Description

Chapter: 10 -Problem: 2 >> To what extent is there equality of obligations within the principal ‘implied terms’ between the parties? Does this reflect contemporary views on issues such as the right to privacy, freedom of speech and a family life enshrined within the Human Rights Act 1998?How can employers use the duty of ‘fidelity’ in the age of social media?
Answer Preview: a To what extent is there equality of obligations within the principal implied terms between the par…

, Chapter: 12 -Problem: 2 >> 1. What are the strengths of TRW’s approach to widespread organisational change aimed at performance improvements?2. What are the limitations of this approach?
Answer Preview: 1 Coherent organisationwide approach Sense of a shared journey as everyone is …

, Chapter: 14 -Problem: 4 >> Consider an organisation with which you are familiar. To what extent is there evidence of the use of HPM practices?
Answer Preview: The use of HPM practices has been evident in the organisation from our interaction with it as wel…

, Chapter: 15 -Problem: 2 >> 1. Why is it necessary for Mercedes to do this in its global operations?2. Does the global rollout of a German approach to VET represent a strong country-of-origin effect or Mercedes’s aspiration to become a global firm?
Answer Preview: 1 The German manufacturing system particularly for autos rests on a system of diversified quality pr…

, Chapter: 16 -Problem: 5 >> Is the transfer of HR policies and practices a straightforward process? To what extent does the Chinese institutional context constrain or facilitate transfer?
Answer Preview: The transfer of HR policies and practices is a complex and contested process where not all MNCs transfer, not all practices are transferred, and the o…

, Chapter: 14 -Problem: 5 >> Why has trade union membership fallen over the last 30 years or so, and do unions still serve a useful purpose?
Answer Preview: There are numerous reasons for falling levels of trades union membership; the key reasons include de…

, Chapter: 14 -Problem: 1 >> If HRM genuinely seeks to empower workers, why should it be associated with ‘employee involvement rather than participation’?
Answer Preview: HRM seeks to empower employees but very much on managements o…

, Chapter: 15 -Problem: 1 >> Has the country-of-origin effect which is so embedded in comparative HRM mediated the effect of the global financial crisis in MNCs of different nationality?
Answer Preview: The financial crisis developed because of a disconnect between business system drivers and firms therein. Financial capitalism (I & SHV Global focus, …

, Chapter: 14 -Problem: 5 >> Trade union membership has declined significantly over the last 30 years or so. Does this indicate that unions no longer have an important role to play in the workplace?
Answer Preview: There are a variety of ways to approach this It could be argued that because of the floor or rights …

, Chapter: 9 -Problem: 1 >> What do you understand by the term ‘organisational development’?
Answer Preview: Defining OD is a complex task, however, broadly, it can be described as (i) a field of enquiry …

, Chapter: 10 -Problem: 4 >> Do the unfair dismissal rules actually promote fairness, or is the reasonableness really just a perversity test? Can unfair dismissal rules be seen merely as part of the ‘symbolism’ of employment law?
Answer Preview: The debate here centres on whether the law actually protects employee…

, Chapter: 14 -Problem: 10 >> Do workers in non-union organisations have the same ability to influence their terms and conditions of employment as their unionised counterparts?
Answer Preview: No workers in nonunion organizations have less ability to influence their terms and conditions of em…

, Chapter: 13 -Problem: 3 >> Explain what reward specialists mean when they use the term ‘variable pay’.
Answer Preview: Variable pay (additions to base pay) Variable pay can take a number of forms including overtime, all…

, Chapter: 13 -Problem: 10 >> Is it possible to legislate for equal pay reporting successfully without including clear penalties for organisations which dodge or fail to comply with the requirements?The responsibility for this task should lie with the CEO rather than any member of the HR team or a non-executive director.
Answer Preview: Concerning whether it is Possible I c…

, Chapter: 13 -Problem: 8 >> Explain how pay related to contribution differs from both individual performance-related pay and competence-based pay.
Answer Preview: Individual performance-related pay (merit pay) links individual pay rises with an assessmen…

, Chapter: 11 -Problem: 3 >> Think of a time when you have been highly committed to excelling at a particular task or project.Were you engaged with the organisation and committed to the task, or just committed to the task?
Answer Preview: This Explore point is designed to encourage reflection on the foc…

, Chapter: 13 -Problem: 5 >> Identify the key features of the legislative framework affecting pay practices.
Answer Preview: The legislative framework affecting pay practices includes the following: National Liv…

, Chapter: 10 -Problem: 1 >> The key question for human resource managers revolves around the extent to which this symbolism, these laws, continue to provide support for the level of worker discipline that enables the continuation of capital accumulation at acceptable levels.Considering your organisation or one with which you are familiar, outline the manner in which the ‘symbolism’ of regulation affects the employment relati
Answer Preview: Symbolism as a mechanism of control is something employees and employers face each day in the workplace It may be the symbols of authority job title office space or the socially reinforced symbols of …

, Chapter: 11 -Problem: 1 >> Which of the different definitions resonates most with your own thoughts and why?Are there other aspects not covered in the definitions that you would like to have seen included?Do you agree with the view of Alcoa Power and Propulsion in the opening case study that employee engagement is a journey, not a destination?
Answer Preview: a They include i Employees who help an organization deliver superior value to customers ii Emplo…

, Chapter: 6 -Problem: 3 >> Thinking about categorising equality approaches, look at Table 6.1. • In which category would you place the organisation where you study and where you work (or have previously worked)? • Explain your reasoning.
Answer Preview: You would most likely place the organisation where you study and work in the c…

, Chapter: 12 -Problem: 4 >> What, if any, are the ethical implications of wireless real-time production and employee performance measurement?
Answer Preview: The debate here relates to the extent to which employees perceive this as being performance …

, Chapter: 9 -Problem: 8 >> Browse the resources available at https://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/. How easy would it be for you to have the AI approach accepted in your organisation?
Answer Preview: It would be easy by reading the resources and understanding …

, Chapter: 16 -Problem: 10 >> What advantages did the Indian IT and software industry enjoy? How has the nature of its growth changed over time?
Answer Preview: The Indian IT and software industry enjoyed what is referred to as an early bird advantage. It could …

, Chapter: 11 -Problem: 4 >> Have you ever participated in an engagement or attitude survey at work?If so, did you feel it was really measuring valuable constructs and that it would enable the organisation to make effective changes to levels of employee engagement?Did you answer it with complete honesty or were you somewhat guarded in your responses? Why was this?
Answer Preview: a It is important to use questionnaires that clearly define the target constructs and to ensure thes…

, Chapter: 7 -Problem: 1 >> 1. How can the learning theories described in the first part of the chapter explain how IT systems can be made effective?2. Which learning and development methods will be most appropriate for learning system updates?3. Which learning and development methods will be most appropriate for new starters learning the IT system?4. How would you evaluate learning provided to staff on IT systems?
Answer Preview: 1 The common approach to IT training makes certain assumptions about how people learn These are mainly predicated as learning being a process of infor…

, Chapter: 9 -Problem: 3 >> Their article contends that the differences between OD then and now lie in differences in ontological and epistemological perspectives, and not necessarily differences in values or viability. That is to say, where OD then – with positivistic orientations – saw differences in perspective as aberrations to be repaired or removed in the process of OD, it now – with social constructivist orientations
Answer Preview: The criticisms of the older approaches to OD and to raise concerns about the impact of OD in its new…

, Chapter: 13 -Problem: 4 >> Suggest why strategic approaches to reward appear to be challenging for organisations.
Answer Preview: Strategic approaches to reward are challenging for a number of reasons: Business strategy may not be …

, Chapter: 12 -Problem: 1 >> What are the organisational advantages and limitations of performance measurement?
Answer Preview: Advantages: Strategic alignment of performance Clear pla…

, Chapter: 3 -Problem: 8 >> What similarities do you see between systems thinking and these developments in science?
Answer Preview: There are similarities in …

, Chapter: 15 -Problem: 1 >> 1. What does Toyota’s commitment tell us about the embeddedness of the Japanese Business and HR model in some Japanese Firms?2. What is it that enables Toyota and other firms such as Honda and Nissan to retain a significant level of domestic production and more localised production in Europe and the USA?
Answer Preview: 1 It tells us about the embeddedness of the Japanese business model within some Japanes…

, Chapter: 13 -Problem: 1 >> What is meant by the term ‘smart rewards’?
Answer Preview: For rewards to be smart an organisation would be operating …

, Chapter: 7 -Problem: 7 >> Is mentoring a byword for coaching? If not, how do the two practices differ?
Answer Preview: Mentoring has a much longer history than coaching. Mentoring relies on a mentor who is a …

, Chapter: 7 -Problem: 7 >> 1. How can you use this model of benchmarking in your organisation to assess the effectiveness of HRD activity? 2. Where can you find the information you need to answer the questions successfully?
Answer Preview: 1 Benchmarking is a powerful tool which can contribute significantly to ensuring good HRD practice F…

, Chapter: 12 -Problem: 3 >> What are the strengths, limitations and ethical issues that might arise from checking an employee’s presence on social media?
Answer Preview: The debates can be summarised as follows: For: It is okay for an employer to look, as this informati…

, Chapter: 11 -Problem: 2 >> How far do you agree with the assertion that employee engagement is the latest fad in management thinking? Use related academic material to support your argument.
Answer Preview: Engagement has strong links to other areas of social science research, principally those of the psyc…

, Chapter: 1 -Problem: 4 >> What long-term impact might the focus on short-term financial returns have on HR’s ability to demonstrate how it adds value to sustainable organisational performance?
Answer Preview: A focus on short-term financial returns may restrict the adoption of many of the pol…

, Chapter: 8 -Problem: 6 >> Identify a recent LMD initiative that you were involved in. • What were the desired outcomes of this initiative? • How could these be measured taking into account the criticisms made of most evaluations in the previous paragraph? • How would you account for these measurements to the stakeholders?
Answer Preview: a The desired outcome include i to determine if there are people with low vision who can benefit fro…

, Chapter: 12 -Problem: 6 >> What factors would you take into account if you were designing an approach to performance management?
Answer Preview: The rationale for performance management The nature of the workforce The t…

, Chapter: 14 -Problem: 2 >> What are the main trends in representative participation since 1980?
Answer Preview: Overall, the last 30 years or so has seen a significan…

, Chapter: 4 -Problem: 4 >> The uneven geographical spread of ethnic minority groups means that some local labour markets remain practically unaffected by the arrival of migrants from within and beyond the EU, while others have experienced a marked change in the ethnic composition of the population and make-up of the labour market. How might high levels of ethnic diversity impact upon labour markets and the firms operating w
Answer Preview: As the chapter details some areas of the UK (mainly London boroughs and other major cities and conurbations) are extremely ethnically diverse whilst o…

, Chapter: 8 -Problem: 5 >> What are the challenges and issues that face LMD in the short term and in the long term?
Answer Preview: One of the most pressing challenges is b…

, Chapter: 1 -Problem: 5 >> What key HR challenges have been raised in your organisation as a result of the UK’s decision to leave the EU?
Answer Preview: At the time of writing this textbook, the impact of B…

, Chapter: 9 -Problem: 5 >> What are the challenges and issues that face OD in the coming years?
Answer Preview: While OD is enjoying a renaissance, there are still challen…

, Chapter: 1 -Problem: 1 >> 1. What key challenges are likely to be created by the coexistence of these three scenarios? 2. What are the implications of these different scenarios for the HR function? 3. What types of HRM practices would you recommend for each scenario? A team from PwC and the James Martin Institute for Science and Civilisation at the Said Business School in Oxford came itogether in 2007 to develop a series o
Answer Preview: 1. The co-existence of these three scenarios is likely to increase the diversity of people management practice. Each scenario has different priorities …

, Chapter: 11 -Problem: 2 >> The CIPD and Gallup both identify key characteristics of an ‘engaged employee’:Think about when you felt engaged at work. What factors contributed to that feeling?Can you think of incidences when you ‘went the extra mile’ as a result of being an engaged employee?Do you think you could repeat that same feeling with another organisation?
Answer Preview: a The factors that contributed to that feeling was cal…

, Chapter: 16 -Problem: 3 >> Examine human resource management in the new economy, i.e. IT, call centres and the BPO industry of India.
Answer Preview: HRM in the new economy is marked by highly skilled employees, sophisticated recruitment, reward and …

, Chapter: 7 -Problem: 8 >> ‘Mentoring is an empowering process.’ To what extent do you agree with this statement? Are there other possible interpretations?
Answer Preview: Mentoring can be seen as elitist, but managed properly it can be emp…

, Chapter: 16 -Problem: 6 >> How is the role of state changing in India? What factors have influenced this change?
Answer Preview: The role of the state in India is changing from being more interventi…

, Chapter: 8 -Problem: 2 >> Locate the National Occupational Standards for Management and Leadership at www.ukces.org.uk.Which category is most relevant for your occupational specialism?Could you find one that fits?
Answer Preview: A National Occupational Standard is a …

, Chapter: 16 -Problem: 11 >> 1. What additional dimensions can be added to the comparative analysis of employment relations in China and India?2. How does this help in our understanding of the two economies?
Answer Preview: 1. Two additional dimensions need greater emphasis and elaboration in the comparative analysis framework in order to understand employment relations i…

, Chapter: 9 -Problem: 12 >> In both analyses, the culture acts to adjust and change the intentions of senior managers and policy-makers. Can you think of any examples where the intentions of senior managers and policy-makers have changed the culture of an organisation?
Answer Preview: There are many potential examples of wellknown orga…

, Chapter: 4 -Problem: 11 >> Think about your own workplace. • What systems and technologies are in place to regulate your effort? • Have you noticed an increase or decrease in the intensity of your work over time? • Why do you think employees report job satisfaction despite recognising intensification?
Answer Preview: In assessing their own workplaces to answer these questions readers should consider the u…

, Chapter: 9 -Problem: 3 >> Who are the stakeholders in OD? Where can they support or block the process? Stakeholders A person, group or organization that has interest or concern in an organization. Stakeholders can affect or be affected by the organization's actions, objectives and policies. Some examples of key stakeholders are creditors, directors, employees,...
Answer Preview: The stakeholders in OD are multiple internal and external. All ch…

, Chapter: 16 -Problem: 1 >> Are China and India converging to a neo-liberal model of capitalism or do they reinforce the diversity of capitalism? What factors would prevent a convergence of employment practices in Asia?
Answer Preview: China and India, as two of the fastest growing economies in the world, are certainly integrating int…

, Chapter: 13 -Problem: 7 >> What would you say are the essential components of a strategic approach to reward?If you are employed by an organisation which claims to follow a strategic approach to reward, what evidence can you amass to demonstrate that the approach is truly strategic?
Answer Preview: The essential features of a strategic approach to reward include reward systems, practices and proce…

, Chapter: 14 -Problem: 2 >> 1. Why do critics argue that employee involvement as part of a wider HRM approach represents ‘pseudo-participation’?2. Do employees in British workplaces have the ability to influence key strategic decisions?
Answer Preview: 1 The term pseudoparticipation is derived from the work of the late Harvie Ramsay The key argument m…

, Chapter: 12 -Problem: 6 >> What factors would you need to take into account when managing performance across national borders?
Answer Preview: The answer here would depend largely on the nature of the work and the nature of the workforce, alon…

, Chapter: 14 -Problem: 7 >> Does the collapse of collective bargaining in the private sector indicate that workers have ‘lost their voice’ or are there effective alternatives?
Answer Preview: There are a range of alternatives It is well known that organisations have been experimenting wit…

, Chapter: 16 -Problem: 1 >> 1. How are informal workers defined? What are the different categories of informal workers?2. Why are the informal workers so ‘visible’ in the region? Where does their dissatisfaction stem from? How does it manifest?3. Why have formal unions failed to address the concerns of informal workers?4. What is the way ahead for unions and the wider labour movement in addressing the concerns of informal wo
Answer Preview: 1 Informal workers are workers who do not have clear employment contracts have only limited union coverage and have no social security They include contract casual and temporary workers as well as hom…

, Chapter: 15 -Problem: 2 >> Is comparative HRM a subject?A question of definition.How is comparative HRM substantively different from international HRM?Are these differences of any relevance to HR practitioners and potential HR practitioners in MNCs or domestic firms?
Answer Preview: Comparative HRM An understanding of HRM is dependent on appreciating the reasons for cross-national …

, Chapter: 14 -Problem: 11 >> 1. Are EWCs likely to result in European level collective bargaining?2. Does the evidence suggest that the EWC directive has significantly increased the degree of employee influence in MNCs? If not, why not?
Answer Preview: 1 Almost certainly not What data there are suggest employee representatives tend to …

, Chapter: 13 -Problem: 11 >> It would appear that reliance upon the three requirements for equal pay claims (same or equivalent establishment, same employer and equal work) has proved limited in the progress towards equal pay. Do you consider that the reporting mechanism improves the situation?Consider an organisation of which you are aware and indicate mechanisms it could institute in order to address inequalities in terms a
Answer Preview: Although the UK enacted legislation in 1970 (which came into force in 1975), it is clear that the id…

, Chapter: 14 -Problem: 1 >> Why is employee involvement described as unitarist?
Answer Preview: Employee involvement initiatives are promoted by management with a view to mobilising the support …

, Chapter: 14 -Problem: 4 >> Which approach to voice is more aligned with HRM – employee involvement or participation?
Answer Preview: Employee involvement i…

, Chapter: 15 -Problem: 4 >> During a period of globalisation or contemporary convergence, is it possible to argue that country-of-origin effects remain significant indicators of MNC behaviour?Why might MNCs seek to disguise or change their country of origin?The emergence of a global perspective?
Answer Preview: Advocates of divergence believe that a strong country-of-origin effect remains for MNCs in terms of …

, Chapter: 2 -Problem: 4 >> To what extent is it possible to measure the relationship between SHRM and organisational performance?
Answer Preview: The relationship between SHRM and organisational performance is significant, …

, Chapter: 10 -Problem: 1 >> 1. Compensation in age discrimination cases is considerably lower than in other areas of discrimination. Why do you think this is so? 2. Should the government permit organisations to reintroduce a default retirement age for their workers? 3. Mark Cameron commented, ‘The City is getting far better at supporting and developing female staff.’ To what extent do you think this is true for organisations
Answer Preview: 1 Perhaps because it is not seen as being a serious detriment or strongly condemned by society To di…

, Chapter: 16 -Problem: 8 >> 1. What are the distinctive features of the labour market in India?2. What is the main difference between formal/organised and informal/unorganised workers?
Answer Preview: 1. The labour market in India is segmented along formalinformal work and employment, with further se…

, Chapter: 14 -Problem: 6 >> How might the collapse in trade union membership best be explained? Is the form of ‘voice’ provided by the presence of strong and autonomous trade unionism always compatible with organisational efficiency?
Answer Preview: The reasons for the collapse in TU membership are provided in the text Students are required to prov…

, Chapter: 12 -Problem: 8 >> What features distinguish an ageing workforce?How, if at all, might these affect an organisation’s approach to managing performance?
Answer Preview: There is a need here to think about the nature of performance manag…

, Chapter: 8 -Problem: 1 >> What do you understand by the term ‘leadership and management development’?
Answer Preview: At its broadest, leadership and management development includes any structured proce…

, Chapter: 15 -Problem: 1 >> Think of multinational firms with which you are familiar, maybe from the locality where you are studying or your own country of origin. Think about how a ‘traditional multinational’ becomes a multinational and contrast this with the emergence of ‘born global’ firms?What are the implications of this distinction for the development of HR practices and the employment of people?
Answer Preview: Most multinational firms are traditional multinationals, e g. Ford, General Motors, Glaxo Smith Klin…

, Chapter: 4 -Problem: 1 >> Explain why gendered occupational segregation, time segregation and vertical segregation persist in the UK in the twenty-first century.
Answer Preview: The labour market continues to harbour gendered inequalities, which in part reflect ingrained social attitudes to the respective roles of men and wome…

, Chapter: 14 -Problem: 3 >> Do organisations make most use of formal or informal modes of voice?Might the balance be related to the size of the organisation?What are the advantages of each?
Answer Preview: a Organizations generally make most use of informal voice as a formal voice implies some kind of com…

, Chapter: 9 -Problem: 10 >> How is OD integrated in to your organisation’s strategic activities?Is there an individual or group of individuals with OD explicitly within their role and responsibilities? What are they responsible for, and how are they held to account? Or are the activities of OD ‘taken for granted’?What are the consequences of your organisation’s approach to OD?
Answer Preview: Personal responses are required here but students should be able to explore the ex…

, Chapter: 10 -Problem: 5 >> Do the recent changes make life easier or more difficult for CIPD-qualified, ethically minded HR practitioners? Justify your response.
Answer Preview: Any addition to the complexity of employment law is likely to make it more diffi…

, Chapter: 2 -Problem: 3 >> To what extent can organisations apply both ‘outside-in’ and ‘inside-out’ approaches to SHRM?
Answer Preview: Both outside-in (best fit) and inside-out (RBV) approaches are …

, Chapter: 13 -Problem: 7 >> Identify an organisational context in which job family structures are likely to be beneficial. Why are job family structures suitable in this context?
Answer Preview: Job families are not a particularly common form of payment structure but nevertheless they can be b…

, Chapter: 15 -Problem: 3 >> Consider a well-known multinational firm, such as McDonald’s or Jaguar Land Rover.How strong is the country-of-origin effect?What factors led you to draw this conclusion?
Answer Preview: McDonalds has a very strong country-of-origin effect in terms of the diffusion of its business franc…

, Chapter: 1 -Problem: 4 >> What factors might influence the take-up of practices associated with high-commitment HRM?
Answer Preview: Human resource requirements, organisational size, the nature of the work and cost …

, Chapter: 14 -Problem: 8 >> 1. Was New Labour’s ‘third way’ (1997–2010) a genuine departure from Conservative policy (1979–97)?2. Did New Labour adopt a ‘unitary’ or ‘pluralist’ approach as the basis for their dealings with the unions? How did this manifest itself?
Answer Preview: 1 There was some departure in terms of public policy in that New Labour signed up to the European So…

, Chapter: 13 -Problem: 12 >> What do you think is the rationale for the government’s decision to only make it mandatory for employers to pay the National Living Wage to employees over the age of 25? Is the cost of living cheaper for the under 25s in employment or was the government worried about a backlash from business, and a resultant dip in support for the Conservative Party, if the National Living Wage were to be imposed
Answer Preview: Having been hit hard by the economic downturn, with typical wage decreases of 13 per cent for those …

, Chapter: 3 -Problem: 3 >> Some of you will have worked in a call centre. Working on your own or in a group, examine your experiences of working there. • Could you identify one or more of these managerial strategies in your workplace? • What might have been your experiences had the management adopted a different strategy?
Answer Preview: Working on your own or in a group, identify some of the new tensions that are arising from the growt…

, Chapter: 16 -Problem: 4 >> To what extent are the growth trajectories of China and India sustainable in the face of rising inequalities?
Answer Preview: The growth trajectories of both China and India are somewhat sustainable in the face of rising inequ…

, Chapter: 1 -Problem: 7 >> To what extent do you believe that these changes increase the attractiveness of operational HR roles?
Answer Preview: The advent of software and the internet has raised a nu…

, Chapter: 15 -Problem: 11 >> Are academics and practitioners too kind to Japanese employers? That is, are Japanese approaches to involvement and participation coercive and divisive?How can Japanese firms maintain commitment to the Japanese model in the face of its successful adoption by lower cost producers such as South Korea and China?
Answer Preview: The key question here centres on whether the Japanese system is based on commitment or control. In t…

, Chapter: 7 -Problem: 1 >> Identifying contextual changes leading to HRD: Before proceeding further, consider some of the changes taking place in organisations you know in response to changes in the operating environment. What are the implications for HRD and for the learning and development of individuals and teams?
Answer Preview: a The contextual changes leading to HRD include i increased awareness on top managements part of the …

, Chapter: 9 -Problem: 7 >> Organisations are increasingly turning to OD as a technique to manage everyday change. Imagine that you are the HR practitioner responsible for OD processes. What would you do to ensure that you were appropriately skilled?
Answer Preview: The skills and competences of the OD practitioner are tho…

, Chapter: 2 -Problem: 1 >> In what ways is your understanding of SHRM enhanced by models of the four distinct approaches to strategy-making?
Answer Preview: The classical, rational-planning approach, with its inherent assumption that strateg…

, Chapter: 6 -Problem: 4 >> ‘I treat everyone the same – so that’s how I ensure fairness’. This quote is from a section manager in a supermarket. Explain why such an approach can sometimes lead to unfairness.
Answer Preview: It is because such a manager te…

, Chapter: 13 -Problem: 8 >> Reflecting on practice in your own organisation or one with which you are familiar, assess the reward decisions the organisation appears to have reached.What reasons do you think lie behind each of these decisions?
Answer Preview: Organisations are faced with a number of key resource decisions; these can be summarise…

, Chapter: 7 -Problem: 4 >> On your own or in a group, go through this section on theories of learning and list what you consider to be the key components of learning that will be needed in designing and implementing the training of (i) IT technicians; (ii) care workers (iii) supervisory staff.
Answer Preview: i The key components of learning include a Outcomes outcomes are specific measurable achievable and realistic Explanation i The outcomes should be spe…

, Chapter: 12 -Problem: 4 >> What are the theoretical links between HRM and performance appraisal?
Answer Preview: Performance appraisal is a means of setting employe…

, Chapter: 2 -Problem: 2 >> Compare and contrast life cycle, competitive advantage and configurational models of SHRM.
Answer Preview: Life cycle models are based on the premise that HR policies and practices need fit the relevant stag…

, Chapter: 9 -Problem: 6 >> List the different methods and techniques used within OD. How would you evaluate their effectiveness?
Answer Preview: There are many different methods and techniques of OD, some listed in this chapter and some to be fo…

, Chapter: 6 -Problem: 7 >> Reflecting on fairness: • Have you directly experienced or observed treatment you considered unfair? • If so, what did you do about it? • What other options did you have?
Answer Preview: a Yes I have been told I look too old for my age …

, Chapter: 12 -Problem: 2 >> Why has performance appraisal been so severely criticised?
Answer Preview: Lack of connection with the wider manpower/resourcing str…

, Chapter: 8 -Problem: 7 >> List what you believe to be the ways in which LMD might evolve over the next 10 to 15 years. Add a short sentence against each point to explain your reasoning.Discuss your ideas with a colleague(s). How do your ideas compare with theirs?
Answer Preview: Factors that might be included are changes in the economic environment, technological developments, …

, Chapter: 15 -Problem: 7 >> Are American firms inherently anti-trade union? Does the decline of welfare capitalism indicate a parallel decline in more sophisticated approaches to HRM?
Answer Preview: Why do American firms fight to prioritise investor and shareholder value and the priorities of financial capitalism at the expense of stakeholder inte…

, Chapter: 2 -Problem: 1 >> 1. Using Whittington’s model, identify the dominant strategic approach within low fares airlines. 2. What are the common external pressures facing both low fares airlines and legacy airlines? 3. What are the short-term and long-term risks for companies adopting low road employment practices? 4. What advice would you give to low fares airlines for avoiding the short-term and longterm risks you iden
Answer Preview: 1. You can be encouraged to use the case study and web-based searches to identify the key elements i…

, Chapter: 12 -Problem: 9 >> At first glance these international standards may seem somewhat detached from HR practice, but think about the ways in which these national standards (limit temperature rises to 1.5°C, adapt to adverse implications of climate change and make finance follow considerations of reducing greenhouse gas emission) translate into the demands placed on the organisation.What are the potential implications f
Answer Preview: In answer to the first question, the implications for HR are premised on the strategic consideration …

, Chapter: 4 -Problem: 9 >> • Discuss with fellow students your perceptions of your own job security or insecurity generally in the current economic climate. • What factors influence your assessment? • To what extent do you think the UK’s decision to leave the EU has impacted employees’ perceptions of their job security? • Consider whether Brexit will make jobs in the UK more, or less, secure.
Answer Preview: Students/readers are encouraged to think about the current economic climate and how feelings of job …

, Chapter: 15 -Problem: 10 >> Why are Japanese employers more ready to reform the seniority wage system than to retreat from lifetime employment?
Answer Preview: The three key principles which define the Japanese employment system are all sub…

, Chapter: 1 -Problem: 1 >> The ‘matching model’ (Devanna et al., 1984) and the ‘map of the HR territory’ (Beer et al., 1984) were conceived 30 years ago. To what extent are they still relevant to the study of HRM in organisations today?
Answer Preview: The 'matching model' still has some relevance as it supports a contingency approach to HRM, that is, …

, Chapter: 6 -Problem: 2 >> What is the purpose of equality and diversity policies? Why do they sometimes fail to live up to expectations?
Answer Preview: The purpose of equality and diversity policies is to create an inclusive …

, Chapter: 13 -Problem: 3 >> To what extent do you think the solutions to the labour problem suggested so far are, in whole or in part, a reflection of management’s inability to clearly determine the ‘effort’ side of the bargain?Can you think of more effective ways of ‘measuring’ the labour process and allocating reward accordingly?
Answer Preview: The wage/effort bargain can never be fully itemised/determined. This s…

, Chapter: 7 -Problem: 3 >> To what extent do the learning theories discussed in the first section of this chapter inform the design and delivery of learning interventions in your organisation or organisations with which you are familiar?
Answer Preview: Learning theory is cent…

, Chapter: 4 -Problem: 3 >> • Thinking about the organisation you work for, or one with which you are familiar, does elder care pose a challenge to managers and employees? • What measures, if any, do you think employers should consider introducing to assist employees with elder care responsibilities?
Answer Preview: Employees with elder care responsibilities may face work-life balance issues similar to those encountered by employees with dependent children. Caring …

, Chapter: 12 -Problem: 3 >> What role do you envisage for ICT in the management of performance? Are there any associated risks?
Answer Preview: In manufacturing there is the issue of output monitoring, as there is for jobs like check-o…

, Chapter: 7 -Problem: 1 >> What are the key differences between learning and development?
Answer Preview: The words 'learning' and 'development' are sometimes used loosely and even interchangeably; but to understand them, they need to be distinguished and …

, Chapter: 13 -Problem: 2 >> In which contemporary work situations would you consider the brain still to be ‘under the worker’s cap’?Thinking about the contemporary sphere of work, would you expect to see more or fewer work situations where the brain is ‘under the worker’s cap’ than in the first half of the twentieth century? Why?What impact does the notion of the brain residing ‘under the worker’s cap’ have on reward decisio
Answer Preview: In the age of technology it would be surprising if managers were aware of all the infor…

, Chapter: 7 -Problem: 11 >> What are the benefits of investing in processes of evaluating the impact of training and learning on organisational outcomes?
Answer Preview: The benefits of engaging in the process of measuring the value of HRD include: improving it…

, Chapter: 16 -Problem: 1 >> How are the changes in employment relations linked to other institutions?
Answer Preview: Institutions refer to the state, law, the nature of family, education and training, interest gr…

, Chapter: 3 -Problem: 2 >> What assumptions and ‘world hypotheses’ appear to underpin the tapestry metaphor of this chapter, and what are the implications for your use of it?
Answer Preview: HRM is woven into its context, not just subject to its influences. The …

, Chapter: 16 -Problem: 3 >> What are the key characteristics and criticisms associated with the ‘iron rice bowl’? How has it changed under the reform process?
Answer Preview: Iron rice bowl refers to the egalitarian employment framework that existed in pre-reform China signi…

, Chapter: 4 -Problem: 10 >> • The NHS Constitution for England cited in the segment, is but one intervention that has affected the working lives of public sector professional workers, can you think of others? • Carry out some preliminary research on the TEF (Teaching Excellence Framework) and the REF (Research Excellence Framework), initiatives to measure the teaching quality and research outcomes respectively in UK higher e
Answer Preview: National Curriculum in Schools and the Modernisation Agenda in the NHS that have affected the way public sector workers' jobs are designed and managed…

, Chapter: 9 -Problem: 2 >> Which is ethically more acceptable, to attempt to change how someone behaves, or to attempt to change how someone thinks?
Answer Preview: The one that is ethically more acceptable is to attempt to change h…

, Chapter: 16 -Problem: 7 >> What is a ‘corporate business group’? How is it distinctive to India?
Answer Preview: In India, there is extensive ownership and control of private firms and business gr…

, Chapter: 8 -Problem: 10 >> What difficulties might such a quota system present for resourcing an MNC based overseas?
Answer Preview: The main issue that organisations in this situation face is their inability to find people with the …

, Chapter: 9 -Problem: 11 >> Schein’s typology raises our awareness of how visible aspects of culture can convey messages about the culture that, while helpful in interpretation, can be difficult to decipher. A common model that helps to access culture at this level is the ‘cultural web’ (Johnson and Scholes, 2006). By interrogating each aspect of the web, evidence of the existence and nature of the culture can be gathered, f
Answer Preview: a People tell of success and failure in the organisation by saying that the campus is very difficult to enter The stories that are told about new recruits or external stakeholders is that they are acc…

, Chapter: 13 -Problem: 2 >> Discuss the significance of non-financial rewards in times of pay restraint.
Answer Preview: Non-financial rewards, for example, praise, thanks, recognition a…

, Chapter: 5 -Problem: 4 >> Imagine you are responsible for selecting operators to work in a contact centre.• Prepare a set of behavioural questions suitable for the interview. You are looking for evidence of strong social skills (e.g. good verbal communication, positive attitude, good sense of humour, energy and enthusiasm) and good technical skills (e.g. numeracy and keyboard skills). • Test out these questions on friends
Answer Preview: Examples such as: Give me an example of a time when you have had to communicate some complex inf…

, Chapter: 12 -Problem: 1 >> Consider performance management systems with which you are familiar. To what extent do they conform to the issues raised in the ‘Performance management is . . . ’ column?What might the consequences of any non-conformance be for the organisation and those who work there?
Answer Preview: For many, the notion of performance management will be synonymous with their only experience of this…

, Chapter: 4 -Problem: 2 >> Explain why rates of labour market participation vary between ethnic minority groups and within groups.
Answer Preview: Age, education, gender and class are the key factors influencing levels of labour market participati…

, Chapter: 7 -Problem: 6 >> Revisit the earlier sections of this chapter that consider individual processes of learning. Which, for you, helps to explain the process of learning from the perspective of the elearner? Can the theories adequately explain experience in this new context?• What activities might the e-learner be engaged in at each stage of the process?
Answer Preview: a The one that helps to explain the process of learni…

, Chapter: 14 -Problem: 6 >> What are the key differences between the EWC and ICE directives?
Answer Preview: The key difference is that the ICE directive applies to all organ…

, Chapter: 5 -Problem: 1 >> 1. What are the benefits of Nissan’s approach to employee retention?2. What factors should other organisations, wanting to adopt a similar approach, need to consider?3. What impact might Britain’s decision to leave the European Union have on employment at Nissan?
Answer Preview: 1. The key benefits are significant employee loyalty with workers still willing to act as ambassador…

, Chapter: 6 -Problem: 5 >> Equality and diversity initiatives. 1. Draw up a list of the initiatives designed to address equality and diversity in your organisation (if you work full-time or part-time) or in an organisation with which you are familiar (if you are a full-time student). Your list does not need to be exhaustive, but try to include initiatives additional to the examples already given.2. Which of the initiatives
Answer Preview: 1 This should lead to a list that includes initiatives from both approaches St…

, Chapter: 11 -Problem: 5 >> What strategies and approaches would you advocate organisations to develop in an effort to eradicate disengagement? Are some employees inherently disengaged?
Answer Preview: Recognition that disengagement is limiting to business success is th…

, Chapter: 8 -Problem: 5 >> Prepare a list of those who are responsible for your development.How clearly are their roles delineated and communicated?How effective is the support you receive?How can you clarify and improve the roles of stakeholders in LMD in your organisation? Stakeholders A person, group or organization that has interest or concern in an organization. Stakeholders can affect or be af
Answer Preview: The main point to communicate is the need for a stakeholder perspective and that …

, Chapter: 12 -Problem: 5 >> What new challenges will organisations face in managing performance in the years to come?
Answer Preview: New challenges here relate to many of the issues raised …

, Chapter: 1 -Problem: 1 >> • What does the term HRM mean to you? • To what extent is it possible to have policies and practices that meet the needs and objectives of organisations and individuals?
Answer Preview: The language used to describe HRM can have a considerable influence on whether it is viewed as a con…

, Chapter: 9 -Problem: 1 >> What do you consider to be the acceptable boundaries of political behaviour in organisations?
Answer Preview: Start by asking students to define the broad range of political behaviours Ask students to consider …

, Chapter: 15 -Problem: 3 >> Can the American, German and Japanese business models and related employment systems continue to main national distinctiveness in the face of global financial crisis?
Answer Preview: Financialisation and the related financial crisis do have a global impact, mediated by exposure to n…

, Chapter: 4 -Problem: 8 >> • Suggest why the growth of the service sector has boosted part-time and female employment. • Consider the type of jobs, and the quality of the jobs that are available as a result of this expansion.
Answer Preview: The service sector boom has created more jobs in caring, hos…

, Chapter: 10 -Problem: 2 >> How can the efforts and ability of employees to undermine ‘unilateral’ changes to employment contracts needed to encourage flexibility be justified?
Answer Preview: Again, we fall back on the paucity of contract law to address the supposed rights o…

, Chapter: 2 -Problem: 3 >> What challenges does the systemic view of strategy pose for multinational organisations?
Answer Preview: Challenges the universality of any single model of strateg…

, Chapter: 15 -Problem: 5 >> Do you think that trade union substitution practices such as those associated with welfare capitalism are sufficient to sustain a union-free environment in a firm?
Answer Preview: Welfare capitalism First developed during the 1930s co-existed with New Deal model Sophisticated non…

, Chapter: 7 -Problem: 9 >> Consider an off-the-job learning experience you have had recently. Did you enjoy it? Did you learn something that you were able to apply to your job on return to the workplace? If it was successful, what contributed to this? If it was unsuccessful, why do you think this was the case?
Answer Preview: It is estimated that only 10-30% of training, principally off-the-job …

, Chapter: 11 -Problem: 1 >> Given that different studies use different definitions of employee engagement and identify different sets of drivers for employee engagement what challenges may arise in attempting to measure levels of employee engagement?
Answer Preview: A range of definitions does exist, for example, the Institute of Employment Studies (IES; Robinson et al., 2004), the Conference Board (2006) and the CIPD (2012)). While definitions are slightly diffe…

, Chapter: 7 -Problem: 4 >> In what ways might learning and development interventions support the business strategy?
Answer Preview: The relationship between a business's strategy and HRD is, in practice, becoming incre…

, Chapter: 15 -Problem: 12 >> In light of the information, identify the key barriers to transferring features of the German business system to overseas subsidiaries.
Answer Preview: The system of vocational and education and training is the key explanatory variable. Apprenticeship-…

, Chapter: 13 -Problem: 14 >> Automatic increments based on length of service are not at all meritocratic as they fail to recognise ability or talent and instead perversely reward age. How is pay progression based on length of service permissible given the anti-age discrimination provisions of the Equality Act 2010?
Answer Preview: In some sectors and some firms, annual salary increments, based on length of service, are automatica…

, Chapter: 6 -Problem: 5 >> If an organisation is accused of being institutionally racist, sexist and homophobic, what does it mean? How would you evaluate whether such a description was legitimate?
Answer Preview: a It means that the organisation could use better strategies to ensure that i…

, Chapter: 11 -Problem: 5 >> Based on your experience of working with employees from other nations, would you consider there are international differences in levels of engagement or the antecedents to employee engagement?How would you explain the differences?
Answer Preview: Global studies discussed within the chapter suggest that le…

, Chapter: 4 -Problem: 5 >> Give some thought to the data presented in the section. How might you begin to explain the differences between the unemployment rates of different ethnic groups?
Answer Preview: There are a number of potential explanations for the data and trends outlined in the relevant sectio…

, Chapter: 13 -Problem: 4 >> How is base pay set and reviewed within your own organisation?What proportion of employees in your organisation has their base pay determined by either the National Minimum Wage rate or the National Living Wage rate?
Answer Preview: Base pay is often fundamental in many organisations and is critical for calculating pension contribu…

, Chapter: 7 -Problem: 13 >> How would you summarise the UK’s current skills policy?
Answer Preview: Keep and Mayhew in 2001 described the UK approach as a blizzard of init…

, Chapter: 13 -Problem: 1 >> In what ways would you imagine that the seismic shift away from a pure subsistence existence to a consumerist society has impacted workers’ attitudes to financial reward for work carried out?Explain why the shift raises problems and dilemmas of control within the workplace.
Answer Preview: Pure subsistence has not really existed since the introduction of taxes paid to the crown to support …

, Chapter: 2 -Problem: 5 >> To what extent has increasing financialisation challenged best-practice SHRM?
Answer Preview: Pfeffers best practice model is based on the assumpt…

, Chapter: 8 -Problem: 4 >> Do you have a personal development plan?If you have not, make a mental note to discuss this with your boss at your next appraisal interview.If you have got a plan, when was it last reviewed?Is it still valid and up to date?
Answer Preview: a Do you have a personal development plan Yes I have a personal development plan I created it with m…

, Chapter: 13 -Problem: 9 >> Fat cat pay is a price worth paying as the bountiful rewards given to a few secure the livelihoods of many.
Answer Preview: The question of executive pay is undoubtedly controversial given the wide and growing income gaps be…

, Chapter: 5 -Problem: 3 >> Who should take prime responsibility for an individual’s career development?
Answer Preview: Organisations can adopt a range of activities, including s…

, Chapter: 13 -Problem: 6 >> In a grading structure, why are the salary points at the top of one grade and the base of the next grade invariably designed to overlap with one another?
Answer Preview: The general idea of overlapping grades is to allow for an entry/learn…

, Chapter: 3 -Problem: 7 >> • How would you represent an organisation in a changing world in terms of the open systems model? • Working individually or in groups, identify its inputs (where they come from, and how they could be changing), how it converts these, and what its (changing?) outputs might be.• What are its feedback mechanisms?
Answer Preview: The inputs would include people, finance, physical resources, technology and ideas. The conv…

, Chapter: 3 -Problem: 4 >> This chapter has been written from a British perspective. If you were working from a different perspective – South African, perhaps, or Scandinavian – what elements of the context of HRM would you include?
Answer Preview: The elements of the context of HRM that I would include are i De…

, Chapter: 15 -Problem: 6 >> What factors enable organisations that adopt ‘low road’ practices to attract and retain staff?Why are organisations that adopt ‘low road’ strategies successful?
Answer Preview: Low road approaches: Sectors of employment externalised from New Deal and welfare capitalist employe…

, Chapter: 1 -Problem: 6 >> Why do you think so few HR professionals want to be employee champions?
Answer Preview: Many HR professionals are reluctant to be considered as employee champions because of the associ…

, Chapter: 5 -Problem: 3 >> Visit the websites of a number of organisations that appeal to you as potential future employers. Compare and contrast the different uses of social media in recruitment. Which approaches seem to you to be most effective? Why?
Answer Preview: The most effective approaches include i The use of social media …

, Chapter: 16 -Problem: 9 >> 1. Do labour reforms benefit employers or labour?2. How is the labour market and trade union power affected by the reforms?
Answer Preview: 1. Labour reforms have benefitted employers to the detriment of labour. Reforms are recasting state-capital-labour relations where the earlier interve…

, Chapter: 4 -Problem: 5 >> Who have been the main beneficiaries of changes in the labour market since the 1980s and who have been the main losers?
Answer Preview: Main beneficiaries, for example: a. Managerial and professional work…

, Chapter: 8 -Problem: 8 >> To what extent do you feel that LMD is ‘failing’ to deliver anticipated outcomes in your organisation?Given what you have read in this chapter, what can be done to improve the situation?
Answer Preview: This exercise is designed to get students to reflect on the overall state of management development …

, Chapter: 16 -Problem: 4 >> To what extent are employment relations in China undergoing a total transformation to market driven relations or do they display continuity from the past?
Answer Preview: Employment relations are undergoing change in China, but changes are gradual in nature a…

, Chapter: 4 -Problem: 6 >> To what extent are broader patterns of occupational segregation useful for explaining the varying levels of representation of women in senior roles as shown in Table 4.3?
Answer Preview: It is evident from the data in Table 4 3 in the text that men still take the lion's share of the mos…

, Chapter: 14 -Problem: 3 >> Why might management resist moves to greater industrial democracy?
Answer Preview: There is a fear that greater industrial democracy …

, Chapter: 11 -Problem: 4 >> What evidence would you cite to support the proposition that engaged employees play an important role in impacting the bottom line profitability of organisations?
Answer Preview: In 2010, Gallup, a world leading survey and consultancy organisation, suggested the world's top-perf…

, Chapter: 6 -Problem: 1 >> Read through the scenarios below, which all concern discrimination on the basis of religion. Scenario 1 – The airline check-in desk worker An airline has a strict uniform policy that prohibits the display of any jewellery. Ms E is a devout Christian and started to wear  a small plain silver cross on a necklace that could be seen above her uniform. She worked on the check-in desks and managers aske
Answer Preview: 1. a. The cases are likely to provoke lots of discussion, among the key R&D issues are the following: Religion is one of the protected characteristics. But this does not give an automatic right to exp…

, Chapter: 6 -Problem: 1 >> ‘I don’t like to employ women because our customers are all local tradesmen and they prefer to deal with male staff because they understand the technical aspects of the products’. This statement was made by the manager of a small company that supplies building materials. Comment on the statement using the concepts of stereotyping, prejudice, social justice and the business case.
Answer Preview: My comment is that there is no need for women to be excluded from the workforce as if they were not just as capable as men I think that this is discri…

, Chapter: 16 -Problem: 2 >> Why is it important to consider aspects of tradition/social mechanisms to understand the Chinese institutional context?
Answer Preview: Chinese economic activity and Chinese firms have traditionally relied on social and informal mechani…

, Chapter: 3 -Problem: 1 >> In what ways does the conceptualisation of context adopted by this chapter differ from more commonly used approaches (e.g. in the models of HRM in Chapter 1)? Does it add to the understanding they give of HRM and, if so, in what way?
Answer Preview: Many of the models make conventional, positivist, mechanicist …

, Chapter: 3 -Problem: 2 >> • In your own experience of being employed, however limited that might be so far, have you been aware of some of these tensions? • What were their effects upon you and your colleagues at work? • How did the management of the organisation respond to these tensions? • How has this affected how you look at management and HRM?
Answer Preview: a In my experience being an HRM professional I have been aware of the same tensions There is no doub…

, Chapter: 15 -Problem: 9 >> Given this information, why have not more multinationals of non-German origin attempted to emulate the German approach?
Answer Preview: Non-German firms, particularly, those from more liberal …

, Chapter: 3 -Problem: 4 >> Go back to the models of HRM presented earlier (see Chapter 1) and, working either individually or in a group, start to elabor

Additional Information

21 Reviews for Human Resource Management A Contemporary Approach Textbook Questions And Answers