HRM1501 May/Jun 2015 exam paper — questions

Every question, by topic

1. Question 1.1 · Orientation, training and development · 8 marks

   Phambili Ltd is a large brick manufacturing organisation located in Mpumalanga. Although Phambili has its head office in Mpumalanga, it has branches throughout South Africa. The reasoning behind this is to increase its chances of gaining a higher market share, thereby increasing its profitability. To be able to gain a higher market share, Phambili has to ensure that it recruits candidates with the right skills and abilities. Recruitment does not always mean that candidates will be at a level desired by the organisation, so the organisation has to train them to reach the level it desires them to be at. Competition is stiff within the brick manufacturing industry, and for Phambili to achieve its objective of gaining a higher market share, it has to ensure that its employees are trained. Phambili, like all other organisations, must contribute to a larger strategy of using the workplace as an active learning environment and giving its employees an opportunity to acquire new skills. Among the key personnel of Phambili Ltd is Nomsa Sibeko, the marketing director. Nomsa has two ladies reporting to her: Palesa, the brand manager, and Sibongile, the sales manager. Johannes Moilwa is the training manager and he reports to Thembi Mda, the human resources (HR) director, who holds a Master's degree in human resource management. Pauline is Thembi's personal assistant. One of Thembi's key responsibilities is to ensure that the right mix of candidates is available when needed, which involves taking care of recruitment and selection. Johannes has to facilitate the whole training process and is assisted by Simon, the training officer. Identify the various steps in the training process that Johannes Moilwa must follow in order to contribute to the training of employees at Phambili Ltd.Show the full questionShow less

2. Question 1.2 · Orientation, training and development · 8 marks

   Phambili Ltd is a large brick manufacturing organisation located in Mpumalanga. Although Phambili has its head office in Mpumalanga, it has branches throughout South Africa. The reasoning behind this is to increase its chances of gaining a higher market share, thereby increasing its profitability. To be able to gain a higher market share, Phambili has to ensure that it recruits candidates with the right skills and abilities. Recruitment does not always mean that candidates will be at a level desired by the organisation, so the organisation has to train them to reach the level it desires them to be at. Competition is stiff within the brick manufacturing industry, and for Phambili to achieve its objective of gaining a higher market share, it has to ensure that its employees are trained. Phambili, like all other organisations, must contribute to a larger strategy of using the workplace as an active learning environment and giving its employees an opportunity to acquire new skills. Among the key personnel of Phambili Ltd is Nomsa Sibeko, the marketing director. Nomsa has two ladies reporting to her: Palesa, the brand manager, and Sibongile, the sales manager. Johannes Moilwa is the training manager and he reports to Thembi Mda, the human resources (HR) director, who holds a Master's degree in human resource management. Pauline is Thembi's personal assistant. One of Thembi's key responsibilities is to ensure that the right mix of candidates is available when needed, which involves taking care of recruitment and selection. Johannes has to facilitate the whole training process and is assisted by Simon, the training officer. For Johannes to evaluate whether training at Phambili Ltd was effective or not, he has to ensure that training was conducted and evaluated at various levels. Identify these levels and briefly describe each one.Show the full questionShow less

3. Question 1.3 · Orientation, training and development · 7 marks

   Phambili Ltd is a large brick manufacturing organisation located in Mpumalanga. Although Phambili has its head office in Mpumalanga, it has branches throughout South Africa. The reasoning behind this is to increase its chances of gaining a higher market share, thereby increasing its profitability. To be able to gain a higher market share, Phambili has to ensure that it recruits candidates with the right skills and abilities. Recruitment does not always mean that candidates will be at a level desired by the organisation, so the organisation has to train them to reach the level it desires them to be at. Competition is stiff within the brick manufacturing industry, and for Phambili to achieve its objective of gaining a higher market share, it has to ensure that its employees are trained. Phambili, like all other organisations, must contribute to a larger strategy of using the workplace as an active learning environment and giving its employees an opportunity to acquire new skills. Among the key personnel of Phambili Ltd is Nomsa Sibeko, the marketing director. Nomsa has two ladies reporting to her: Palesa, the brand manager, and Sibongile, the sales manager. Johannes Moilwa is the training manager and he reports to Thembi Mda, the human resources (HR) director, who holds a Master's degree in human resource management. Pauline is Thembi's personal assistant. One of Thembi's key responsibilities is to ensure that the right mix of candidates is available when needed, which involves taking care of recruitment and selection. Johannes has to facilitate the whole training process and is assisted by Simon, the training officer. Using a diagram, illustrate the position occupied by Johannes at Phambili Ltd, making sure to include all the other positions representing the organisational structure of Phambili Ltd.Show the full questionShow less

4. Question 1.4 · Orientation, training and development · 2 marks

   Phambili Ltd is a large brick manufacturing organisation located in Mpumalanga. Although Phambili has its head office in Mpumalanga, it has branches throughout South Africa. The reasoning behind this is to increase its chances of gaining a higher market share, thereby increasing its profitability. To be able to gain a higher market share, Phambili has to ensure that it recruits candidates with the right skills and abilities. Recruitment does not always mean that candidates will be at a level desired by the organisation, so the organisation has to train them to reach the level it desires them to be at. Competition is stiff within the brick manufacturing industry, and for Phambili to achieve its objective of gaining a higher market share, it has to ensure that its employees are trained. Phambili, like all other organisations, must contribute to a larger strategy of using the workplace as an active learning environment and giving its employees an opportunity to acquire new skills. Among the key personnel of Phambili Ltd is Nomsa Sibeko, the marketing director. Nomsa has two ladies reporting to her: Palesa, the brand manager, and Sibongile, the sales manager. Johannes Moilwa is the training manager and he reports to Thembi Mda, the human resources (HR) director, who holds a Master's degree in human resource management. Pauline is Thembi's personal assistant. One of Thembi's key responsibilities is to ensure that the right mix of candidates is available when needed, which involves taking care of recruitment and selection. Johannes has to facilitate the whole training process and is assisted by Simon, the training officer. Identify the two (2) acts promulgated by the government that play an important role in the management of training in organisations.Show the full questionShow less

5. Question 2.1 · Groups, teams and organisational behaviour · 1 mark

   These questions refer to the Phambili Ltd scenario introduced in Question 1: Phambili Ltd is a large brick manufacturing company headquartered in Mpumalanga with branches across South Africa, aiming to grow its market share through skilled, well-trained staff. Nomsa Sibeko is the marketing director, to whom Palesa (brand manager) and Sibongile (sales manager) report; Johannes Moilwa is the training manager, assisted by Simon the training officer, and reports to Thembi Mda, the HR director (who holds a Master's degree in HR management and is assisted by her personal assistant Pauline). Palesa and Sibongile both work in the marketing department and help each other complete tasks so that they can submit their work on time, functioning well together as a team. What type of group do these two ladies represent?Show the full questionShow less

6. Question 2.2 · Groups, teams and organisational behaviour · 1 mark

   These questions refer to the Phambili Ltd scenario introduced in Question 1: Phambili Ltd is a large brick manufacturing company headquartered in Mpumalanga with branches across South Africa, aiming to grow its market share through skilled, well-trained staff. Nomsa Sibeko is the marketing director, to whom Palesa (brand manager) and Sibongile (sales manager) report; Johannes Moilwa is the training manager, assisted by Simon the training officer, and reports to Thembi Mda, the HR director (who holds a Master's degree in HR management and is assisted by her personal assistant Pauline). Palesa and Sibongile have started a birthday club and invited ladies from other departments to join. What type of group does this birthday club represent?Show the full questionShow less

7. Question 2.3 · Groups, teams and organisational behaviour · 5 marks

   These questions refer to the Phambili Ltd scenario introduced in Question 1: Phambili Ltd is a large brick manufacturing company headquartered in Mpumalanga with branches across South Africa, aiming to grow its market share through skilled, well-trained staff. Nomsa Sibeko is the marketing director, to whom Palesa (brand manager) and Sibongile (sales manager) report; Johannes Moilwa is the training manager, assisted by Simon the training officer, and reports to Thembi Mda, the HR director (who holds a Master's degree in HR management and is assisted by her personal assistant Pauline). Define the concept of a 'group' and explain the difference between a formal group and an informal group.Show the full questionShow less

8. Question 2.4 · Groups, teams and organisational behaviour · 10 marks

   These questions refer to the Phambili Ltd scenario introduced in Question 1: Phambili Ltd is a large brick manufacturing company headquartered in Mpumalanga with branches across South Africa, aiming to grow its market share through skilled, well-trained staff. Nomsa Sibeko is the marketing director, to whom Palesa (brand manager) and Sibongile (sales manager) report; Johannes Moilwa is the training manager, assisted by Simon the training officer, and reports to Thembi Mda, the HR director (who holds a Master's degree in HR management and is assisted by her personal assistant Pauline). People join groups for a variety of reasons. Identify five such reasons and briefly discuss each one.Show the full questionShow less

9. Question 2.5 · Groups, teams and organisational behaviour · 8 marks

   These questions refer to the Phambili Ltd scenario introduced in Question 1: Phambili Ltd is a large brick manufacturing company headquartered in Mpumalanga with branches across South Africa, aiming to grow its market share through skilled, well-trained staff. Nomsa Sibeko is the marketing director, to whom Palesa (brand manager) and Sibongile (sales manager) report; Johannes Moilwa is the training manager, assisted by Simon the training officer, and reports to Thembi Mda, the HR director (who holds a Master's degree in HR management and is assisted by her personal assistant Pauline). Norms are standards of behaviour within a group that are shared by all its members. Identify the four classes of norms and briefly describe each class.Show the full questionShow less

10. Question 3.1 · Recruitment and selection · 3 marks

    This question refers back to the Phambili Ltd scenario: Phambili Ltd is a large brick manufacturing organisation based in Mpumalanga with branches throughout South Africa, aiming to increase market share by recruiting skilled candidates and training them to the desired level. Key personnel include Nomsa Sibeko (marketing director), Palesa (brand manager) and Sibongile (sales manager) who report to her, Thembi Mda (HR director with a Master's degree in human resource management, responsible for recruitment and selection and ensuring the right mix of candidates is available), her personal assistant Pauline, and Johannes Moilwa (training manager, assisted by training officer Simon) who reports to Thembi. To make sure that an organisation has the required number of employees with the necessary competencies on hand, a specific process must be undertaken. Identify and describe this process.Show the full questionShow less

11. Question 3.2 · Recruitment and selection · 6 marks

    This question refers back to the Phambili Ltd scenario: Phambili Ltd is a large brick manufacturing organisation based in Mpumalanga with branches throughout South Africa, aiming to increase market share by recruiting skilled candidates and training them to the desired level. Key personnel include Nomsa Sibeko (marketing director), Palesa (brand manager) and Sibongile (sales manager) who report to her, Thembi Mda (HR director with a Master's degree in human resource management, responsible for recruitment and selection and ensuring the right mix of candidates is available), her personal assistant Pauline, and Johannes Moilwa (training manager, assisted by training officer Simon) who reports to Thembi. When recruiting candidates, Phambili Ltd can make use of either internal recruitment or external recruitment methods. Define the concept of 'recruitment' and explain the difference between these two methods of recruitment, providing an example of each.Show the full questionShow less

12. Question 3.3 · Recruitment and selection · 2 marks

    This question refers back to the Phambili Ltd scenario: Phambili Ltd is a large brick manufacturing organisation based in Mpumalanga with branches throughout South Africa, aiming to increase market share by recruiting skilled candidates and training them to the desired level. Key personnel include Nomsa Sibeko (marketing director), Palesa (brand manager) and Sibongile (sales manager) who report to her, Thembi Mda (HR director with a Master's degree in human resource management, responsible for recruitment and selection and ensuring the right mix of candidates is available), her personal assistant Pauline, and Johannes Moilwa (training manager, assisted by training officer Simon) who reports to Thembi. Once successful candidates have been selected, orientation begins. Describe what is meant by the concept of 'orientation'.Show the full questionShow less

13. Question 3.4 · Recruitment and selection · 7 marks

    This question refers back to the Phambili Ltd scenario: Phambili Ltd is a large brick manufacturing organisation based in Mpumalanga with branches throughout South Africa, aiming to increase market share by recruiting skilled candidates and training them to the desired level. Key personnel include Nomsa Sibeko (marketing director), Palesa (brand manager) and Sibongile (sales manager) who report to her, Thembi Mda (HR director with a Master's degree in human resource management, responsible for recruitment and selection and ensuring the right mix of candidates is available), her personal assistant Pauline, and Johannes Moilwa (training manager, assisted by training officer Simon) who reports to Thembi. Identify the seven (7) steps of the selection process.Show the full questionShow less

14. Question 3.5 · Recruitment and selection · 7 marks

    This question refers back to the Phambili Ltd scenario: Phambili Ltd is a large brick manufacturing organisation based in Mpumalanga with branches throughout South Africa, aiming to increase market share by recruiting skilled candidates and training them to the desired level. Key personnel include Nomsa Sibeko (marketing director), Palesa (brand manager) and Sibongile (sales manager) who report to her, Thembi Mda (HR director with a Master's degree in human resource management, responsible for recruitment and selection and ensuring the right mix of candidates is available), her personal assistant Pauline, and Johannes Moilwa (training manager, assisted by training officer Simon) who reports to Thembi. Once the most desirable candidates have been selected, they must be given a job offer. Identify the most important information that should be included in this job offer.Show the full questionShow less

15. Question 4.1 · The HR environment, profession and strategic role · 2 marks

    This question is based on the scenario of Phambili Ltd, a large brick manufacturing company headquartered in Mpumalanga with branches across South Africa. Among its key personnel is Thembi Mda, the human resources (HR) director, who holds a Master's degree in human resource management and is responsible for ensuring that the organisation has the right mix of candidates available when needed. For Thembi Mda to remain up to date with the latest developments in the HR profession, she needs to register with the SABPP (the South African Board of People Practices). At which level will she be registered by the board?Show the full questionShow less

16. Question 4.2 · The HR environment, profession and strategic role · 3 marks

    This question is based on the scenario of Phambili Ltd, a large brick manufacturing company headquartered in Mpumalanga with branches across South Africa. Among its key personnel is Thembi Mda, the human resources (HR) director, who holds a Master's degree in human resource management and is responsible for ensuring that the organisation has the right mix of candidates available when needed. Identify three (3) practical competencies that the board will require from an applicant in Thembi Mda's position.Show the full questionShow less

17. Question 4.3 · The HR environment, profession and strategic role · 5 marks

    This question is based on the scenario of Phambili Ltd, a large brick manufacturing company headquartered in Mpumalanga with branches across South Africa. Among its key personnel is Thembi Mda, the human resources (HR) director, who holds a Master's degree in human resource management and is responsible for ensuring that the organisation has the right mix of candidates available when needed. Identify five (5) steps which Thembi Mda has to follow in order to fulfil the role of a strategic player.Show the full questionShow less

18. Question 4.4 · The HR environment, profession and strategic role · 11 marks

    This question is based on the scenario of Phambili Ltd, a large brick manufacturing company headquartered in Mpumalanga with branches across South Africa. Among its key personnel is Thembi Mda, the human resources (HR) director, who holds a Master's degree in human resource management and is responsible for ensuring that the organisation has the right mix of candidates available when needed. Suppose that the desired candidates have been selected and trained, but their performance still does not meet the standard set by Phambili Ltd. What steps can Thembi Mda and her HR team take to develop high performers and motivate average employees to improve their performance? Identify the process that should be followed and mention the ten (10) steps that this team can undertake.Show the full questionShow less

19. Question 4.5 · The HR environment, profession and strategic role · 4 marks

    This question is based on the scenario of Phambili Ltd, a large brick manufacturing company headquartered in Mpumalanga with branches across South Africa. Among its key personnel is Thembi Mda, the human resources (HR) director, who holds a Master's degree in human resource management and is responsible for ensuring that the organisation has the right mix of candidates available when needed. Identify the four (4) basic elements necessary for a performance evaluation to be effective.Show the full questionShow less

20. Question 5.1 · Compensation and benefits · 3 marks

    These questions refer back to the scenario given in Question 1 concerning Phambili Ltd. Phambili Ltd. must comply with the requirements of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995, as amended, and the tripartite relationship plays a role in this compliance. Name the three actual parties involved in this tripartite relationship.Show the full questionShow less

21. Question 5.2 · Compensation and benefits · 6 marks

    These questions refer back to the scenario given in Question 1 concerning Phambili Ltd. For a healthy relationship to exist between employers and employees, employees need to be compensated for the services they render. Define the concept of "compensation" and explain the difference between direct and indirect compensation.Show the full questionShow less

22. Question 5.3 · Compensation and benefits · 6 marks

    These questions refer back to the scenario given in Question 1 concerning Phambili Ltd. Name six objectives of a compensation plan.Show the full questionShow less

23. Question 5.4 · Compensation and benefits · 10 marks

    These questions refer back to the scenario given in Question 1 concerning Phambili Ltd. Identify five reasons why providing employee benefits is valuable to employers, and briefly discuss each one.Show the full questionShow less