SHRM SHRM-SCP Online Practice Questions and Exam Preparation

SHRM SHRM-SCP Online Questions & Answers

• Question 531:

  An organization's strategy involves:

  A. the allocation of resources to compete successfully in external markets
  B. setting the long term direction of the organization.
  C. clarifying the goals of the organization.
  D. all of the above.
  D. all of the above.

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  The strategy process requires consideration to be given to all these areas including clarifying direction, future and long-term goals, and the effective allocation of resources for business success.

• Question 532:

  A cooperatively owned retail company endorses a culture that values independence and individuality. The company's president frequently expresses pride in the fact that there are no written companywide policies and that department heads have the autonomy to make their own decisions. However, over time, each department has established different personnel management practices, and department heads do not communicate with each other. In addition, employee morale and customer service quality have been declining for several years while turnover has increased. The company hires a new general manager to oversee the department heads and address these issues. The general manager recognizes the need to change the way the company operates but is afraid to make adjustments that impact the culture and limit the department heads' independence. The general manager hires an HR manager to set up an HR function and help resolve the challenges. As soon as the department heads learn of the hire, they send complaints to the general manager stating that external applicants should not be hired for management positions because they will try to change the company culture.

  The HR manager learns that the department heads ignore the general manager's requests to discuss employee morale, and they use bullying to get the general manager to concede to their demands. Which action should the HR manager take?

  A. Notify the department heads that bullying will no longer be tolerated.
  B. Offer to help the general manager compose effective emails to the department heads.
  C. Ask the company's president to make a formal statement about bullying.
  D. Explain to the department heads why employee morale must be addressed.
  C. Ask the company's president to make a formal statement about bullying.

• Question 533:

  An organization implements employee self-service through an HR portal for employees to check their personal data, update information, and select benefit options. What will likely be the most important impact of this initiative?

  A. HR head count may be reduced due to task and time savings
  B. Employees will be trained on how to effectively utilize the portal.
  C. Executive management will need to determine how the implementation affects its competitive advantage
  D. Employees will obtain the benefits of lateral knowledge transfer
  A. HR head count may be reduced due to task and time savings

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  HR head count may be reduced due to task and time savings due to the implementation of a more efficient process.

• Question 534:

  Which action should an HR manager take to improve the quality of data collected from focus groups?

  A. Make representation of the different employee groups equal across focus groups.
  B. Assign the facilitators to take notes on groups' conversations to analyze later.
  C. Set up classroom-style seating facing technological resources supporting the discussion.
  D. Require each employee in the group to share at least one comment.
  A. Make representation of the different employee groups equal across focus groups.

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  Ensuring each focus group has equal representation from the relevant employee segments reduces sampling bias and captures a balanced range of perspectives, enhancing the validity and richness of the data collected.

• Question 535:

  The Board of Directors of the Derulic corporation has determined that an executive ethics officer role is necessary and has mandated that the role be filled within the quarter. On what basis was this decision most likely made?

  A. To eliminate the possibilities of sexual harassment and corporate fraud whistleblowing
  B. To entrench a culture of consistency in corporate governance policies and ethical standards in the corporation
  C. Having a chief ethical officer is a compliance requirement of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act, and the Consumer Protection Act
  D. To entrench corporate ethics in employee relations and alternative dispute resolution processes.
  B. To entrench a culture of consistency in corporate governance policies and ethical standards in the corporation

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  Even though the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act and Consumer Protection Act makes it advisable to employ the services of an executive ethical officer, it is not a requirement of the laws. The chief ethics officer is responsible for developing, distributing and ensuring the consistency of codes of ethics and its application, entrenching a strong ethical culture, developing training programs for employees, and monitoring and auditing compliance with government regulations. The role does not remove the possibility of complaints or whistleblowing.

• Question 536:

  A new HR manager at a software company receives two complaints about a sales representative within the HR manager's first three months of working at the company. One employee states that the sales representative has made inappropriate remarks about the appearance of other employees. While the HR manager is investigating this complaint, a customer also contacts the HR manager to state that the customer paid the sales representative for services associated with another business the sales representative owns but did not receive the promised services. The HR director advises the HR manager to avoid confronting the sales representative to keep the ongoing investigation confidential.

  The HR manager reviews the sales representative's records and is unable to establish a pattern of behavior consistent with either complaint. Which action should the HR manager take?

  A. Ask the sales representative's supervisor whether or not behaviors related to either complaint can be confirmed.
  B. Conduct individual interviews with all sales employees to ask about unethical behaviors they have observed.
  C. Ask the sales representative to voluntarily disclose relevant information to the HR manager.
  D. Conduct a training for all sales representatives that covers ethical behavior in the workplace.
  A. Ask the sales representative's supervisor whether or not behaviors related to either complaint can be confirmed.

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  Consulting the sales representative's supervisor helps verify firsthand observations and clarifies whether the reported behaviors occurred, ensuring a fair and informed investigation before taking further action.

• Question 537:

  A small organization recently hired a new CEO with a strong marketing background. The CEO establishes a new sales approach focused on expanding business opportunities through the creation of new products, which will be marketed and sold by the sales force. The CEO believes her effectiveness is impaired by having too many direct reports. The CEO meets with the CFO and HR director. They decide to reduce the CEO's number of direct reports to those most relevant to the CEO's vision for the organization. The remaining employees are reassigned to the CFO who already oversees a team of three. This change allows the CEO to more effectively focus on the vision HR releases a memo informing employees of the change in reporting structure.

  The CEO learns that the change in reporting structure has resulted in disappointment for the employees who are no longer direct reports and asks the HR director for advice. What action should the HR director advise the CEO to take?

  A. Meet individually with employees affected by the new reporting structure.
  B. Send an organizationwide email that highlights the CEO's vision.
  C. Ask the CFO to explain how the new reporting structure benefits the organization in a companywide meeting.
  D. Ask the CFO to explain the benefits of the new reporting structure to the new team.
  A. Meet individually with employees affected by the new reporting structure.

• Question 538:

  Which of the following represents a ULP during the unionization process?

  A. Enforce no solicitation rules by forbidding distribution of union literature during work hours and in work areas
  B. Discipline a union-supporting employee who violates company policy
  C. Offer bonuses to full-time equivalent employees who are opposed to unionization
  D. Inform employees that they earn higher wages and benefits than nearby employers represented by the union
  C. Offer bonuses to full-time equivalent employees who are opposed to unionization

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  Employers may violate the NLRA if they promise benefits to employees who oppose a union. For example, an employer should not offer a one-time bonus to any employee who votes against a union.Employers cannot do the following during a union campaign:

  (TIPS)

  T = ThreatsThreats or coercion are prohibited.

  I = InterrogationIt is illegal to ask employees about their support of the union or to ask about the alignment of their peers relative to union support. P = PromisesA business cannot interfere in the organizing efforts by promising employees that the company will make things better for them if they vote against the union.

  S = SurveillanceSpying should be avoided.

• Question 539:

  Jane's retirement plan is funded by the employer. She has been promised that she will receive a specific monthly dollar amount at retirement. Her pension benefit is calculated based on a formula where her benefit is equal to 3 percent of her average salary for the last 5 years of employment multiplied by her total years of service. Jane's plan is a ____________

  A. Rabbi Trust
  B. Defined benefit plan
  C. Defined contribution plan
  D. Qualified plan
  B. Defined benefit plan

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  A Defined Benefit (DB) plan is a retirement plan that is funded by the employer, and promises the employee a specific monthly benefit at retirement. The plan may state this promised benefit as an exact dollar amount, such as $1000 per month at retirement - or it may calculate the employee's benefit through a formula that includes factors such as salary, age, and the number of years worked at the company. In a Defined Benefit (DB) plan, the employee knows beforehand what the retirement benefit will be. In a Defined Contribution (DC) plan, the employee does not know the specific retirement benefit but he/she knows what contributions are being made. In a DC plan, the employee's retirement benefit will be based on contributions, and investment gains/losses.

• Question 540:

  A manufacturing plant is working on an experimental manufacturing process to fulfil the requirements of a new contract. The contract specifications require that the company employ non-conventional technology, production layout and work structure to produce an advanced product. The plant has manufactured a similar product line for over 10 years using traditional methods. Which of the following will be the most appropriate organizational work culture in this scenario?

  A. Implement this process with new employees in a new layout and appropriate culture
  B. Implement this process in an existing plant with senior employees
  C. The required procedures cannot be determined until production begins
  D. Continue the organization's traditions but make provision for the new product requirements
  A. Implement this process with new employees in a new layout and appropriate culture

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  The contract specifies non-conventional technology and processes so the company cannot employ its traditional methods. New employees with the requisite skills and a culture appropriate for the non- conventional methods will have to be determined and established.