Explanation: When one company acquires another, the first step for the acquiring company's human resources department is a survey of the workforce in both organizations. The goal is to identify redundant or conflicting positions. It may be that some of the employees in the acquired organization will need to be let go. Human resources departments will need to review the acquired organization's collective bargaining agreements and ensure compliance with OSHA regulations, but these activities should be performed subsequent to the workforce survey.

Explanation: A nondirective interview style occurs when the interviewer asks broad questions to allow the candidate to answer candidly and comfortably. A behavioral interview would ask the candidate how he behaved in a past situation, with the intent being to use past experience to anticipate future actions. A patterned interview focuses on a group of questions that apply specifically to the job and what will be required in that position. A directive interview is highly focused and organized, with the interviewer asking the same questions of all candidates.

Explanation: The Greendale Company should ask the IRS for a private letter ruling. Private letter rulings are a courtesy provided by the Internal Revenue Service. When a company is uncertain about the tax implications of a proposed change, it may submit the details to the IRS and receive an estimate. In the long run, the effort expended by the IRS on private letter rulings obviates the need for more work cleaning up unanticipated messes.

Explanation: In this situation, the human resources professional can assist the corporation by developing an internal test that determines the writing skills of employees. Reviewing resumes to see which writing courses recent hires have taken is largely a waste of time; the corporation already recognizes that whatever courses may have been taken did little good. Requiring that all employees take a writing course is too broad and too generic. The first step is to determine where the writing level is and to make a decision from there. Reviewing recent writing samples to see if the writing level is too low is redundant; the question indicates that the committee has already done this.

Explanation: Transactional leadership occurs when a leader offers some form of a transaction as the result of meeting a goal; in other words the manager is utilizing transactional leadership by offering a reward if employees complete certain monthly goals. Answer choice B reflects a coaching style of leadership. Answer choice C reflects more of a directive style of leadership. Answer choice D reflects a laissezfaire style of leadership.