HRIR3021 Final Exam Study Guide- Fall 2013
******** This document is intended to be a guide. It does not constitute a contract about what is and is not going to be on the exam. ************
This guide focuses mainly on the material and content of readings and lectures that I view as most central and vital to class objectives for the first exam. While it is important to know the key concepts listed below, the questions on the exam will also require that students be able to apply and integrate their knowledge to an actual organizational context. For example, students may be asked about the application of topics to a video clip viewed in class or an organization that was discussed in class to exemplify a key concept. The format of the test may be multiple choice, matching and T/F.
HR Overview: Chapters One and Two
1. What are the origins of human resources? How has HR evolved over the last century?
2. Define human resource management and explain how HRM contributes to organization’s performance.
3. What is human capital? What are different types of human capital? How does human capital provide a competitive advantage?
4. What are the six strategic competencies necessary for HR professionals? Refer to figure 1.3 in your text.
5. Explain the human resource responsibilities of supervisors.
6. What are ethical issues in human resource management?
7. Identify the different generations in the workplace. How are their values different?
8. Who are knowledge workers? Who are service workers? What challenges does the management of knowledge workers vs. service workers pose? In what ways can managers empower workers?
9. What are some ways in which human resources can support the company strategy?
10. Be able to describe the strategic issues facing human resource management (re-engineering, mergers/acquisitions, etc.)
Labor Law - This section comes from the PowerPoint given in class in week three. This content was not in chapter three of your text.
1. Be able to describe the basic history of unions given in class and the changes in labor over the last hundred years in the U.S. (Child labor, safety, etc.)
2. What is the relationship between state and federal laws and the rights granted to citizens?
3. What is the Wagner Act (also known as NLRA)? Does this law apply to only union workers? What makes this law so important in labor law history? What are closed shops and why were they important?
4. Describe what a protected concerted activity is.
5. Who is the NLRB and what is their purpose yet today?
6. What does the NLRB have to say about social media in the workplace, and the rights of worker? What tips does it offer employers to drafting a policy?
7. What does the NLRB have to say about discussing pay in the workplace?
Employment Law- This section comes from both chapter three in your text and the PowerPoint in class in weeks three and four.
1. Why was FLSA passed, what is its purpose? What is the child labor age? What is the difference between exempt and non-exempt pay (you do not need to know the specific exemption criteria).
2. What happened in the Lily Ledbetter case? What was the significance of this act?
3. Describe the importance and key components of the Family Medical Leave Act.
4. What is USERRA? Why is it important? What are its main provisions?
5. What is going on in society to prompt the passage of Title VII? Who qualifies under Title VII as a protected class? When does Title VII apply? What is the EEOC and what do they do?
6. Discrimination theories: what is disparate treatment and the significance of the McDonnel Douglas v. Green case? How do you prove a prima facie case of discrimination? What is disparate impact and the significance of the Griggs v. Duke case?
7. What is the 4/5ths rule? Be able to apply the 4/5ths calculation to determine if a disparate impact exists.
8. What is a BFOQ and when are they legal? Be able to give examples.
9. Who qualifies under ADEA?
10. What is ADA, and
