Study Guide 1 - HRIR 3021
What are the origins of human resources? How has HR evolved over the last century? How has the
workplace changed and the perception of worker value? - correct answer ✔✔HR has its origins in China
in the form of employee screenings. Pre-Industrial Revolution: autonomy, self-management, flexible,
work at home, individual income. Post IR: inflexible work, no autonomy or self-management. The
industrial revolution, shift from work at home to the factory. Initially was about strict discipline
(foreman's empire). After this they shifted to Taylorism or scientific management, wanted to find the one
best way to make jobs the most efficient. Also tried to get the human conditions right now not just force
them to do things. Job satisfaction was seen as important now. Today managers try to get the technical
and human conditions right for the most efficiency.
What happened with the Triangle factory fire, and how has that affected the workplace? - correct
answer ✔✔A fire in a garment factory in Manhattan caught fire and 146 people died. This brought out a
public debate about worker safety and rights. Led to new reforms to make factories safer and worker
friendly. Overall it increased awareness about worker rights and safety.
What was the human relations movement and the Hawthorne studies? Who is Elton Mayo? - correct
answer ✔✔Studies that found giving workers small breaks or changes of environment like changes the
lights can increase productivity. Mental attitudes, proper supervision, and informal social relationships
were key to productivity and job satisfaction. Elton Mayo conducted the studies. Environment had less
effect than positive reinforcement/interaction.
Define human resource management and explain how HRM contributes to organization's performance. -
correct answer ✔✔HRM are the policies, practices, and systems that influence employees' behavior,
attitudes, and performance. Employees and customers are more satisfied and companies tend to be
more productive, innovative and develop a more favorable reputation. HRM is good for business because
by influencing who works and how they work for the organization increases basic attributes like
performance, quality and profitability. Modern HR concerned with compensation, training, recruitment,
selection, teamwork and safety.
What is human capital? What are different types of human capital? How does human capital provide a
competitive advantage? - correct answer ✔✔An organization's employees, described in terms of their
training, experience, judgement, intelligence, relationships, and insight. The higher your company's
human capital the more knowledge and skills their employees have enabling them to produce more
quality services.
, What are the functions of human resource departments? - correct answer ✔✔Analysis and design of
work, recruitment and selection, performance management, compensation and benefits, employee
relations, personnel policies, employee data and information systems, compliance with laws, support for
strategy
Explain the human resource responsibilities of supervisors. - correct answer ✔✔(1) Help define jobs (2)
forecast HR needs (3) provide training (4) interview (and select) candidates (5) appraise performance (6)
recommend pay increases and promotions (7) communicate policies (8) motivate, with support from pay,
benefits, and other rewards
What are ethical issues in human resource management? What were the basics human rights identified
by Immanuel Kant? We discussed this in week three. - correct answer ✔✔Retaliation, race, sex,
disability, age, national origin, religion, color, Equal Pay Act, GINA. Right of free consent, right of privacy,
right of freedom of conscience, right of freedom of speech, right to due process.
What are major changes occurring within organizations and the external environment and identify the
challenges they pose for human capital management? - correct answer ✔✔Analytics, globalization,
changing demographics, speeding up of the business world, an aging population, skill deficiencies in the
workforce. HRM professionals need to recruit talent, create and managed team with autonomy and
accountability, use data to make better decisions, align employees with goals, and make better decisions
with scientific evidence. Google Video: people want to make people decisions although the algorithm
had good accuracy in promotional decisions. Voluntary turnover is 1.5x cost of salary.
Be able to describe the HR Performance Diagram given in class. - correct answer ✔✔HR strategy, What
employees have and feel, What employees do, Customer and operational outcomes, financial outcomes.
Be sure to watch the videos that were assigned for these weeks as there will be questions on the exams
related to their content. - correct answer ✔✔Google Video: people want to make people decisions
although the algorithm had good accuracy in promotional decisions.
What are the responsibilities of human resource management related to employment laws and ethics? -
correct answer ✔✔Make sure the business operates within the law and promotes the well being of its.
employees.