Inspirational journeys

Follow the stories of academics and their research expeditions

SHRM-CP Competencies Questions - Part 10

Jenny Clarke

Mon, 24 Mar 2025

1. Which action should the HR manager take to align the HR department's function with the organization's strategy?

A) A. Recommend to executive leadership that they invite HR staff to strategic planning meetings.
B) B. Create a vision statement for the HR department that uses keywords from the franchise's vision statement.
C) C. Review and revise existing HR products to ensure that they use industry-specific terminology.
D) D. Redesign the HR department's performance management system to base compensation on performance.



2. Which approach should the HR manager use to evaluate the success of the HR transformation plan?

A) A. Estimate the cost savings associated with reduced HR involvement in transactional HR activities.
B) B. Measure trends in HR department employee absenteeism before and after the transformation.
C) C. Assess the extent of change in key HR performance metrics over time.
D) D. Administer an engagement survey to all HR department employees.



3. An HR manager is careful never to promise a staff member a reward that he may not be able to deliver. What motivation theory does this reflect?

A) Maslow
B) Goal setting
C) Herzberg
D) Vroom



4. After a series of meetings with different departments dealing with downsizing, the HR professional authors a document identifying affected individuals based on departmental recommendations. A longtime friend of the HR professional will be impacted. How should the HR professional handle this situation?

A) Attempt to change the company's decision.
B) Encourage the friend's manager to inform the friend.
C) Keep the workforce reduction information confidential.
D) Inform the friend of the company's plans.



5. The vice president of human resources wants to develop a strong organizational commitment to ethical standards. Which is the best way to communicate this commitment?

A) Inserting a statement to this effect in employee handbooks
B) Coaching individual employees whenever a question of ethics arises
C) Delivering annual workshops on how to deal with ethical dilemmas
D) Modeling of ethical behavior by leaders, managers, and supervisors



1. Right Answer: A
Explanation: A is the best answer, as it demonstrates the Leadership and Navigation competency. By attending the strategy planning meetings, HR can align the department to the organization's strategy. B, C, and D are not the best answers. These activities are dependent on the organization's strategy. To align these activities to the strategy, HR needs to fully understand the organization's strategy.

2. Right Answer: C
Explanation: The best answer is C, as the best method to measure success is to focus on the change in all key performance indicators. This demonstrates the Critical Evaluation competency. A and B are not the best answers to evaluate the success, because these answers focus on one measure only. D is not the best answer, as surveying the engagement of HR employees does not provide valid results of key performance indicators.

3. Right Answer: D
Explanation: Vroom's theory proposes that employees are most motivated when they believe that successfully performing their assignments will result in promised rewards.

4. Right Answer: C
Explanation: In an effort to treat all employees with the same fairness and consistency, it is essential that the HR professional keep this information confidential. Any effort to inform one employee or adjust a policy for the benefit of one employee would be unethical.

5. Right Answer: D
Explanation: Modeling of ethical behavior indicates management and supervisory support every day in a variety of scenarios. Statements in handbooks are passive learning and are hard to transfer to real workplace situations. Annual training without frequent reinforcement is not very effective. Individual coaching is good, but it is reactive, occurring after the event. Modeling can help prevent unethical behavior.

80% DISCOUNT: SPHR PRACTICE EXAMS

0 Comments

Leave a comment