Reference no: EM132824326
1. An argument broke out between a manager and one of his employees; HR was asked to investigate. After interviewing both the employee and the manager, the HR director overheard the employee saying, "I wish this were the olden days. I'd take this argument out in the street and solve it without anyone's help." Because Clearwater Electronics has a zero-tolerance policy for workplace violence, with prominent signage in a number of visible locations in the plant, the employee was immediately terminated. Why did this incident of workplace violence occur?
a. The incident happened due to a lack of legal authority to enforce workplace violence policies.
b. The incident occurred due to ineffective monitoring of the workplace environment by HR.
c. The incident came from the manager imposing an unsolvable problem on the employee.
d. The incident stemmed from ineffective problem-solving on the part of the employee.
2. At the last board meeting of Clearwater Electronics, the HR director discussed the threat of a new entrant in the computer chip market, Silicon Unlimited. The HR director is concerned that Silicon Unlimited will try to poach some of Clearwater's top talent and wants the board's approval to make counteroffers to employees should this happen. Why is reducing the availability of top talent a good strategy to combat the threat of this new competitor?
a. It will cause Silicon Unlimited to look elsewhere for employees.
b. It will ensure that Silicon Unlimited does not obtain the resources it needs to be successful.
c. It will cause a barrier to entry for Silicon Unlimited and make it more difficult for the company to begin operations.
d. It will make it harder for Silicon Unlimited to invest in the human capital it needs to get off the ground.
3. Clearwater Electronics has purchased a mining company that supplies various rare-earth metals such as lanthanum, neodymium, and samarium that are used in the firm's advanced electronics manufacturing. Why is vertical integration an ideal business growth strategy for Clearwater Electronics?
a. Vertical integration will allow the company to be more competitive in the computer chip market.
b. Vertical integration will allow the company to supply materials to competitors at a higher price.
c. Vertical integration will allow the company to acquire more companies in the future if this acquisition is successful.
d. Vertical integration will allow the company to gain control over its value chain.
4. Due to a recent patent expiration, a new industry-wide computer chip design has been released. As a result, the company that develops and produces the chip fastest will have a significant increase in revenue and market share. The HR department at Clearwater Electronics responds quickly to the patent expiration-a feature of the external environment-by hiring more innovative employees who can help with the implementation of the chip. Which of the following statements best describes the necessity for Clearwater Electronics to respond quickly to the external environment?
a. Organizations that respond quickly to the external environment can often capture the best talent available.
b. Organizations that respond quickly to the external environment are often on the cutting edge of technology and know how to hire the new generation of workers.
c. Organizations that can respond quickly and efficiently to the external environment often have a competitive edge over their competitors.
d. Organizations that respond quickly to the external environment can better comply with government and legal regulations.
5. In the most recent negotiations, the union demanded a decrease in floor automation as well as additional paid time off for every employee on the floor. With the implementation and cost of a recent retirement plan for all employees at Clearwater Electronics, management felt that such demands were unacceptable, and negotiations have stalled for a month. The company and the union have agreed to mediation. Which statement best explains why mediation is a better option than arbitration for Clearwater in this situation?
a. Mediation is able to explore alternative solutions without offending both parties.
b. Mediation does not have a formal discovery process, so it is less time-consuming for the company.
c. Mediation will allow both parties to take time to calm down and think clearly.
d. Mediation has no power to impose a settlement, so the company can still protect its position.