41) The primary purpose of strategic human resource management is to ________.
A) develop human resource policies that align with the industry standard
B) link a company's strategic plan with its human resource strategies
C) create stringent appraisal systems that highlight employee weaknesses
D) eliminate bonuses for top management and distribute the cost savings among subordinates
E) use offshoring to reduce human resource costs and to initiate globalization
42) In order to generate the desired workforce skills, competencies, and behaviors that a firm needs to achieve its strategic goals, human resource management must first develop ________.
A) HR consultants
B) HR strategies
C) HR databases
D) employee cultures
E) company norms
43) Which of the following most likely serves as the basis for the HR strategies developed by the majority of firms?
A) mission statements
B) potential strengths
C) supervisory objectives
D) competitive advantages
E) workforce requirements
44) Which of the following is the final step in the strategic human resource management process?
A) formulating HR policies and practices
B) identifying a firm's workforce requirements
C) formulating an effective business strategy
D) developing detailed HR scorecard measures
E) testing current employees for skills and knowledge
45) Human resource strategies are the ________ used to support a firm's strategic goals.
A) visions and objectives
B) policies and practices
C) missions and goals
D) plans and evaluations
E) theories and tools
46) As with many failed mergers and acquisitions, the Bank of America acquisition of Merrill Lynch was unsuccessful because of problems with ________.
A) technology
B) financing
C) geography
D) personnel
E) stock prices
47) Which of the following best explains the increased success of mergers and acquisitions in recent years?
A) improvements in wireless communication technology
B) union support of employee rights in multiple industries
C) fewer restrictions regarding corporate globalization
D) federal legislation regarding employee wages and rights
E) consistent involvement of human resource management
48) During a merger or an acquisition, due diligence reviews performed by human resource teams are most likely to assess all of the following EXCEPT ________.
A) accounting procedures
B) organizational culture
C) employee compensation
D) employee benefits
E) labor relations
49) Which of the following is the most important human resource issue to address during the first few months of a merger?
A) interviewing and hiring low-level managers
B) modifying benefits packages
C) identifying and retaining key talent
D) modifying employee pay grades
E) eliminating annual employee reviews
50) All of the following are services that human resource consulting companies provide during mergers and acquisitions EXCEPT ________.
A) aligning compensation programs
B) overseeing database recovery systems
C) developing change management plans
D) designing and implementing staffing models
E) managing employee communications strategies