HRCI PHR Exam - Topic 5 Question 119 Discussion

Actual exam question for HRCI's PHR exam

Question #: 119
Topic #: 5

Your organization is likely to be purchased by a competitor. The Management has asked you, in confidence, to complete environmental scanning to determine the effects of the purchase on your organization's culture, customers, and employees. What is environmental scanning?

AEnvironmental scanning is a review of the opportunities and threats that a condition may have on an organization.

BEnvironmental scanning is the process of assessing the effects of an organization change on both macro and micro elements in an organization.

CEnvironmental scanning is a review of the cultural achievability of a new project, organizationalchange, or market influence on at least three factors in an organization.

DEnvironmental scanning is an internal review of an external catalyst.

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: A

Environmental scanning requires the HR Professional to review the opportunities and threats that a condition can have on an organization. In this instance the environmental scan is to consider the effects of the organization's sale on employee's, culture, and customers.

Answer option C is incorrect. This is not a good definition of environmental scanning because the number of factors to be considered or the cultural achievability of a change are not required.

Answer option D is incorrect. The change need not come from an external source - it could be an internal policy, shift in leadership, or other internal catalyst.

Answer option B is incorrect. This isn't a valid definition of environmental scanning as this answer doesn't consider opportunities or threats that can affect the macro and micro elements in the organization.

by An at Nov 25, 2025, 05:32 PM

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Ronald

1 month ago

B gives a comprehensive view. It’s essential for our future.

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Ashton

2 months ago

I like C. It focuses on culture and change, which is crucial.

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Bette

2 months ago

I feel like A is too vague. We need more depth.

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Douglass

2 months ago

Option B sounds right. It covers both macro and micro elements.

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Joanna

2 months ago

I think environmental scanning is about understanding the bigger picture.

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Fannie

2 months ago

So it covers both internal and external factors? That's interesting!

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Hillary

2 months ago

I thought it was just about market trends, not culture too.

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Glenn

3 months ago

Wait, is it really that effective?

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Melina

3 months ago

Totally agree, it’s crucial for understanding changes!

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Graciela

3 months ago

Environmental scanning? More like environmental guessing if you ask me!

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Bette

4 months ago

Option B is the clear winner here. It covers all the key aspects of environmental scanning.

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Michell

4 months ago

Option C is a bit convoluted. I prefer the straightforward definition in Option B.

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Hildred

4 months ago

Option D is just weird. How can an internal review be of an external catalyst?

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Paulene

4 months ago

I vaguely recall that environmental scanning involves looking at external factors, which might align with option D, but it feels incomplete.

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Fannie

4 months ago

I'm a bit uncertain about the definitions. Option C seems to focus on cultural aspects, but I feel like that's too narrow for environmental scanning.

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Carissa

4 months ago

I remember practicing a question that mentioned assessing both macro and micro elements, which sounds like option B. That makes sense to me.

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Roselle

5 months ago

I think environmental scanning is about identifying opportunities and threats, so I might lean towards option A, but I'm not entirely sure.

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Flo

5 months ago

This question is asking us to really understand the concept of environmental scanning. I'm going to re-read the options carefully and try to identify the one that captures the full scope of the process.

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Nickolas

5 months ago

Option A seems like the most straightforward definition of environmental scanning. I'll probably go with that one unless I can find a more detailed explanation in my notes.

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Jodi

5 months ago

I think Option A is too narrow in its focus on just opportunities and threats.

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Luisa

5 months ago

Option B seems the most comprehensive and accurate description of environmental scanning.

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Latosha

5 months ago

Environmental scanning helps identify opportunities and threats.

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Chantay

6 months ago

Based on the context provided, I think option B is the best answer. Environmental scanning needs to consider the impacts on the organization's culture, customers, and employees - which is what that option describes.

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Sena

6 months ago

D seems limited. It’s not just about internal reviews.

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Gwenn

6 months ago

I'm a little confused by the wording of the question. Is environmental scanning just about reviewing the effects of the purchase, or does it involve a broader assessment of opportunities and threats?

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Tashia

6 months ago

I think option B sounds the most comprehensive in describing environmental scanning. It covers both the macro and micro elements that could be affected by the organizational change.

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