CONCEPT OF HR AUDIT AND PURPOSE An audit is a means by which an organization can measure where it currently stands and determine

what it has to accomplish to improve its human resources function. It involves systematically reviewing all aspects of human resources, usually in a checklist fashion, ensuring that government regulations and company policies are being adhered to. The key to an audit is to remember it is a learning or discovery tool, not a test. There will always be room for improvement in every organization. An HR audit provides a quick way to take stock of a companys human resources and practices with an eye toward improving them. While there are different ways to conduct an HR audit, depending on the companys goals, audits usually involve interviewing senior and mid-level management, reviewing the companys HR policies and forms, and sometimes even surveying employees. The

advantage of HR audits is that they bring a level of expertise to bear on issues that, while important, most companies simply do not have the time or capacity to undertake themselves. A basic audit will address compliance issues such as, the hiring process or personnel policies. We recommend a fuller assessment to address possible organization design issues and to identify opportunities for making better use of the companys human resources. Once the audit is completed, the findings are presented to management. What happens after that depends on management. The company owns the findings and can choose whether, when, and to what degree to act on them. The HR Audit helps by:
providing feedback on the value of the contribution of the HR function to the organisation's strategic business objectives assessing the quality of HR practices, policies and delivery reporting on extent of statutory HR compliance and remedial action required assessing HR and line management relationships and ways these can be improved setting guidelines for establishing HR performance standards and identifying areas for change and improvement with specific recommendations The HR Audit focuses on the following elements of People Management: Organisational Data Strategic HRM overview Staff Communication and Change Management HRM Operational Delivery Staff Performance and Morale and HR Performance Measures

PURPOSE OF HR AUDIT
To insure the effective utilization of an organizations human resources. To review compliance with a myriad of administrative regulations. To instill a sense of confidence in management and the human resources function that it is well managed and prepared to meet potential challenges. To maintain or enhance the organizations and the departments reputation in the community. To perform a "due diligence" review for shareholders or potential investors/owners.

SMART goal settings

An effective expression of the important goal setting guidelines is that you should set SMART goals. What the SMART goal setting guidelines actually mean is that your goals should be Specific Measurable Attainable Rewarding timely Specific With a specific goal you can clearly see what it is you want to achieve, and you have specific standards for that achievement. In making your goals specific it is important that you actually write them, which is crucial in all goal setting guidelines. The more specific is your goal, the more realistic is your success, and the shorter is path to it. When you work on making your goal specific, you program your subconscious mind to work for you. Then, your feelings and thoughts will lead you to your goal instead of pointing at the obstacles. To make your goals specific you also need to work out the other components of SMART goal setting guidelines below. Measureable: For a goal to be measurable you need a way to measure the progress and some specific criteria that will tell you when you can stop and the goal is achieved. Feeling the progress is very important for you to stay motivated and enjoy the process of achieving the goal. Attainable: An attainable goal is a goal for which you see a realistic path to achievement, and reasonable odds that you get there. This does not mean that the lower you aim the more likely you reach success. It is well known that goals that work best have a challenge in them. They are chosen as ambitious as possible, but still reachable. Then they will give you more motivation and sense of achievement. Rewarding: A goal is rewarding when you have clear reasons why you want to reach that goal. This is one more place where it is important that the goal is really yours. Have your specific reasons and expected reward in writing. If possible, even with some visual pictures. Imagine how you are going to feel when the goal is finally reached. This will ensure that the goal is really worth achieving. Then, every time you get stuck and don't feel motivated enough, read your reasons and look at the pictures. This is a known and very powerful practical technique of how to get through difficult moments and not quit. Timely: The fifth requirement of the SMART goal setting guidelines is that your goal should have a specific time limit. This is also very important for your subconscious mind. Besides, time is the price you pay for the reward from achieving a goal. Setting the deadline will protect you from paying higher price than the goal is worth. This is also your protection from procrastination and perfection.

UGC Research Aptitude Questions

1. Who said that members of the same species are not alike? 1. Darwin 2. Herbert Spencer (c) Best (d) Good 2. A st;:ttistical measure based upon the entire population is called parameter while measure based upon a sample is known as 1. sample parameter 2. inference 3. statistic 4. none of these 3. Generalized conclusion on the basis of a sample is technically known as. 5. statistical inference of external validity of the research 6. data analysis and interpretation 7. parameter inference 3. all of the above 4. A researcher selects a probability sample of 100 out of the total population. It is 1. 2. 3. 4. a cluster sample a random sample.. a stratified sample a systematic sample

5. Aresearcher divides the populations into PG, graduates and 10 + 2 students and using the random digit table he selects some of them from. each. This is technically called 1. 2. 3. 4. stratified sarp. pling stratified random sampling ' representative sampling none ofthese

6. The final result of a study will be more accurate if the sample drawn is 1. taken randomly 2. fixed by quota 3. representative to the population

4. purpOSIVe 7. A researcher selects only 10 members as a sample from the total population of 5000 and considers it good because 1. 2. 3. 4. he was a good researcher he was guided by his supervisor the populations was homogeneous all ofthese

8. Area (cluster) sampling t echnique is used when 1. 2. 3. 4. popul~tion is scattered and large size of the sample is to be drawn population is heterogeneous long survey is needed (a) and (c)

9. A researcher divides his population into certain groups and fixes the size of the sample from each group. It is called 1. 2. 3. 4. stratified sample quota sample cluster sample all of the above

10. Which ofthe following is a non-probability sample ? 1. 2. 3. 4. Quota sample Simple random sample Purposive sample (a) and (c) both

11. Which t echnique is generally followed when the population is finite ? 1. 2. 3. 4. Area sampling technique Purposive sllmpling technique Systematic sampling technique None ofthe above

12. Validity of a research can be improved by 1. 2. 3. 4. eliminating extraneous factors taking the true representative sample ofthe population both of the above measures none ofthese

13. Field study is related to 1. 2. 3. 4. real life situations experimental situations laboratory situations none of the above

14. Independent variables are not marupulated in 1. 2. 3. 4. normative researches ex-post facto researches both ofthe above none ofthe above

15. The research antagonistic to ex-post facto research is 1. 2. 3. 4. experimental studies normati~e researches library researches all ofthe above

16. Who is regarded the father of scientific social surveys? 1. 2. 3. 4. Darwin Booth Best None oft. hese

17. Attributes of objects, events or things which can be measured are called 1. 2. 3. 4. qualitative measure data variables none ofthe above

18. The process not nE; ededin experimental researches is 1. 2. 3. 4. observation controlling manipulation and replication . reference collection

19. The experimental study is based on the law of (d) single variable

(b) replication (c) occupation (d) interest ofthe subject 20. All are example of qualitative variables except 1. 2. 3. 4. religion and castes sex observation interest of the subject

21. An example of scientific knowledge is 1. 2. 3. 4. authority ofthe Prophet or great men social traditions and customs religious scriptures laboratory and field experiments

22. A teacher encounters various problems during his professional experiences. He should 1. 2. 3. 4. resign from his post ' in. such situations do research onthat problem and find a solution avoid the problematic situations , take the help of head ofthe institution

23. A research problem is feasible only when 1. 2. 3. 4. it is researchable it is new and adds something to knowledge it has utility and relevance all of these

24. Formulation of hypothesis may not be necessary 1. 2. 3. 4. survey studies fact finding (historical) studies normative studies experimental studies

25. Studying the social status of a population a researcher concluded that Mr. X is socially backward. His conclusion is (aJ wrong (b) right (c) inaccurate

(d) biased Note: Such studies are conducted m relative terms. 26. A good hypothesis should be 1. precise, specific and conslstent with most known facts 2. formulated in such a way that it can be tested by the data 3. of limited scope and should not have global significance '(d) all of these 27. Hypothesis can not be stated in 1. null and question form terms 2. declarative terms 3. general terms 4. directional terms 28. Logic of induction is very close to 1. 2. 3. 4. the logic of sampling the logic of observation the logic of the controlled variable none of the above

29. In order to augment the acc~acy of the study a researcher 1. 2. 3. 4. should increase the size of the sample should be honest and unbiased should keep the variance high all of these

30. All causes n?n , sampling errors except 19 1. 2. 3. 4. faulty tools of measurement inadequate sample non response defect in data collection

31. Total error in a research is equal to 1. 2. 3. 4. sampling error + non-sampling error [(sampling error) + (non - sampling error)t only samp'ling error sampling error x 100

32. The probability of a head and a tail of tossing four coins simultaneously is 1. 118

2. 116 3. 114 4. 1164 33. Which of the fQl10wing is a primary source of data? ' 1. Personal records, letters, diaries, autobio-graphies, wills, etc. 2. Official records-governments' documents, information preserved by social-religious organizations etc. 3. Oral testimony of traditions and customs 4. Allofthe ahove 34. For doing external criticism (for establishing the authenticity of data) a researcher must verify: 1. 2. 3. 4. the signature and handwriting of the author the paper and ink used in that period whicltis under study style of prose writing of that period all of the above

35. The validity and reliability of a research will be at stake when1. 2. 3. 4. The author wh, o is the source of information is biased,. incompetent or dishonest The incident was reported after a long period of time from that of its occurrence T4e researcher himself is not competent enough to draw logical conclusions All ofthe above

36. While writing research report a researcher 1. 2. 3. 4. must riot use the numerical figures in numbers in the beginning of sentences must arrange it in lpgical, topical and chronological order must compare his results with those of the other studies all of the above

37. A researcher wants to study the future of the Congress I in India.. For the study which tool is most appropriate for him? 1. 2. 3. 4. Questionnaire SchedUle Interview Rating scale

38. Survey study aims at: (i) knowing facts about the l!Xisting situation (ii) comparing the present status with the standard norms (iii) criticising the existing situation (iv) identifying the means of improving the existing

situation 1. 2. 3. 4. (i) and (ii) only (i), (ii), and (iii) (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) (ii) and (iii) only 39. Seeing a very big rally it was reported that it will win the election, the conclusion was based on: 1. random sampling 2. cluster sampling ' 3. systematic sampling 4. purposive sampling 40. The per capita income of India from 1950 to 1990 is four times. This study is 5. 6. 7. 8. social horizontal longitudinal factorial

41. It is an example of negative correlation: 9. an increase iiI population will lead to a shortage of food grains 10. poor intelligence means poor achievement in school 11. corruption in India is increasing 12. poor working condition retards output 45. If you are doing experiment on a large group of sample which method of controlling will you adopt? 13. matching 14. randomization 15. elimination and matching both 16. elimination. The other name of independent variable for an experimental research is/are 17. treatment variable 18. experimental variable 19. manipulated variable 20. all of the above 46. The historical research is different from experimental research in the process of 21. replication 22. the formulation of the hypothesis 23. the hypothesis testing

24. all of the above 47. The reVIew of the related study. is important while undertaking a research because 25. it avoids repetition or duplication 26. it helps in understanding the gaps 27. it helps the researcher not to draw illogical conclusions 28. all of the above 48. Which of the following is not the characteristic of a researcher? 29. He is a specialist rather than a generalist 30. He is industrious and persistent on the trial of discovery 31. He is not inspirational to his chosen field but accepts the reality 32. He is not versatile in his interest and even in his native abilities 5. He is versatile in his interest, even in his native abilities 6. he is objective 49. Collective psychology of the whole period is a theory which 1. 2. 3. 4. can explain all phase of historical development means the psychology of the whole society means psychological approach of data collection all oftl1. e above

50. Bibliography given in a research report 1. 2. 3. 4. helps those interested in further research and studying the problem from another angle makes the report authentic shows the vastknowledge of the researcher none ofthe above

51. If the sample drawn does not specify any condition about the parameter of the population, it is called 1. 2. 3. 4. selected statistics distribution free statistics census none of the above

ANSWERS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1. (e) (a)

2. (b) (e) (e) (d) (b) (d) 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 le) (e) (a) (e) (a) (b) (e) (d) (a) (d) 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 (d) (b) (d) (b) (e) (d) (e) (a) (d) (b) 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 (b) (b) (d) (d) (d) (d) (a) (b) (b) (e) 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 1. 2. (e) (b) (d) (d) (d) (d) (a) (a) 51 (b)

EXPLANATORY ANSWERS
12. (c): When we study about an event by 5. (b): Division of population on the basis of taking a sample from the population it class, income, education level etc is is cal. led statistic and a group. of called stratification and every member statistical measures is called statistics. of ea~h stratum has equal chance of 4. (b): In random sampling technique every being selected by the researcher. In number of the population has equal this way characteristics of various chance of being selected. strata are identified and studied. 6. (c): The more the sample represents the population the more accurate are the results of the study. Sample can be made more representative either by increasing the size of the sample or by following more rellable method of sampling. 7. (c): If characteristics of the population is homogeneous a small sample may be enough for study because it may represent the whole population easily. 8. (d): When long survey is being done and population is scattered over a large area then researcher selects various groups from the whole area. The selection of these groups is bailed on the discretion ofthe researcher. 14. (c): In normative researches only data are collected from the survey and after analysing them results are declared. Thus there is no need of manipulating independent variables. In ex-post facto research effects are already known and researcher studies the. causes lying behind these ' effects. Here too independent variable are not manipulated. 15. (a): Studies opposite to ex-post facto are experi-mental ones where various causes are first

presented and their effects due to manipulation of the single variable are seen.. 16. (b): Reference collection is not needed in experimental studies because a researcher relies only on his own results which may be different from the previous studies. 22. (b): It is but natural to face various problems in life and seeking solutions to these problems is a must. A true teacher always tries to get solution of his problem by doing formal or informal researches. 25. (c): Such type of studies are always comparative in nature. He should say that Mr. X is socially or economically backward as compared to Mr Y. 32. (b): If there is only one coin the probability of its being head and tail is 50% - 50%. If coins are two then each will have 25% chance of getting down head and tail. Now if coins are four this chance will be 12Y2% each and so on. 37. (a): Questionnaire is most appropriate technique for studying such problems because a large sample of the population can be covered in a short period by mailing it to the respondants. 41. (a): When one variable is increasing and the other one is decreasing then correlation will be negative, zero correlation means variables are independent of each other and in positive correlations direct relationship is seen in both the variables 42. (b): In cross-sectional studies population of various ages, sex or religions is taken and their attributes are collected. Then which attribute is common to a particular group is identified by averaging the attributes.