Module 1 HR
Application 1
This assignment is based on Exercise 3 on p. 16 in your
textbook:
How could Human Resource metrics (see Exhibits 1.4 & 1.5
on pp. 11-12) be best used across different organizations? Select two from
among the types of organizations listed below and compare/contrast which
metrics would be more useful
•A non-profit organization
•A small technology startup company
•A Fortune 500 company
•A for-profit medical office
Write a 1-2 page response to these questions and submit to
the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Module 1 HR
Application 2
Complete Exercise 3 on page 67 in Chapter 2:
“Visit the website of the United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics (https://www.bls.gov). What trends do you see in the data presented?
What information at the site is most useful for organizations in assessing
workforce trends?”
Submit a 1-2 page summary of your responses to these
questions to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Module 2 HR
Application 1
Describe some of the distinctive features of the following
corporate strategies or business unit strategies: 1) growth approaches, 2)
status quo approaches, 3) mergers and acquisitions, 4) turnaround and
retrenchment strategies, 5) differentiation and 6) focus strategy, as explained
on pp. 121-124 of the textbook. Describe what HR strategies might apply with
each of these different strategic approaches and why you think that they would
apply.
Write a 1-2 page response to address these items and submit
it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Module 2 HR
Application 2
Respond to question 2 on p. 167:
What are the main barriers that prevent an organization from
taking a more strategic approach to HR? Why do they exist, and how can they be
overcome?
Submit a 1-2 page summary of your responses to these
questions to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Module 3 HR
Application 1
Complete Critical Thinking Exercise 4 (p. 215).
“Discuss the implications and pros and cons for
managing surpluses and shortages using the various strategies presented in
Exhibit 5.3.” Choose only 3 surplus and only 3 shortage strategies (p.
215).
Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and
submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Module 3 HR
Application 2
Complete Exercise 1 (p. 262)
Apply the Job Characteristics Model in Exhibit 6.2 to THREE
of the following positions (choose only 3):
•Order taker at McDonald’s
•Usher in a movie theater
•Receptionist
•Manager at an auto rental company
•Computer programmer
•Insurance salesperson”
Which jobs feature which characteristics most strongly?
Which characteristics are missing, and what are the potential consequences? How
could you enrich these jobs to feature more of the job characteristics?
Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and
submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Module 4 HR
Application 1
Read Reading 7.1: (“In Defense of Preference,” Glazer,
1998). Then answer the following questions:
Is society better served with or without affirmative action?
Take a position in favor or against affirmative action and defend your
position. Next, consider college or university admissions. Based on the
information in the Reading and the sidebar (“Testing Texas”), what combination
of criteria would you recommend to make admissions decisions? Would affirmative
action fit into your plan? How?
Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and
submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Module 5 HR
Application 1
Complete Critical Thinking Exercise 6 on p. 355:
“Develop 2
behaviorally-based interview questions for each of the following jobs (Choose
only 2 of 6, create a total of 4 questions):
High school principal
Nursing supervisor
Factory foreman
Chief medical resident
Police chief
Director of marketing for fast-food chain”
Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and
submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Module 5 HR
Application 2
Visit a major employer’s website (see p. 355, Exercise 1 for
some suggestions, or choose your own). Apply online for a specific job. Discuss
the application/selection process. What selection tools did they use (if any)?
What did you like about the process? What did you dislike about it?
Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and
submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Module 6 HR
Application 1
Consider your current job (or a job with which you are very
familiar). How would you evaluate any required trainings for newer employees
(new hires or employees in their first 6 months)? Refer to the 4 levels of
training evaluation and provide specific measures that you could use in your
evaluation from each of the 4 levels. Why is each level of evaluation important
to the training process in this job?
Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and
submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Module 6 HR
Application 2
Select one occupation from the following list and then
design a performance management system for it. Use Exhibit 10.3 on p.440 as a
guideline as you highlight the important features of your performance
management system. (this assignment is based on Exercise 1 on p. 455)
•Convenience store clerk
•Marriage counselor
•Clergy member
•Software developer
•Attorney
Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and
submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Module 7 HR
Application 1
After reading Chapter 11, conduct a brief interview with an
employee (or a family member, friend, or colleague) in his or her 20s or 30s.
Conduct a second interview with someone in his or her 50s, 60s, or 70s. Compare
and contrast what motivates workers in different generations (don’t forget to
ask the older interviewees about their motivations earlier in their careers),
and suggest a compensation system that might be most motivating for each
generation. (This assignment is roughly based on Exercise 1, p. 505).
Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and
submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Module 7 HR
Application 2
After reading Chapter 12, answer Critical Thinking Exercise
5 (p. 550):
Contrast the style of labor unions in the United States to
that found in other countries.
Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and
submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Module 8 HR
Application 1
Read Reading 13.1: (“Retaining Talent: Replacing
Misconceptions with Evidence-Based Strategies,” Allen et al., 2010), then
answer the following:
Consider an organization or industry that has a notable
problem with retention vs. turnover (you may choose the industry or
organization based on your own experience or you may wish to research in the
popular press or in business journals). Discuss how the guidelines for
retention that Allen and colleagues suggest could be used to improve retention
and or reduce turnover.
If there were alternatives, why do you think this
organization did not choose them? If you believe none of the alternatives would
have served this organization, explain why.
Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and
submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
Module 8 HR
Application 2
After reading Chapter 14, answer the following:
Consider Exhibit 14.1 on p. 614, illustrating examples of
Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions across cultures. Choose two distinctly different
countries from this list (e.g., United States & Venezuela). How would you
set up HR programs and practices differently for the same organization
operating in these two different nations? Where would you place your priorities
in terms of meeting cultural and national expectations? Suppose you had 5
minutes to give a strategic HR briefing to a high-level executive with years of
experience in one country, but none in the other. What would you tell him or
her?
Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and
submit it to the Dropbox no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.
