Lussier, Human Resources Management 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
Sample Answers
Chapter 4: Workforce Planning: Job Analysis, Design, and Employment
Forecasting
Answers to Applying the Concept Exercises
Applying the Concept 4-1: Job Analysis Methods
Review the following job analysis methods and then write the letter corresponding to each
method before the situation in which it would be the most appropriate.
a. questionnaire
b. interview
c. diary
d. observation
e. subject matter expert (SME) panel
1. On your staff, you have an industrial engineer who is an efficiency expert. You want her to
improve the productivity of your machinists.
2. You have a new job to analyze, and you would like to get help from a few other
professionals who know the job much better than you do.
3. You have professionals who work independently using different methods of developing
computer games.
4. In your call center, where hundreds of employees make cold calls to sell your products,
there is a high turnover rate that you want to improve.
A. Questionnaire. This is quick way to get info from large number of sources.
5. You have several service call employees who repair a variety of computers. You would
like to have a better idea of what types of computers they are fixing.
Lussier, Human Resources Management 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
Applying the Concept 4-2: Job Designs
Review the list of job design techniques below and write the letter corresponding to each
technique before the statement exemplifying that technique.
a. mechanistic
b. organic
c. biological
d. perceptual-motor
e. motivational
6. We are required to wear these special belts when we unload the trucks at Target.
7. We have added enough employees so that we are breaking the human resources function
into its own department. Jack will now focus on compensation and benefits, and Jill will
conduct the training. Latoya will be responsible for safety and security.
8. Here at Intel, we are going to change your job so that you can develop new skills and
complete entire jobs by yourself. We’re doing this to make the job more meaningful to you
and so that you can do the job the way you want to and know how you are doing.
E. Motivational. This statement is essentially what the Job Characteristics Model is.
9. I just finished the Casey project. What should I do now?
10. This is the 30th customer I’ve checked out at Stop & Shop supermarket today.
Applying the Concept 4-3: Designing Motivational Jobs
Review the following job design techniques and write the letter corresponding to each
technique before the statement exemplifying it.
Lussier, Human Resources Management 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
a. job simplification
b. job rotation
c. job enlargement
d. job enrichment
e. work teams
11. Would you like more job variety? If so, I can add three new tasks to your job to make it
less repetitive.
12. I’m going to teach you to balance the accounts so that you can do it for Carlos while he is
on vacation.
B. Job rotation. The person will do their job, then rotate to the account balance, and rotate
back to the first job.
13. Would you like me to delegate a new task to you to make your job more challenging?
14. Dominic’s Pizza stopped requiring customers to sign a credit card slip for under $25.
15. I’m creating a new crew with the seven of you. There will not be a formal manager; you
will share that responsibility. From now on, you don’t have a manager. So share the job
together.
Applying the Concept 4-4: Quantitative Methods
Complete each problem below:
16. Turn to the Regression Analysis section of Exhibit 4-6. Assume that in 2012, you expect
a recession and revenues to drop to $24MM. Around how many employees will you need?
a. 160 b. 180 c. 210 d. 230
Lussier, Human Resources Management 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
17. You have 253 employees. Over the past year, there were 26 absences. What is the
approximate percentage and ratio of absenteeism?
a. 9.7%, 1–10 b. 10%, 1–10 c. 10%, 1–100 d. 12%, 1–12
18. You have 1,215 employees. Over the past year, 298 left the firm. What is the
approximate percentage and ratio of turnover?
a. 4%, 1–20 b. 40%, 4–10 c. 22%, 22–100 d. 25%, 1–4
19. Turn to the Trend Analysis section of Exhibit 4-6. Assume that in 2012, you expect
revenues to be $35MM. Around how many employees will you need?
a. 210 b. 230 c. 250 d. 270
D. 270. The other three are not high enough.
20. Turn to the Ratio Analysis section of Exhibit 4-6. Assume that in 2015, you expect the
production level to increase to $22,000,000. Around how many employees will you need,
and how many new workers do you need to add?
a. 72 and 11 b. 73 and 12 c. 74 and 13 d. 75 and 14
Answers to the Skill Builder Exercises
Skill Builder 4–1 Ideas
Job Analysis
Total Time (0–20 min)
This exercise is designed primarily for individual experience. However, there is class value
with either an individual or group approach.
Lussier, Human Resources Management 3e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
Skill Builder 4–2 Ideas
Job Characteristics Model
Total Time (0–20 min)
This exercise is designed primarily for individual experience. However, there is class value
with either an individual or group approach.
Skill Builder 4–3 Ideas
O*NET
Total Time (0–20 min)
This exercise is designed primarily for individual experience. It can just be a written
assignment without spending any class time on it. However, there is class value with either or