2023-2024 SHRM Practice Final Exam
What company is using a corporate strategy of differentiation?
A. A company sells in volume and offers discounts to its best customers
B. The finished product is sold at a lower price than that of the competition
C. A company develops a product that is uniquely easy to use and charges a premium price
D. A company orders large quantities of parts to get the greatest discount - correct answer-C
- Business Acumen
Differentiation focuses on setting a product or service apart by giving it unique
characteristics that customer's value and for which they will pay a premium. The other
options deal with the ways to create a cost advantage.
What type of learner acquires knowledge most effectively though a hands-on approach?
A. Synthesis learner
B. Kinesthetic learner
C. Visual learner
D. Auditory learner - correct answer-B - Learning and Development
Kinesthetic learns, also known as tactile learners, learn best through a hands-on approach.
They prefer activity to explore the physical world around them. They may find it hard to sit
still for long periods and may become distracted by their need for activity and exploration.
What financial document lists the revenues, expenses, and profits of an organization for a
designation period of time?
A. Balance sheet
B. Income statement
C. Financial statement
D. Accounting entry - correct answer-B - Business Acumen
The income statement shows revenue, expenses and profits for the organization. The
balance sheet shows its assets, liabilities, and shareholders' equity.
How can compensation and benefits technology improve a multinational enterprise's
regulatory compliance?
A. Automated record keeping and specialized reporting
B. Global settings for dates, numbers and time zones
C. System self-service administrative capabilities
Accurate attendanceinformation - correct answer-A - Technology Management
Automated record keeping and specialized reporting helps to ensure organized centralized
data and thorough record keeping and also helps avoid fines, penalties, and threats of
lawsuits.
Chain of command refers to the
A. extent to which policies and procedures govern the rules of the organization
B. number of individuals who report to a supervisor
C. line of authority within an organization
D. balance between standardization and localization - correct answer-C - Structure of the HR
Function
,Chain of command refers to a line authority within an organization. Authority relates to the
scope of responsibilities that define the area in which a manager is empowered to make
decisions. If is growing less distinct in many organizations today.
After conducting a reference background check, HR discovers that a leading candidate
misrepresented dates of previous employment both on the resume and the job application.
What is the most probable outcome of learning this information?
A. Check criminal records for felonies or misdemeanors
B. Conduct a credit history check with a consumer reporting agency
C. Ask for references about the employee's professionalism
D. Do not extent an offer of employment - correct answer-D - Talent Acquisition
Every employer has a legal duty to exercise due diligence in hiring. In certain circumstances,
an employer may give the candidate the opportunity to explain results of a reference
background check that might have an adverse effect on an employment decision. However,
most job applications include a statement that signing the job application attests to
truthfulness of the information contained in the document. Some employers even advise
candidates at the onset of the application process about the potential negative
consequences of providing any false or intentionally misleading information.
An organization conducts a pay survey and finds that some of its key employees are
underpaid. They want to raise the pay for these employees but are concerned about adding
to their salary burden. Which of the following is their BEST option?
A. Incentive pay
B. Step-rate adjustments linked to performance
C. Market-based increases
D. Cost-of-living adjustments - correct answer-A - Total Rewards
By definition, incentive pay is paying for performance beyond normal expectations.
Employees receive the incentive pay only if specific goals are met. As long as incentive pay
and base pay are not commingled, employees should perceive it as a reward (and not an
entitlement) and the employer will benefit from a greater return on investment for
performance beyond normal expectations.
What is the ESSENTIAL concept behind the stakeholder theory?
A. An organization affects and is affected by complex interests.
B. True value must be determined by the increase in a firm's net worth.
C. Organizations must see employees as partners rather than foes.
D. All stakeholders must receive value for a firm to be considered socially responsible. -
correct answer-A - Business Acumen
The stakeholder concept proposes that any organization operates within a complex
environment, in which if affects and is affected by a variety of forces or stakeholders, who all
share in the value of the organization and its activities.
Which of the following statements BEST defines due process in discipline for a
dischargeable offense?
A. Due process is designed to ensure that disciplined employees are treated fairly and
afforded opportunity to defend themselves.
B. Due process is a feature of a progressive discipline system that incorporates peer review.
,C. Due process ensures that discipline cases for dischargeable offenses are reviewed by an
attorney before action is taken.
D. Due process is designed to communicate and protect an employee's rights in a unionized
workplace. - correct answer-A - Employer & Labor Relations
Due process is a principle that ensures that employees are informed of expectations and the
consequences of failure to meet those expectations, are treated fairly and factually, and are
allowed an opportunity to defend themselves and appeal the decision. Due process does not
explicitly require peer review, nor is it limited to the setting of a unionized workplace. An
attorney's review may be advisable but is not required to have fulfilled the obligation of
providing an employee due process.
What type of strike occurs without the approval of union leadership?
A. Jurisdictional strikes
B. Wildcat strikes
C. Sympathystrikes
D. Economicstrikes - correct answer-B - Employer & Labor Relations
Wildcat strikes are work stoppages that are neither sanctioned for stimulated by the union,
although union officials may be aware of them. These strikes may also take the form of
excessive absences, especially when there are no-strike clauses in contracts. Jurisdictional
strikes are the result of
disagreements between unions; they occur when one union's members walk out to force an
employer to assign work to them instead of to another union. Sympathy strikes occur when
one union expresses its support for another union's strike even though it has not dispute with
the employer. Economic strikes are strikes that occur when collective bargaining fails to
reach an agreement.
Do heterogeneous teams generally outperform homogeneous teams?
A. Yes, but only if they are well managed.
B. No, they are too difficult to manage and coordinate.
C. No, there are too many different perspectives.
D. Yes, they get off to a faster start and maintain an advantage. - correct answer-A -
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Competency
There are differences of opinion and approach in heterogeneous teams. If the teams are well
managed, these differences become value-added strengths. If the teams are not well
managed, they can become difficult to coordinate and may not fulfill their charter.
Which of the following is a compensable factor?
A. Benefits
B. Seniority
C. Exempt status
D. Skills - correct answer-D - Total Rewards
Compensable factors reflect how work is done and are supported by documentation such as
job descriptions. The compensable factors flow from the work itself and not the employee
holding the job. Therefore, seniority is not a compensable factor in determining the relative
worth of a job.
What is an example of implicit culture?
A. Language
, B. Food
C. Communication styles
D. Values - correct answer-D - Global Mindset Competency
Implicit culture includes such intangible factors as beliefs, attitudes, and values. Dress,
language, and food are examples of explicit culture
When is knowledge management MOST productive?
A. When it develops new procedures and creates organizational policies
B. When it focuses on acquiring knowledge from outside sources and solving problems
C. When the organization implements change and commits to employee development
D. When it focuses on sharing organizational learning and reducing knowledge loss - correct
answer-D - Workforce Management
Knowledge management programs typically focus on two key elements: expertise sharing
and knowledge retention/education of knowledge loss due to employee attrition
Based on the upstream/downstream metaphor for resolving the standardization/localization
dilemma, which of the following activities is more likely to be driven by the global
corporation?
A. Goal setting
B. Appraisal methods
C. Mentoring development programs
D. Compensation and benefits - correct answer-A - Managing a Global Workforce
Goal setting will likely be completed by the organization. This will help to ensure consistency
among the locations and sites within the global enterprise.
Refer to the following scenario for questions 16, 17 and 18.
A company has experienced a high degree of turnover during the past year. Senior leader•
ship is concerned about the amount of turnover and worried that HR is not moving fast
enough to fill these positions. The hiring managers say that the applicant pools have been
weak lately and they have had trouble finding qualified applicants to hire from within the
pools HR provides. HR has relied heavily on recruiting by word of mouth, which in the past
has generated applicants that fit the company's culture. The award for referrals that result in
hiring has also been popular with employees. - correct answer-
What would be the best way for HR to bring in more qualified applicants?
A. Post job openings on Internet job sites and examine the effect on the applicant pool.
B. Talk to senior leaders to figure out which types of jobs are most difficult to fill.
C. Investigate how other organizations are identifying quality applicants.
D. Interview hiring managers to determine the specific gaps in knowledge and skill that need
to be addressed. - correct answer-A - Talent Acquisition & Consultation Competency
A is the best option because it generates a specific organizational intervention for recruiting
practices that raises the organization's potential for long-term success. D is the next-best
option because it considers the business needs. Both choices demonstrate the Consultation
competency. B is not acceptable because HR should be talking to the hiring managers rather
than the senior leader. C is not acceptable because the application of other companies'
processes may not be effective for this company.
What would be the best way for HR to address the senior leaders' concerns about turnover?
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