Appendix H
Glossary of Terms

absenteeism    Not coming to work
Not coming to work because of illness or personal problems. Many companies calculate the rate of absenteeism of their employees, which is the average number of days they do not come to work.
accountability    Responsibility
An obligation to accept responsibility for one's actions
accrual    A method of accounting
An accounting method that recognizes a company's financial performance by recording income and expenses at the time a transaction occurs, rather than when a payment is received or an invoice is paid
acquiring company    A company that buys another company
The business or organization that is buying another business
acquisition    An acquired company
A process in which one organization buys another organization
active listening    Checking for understanding
A communication method that a listener uses to interpret and evaluate information from a speaker
ADA    Americans with Disabilities Act
A U.S. law that prevents an organization or person from discriminating against an employee because of physical or mental disabilities
ADDIE model    A training design technique
A process for designing training programs that has five steps: analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation
ad hoc    Not planned, for a specific case
A solution to a specific problem that is not planned, or cannot be used in other situations
ADR    Alternative dispute resolution
A method for resolving a disagreement without going through formal legal procedures
advocacy    Support, encouragement
Supporting an idea or cause, influencing outcomes
affirmative action    A process designed to treat all applicants and employees equally
An activity designed to correct previous inequality that may have existed for certain groups or classes of people
align    Line up, make parallel
To place in a line or arrange in a similar way
alliance    Agreement, cooperation
A partnership between organizations that helps both sides
allowance    Amount of money
Money for a specific purpose
Angoff method    An exam scoring process
A way to set the standard score for passing a test
appeal    A request to a higher authority
To challenge an official decision (for example, in court)
appraisals    Evaluations
Assessments of the value or performance of something (for example, job appraisals)
apprentice    A person learning a skill, trade, or profession
A person learning a trade or skill from a qualified person for a specific length of time
arbitration    Resolving a dispute
The process of coming to an agreement about something without using a judge or court
assessment center    A method of selecting personnel
A system of tests and interviews that evaluate employee performance and help companies select the right people for job positions
assignee    Expatriate, transferee
A person who is on (or will go on) an international work assignment
assignment    Job or position
A job, usually in a new location
assimilation    A process of integration
The process of becoming a member of a team, organization, or culture
asynchronous learning    An online teaching method
A teaching method where the students and teachers are online at different times
ATS    Applicant tracking system
Computer software that helps an organization recruit employees
attrition    Reduction, decrease in numbers of employees
The number of employees who leave the organization for any reason: resignation, termination, end of agreement, retirement, sickness, or death
authority    Expert or person in control
Someone with extensive knowledge of a specific subject; a person in a superior position
background check    Process of confirming a job candidate's personal and public information
Gathering data to determine the accuracy of a candidate's experience and records during employment screening (for example, verifying personal data, checking credentials, determining any criminal activity)
balanced scorecard    An analysis technique
A method or tool that organizations use to measure the success of their strategies by looking at both financial and nonfinancial areas
balance-sheet approach    A model for international compensation
A way to set the salary and living allowances for employees on international assignments
base salary    A fixed amount of money paid for work performed
Compensation that does not include benefits, bonuses, or commissions
behavioral interview    Job interview method based on past work behavior
Interview process to predict future performance based on how the candidate acted in past work situations
benchmarks    Measures or markers
A basis for judging or measuring something else
beneficiary    Receiver of benefits
A person who is eligible to gain benefits under a will, insurance policy, retirement plan, or other contract
benefit programs    Compensation in addition to wages
Workers' entitlements in addition to base salary (for example, health insurance, life insurance, disability pay, retirement pension, and so on)
benefits    Noncash compensation provided to employees
Compensation that the employee receives in addition to a base salary (for example, health insurance, company housing, company meals, clothing allowance, pension, and gym membership)
best practices    Techniques or activities that give the best results
The methods, processes, or activities that have proven to produce outstanding results for organizations' opportunities
biodata    Information about a person
A shortened term for “biographical data”: information about a person's education, background, and work history
blackout period    Temporary denial of access
A brief period in which employees cannot access or change things about their retirement or investment plans
blended learning    A mix of different types of learning
A learning method that combines face-to-face teaching with online learning
brain drain    Loss of skilled workers
When smart and talented people leave their own country for better opportunities
brainstorming    A process for producing new ideas and solutions
A method in which individuals or groups spontaneously find solutions to a problem
breakdown analysis    Listing things according to categories
Analyzing and classifying, such as an analysis of revenue sources or a report on attrition numbers
briefings    Instructions or summary
Discussions that provide detailed information
brownfield operation    Previously used land
Reuse of land previously used for industry or manufacturing
buy-in    Obtaining support
Acquiring backing or sponsorship from a person or group
career development    Progress in a job or profession
An employee's progress through each stage in his or her career
career ladder promotion    A structured job advancement
Job advancement through a series of defined positions, from lower level to higher level
career management    Planning and controlling the professional development of an employee
Preparing, implementing, and monitoring the career path of an employee, with a focus on the goals and needs of the organization
career planning    Managing professional goals
Taking steps to improve professional skills and create new opportunities
career plateau    No possibility for advancing in a career
Inability of an employee to advance further in the company due to mediocre performance or lack of opportunities
cascading goals    Goals that flow from the top to the bottom of an organization
Goals that an organization sets at a high level, which flow down as goals for departments, and then become goals for specific people
cause-and-effect diagram    A tool used to examine quality factors
A visual tool to organize factors that contribute to certain outcomes; also called a fishbone diagram
Caux principles    Ethical guidelines for international organizations
A set of ethical principles developed for global organizations by the Caux Round Table, a group of global business leaders from around the world
center of excellence    An area where high standards produce the best results
A team or division that uses best practices within a specific area to achieve business goals
central tendency    Average value of a data set
A measure of the middle of a statistical distribution of data
certification    A procedure to grant an official designation
Confirmation of specific achievements or characteristics given by an authority, usually by issuing a certificate or diploma after a test
chain of command    Order of authority
The sequence of power in an organization, from the top to the next levels of authority
change agent    Something or someone that causes change
A person or department that deliberately causes change within an organization
cloud computing    A type of computing that uses groups of servers and resources, made available on the Internet
Using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to access, manage, and process data, rather than using a local server
coaching    Guiding, giving information, or training
A method of developing specific skills in which a coach gives information and objective feedback to a person or group
code of conduct    A set of principles and behavioral expectations
A written description of the principles, behaviors, and responsibilities that an organization expects of its employees
codetermination    A management structure involving employees
An organizational structure in which employees share responsibility for the operation of a company
cognitive ability    Intelligence
Thinking skills and mental abilities
commuter assignment    A type of expatriate position requiring frequent travel between two countries
An international job that requires an employee to live in one country and work in another country, and to travel regularly between them (for example, an expatriate who lives in Bahrain and works in Saudi Arabia)
company culture    The beliefs and behaviors of an organization
The values, language, rules, procedures, expectations, and processes that affect how employees of an organization think, act, and view the world
compa-ratio    Math formula for comparing salaries
A number comparing a person's salary to other salaries for the same job; the comparison ratio is calculated by taking a person's salary and comparing it to the midpoint of other salaries (if a person earns $45,000 per year in a job where the salary midpoint is $50,000 per year, the compa-ratio is $45,000/$50,000 = 90%).
compensation    Salary and benefits
Everything that an employee receives for working, including pay and nonmonetary benefits
competencies    The abilities needed to do well in a specific job
The skills, behaviors, and knowledge that are needed to succeed in a specific job
competency-based pay    Salary based on demonstrated skills and knowledge
Pay based on the skills and knowledge that make an employee valuable to an organization
competency model    A description of the skills needed for a specific job
A list of the behaviors, skills, and knowledge needed to do well in a specific job
compliance    Obedience, conforming
Following established laws, guidelines, or rules
conflict resolution    Process of negotiation, arbitration
A method of negotiating agreements or solving problems
consolidation    Process of combining, bringing together
Combining separate companies, functional areas, or product lines; in finance, combining the assets, equity, liabilities, and operating accounts of a company with those of its subsidiaries
contingent worker    Part-time or temporary employee
A person who is hired part-time to work under a contract or for a fixed period of time
contract manufacturing    Producing private-label goods
A production method in which one company hires another company to manufacture parts or goods under its label and according to its specifications
core competency    Specific expertise
The skills or knowledge that an organization or employee needs to do work
corporate citizenship    Responsibility to employees and to the community
A practice in which organizations take steps to improve their employees' lives and the communities in which they operate
corporate culture    The beliefs and behaviors of an organization
The values, language, rules, procedures, expectations, and processes that affect how employees of an organization think, act, and view the world
corporate social responsibility    An organization's commitment to improving the community and the environment
A business philosophy in which an organization helps to improve social and environmental problems
co-sourcing    Using both internal and external resources to perform a service
A business practice in which the employees of a company work with an outside organization to perform a service
cost-benefit analysis (CBA)    A process of measuring business decisions
A financial review of various options to determine if the benefits are greater than the costs
cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)    Pay change due to economic conditions
An increase or decrease in pay based on changes in economic conditions in a geographic location or country
cost per hire    Recruitment measuring tool
The amount of money needed to recruit a new employee, which includes advertising, recruiting fees, referral fees, travel expenses, and relocation costs
cost sharing    Expenses for a project being divided among those involved
Method of saving money by dividing the costs of a program, project, or business operation
credentials    Certified documents, diplomas
Proof of a person's earned authority, status, or rights, usually in writing (for example, a university diploma, a digital certification badge, or other proof of passing a professional exam)
criterion    A standard or rule
A test, standard, or rule on which something is judged or measured
cross-border    Country to country
Taking place across the geographic boundaries of two or more countries (for example, cross-border trade)
cross-cultural    Comparing or interacting with two or more groups of people
Involving two or more cultures (such as national, regional, or professional cultures)
cross-training    Learning new skills beyond one's current job responsibilities
Teaching employees the skills and responsibilities of other positions in the company to increase their effectiveness and to provide greater staffing flexibility in the organization
cultural coaching    Guidance to help a person interact to achieve greater success with other cultures
Giving support and suggestions to help employees achieve greater success with different cultures
cultural intelligence    Measure of competence in culturally diverse situations
A person's ability to function in multicultural situations and to interact appropriately with people from different backgrounds
danger premium    Additional pay for high-risk work
Extra pay that employees receive for working in dangerous jobs or places (for example, environments that are hazardous or politically unstable)
days to fill    The time it takes to hire someone
The average number of days it takes to hire someone for an open job position
dedicated HR    Person committed to human resources in an organization
A human resources position that works only on HR responsibilities within an organization
deductive    Reasoning from the general to the specific
A method of reasoning that forms a conclusion from general information; the opposite of inductive reasoning, where a conclusion is formed from particular facts
deferred compensation plan    An employee pension program
A pension program that allows an employee to contribute a portion of income over time to be paid as a lump sum at retirement when the employee's income tax rate will probably be lower
defined benefit plan    A retirement plan with predetermined payments
A retirement plan that tells participants exactly how much money (lump sum or regular payments) they will receive on a specific later date (usually the day they retire)
Delphi technique    A forecasting technique
A method of forecasting where a group of experts provides individual opinions, which are later shared in order to reach a more objective decision
demographics    Data, information about people
Statistics about groups of people that give information such as age, gender, income, and ethnic background
development    Event, happening, occurrence
Something that happens or has happened, or the act of making or improving something
didactic    Instructive, teaching
Intending to teach or demonstrate
distance learning    Remote teaching method
A method of education that uses TV, audiotapes or videotapes, computers, and the Internet, instead of traditional classroom teaching where students are physically present with their teacher
distributed training    A method of instruction over time and distance
A method of training that allows instructors, students, and content to be located in different places. This type of training can be used together with a traditional classroom, or it can be used to create virtual classrooms.
diversity    Composed of different elements
A combination of various types of people working together, often with differences in culture, race, generation, gender, or religion
divestiture    The sale of a company's asset(s)
Property that an organization sells or gives to another organization (for example, a company's sale of a business unit)
document retention    Maintaining important employee records
Managing employee data and records as required by the organization or rule or law
downsizing    Reduction in the number of employees
A decrease in a company's workforce to create efficiency and profitability
downward communication    Flow of information from superiors to subordinates
Information that is conveyed by upper management to lower-level employees in the organization
drive    Guide, steer
To push or move forward a plan or project
due diligence    An investigation
The gathering and analysis of important information related to a business acquisition or merger, such as assets and liabilities, contracts, and benefit plans
due process    The way a government enforces laws
In the United States, the way a government enforces its laws to protect its citizens (for example, guaranteeing a person a fair trial)
economic valuation    Value given to nonfinancial factors
Giving monetary value to environmental factors (for example, the quality of air and water, which are not normally part of a financial valuation)
e-learning    Online training or education
A method of education where students attend classes on a computer or on the Internet
eligible    Qualified
To be qualified to participate in a program or apply for a job
employee assistance program    Services and counseling that employees receive to help them solve problems that could affect their work productivity
Examples include counseling for drug or alcohol problems or family issues.
employee benefits    Compensation in addition to salary
Payments or allowances that organizations give to their employees (for example, medical insurance, Social Security taxes, pension contributions, education reimbursement, and car or clothing allowances)
employee engagement    Level of satisfaction with work
A measurement of employees' involvement, satisfaction, happiness, and loyalty with their employment (how hard they work and how long they stay with their organization)
employee handbook    A reference document for workers in an organization
A manual that contains information about an organization's policies, procedures, and benefits
employee relations    Interaction between employees and the organization
Interaction between employees and an organization (for example, communications, conflict resolution, compliance with legal regulations, career development, and performance measurement)
employee retention    Keeping employees
Methods of motivating employees to stay with the organization and making sure employees are satisfied and rewarded
employee self-service    A method allowing employees to access and update data
A trend in human resources management that allows employees to handle many job-related tasks (such as updates to their personnel data) using technology
employee turnover    The ratio of unfilled positions
The percentage of a company's employees that must be replaced at any time
employer branding    How a company presents itself to the public
The image an organization presents to its employees, stakeholders, and customers
employer of choice    An organization highly valued by employees
An organization that people want to work for because it attracts, motivates, and keeps good employees
employer-paid benefits    Something extra that employees receive in addition to salary
Benefits that an organization gives its employees in addition to salary (for example, medical insurance, payments to retirement funds, and allowances for cars or clothing)
employment at will    A U.S. legal principle that defines a working relationship
An employment agreement in which an employee can quit, or can be fired, at any time and for any reason
employment branding    Changing how others perceive an organization
Process of turning an organization into an employer of choice
empowerment    Authorized to make decisions
The ability for employees to manage their work, share information, and make decisions without close supervision
environmental responsibility    Concern and care for the environment
The management of products and processes that show concern for health, safety, and the environment
environmental scanning    Gathering internal and external information for strategic purposes
Acquiring and using information about the internal and external business environments that influence an organization's strategy (for example, determining how to respond to a talent shortage)
equal employment opportunity    EEO
U.S. laws that guarantee equal treatment and respect for all employees
equity compensation    A type of payment that gives employees an ownership interest in a company
Noncash payment that represents an ownership interest in a company (for example, stock options and restricted stock)
equity partnership    Business arrangement with financial investors
An agreement for a person or an organization to own part of a company by providing start-up funds to the new business
ergonomic    Safe and comfortable equipment
Designed to be comfortable and avoid injuries (for example, an ergonomic chair or keyboard)
ERP    Enterprise resource planning
Computer software that combines information from all areas of an organization (such as finance, human resources, operations, and materials), and also manages contact with people outside the organization (such as customers, suppliers, and stakeholders)
ESOP    Employee stock ownership plan
A tax-qualified benefit plan with defined contributions that allows employees to own shares in a company
essential functions    Required job duties
An employee's main responsibilities or tasks to succeed in a job
ethnocentric staffing orientation    Filling key positions with employees from the headquarters' country
Filling important positions in an international organization by choosing new hires from the country where the organization has its headquarters
ethnocentrism    Belief that one's own culture is superior
The belief that one's own culture is the center of everything and other cultures are less effective or less important
ethnorelativism    Understanding one culture in the context of other cultures
The ability to recognize different values and behaviors as cultural and not universal
exempt-level employee    Employee whose position is not bound to hourly job rules
A U.S. term that describes employees who work however many hours are necessary to perform the tasks of their position. They do not receive overtime pay, unlike hourly workers.
exit interview    Final interview before leaving an organization
An interview that HR has with an employee to get feedback about the job the employee held, the work environment, and the organization
expatriate    A citizen of one country who lives in another country
An employee who has been transferred from the person's country of citizenship (home country) to live and work in another country (host country)
expatriate assignment    A job outside the home country
A position in one country that is filled by a person from another country who moves there to live and work
external forces    Events an organization cannot control
Things that occur outside of an organization that might affect its financial health, employees, products, services, or customers (for example, political, economic, or environmental challenges)
extraterritorial laws    Provisions whereby foreigners are sometimes exempt from local laws
Laws from one country that apply to that country's citizens when they travel or live in countries where they might be exempt from some local laws. Similar exceptions can apply to companies operating abroad.
extraterritoriality    Being exempt from local law
Being exempt from the laws of the foreign country in which one is living (for example, foreign diplomats)
extrinsic rewards    Measurable recognition
Work or actions where the motivating factors are material and are measured through monetary benefits, grades, prizes, and praise
face-to-face    Being physically present with another person
Interacting while in the presence of another person, as opposed to on the telephone, in a webinar, or by e-mail
feasibility study    Investigation, analysis of what is possible
Research and analysis to determine if a project will succeed
financial viability    Ability to survive financially
The ability of an organization to achieve financial goals, growth, and stability, while also paying expenses and debt
forced distribution    A rating system for evaluating employees
A performance measurement system that ranks employees against each other on a bell curve and according to predetermined categories such as high, low, or average
forecasting    A planning tool that helps with future decisions
Analyzing the probability of future outcomes to help lessen uncertainty
foreign compulsion exception    Exemption from a home country's law
When a law of an organization's home country does not apply because it is in conflict with laws of the country where the organization is doing business
foreign direct investment (FDI)    Ownership of a business or property by a foreign entity
An overseas investment in structures, equipment, or property controlled by a foreign corporation
foreign service premium    Financial reward for moving to a foreign country
Extra pay that an employee receives for accepting an international work assignment
foreign subsidiary    A legal term defining ownership of a foreign company
A company that is more than 50 percent owned or controlled by a parent organization in another country
formalization    Structured work roles and rules
The degree to which processes and procedures define job functions and organizational structure
franchising    A business model that involves licensing
Selling a license for the use of a trademark, product, or service in order to do business a certain way and receiving ongoing payment for the license
fringe benefits    Payments other than, or in addition to, salary
Payments that the employee receives other than or in addition to a salary, such as for health insurance
front-back format    An organizational design that separates customer service and production
An organization that has two parts: one part that focuses on the customers and the market (the front), and one part that develops products and services (the back)
full-time equivalent (FTE)    A ratio of employee hours worked each week
A percentage comparing the number of hours that an organization's part-time employees work to the number of hours that full-time employees work
functional area    Group of people performing similar tasks
A department in which people have similar specialties or skills (for example, the accounting or IT department in an organization)
functional HR    Dedicated tasks of the human resources position in an organization
The human resources role within an organization that focuses on strategy, recruitment, management, and the direction of the people in the organization
functional structure    Group of people performing similar tasks
A department or division where people have similar specialties or skills (for example, the accounting or IT department in an organization)
gap analysis    A technique used to compare the current state with the future desired state
An analysis process that helps organizations or people compare their actual performance with their potential performance
generalization    An objective conclusion
A perception based on observations (for example, “Americans are usually friendly”); different from a stereotype (for example, “All Americans are friendly”)
geocentric staffing orientation    Management of global talent
The practice of choosing the best employees for a job, regardless of their nationality or where the job is located
geographic structure    Organizational model based on location
An organizational model in which divisions, functions, or departments are organized by location in a specific country or region
global ethics policy    Company behavioral guidelines
An outline of how a company expects employees to behave around the world, often intended to prevent bribery and corruption
global mind-set    A worldview that embraces cultural diversity
A perspective that helps people understand and function successfully in a range of cultures, markets, and organizations
global mobility    International relocation
The transfer of employees from one part of the world to another
global organization    An organization that views the world as one market
An organization that views the whole world as one market, and does not divide it into separate markets by country
global staffing    Worldwide employees
The process of identifying the number and type of employees an organization needs worldwide, and searching for the best candidates
Global Sullivan Principles    Rules for ethics and human rights
A voluntary set of rules to help an organization advance human rights and equality
global team    Group of employees from different countries who are working on a project together
A group of employees who are working on the same project but who are located in different countries or come from different cultures
glocalization    A strong local and global presence
Characteristic of a company that “thinks globally, but acts locally”; when a company has a strong presence both in its own country and around the world
governance    System of rules to regulate behavior
System of rules and processes an organization creates in order to comply with local and international laws, accounting rules, ethical norms, and environmental and social codes of conduct
graphic rating scale    Method of evaluating employees
A method of giving employees a numerical rating for having certain traits (for example, being reliable or honest)
greenfield operation    New business facility built in a new location
Start-up of a new business plant or operation, usually in a new location
grievance    Serious complaint
A cause of distress that can lead to an official complaint (for example, difficult work conditions)
grievance procedure    The method used by employees to address problems at work with their employer
The steps that employees must follow when they want to express their concerns about work-related issues to their employer
group consensus    Agreement between people
A decision process in which a group of people agree to a decision or come to the same conclusion
halo effect    Transfer of positive feelings
The transfer of the positive qualities of a person or thing to related people or things
hardship premium    Extra compensation for difficult living conditions
Extra payment or benefits that an expatriate receives on assignment in a country where the living and working conditions are challenging
hardships    Difficult living or working conditions for expatriates
Situations in a country that cause political or economic uncertainty that make it challenging for expatriates to live and work there. Often, expatriates receive extra hardship pay.
head count    Number of employees
The number of employees an organization has on its payroll
headhunter    An employment recruiter
An informal name for an employment recruiter, sometimes referred to as an executive search firm
headhunting    Recruiting employees
The practice of recruiting employees from one company to work at another company
health care benefits    Medical support plans provided to employees
Company-sponsored medical plans that help employees pay for the cost of doctor visits, hospitalization, surgery, and so on
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)    A U.S. law that protects workers' health benefits and medical privacy
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects American workers in assuring the continuation of health insurance coverage and protects their medical privacy.
hidden costs    Expenses that occur in addition to the purchase price
Expenses such as maintenance, supplies, training, upgrades, and other costs in addition to the purchase price
high-context culture    Society that communicates indirectly
A culture that communicates indirectly, through the context of a situation more than through words, and that builds relationships slowly (for example, Japan)
high-potential (Hi-Po) employees    Employees identified for advancement due to their talents and skills
Employees who have the capacity to grow into higher levels of leadership in the organization
histogram    A bar graph showing frequency distribution
A bar graph that shows the upper and lower limits in a set of data
homogeneous    The same or similar
Description of a group whose members are all the same or similar (for example, people from the same background and heritage); opposite of heterogeneous
hostile work environment harassment    Harassment from coworkers rather than supervisors
A situation in which an employee's coworkers create an uncomfortable work environment, often through inappropriate sexual behavior or discrimination
HR    Human Resources
Function within an organization that focuses on implementing organizational strategy, as well as recruiting, managing performance, and providing direction for the people who work in the organization
HR audit    Assessment of an organization's human resources
An evaluation of the strengths, weaknesses, and development needs of human resources required for organizational performance
HR business partner    Strategic role for human resources
A role in which the human resources function works closely with an organization to develop strategies and achieve business results
HRD    Human resource development
The part of human resource management that deals with training employees and giving them the skills they need to do their jobs both now and in the future
HR partner    An ally in providing HR services
A manager or department that has a relationship with HR in order to provide services to the organization
human capital    Knowledge and talents of employees
Employees' knowledge, talents, and skills that add to the value of the organization
human capital strategies    Employment tactics, plan for managing employees
Methods and tools for recruiting, managing, and keeping important employees
hybrid structure    A vertical and horizontal organizational model
An organizational model that combines different operational, functional, product, and geographic structures
ILO    International Labour Organization
A department of the United Nations that deals with human and labor rights
ILO conventions    Standards of the International Labour Organization
International standards for employers and employees that become international law when a certain number of governments have adopted them
in-basket exercise    A method of evaluating candidates
A test used to hire or promote employees to management positions that measures the candidate's ability to prioritize and respond to daily tasks
incentive    Motivation, inducement
A monetary or nonmonetary reward to motivate an employee (for example, a bonus or extra time off)
independent contractors    People who provide goods or services under an agreement
Workers who contract to do specific work for other people or organizations and are not considered employees
individualism    Self-reliant, personal independence
Cultural belief that the individual is the most important part of society; one of Hofstede's cultural dimensions, the opposite of collectivism
inducement    Incentive
A benefit that management offers to employees as motivation for producing specific results
industrial relations    The relationship between an employer and its employees
The relationship between the management of an industrial enterprise and its employees, as guided by specific laws and regulations
informants    Suppliers of useful information
People who provide business, social, or cultural data to others
initiatives    Ideas, programs, projects
Actions related to new ideas or to starting new plans
inpatriate    An employee on assignment in the country of an organization's headquarters
A foreign employee who is on a work assignment in the country where an organization's headquarters are located
insourcing    Assigning a job or function within a company
Assigning a job to an internal department instead of to an outside organization; opposite of outsourcing
instant awards    Immediate employee recognition
Rewards for employees that are provided immediately after the desired behavior is produced
integrate    Combine, mix together
To combine or bring together different parts
intellectual property    Creations or inventions protected by law
An original invention or something created by the mind, which is usually protected by patents, trademarks, or copyrights
internal equity    Fairness in pay and benefits for similar jobs
Making sure that employees with jobs of similar value to the organization receive equal compensation
internal forces    Drivers of change inside an organization
Key people and influences inside an organization that shape its future (the opposite of external forces, such as the economy and competitors)
internal rate of return    A way of measuring profits
A calculation of the average return each year during the life of an investment
international assignee    Expatriate employee
A person who moves to a new country to work on an international assignment
international organization    A business that operates in more than one country
A company that has operations and services in different parts of the world
interpersonal skills    Traits for effective social interaction
Effective social qualities for communicating and building good relationships with different people
interpretation    Explanation of meaning
An explanation of the meaning of something; translating spoken language
intranet    A private computer network with limited access
A restricted computer network that allows only authorized people to access the site (for example, a company intranet that allows only its employees access to its data)
intrinsic rewards    Nonmaterial satisfaction
Nonmaterial motivation that comes from personal satisfaction (for example, job status, job satisfaction, or human interest)
investment    A commitment of money for expected return
Money and capital that is spent in order to make more money (for example, stocks, bonds, real estate)
job analysis    Review of job tasks and requirements
A study of the major tasks and responsibilities of jobs to determine their importance and relation to other jobs in a company
job competencies    Skills needed for a job
The skills and behaviors that will help an employee succeed in a specific job
job-content-based job evaluation    Method to decide an employee's salary
A way of estimating how much people should be paid based on what they do
job description    Description of work tasks and responsibilities
Written document describing an employee's work activities
job family    A set of related jobs performed within a work group or occupation
Groups of occupations based on the type of work performed, skills, education, training, and credentials
job matching    A process of placing employees in the right positions
The use of objective skill assessment data combined with common sense to determine the best fit for an employee to a specific job
job preview    A method that gives applicants an understanding of job duties before being hired
A strategy for introducing job candidates to the realities of the position, both good and bad, prior to making a hiring decision
job ranking    A way to compare all jobs based on their value
A job evaluation method that compares jobs to each other based on their importance to the organization
job requisition    Request to hire a person for an open position
A procedure used when a company wants to hire a new employee to fill a position
job rotation    Changing work assignments
A way to develop employees by giving them different jobs to perform
job shadowing    Observing another person's work practices
Learning a new job by watching another employee work
job specification    Requirements for an employment position
A description of employee qualifications required to perform a specific job
joint venture (JV)    Partnership between two or more organizations
When two or more organizations work together and share risks and rewards
key talent    Important and valued workers
Employees that perform extremely good work and are highly valued by the organization
kidnap and ransom insurance    Protection for employees in high-risk areas
Policies that reimburse employees' losses due to kidnapping or extortion in high-risk areas of the world
knowledge management    Organizing information to improve business performance
The process of gathering, documenting, and sharing important information to improve the performance of employees and the organization
KPI    Key performance indicator
A measure an organization uses to see its progress and show what it needs to improve
labor union    A trade organization or works council
A group of employees with the same job who join together to ask their employers for things such as better wages, benefits, or working conditions
lagging economic indicators    Signs that confirm change in the economy
Signs that confirm the economy has already changed (for example, the unemployment rate)
layoff    Loss of employees' jobs owing to business reasons
Temporary suspension or termination of an employee or groups of employees because of business reasons
leadership    A management ability
The ability to influence other people or groups to achieve a goal
leadership development    Activities that enhance leadership performance
Investment in programs to help current leaders become more effective and to build future leaders
leadership pipeline    Source of future leaders
The people in a company who will be developed to move into higher levels of leadership over time
leading economic indicators    Signs that predict the future of the economy
Signs that show ahead of time that the economy will change (for example, a predicted rise or fall in interest rates)
learning curve    The rate at which a person acquires new skills and knowledge
The time it takes for a person to acquire new information and skills and to perform successfully
learning effectiveness model    Method of assessing results of development programs
Measuring the impact of employee training and development programs on business goals
learning management system (LMS)    Computer software for employee development
Computer software that administers, tracks, and reports on employee development opportunities such as classroom and online events, e-learning programs, and training content
learning pace    How fast a person learns
The time it takes for a person to understand and retain information
learning portal    Website for learning
Internet site where employees can use educational resources
learning style    The way a person learns
The way people process new information and learn most effectively (for example, some people learn best visually, through lectures, or by reading, whereas others learn best by action or doing)
lease    A contract to use a property
An agreement for a person or organization to rent a property (lessee) from its owner (lessor) for a specific period of time and amount of money
leniency error    Favoritism in performance evaluations
Rating employees higher than their actual performances deserve
leverage    The ability to multiply the return on an investment
The act of applying a small investment to bring a high level of return
liaison    Contact, connection, link
A communication link between people or groups
licensing    Giving permission to use, produce, or sell
A written contract in which the owner of a trademark or intellectual property gives rights to a licensee to use, produce, or sell a product or service
line management    People who create revenue for organizations
Work groups that conduct the major business of an organization, such as manufacturing or sales
loan    Lending of money or goods
Money or goods that a person or organization lends temporarily, usually charging interest
localization compensation strategy    Expatriate salary based on the salary structure of the host country
Salary for an international assignee that is the same as the salary that a local employee receives for a similar job
long-term assignment    An expatriate job that is more than six months
A job in a different culture that lasts longer than six months, usually three to five years
low-context culture    Society that communicates directly
A culture that communicates directly, using words more than situations, and that builds relationships quickly (for example, the United States)
lump-sum compensation    A single payment made at one time
An extra amount of money paid at one time rather than on a regular basis (for example, an expatriate may receive a lump-sum payment to cover the extra costs of the assignment related to housing, taxes, dependent education, and transportation)
management contract    An agreement to oversee a project or operations
An arrangement in which a person or company operates a project or business in return for a fee
mandatory benefits    Laws that require certain benefits to protect workers
Laws that outline benefits to provide economic security for employees and their dependents
manpower    An organization's workforce
The total number of individuals who make up the workforce of an organization
market-based job evaluation    Comparison of current salaries for a specific job
An evaluation that compares the salaries for particular jobs offered on the external job market
marketplace    The geographic area in which business is conducted
A physical or virtual place in which business operates (for example, the global marketplace or the online marketplace)
market salary survey    Research summary of fair wages
Review of median pay for specific positions in the same labor market
mastery    Ability, expertise
Great ability and knowledge of some subject or activity
matrix structure    A system of reporting where employees have both vertical and horizontal relationships
A system of managing staff where employees have more than one reporting relationship (for example, they could report to a direct supervisor as well as a team leader)
mean    A way to calculate the average of a series of numbers
An average determined by adding up a group of numbers, and then dividing that total by the number of numbers. For example, to calculate the mean of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50: first, add the numbers (10 + 20 + 30 + 40 + 50 = 150), then count the numbers (5), and then divide the total by the number of numbers (150/5 = 30).
median    The middle value in a series of numbers
The middle number in a series. For example, in the series 13, 13, 13, 13, 14, 14, 16, 18, 21, the median is 14, with four numbers to the left and four numbers to the right.
mediation    Helping others negotiate
An attempt to help other people or groups come to an agreement
mentoring    Helping a person learn
When an experienced person shares knowledge with someone who has less experience
merger    Two or more organizations coming together to form a new legal entity
Two or more organizations that come together through a purchase, acquisition, or sharing of resources. Usually the new organization intends to save money by eliminating duplicate jobs.
merit increase    Pay raise for meeting performance goals
An increase in wages for meeting or exceeding the performance goals of a job
minimum wage    Least amount paid for work
The lowest hourly, daily, or monthly salary that employers must legally pay to employees or workers
mission statement    A description of the purpose of an organization
A short description of the main purpose of an organization, which does not change (unlike strategy and business practices, which can change frequently)
mobility    The ability to move from one place to another
An HR term that refers to employees and their families who move from one location to another
mobility premium    Financial benefit for expatriates
Extra salary paid to expatriates to encourage them to move to a new country
mode    The value that occurs most often in a series of numbers.
In the following series of numbers, 8 is the mode: 6, 5, 8, 3, 7, 8, 9, 8, 4.
module    A unit or segment of an educational program
One section of a training program that is presented alone or as part of a series of other units
moonlighting    Working for more than one company at the same time
To have a second job in addition to full-time employment
moral absolutes    Beliefs that are right or wrong
The idea that there is a clear definition of what is right and wrong
motivation    Inspiration for action
Reasons or influences that lead to specific desired behavior such as commitment to a job or continuing efforts to achieve a goal
multicultural    Refers to a group of people from several cultures or ethnic groups
Employees of diverse cultures and backgrounds who are part of an organization's workforce
multinational organization    A company operating in many countries
A company that has its headquarters in one country and has offices and operations in other countries; also known as a multinational corporation (MNC)
needs analysis    Assessment to determine next steps
Assessing the present situation to determine the steps necessary to reach a desired future goal
nepotism    Favoritism shown to relatives and friends
A practice where people of influence appoint their relatives or friends to positions in a business, even though they may be less qualified than other candidates
network    People or things that are connected
A group of people who connect with one another; a computer system that allows people to access shared resources and data
NGO    Nongovernmental organization
Any nonprofit, voluntary, and independent organization that is not connected with any government, and that usually works to improve social or environmental conditions
norms    Standards, averages
A standard model or pattern that is considered typical
offshoring    Relocation of a business process to another country
Transferring service or manufacturing operations to a foreign country where there is a supply of skilled and less costly labor
on-boarding    Training and orientation of new employees
The process of helping new employees learn the organization's policies, procedures, and culture in addition to their job responsibilities
one-on-one meetings    Direct interaction between two people
Person-to-person communication, such as a conversation between an HR manager and an employee
on-the-job experience    Skills and knowledge gained through work
The skills and knowledge a person learns from day-to-day work experience
on-the-job training (OJT)    Receiving instruction while working
Acquiring knowledge, practical skills, and competencies while engaged in daily work
open sourcing    Freely sharing
Made available for others to use or modify
organizational chart (org chart)    Diagram showing reporting relationships
A graphic representation of how authority and responsibility are distributed within a company; it includes all work processes of the company.
organizational development (OD)    Planned process to improve an organization
Planned process that uses the principles of behavioral science to improve the way an organization functions
organizational structure    The grouping of employees and processes
The way that employees and processes are grouped into departments or functions in an organization, along with a description of reporting relationships
outsourcing    Contracting or subcontracting noncore business activities
Transferring certain business functions outside of the organization so that the organization can focus on core activities (examples of outsourced functions may be data processing, telemarketing, and manufacturing)
outstanding loan    An unpaid debt
Money that a person or organization has borrowed but not yet paid back
overhead    Business operating expenses
Direct costs associated with operating a business, such as rent, salaries, benefits, equipment, technology, and so on
overtime    Time worked in addition to regular paid work hours
Extra time worked beyond the normal hours of employment or the payment for extra time worked
ownership interest    Equity in a company
Owning part of a company or business
parent country nationals    Citizens of the headquarters country
People who live and work abroad but are citizens of the country where an organization's headquarters are located
Pareto chart    Chart that shows most frequently occurring items
A vertical bar graph in which values are plotted in decreasing order of frequency, from left to right; often used in quality control
parochialism    Narrow interest or view
A view of the world that does not consider other ways of living and working
pay for performance    Salary based on merit or on meeting goals
A payment strategy where management links an employee's pay to desired results, behaviors, or goals
peers    People equal to each other
People who are similar to one another in age, background, profession, or status
per diem    Daily expenses or reimbursements for an employee
The amount of money a person receives for working for one day, or the amount an organization allows an employee to spend on expenses each day (for example, meals and hotels on a business trip)
performance appraisals    Evaluations of employees
A method of measuring how effective employees are
performance-based pay    Earnings based on merit or how well the employee meets goals
Pay linked to how well the employee meets expectations; better performance results in more pay.
performance management    Supervising employees
The process of setting goals, measuring progress, and rewarding or correcting performance of employees
performance management system    Process of creating a productive work environment
The process of helping people perform to the best of their abilities, which begins by defining a job and ends when an employee leaves the organization
performance review    Formal evaluation of an employee's work activities
A documented discussion about an employee's development and performance that involves managers, HR, and the employee
performance standards    Expected behaviors and results from employees
The behaviors and results that management expects employees to achieve on the job
permanent assignment    Regular or usual position
An employee's regular or usual job or position in a company
perquisites (perks)    Benefits and special treatment
Special nonmonetary privileges (such as a car or club membership) that come with senior job positions; also called executive perks or fringe benefits
PEST analysis    Method of gathering external data for organizational analysis
Political, economic, sociopolitical, and technological (PEST) data that is gathered and reviewed by organizations for planning purposes
phantom stock arrangement    An employee incentive plan
A technique in which a company gives its employees the benefits that come with owning stock, including dividends, but does not actually give them stock in the company
piece rate    Payment determined by the amount produced
A wage system in which the employee is paid for each unit of production at a fixed rate
placement    Placing applicants in jobs
Finding suitable jobs for applicants
planned absence    Scheduled time away from work
Missing work after asking permission in advance, such as for a vacation or a medical appointment
political unrest    Disturbance or turmoil about government issues
Unrest, agitation, or turmoil about a government's actions or beliefs
polycentric staffing orientation    Hiring citizens of the local country
Recruiting host country nationals to manage subsidiaries in their own country, and recruiting parent country nationals to fill management positions at headquarters
power distance    The degree of hierarchy
A term Geert Hofstede uses in his cultural theory to describe hierarchical relationships between people in a culture. For example, high power distance means there are strong hierarchical relationships. Low power distance means greater equality and accessibility among members of the population.
predictive validity    Relationship between a test score and a work task
The extent to which a score on a scale or test predicts future behavior
premiums    Payments or incentives
Payments for insurance; also, payments employees receive for meeting goals by a certain time
prevailing wage    Usual wage paid to workers in an area
The hourly wage, usual benefits, and overtime that most workers receive in a certain location
primacy errors    Incorrect assumptions or judgments
Incorrect conclusions where the first impression of someone or something continues despite contradictory evidence
process-flow analysis    Method of assessing critical business functions
A diagram used to assess business processes; sometimes called “process mapping”
product structure    A way of organizing a company
A method of organizing a company in which the departments are grouped by product
progress review    Evaluation of an employee's performance
Formal or informal evaluation of an employee's progress toward goals and recommendations for improvements and development
project management    Planning and guiding processes
A methodical approach to planning and guiding project processes from start to finish
promotion    Job advancement
Advancement of an employee's rank, usually with greater responsibility and more money
proprietary    Relating to an owner or ownership
Rights of property ownership relating to key information, materials, or methods developed by an organization
psychological contract    Beliefs that influence the employee-employer relationship
An unwritten agreement of the mutual beliefs, perceptions, and informal obligations between an employer and an employee, which influence how they interact
purchase    Buy
Acquire something through payment or barter
quantification    Counting and measuring
Giving a number to a measurement of something
raise    Salary increase
An increase in salary that an employee receives, often for good performance
range    The difference between the most and least
The amount covered, or the amount of difference (for example, a salary range is the difference between the lowest and highest amount paid for a particular job)
range penetration    An employee's pay compared to the total pay range
An employee's pay compared to the total pay range for the same job function
ranked performance    A method of evaluating employees
Rating employees from best to worst against each other according to a standard measurement system
reasonable accommodation    Work adjustment for a disabled employee
Changing the process of applying for a job or the work environment for a qualified person with a disability
recency errors    Inaccurate assessments based on recent behavior
Incorrect conclusions due to recent actions that are weighed more heavily than overall performance
record retention schedule    A defined plan for keeping and disposing of documents
A listing of key documents and the length of time that each is required by law to be stored or disposed of by the organization
recruitment    Process of identifying and hiring qualified people
Process of attracting, screening, and hiring qualified people for a job
redeployment    Moving employees from one location or task to another
A change in an employee's location or task, often to reduce layoffs or to make the best use of employees
red flag    A warning signal
An indicator of a problem, or something that calls for attention
reduce turnover    Lower the number of unfilled positions
To retain employees and lower the number of vacancies in a company
reduction in force (RIF)    Temporary or permanent layoffs
Loss of employment positions due to lack of funding or change in work requirements
redundancies    Elimination of jobs
Elimination or reduction of jobs because of downsizing or outsourcing
reference check    Verification of a job applicant's employment history
Contact with a job applicant's past employers, or other references, to verify the applicant's job history, performance, and educational qualifications
referral program    Using employees to recruit applicants
Recruitment method that rewards employees for recommending candidates
regiocentric staffing orientation    Staffing policy for a particular geographic area
Focus on recruitment and hiring of employees within a particular region with opportunities for interregional transfers
reimbursements    Compensation paid for money already spent
Payments made for money already spent (for example, a company pays an employee for the cost of travel or supplies after the employee has spent his or her own money)
reliability    Being dependable or consistent
Having the same results after many tests
relocation    Changing residence, moving employees
Transferring employees to another location for work
relocation services    Support provided to transferring employees
Help given to relocating employees (for example, predeparture orientation, home-finding assistance, tax and legal advice, and in-country assistance)
remuneration    Pay or salary
Money paid for work, including wages, commissions, bonuses, overtime pay, and pay for holidays, vacations, and sickness
remuneration surveys    Gathering information on salary and benefits
Surveys that gather information on what other companies pay employees and what kinds of benefits they provide
repatriate    To return to the country of origin
To return home from an international work assignment
replacement planning    Identifying employees to fill future vacancies
Using past performance to identify employees who can fill future vacancies (unlike succession planning, which focuses on future potential)
reprimand    Formal warning or scolding
A warning given to an employee who violates an organization's rules and that may result in dismissal
responsibility    Duty
A task that is part of an employee's job description
restricted stock    Stock with rules about its transfer
Stock with rules about when it can be sold (restricted stock is usually issued as part of a salary package, and has a time limit on when it can be fully transferred)
return on investment (ROI)    A financial calculation to evaluate an investment
Performance measure used to evaluate the financial outcome of an investment
risk management    Assessing and preventing threats
The process of analyzing potential threats and deciding how to prevent them
sabbatical leave    Paid time off for a predetermined period
A benefit provided by some organizations that allows eligible employees paid time off during a specific time period for study, rest, or travel
salary midpoint    The center point of the middle range paid for a certain job
The amount of money halfway between the highest and lowest amount paid for a particular job
salary range    Wage band, pay scale, compensation rate
The lowest and highest wages paid to employees who work in the same or similar jobs
Sarbanes-Oxley Act    A U.S. law that sets specific standards for public companies
A broad range of legal regulations that strengthen corporate accounting controls in the United States
scaled score    An adjusted score
A conversion of a raw score to a common scale that can be used for comparison
scatter diagram    Chart that shows relationships between variables
A graph with a vertical axis and a horizontal axis with dots at each data point; also called a scatter plot or dot chart.
screening tool    An instrument used to assess an employee's suitability for a particular job
An instrument used in employee selection to help assess job suitability (for example, in-basket exercises, psychometric tests, and cultural adaptability inventories)
selection    Choosing employees
Method for choosing the best candidate for a job
self-assessment    Evaluating one's own performance
Evaluation of one's own performance, abilities, and developmental needs
separation rate    The percentage of employees who leave their jobs
The ratio of the number of employees who leave their jobs to the total number of employees in the organization
severance    Separation payment
An additional payment (other than salary) given to an employee when employment termination occurs
sexual harassment    Inappropriate sexual advances
Unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is offensive or inappropriate
shared services    Business strategy to centralize administrative functions
An operational approach where each country or unit uses administrative services from a central source rather than repeating these services in different locations (examples of services include finance, purchasing, inventory, payroll, hiring, and information technology)
short term    A brief period of time
Occurring over a brief time (for example, a short-term loan or a short-term assignment)
situational interview    Technique for assessing a job candidate's problem-solving skills
A method of assessing job candidates' skills by asking them how they would respond to specific work-related issues and problems
Six Sigma    Business management strategy
A strategy to improve current business processes by continuously reviewing and revising them
S.M.A.R.T. goal setting    Process used to help achieve business success
Applying specific, measurable, action-oriented, realistic, and time-based goals to help a company achieve business success
social media    Technology that helps people connect
Technology that lets people communicate over the Internet to share information and resources (for example, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and podcasts)
social network    Group of people with similar interests
A group of people who interact because they have a common interest. The group communicates either in person or by using technology (for example, Facebook or Twitter).
social responsibility    An ethical theory that guides organizations to consider the welfare of society
An organization's voluntary obligation toward the good of the environment in which it operates
sourcing    Finding qualified people for a job
Identifying candidates who are qualified to do a job by using proactive recruiting techniques
span of control    The number of employees a manager supervises
The number of employees who report to one manager in an organization. The more people that a manager supervises, the wider the span of control.
split payroll    A method of paying expatriates
A method of paying expatriates that gives part of their salary in the currency of the home country and part in the currency of the host country
staffing    Hiring and firing employees
The act of selecting, hiring, and training people for specific jobs, as well as reducing the workforce when needed
staff units    People who support line management
Work groups that support the major business of an organization with activities such as accounting, customer service, maintenance, and personnel
stakeholder    An interest holder in an organization
A person, group, or organization that has a direct or indirect interest in the organization (for example, owners, investors, employees, suppliers, unions, or the community)
start-up    A new business venture
A company or business that recently began operating and is in an early phase of development
statutory benefit    Employee benefits that are required by law
Employee benefits mandated by federal or local laws, such as Social Security and unemployment insurance
stay interview    A method of determining why employees remain with the organization
A retention strategy that helps organizations understand why their employees remain with the organization and how the organization can motivate them to continue their employment
stereotype    Fixed opinion or belief
An oversimplified opinion, image, or attitude that people from a particular group are all the same
stock option    An employee's right to buy or sell shares in the company
A benefit that gives employees the right to buy or sell stock in their company at a certain price for a specific period of time
strategic alliance    An agreement to cooperate between two organizations
An arrangement between two organizations to pursue common goals and share resources. Unlike a joint venture, the organizations do not form a new legal entity.
strategic partnership    An association based on common objectives
A mutually beneficial relationship based on the common goals of people or organizations
strategic planning    Process of defining the organization's future direction
The process of defining a company's direction for the future in four stages: analysis, development, implementation, and evaluation
strategy    Plan of action
A plan of action that starts with examining the current state of an organization and then deciding how to achieve the best state for the organization's future
stretch objectives    Goals that require maximum effort
Setting personal or business targets that require extra effort to achieve
subsidiary    A company that is controlled by another company
A company whose voting stock is more than 50 percent owned by another company. The company with the majority interest is called the “parent company.”
substance abuse    Excessive use of drugs, alcohol, or other addictions
Use of habit-forming drugs or substances that impair behavior
succession planning    Determining and preparing for future talent needs
Identifying and developing high-potential employees for the organization's future success
supervisor    A person in charge of other employees
Someone who oversees employees in a department or business unit to assign tasks and make sure work is completed, among other duties
supply chain management (SCM)    The steps taken from initial planning through customer support
Process of planning, implementing, and controlling operations, which begins with acquiring raw materials and continues to customer delivery and support
sustainability    The capacity to endure over time
The capacity to stay, hold, or maintain something, such as a concept, economy, geography, environment, and so on
SWOT audit or analysis    Strategic planning method
A strategic planning technique used to assess the internal and external environment in which a company operates, its strengths and weaknesses (internal), and opportunities and threats (external)
synchronous learning    An online teaching method
A type of e-learning in which participants interact without a time delay, which requires them to attend at specific times
talent management    An approach to attract, develop, and keep skilled employees
The process of recruiting, integrating, and developing new workers, developing and keeping current workers, and attracting skilled workers
talent pool    Group of available skilled workers
A group of available skilled workers, or database of resumes that a company can use to recruit in a particular location
targeted selection    Evaluation of a candidate's abilities based on past behavior
An assessment of job-related behavior from the candidate's previous employment to predict future performance
tax bill    Amount of money owed for taxes
A document that lists the tax money owed to a government or legal body
tax equalization policy    A policy ensuring that the expatriate assignment is tax-neutral
A policy that makes sure that expatriates' combined home and host taxes are no more than they would have paid if they remained in their home country. The expatriate's company pays for any additional taxes.
telecommuting    Working from home via computer
A flexible work arrangement that allows part-time or full-time employees to work at home via a computer
tenure    Permanent position
Holding a permanent job or position without the need for periodic contract renewals
territorial rule    A tax law
A rule that employees must follow the tax laws of the country where they are working
third-country national (TCN)    An expatriate who works for a company that is foreign in the host country
An expatriate who works for a foreign company that is located in the host country (for example, a French person working in China for a German company)
third party    A term describing those who are not directly involved in a transaction
A person or group in addition to those who are directly involved, such as a company that supplies outsourced services to an organization
360-degree feedback    Method of appraising job performance
Employee appraisal data gathered from internal and external sources (such as peers, subordinates, supervisors, customers, and suppliers); also known as multirater feedback
time-to-fill    Average time to hire people for job vacancies
The average number of days that a certain job position remains open
total compensation    Complete pay package
An employee's complete pay package, including cash, benefits, and services
totalization agreement    Arrangement to avoid double social taxes of expatriates
An agreement between countries that says an expatriate needs to pay social taxes to only the country in which he or she is working
total quality management (TQM)    Continuous improvement
A method for improving the organization by continuously changing its practices, structures, and systems
total rewards    All the tools available for attracting, motivating, and keeping employees
Financial and nonfinancial benefits that the employee sees as valuable
trainee    A person learning skills for a certain job
A person who is learning and practicing the necessary skills for a particular job
training method    A way of helping people learn
A way of communicating skills and knowledge (for example, classroom training, distance learning, online training, and on-the-job training)
transfer of learning    Sharing knowledge and information from one person or place to another
The continuous exchange of information, knowledge, and skills from one context to another
translation    Interpreting text from one language to another
Changing a message from one language to another while keeping the meaning
transnational corporation (TNC)    Organization that operates globally, multinational enterprise
An organization whose operations, production, or service processes take place in more than one country and are interconnected
trend analysis    A review of historical data to predict future outcomes
Gathering information from the past to identify patterns that will help predict future outcomes
tuition reimbursement    Payment for an employee's school fees
A benefit whereby the employer provides full or partial payment for educational courses completed by employees
turnkey operation    A business that is ready to operate
A business that includes everything needed to start operating in a certain location
uncertainty avoidance    The degree of tolerance for risk and preference for clarity
One of Geert Hofstede's cultural dimensions, uncertainty avoidance describes the degree to which cultures accept ambiguity and risk. For example, in cultures with high uncertainty avoidance, people prefer clear, formal rules. In cultures with low uncertainty avoidance, people are comfortable with flexible rules.
up-front costs    Paid or due in advance
Paid in advance, or invested as beginning capital
upward communication    Flow of information from subordinates to superiors
Information that is conveyed by employees to upper management
user interface    Software that allows people and machines to share information
Software that allows a human and a computer to share information
validity    Reliability, true evaluation
The extent to which something is accurate (for example, the extent to which an exam actually measures what it claims to measure)
value chain    Model of how businesses create value
Model of how businesses receive raw materials, add value to the raw materials, and sell finished products to customers
value proposition    The benefits of a product or service
The unique benefits, costs, and value that a business delivers to its customers
values    Beliefs of a person or social group
The lasting beliefs of members of a culture about what is good or desirable and what is not
variable pay plan    Compensation that is less predictable than standard base pay
Profit sharing, incentives, bonuses, or commissions that align compensation with performance
vendor/supplier    Service provider, seller
A person or company that sells services and/or products, such as a recruiting firm, financial consultant, or relocation company
vicarious liability    Responsibility for someone else's acts
A legal doctrine that makes a person liable for the negligence or crimes of another person
virtual team    People who work together in different locations or time zones
A group of people who work in different times, locations, or organizations, who communicate using technology
vision statement    Declaration of what an organization wants to become
A written statement that clarifies what the organization wants to be in the future
voluntary benefits    Programs offered to and paid by employees
Extra benefits or discounted services offered to employees with little extra cost to the employer (for example, additional life insurance, gym memberships, and concierge services)
wage band    Salary range, pay scale, compensation rate
The lowest and highest wages paid to employees who work in the same or similar jobs
webinar    Meetings, training, or presentations on the Internet
An interactive seminar on the Internet (usually a live presentation)
workforce    Workers, employees
The people working for a single company, industry, or geographic region
workforce analytics    Metrics used in HR strategic planning
Metrics used to determine the effectiveness of HR functions, such as turnover rates, organizational culture, and succession planning
workforce planning    Analyzing the type and number of employees
Identifying and analyzing what an organization needs to achieve its goals, in terms of the size, type, and quality of its employees
workforce rotation    Moving employees when work requirements change
The regular movement of employees from one function, time, or place to another, as needed
work/life balance    The time allocated to the work and to the personal parts of one's life
The ability to effectively manage time at work with the time spent on life demands, leisure, or with family members
work/life balance programs    Support for the employee's job and personal well-being
Services to support the well-being of employees and to help them balance their jobs, families, and personal lives
workplace    A place where people work
A place, such as an office or factory, where people work
works councils    Groups that represent employees
Organizations that function like trade unions and represent the rights of workers, most commonly found in Europe and the United Kingdom
work unit    Smallest work group in a company
A business function that produces one product or focuses on a single area
zero-based budgeting    An approach to financial planning and decision making
A budgeting process that requires that every budget item is approved instead of only budget changes being approved. No reference is made to previous budget expenditures.

Note

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