SHRM HR Technology & Analytics 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of HR technology system serves as the authoritative 'system of record' for employee data?
- Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
- Human Resource Information System (HRIS) (Correct answer)
- Learning Management System (LMS)
- Performance Management System (PMS)
Correct answer: Human Resource Information System (HRIS)
The HRIS is the central database of record for core employee information including demographics, job history, and compensation.
Question 2: When conducting a regression analysis on employee performance data, which variable type represents the outcome HR is trying to explain?
- Independent variable
- Control variable
- Dependent variable (Correct answer)
- Moderating variable
Correct answer: Dependent variable
The dependent variable is the outcome being measured and explained, such as performance ratings, while independent variables are the predictors.
Question 3: An organization is implementing continuous listening tools to replace annual engagement surveys. What is the PRIMARY advantage?
- Lower cost per survey
- More frequent, real-time insight into employee sentiment (Correct answer)
- Elimination of survey bias
- Automated compliance reporting
Correct answer: More frequent, real-time insight into employee sentiment
Continuous listening tools capture sentiment in near real-time, allowing HR to identify and respond to issues much faster than annual surveys permit.
Question 4: Which HR technology integration approach uses APIs to connect systems without replacing either platform?
- Big bang migration
- Point-to-point integration
- Middleware/iPaaS integration (Correct answer)
- Shadow IT
Correct answer: Middleware/iPaaS integration
Middleware or iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) solutions use APIs to connect disparate HR systems, enabling data flow without full system replacement.
Question 5: A company uses AI to screen resumes and receives a disparate impact complaint. Under Title VII, the employer must demonstrate:
- The AI was purchased from a reputable vendor
- The screening criteria are job-related and consistent with business necessity (Correct answer)
- The tool costs less than manual screening
- The AI has received third-party certification
Correct answer: The screening criteria are job-related and consistent with business necessity
Under Title VII, even neutral selection tools that cause disparate impact must be shown to be job-related and consistent with business necessity to be lawful.
Question 6: What is the purpose of 'data normalization' in HR analytics?
- Removing outliers from datasets
- Standardizing data formats and scales to enable meaningful comparison (Correct answer)
- Encrypting sensitive employee records
- Publishing data to external benchmarks
Correct answer: Standardizing data formats and scales to enable meaningful comparison
Data normalization converts data to a common scale or format, ensuring that comparisons across different measures, departments, or time periods are valid.
Question 7: Which HR metric is calculated as (Number of Separations ÷ Average Headcount) × 100?
- Retention rate
- Absenteeism rate
- Turnover rate (Correct answer)
- Vacancy rate
Correct answer: Turnover rate
Turnover rate is calculated by dividing the number of separations by average headcount and multiplying by 100 to express it as a percentage.
SHRM HR Technology & Analytics 4
Which type of HR technology system serves as the authoritative 'system of record' for employee data?