D) corporate HR teams
Answer: B
Explanation: B) In the embedded HR teams structure, a HR generalist is assigned directly to a department within an organization to provide localized human resource management assistance as needed.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process.
34) Roberta Whitman has recently been hired by Jackson Pharmaceuticals as the senior vice president of human resources. Jackson Pharmaceuticals has a history of problems within its HR department including difficulties recruiting and retaining qualified employees, EEO violations, inadequate employee training programs, and confusion regarding health benefit enrollment and coverage. With years of experience transforming HR departments in other firms, Whitman believes she can correct the problems at Jackson Pharmaceuticals.
Which of the following best supports Whitman's idea to develop a shared services arrangement to handle benefits administration?
A) An embedded HR unit would assist top management with big picture issues as well as benefits administration.
B) Extensive training has been provided to line managers so that they fully understand the different insurance options available to employees.
C) Outside vendors specializing in all aspects of benefits administration would provide improved support to the firm's employees.
D) Lower insurance premiums would eliminate the need for outsourcing services and improve employee health coverage.
Answer: C
Explanation: C) The shared services (or transactional) HR teams focus on using centralized call centers and outsourcing arrangements with vendors (such as benefits advisors) to provide specialized support in day-to-day transactional HR activities (such as changing benefits plans and providing updated appraisal forms) to the company's employees. By outsourcing benefits administration, Jackson would allow HR managers to focus on other issues and enable benefits specialists to handle benefits enrollment and coverage issues.
Difficulty: Hard
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process.
35) Roberto Sanchez has recently been hired by Slate Pharmaceuticals as the senior vice president of human resources. Slate Pharmaceuticals has a history of a variety of significant problems within its HR department such as EEO violations, inadequate employee training programs, and employee confusion regarding health benefit enrollment and coverage. With 20 years of experience transforming HR departments in other firms, Sanchez believes he can correct the major problems at Slate Pharmaceuticals.
Which of the following best supports the argument that Sanchez should create embedded HR units and assign relationship managers to each department within the company?
A) Employees frequently complain about the inconsistent assistance they receive from the HR department due to its large size.
B) The global nature of the firm makes it difficult for the HR department to effectively communicate corporate messages to employees scattered around the world.
C) Centralized call centers would enable the HR department to provide specialized support on daily transactional activities.
D) Line managers want to implement additional screening and evaluations to improve the quality of their subordinates.
Answer: A
Explanation: A) The embedded HR teams assign HR generalists (also known as "relationship managers" or "HR business partners") directly to departments like sales and production, to provide the localized human resource management assistance the departments need. If employees are unable to receive the HR assistance they need on a regular basis, then it would be appropriate for the firm to assign HR generalists to each department as a direct line to the HR department.
Difficulty: Hard
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Application of Knowledge
Learning Outcome: 1.1 Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process.
36) Which of the following areas is NOT a major area where human resource managers assist and advise line managers?
A) recruiting
B) hiring
C) compensation
D) performance management
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Human resource managers assist and advise line managers in areas like recruiting, hiring, and compensation.
Difficulty: Moderate
Chapter: 1
Objective: 1
AACSB: Application of Knowledge