What are the four stages of the HR cycle?

• A. Acquisition, Development, Maintenance and Seperation
• B. Hiring, Training, Retention, Separation
• C. Recruitment, Onboarding, Appraisal, Termination
• D. Planning, Sourcing, Hiring, Termination

Answer: (A)

Understanding the HR cycle means looking at the lifecycle of an employee within an organisation: first acquiring the right people, then developing their skills, then maintaining their performance and engagement, and finally handling their exit. Acquisition covers planning, recruitment, and selection; Development is about training and career growth; Maintenance focuses on keeping staff productive and motivated through performance management and retention efforts; Separation deals with the end of employment and smooth transitions. This sequence best represents a complete, ongoing process of managing people, whereas the other options mix individual activities or use terms that don’t form a cohesive cycle.