6.1a Understanding Human Resource Objectives

Question 1

Human resources management definition

Answer 1

Making the most efficient use of employees

Question 2

Human resources definition

Answer 2

Term to describe an organisation’s employees

Question 3

Reasons human resource management has become more important

Answer 3

• Most businesses now provide services rather than goods
• Competitiveness requires a business to be efficient and productive
• Movement towards fewer layers of management hierarchy

Question 4

Human resource objectives

Answer 4

• Employee engagement and involvement
• Training
• Diversity

Question 5

Advantages of setting HR objectives

Answer 5

• Helps to ensure that decisions by different staff are consistent
• Provides clarity for employees
• Improves efficiency

Question 6

Disadvantages of setting HR objectives

Answer 6

• External changes
• Internal changes
• Not enough resources

Question 7

Hard HRM features

Answer 7

• Employees are just resources
• Short-term changes in employee numbers
• Minimal communication
• Pay is enough to recruit and retain enough staff
• Little delegation
• Taller organisational structures

Question 8

Soft HRM features

Answer 8

• Employees are most important resource in business
• Strong and regular two-way communication
• Competitive pay structure
• Employees are encouraged to seek delegation
• Flatter organisational structures

Question 9

Internal influences on HR objectives:

Answer 9

• Culture - some such as fast food restaurants may not be worried about high labour turnover
• Other departments - they give HR the information they need to predict workforce needs
• Funding available

Question 10

External influences on HR objectives:

Answer 10

• State of economy - recruitment
• UK and EU employment laws
• Ethical and environmental issues - condemning of zero-hour contracts

Question 11

Advantages of hard HRM:

Answer 11

• They can keep control of the workforce so people are less likely to make mistakes
• It is easy to replace workers as they are only seen as another resource

Question 12

Disadvantages of hard HRM:

Answer 12

• Don’t use employees to full potential so miss out chances to increase profits
• Demotivational
• High staff turnover

Question 13

Advantages of soft HRM:

Answer 13

• Employees feel valued

- Better staff retainment

Question 14

Disadvantages of soft HRM:

Answer 14

• Employees may not be interested in development or empowerment
• Costly
• Time consuming
• Employees completed training may leave for better job