21 Jan Consider Exhibit 14.1 on p. 470

HRA596 Strategic Issues Human Resources Management

Module 1 HR Application 1

This assignment is based on Exercise 3 on p. 17 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 Assignment box no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

HRA596 Strategic Issues Human Resources Management

Module 1 HR Application 2

Complete Exercise 3 on page 60 in Chapter 2:

“Visit the website of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://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 Assignment box no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

HRA596 Strategic Issues Human Resources Management

Module 2 HR Application 1

Describe some of the distinctive features of the following corporate strategies: 1) Growth, 2) Mergers and acquisitions, 3) Turnaround, and business unit strategies 1) Cost Leadership; 2) Differentiation and 3) Focus Strategy, as explained on pp. 92-95 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 Assignment box no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

HRA596 Strategic Issues Human Resources Management

Module 2 HR Application 2

Respond to question 2 on p. 135:

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 Assignment box no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

HRA596 Strategic Issues Human Resources Management

Module 3 HR Application 1

Complete Critical Thinking Exercise 4 (p. 166).

“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. 166).

Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and submit it to the Assignment box no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

HRA596 Strategic Issues Human Resources Management

Module 3 HR Application 2

Complete Exercise 1 (p. 202)

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 Assignment box no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

HRA596 Strategic Issues Human Resources Management

Module 4 HR Application 1

Read Reading 7.1: (“In Defense of Preference,” Glazer, 1998) on p. 247. 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 Assignment box no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

HRA596 Strategic Issues Human Resources Management

Module 5 HR Application 1

Complete Critical Thinking Exercise 6 on p. 292:

“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 Assignment box no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

HRA596 Strategic Issues Human Resources Management

Module 5 HR Application 2

Visit a major employer’s website (see p. 293, 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 Assignment box no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

HRA596 Strategic Issues Human Resources Management

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 Assignment box no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

HRA596 Strategic Issues Human Resources Management

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.330 as a guideline as you highlight the important features of your performance management system. (this assignment is based on Exercise 1 on p. 346)

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 Assignment box no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

HRA596 Strategic Issues Human Resources Management

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. 374).

Write a 1-2 page response to address these questions and submit it to the Assignment box no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

HRA596 Strategic Issues Human Resources Management

Module 7 HR Application 2

After reading Chapter 12, answer Critical Thinking Exercise 5 (p. 419):

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 Assignment box no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

HRA596 Strategic Issues Human Resources Management

Module 8 HR Application 1

Read Reading 13.1 on p. 451: (“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 Assignment box no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.

HRA596 Strategic Issues Human Resources Management

Module 8 HR Application 2

After reading Chapter 14, answer the following:

Consider Exhibit 14.1 on p. 470, 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 Assignment box no later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT.