4. Human Resources

Question 1

Training

Answer 1

The action of teaching an employee a skill or type of behaviour.

Question 2

Induction training

Answer 2

• happens when an employee starts working for a new business. It may involve training on how to use fire extinguishers, or shown round the building, or introduced to colleagues.

Question 3

On the job training

Answer 3

• coaching or mentoring while doing the job. Assistance and advice is provided by those more experienced to those less experienced. May include work shadowing or learning to use a specific machine

Question 4

Off the job training

Answer 4

Involves work at home or courses at company training centres/colleges. Learning through demonstrations talks and lectures. May also be practical courses to learn ICT or machinery.

Question 5

Advantages of off the job training

Answer 5

• less distractions
• increased motivation as they feel valued - money spent on their improvement
• well trained teachers at the courses

Question 6

Disadvantages of off the job training

Answer 6

• more expensive than on the job
• risky as newly trained employee could leave once traning program is complete
• could waste money

Question 7

Advantages of on the job training

Answer 7

• specific training needed for the job
• cheaper than sending an employee to a training centre
• learning can be put into use immediately
• trainees can see relevance to job when skills are taught in the workplace

Question 8

Disadvantages of on the job training

Answer 8

• reduces efficiency of employee that has to teach new employee
• bad habits could be passed on by workers
• the new worker may not pick up skills straight away/misunderstand and not ask for help

Question 9

Benifits of training

Answer 9

• increased productivity
• ability to deal with changes in technology
• increased motivation and retention
• increased production quality
• good customer service

Question 10

A flat organisational structure

Answer 10

• wide spans of control and few levels of hierachy

Question 11

A tall organisational structure

Answer 11

-this has narrow spans of control and larger number of levels of hierachy

Question 12

Chain of command

Answer 12

This is the flow of information, power and authority through the business.
Those at the top can delegate tasks to those subordinate to them in the hierachy

Question 13

Span of control

Answer 13

This is a number.
This is the number of subordinates that they can delegate to. e.g A head of department may have 6 teachers working for them. Their span of control is 6.

Question 14

Delegation

Answer 14

Where a task is given to a subordinate employee in the hierachy
Good managers are good at delegating tasks to the right employees

Question 15

Delayering

Answer 15

Delayering is when one or more of the layers management are removed from the business therefore it saves money since the organisation no longer need to pay the salaries of the workers it has laid off e.g. removing all supervisors

Question 16

Centralisation

Answer 16

• where a business has its organisation of management and administration at one central head office. The business has one central shared budget

Question 17

Decentralisation

Answer 17

• where a business divides up the organisation of its business into areas for example: north, south, east, west or UK, Europe, and Africa. The business will have separate budgets for each area

Question 18

Advantages of a hierarchical structure

Answer 18

• lots of opportunities for promotion
• Supervisors normally have a small span of control so they can get to know their subordinates really well
• Knowing subordinates means they can delegate the right tasks and make sure their team is well trained

Question 19

Disadvantages of a hierarchical structure

Answer 19

• Lots of layers and a long chain of command can mean that the business is very inflexible
• It can also mean that communications within the organisation are slow
• This is expensive as there are more managers and supervisors

Question 20

Advanatages of a flat structure

Answer 20

• Fewer layers of hierarchy between the bottom and the top of the organisation may mean that communication is fast
  • Lots of delegation means that staff are given greater responsibility, which might mean more opportunities to use their abilities

Question 21

Disadvantages of a flat structure

Answer 21

• Staff can be overstretched or overworked in a flat structure as there is less supervision, this can cause stress and demotivation
• Can create a power struggle if the manager is rarely around as subordinates jostle for roles and responsibilities
• Wide span of control means managers have too many staff to manage and may lose touch with them

Question 22

Why have a structure?

Answer 22

A clear structure makes it easier to see what part of the business does what.

Makes communication easier across the business.

Question 23

Recruitment

Answer 23

• The process of finding and hiring the best-qualified candidate for a job opening, in a timely and cost effective manner


Question 24

Internal recruitment

Answer 24

Internal recruitment is when an organization looks to fill jobs with their current employees.

Question 25

External recruitment

Answer 25

External recruitment is when a company searches for a new person outside the business to hire

Question 26

Methods of internal recruitment

Answer 26

Word of mouth Notice boards Email

Question 27

Methods of external recruitment

Answer 27

Recruitment agency Social media Advertising boards

Question 28

Advantages of internal recruitment

Answer 28

- Internal candidates will already fit with company culture •Plus there is less chance of the new employee not fitting in – causing them to leave and having to be replaced – therefore less risky and cost effective to recruit •Less expensive – no cost of external advertising

Question 29

Advantages of external recruitment

Answer 29

* Fresh candidates bring new ideas and enthusiasm to the business * External candidates have not become tired or bored with the business and are enthusiastic so possibly likely to work harder

Question 30

Disadvantages of internal recruitement

Answer 30

Leaves a gap in existing workforce | Limits pool of applicants- limiting available skillsets

Question 31

Disadvantages of external recruitment

Answer 31

Higher cost | Time consuming

Question 32

The recruitment process

Answer 32

1. Business identifies vacancy 2. Business writes a job description 3. Business writes a person specification 4. Business advertises the job 5. Shortlists and interviews the candidates 6. Job offer and contract negotiation

Question 33

Job analysis

Answer 33

- a process to identify and determine in detail the particular job duties and requirements. e.g. qualifications, salary etc

Question 34

Person specification

Answer 34

``` Outlines the: –Personal qualities –Qualifications –Work Experience –Skills ```

Question 35

Job description

Answer 35

* This describes the duties and responsibilities of the role | * It also describes what the new employee would do on a day-to-day basis

Question 36

Benefits of an effectice recruitment process

Answer 36

- high productivity - hugh quality output - good customer service - increased staff retention

Question 37

Motivation

Answer 37

A reason or reasons for acting or behaving in a particular way.

Question 38

Financial methods of motivation

Answer 38

1. Salary/Wage 2. Commission 3. Profit sharing

Question 39

Salary/Wage

Answer 39

- To motivate some employees a business may decide to pay them more, to give them a “pay rise”

Question 40

Commission

Answer 40

* Employee receives a reward for every sale made. E.g. 10% of every sale they make * Some jobs are advertised with “OTE” which means on target earnings and gives the employee an idea of how much commission they can earn

Question 41

Profit sharing

Answer 41

* Profit share is a benefit paid to employees based on the level of profit made by the business * This helps to motivate employees to increase profits for the business and keep costs down

Question 42

Non financial methods of motivation

Answer 42

1. Training 2. Responsibility 3. Fringe benefits

Question 43

Training

Answer 43

Staff who are well trained and competent at their job will be happier and more motivated as they will be confident in what they are doing • Many workers join a business hoping to acquire new skills or get quality training

Question 44

Responsibility

Answer 44

* Employees feel more ownership of their own work and so are more motivated * Employees able to use their own thinking skills to complete their work at their pace

Question 45

Fringe benefits

Answer 45

Items an employee receives in addition to their normal wage or salary • E.g. company car, private health insurance, free meals

Question 46

Unit cost

Answer 46

Total costs ----------------- Output

Question 47

Why does motivation matter in a firm

Answer 47

- helps employee retention | - increases productivity