit for most employers.
6. An employer terminates an employee for being unattractive and putting less effort into
personal appearance. Why is this permitted under an at-will employment relationship?
A) The employer has a legitimate business reason for the termination
B) The employee is not a member of a protected class
C) An employer can terminate an employee for an immoral reason
D) The employee violated a company policy on appearance
Correct Answer: An employer can terminate an employee for an immoral reason
