PEOPLE IN BUSINESS Flashcards
(88 cards)
1
Q
What is communication?
A
Sending and receiving information.
2
Q
What are communication channels?
A
Routes along which information might travel in a business.
3
Q
List the effects of poor communication in a business.
A
- Mistakes occur
- Costs rise
- Decision making slows down
- Poor staff motivation
- Damages the businesses’ image
4
Q
What is downward communication?
A
Passing messages from top of the organisation to those at the bottom.
5
Q
Why is downward communication important?
A
- Subordinates look to their managers for leadership.
- It allows the decisions made by management to be carried out by employees.
- It allows managers to command, control and organise.
6
Q
What is upward communication?
A
Passing messages from the bottom of an organisation to those at the top.
7
Q
How does upward communication help managers?
A
- Helps managers to understand the views of subordinates.
- May make managers aware of problems.
- Helps staff feel valued and builds motivation.
- Provides information to help make decisions.
8
Q
What is horizontal communication?
A
Exchange of information between parties on the same level in an organisation’s hierarchy.
9
Q
Define internal communication.
A
Communication between people inside the business.
10
Q
Define external communication.
A
Communication between those outside the business such as customers.
11
Q
What is formal communication?
A
Use of recognised channels when communicating.
12
Q
What is informal communication?
A
Use of non-approved channels when communicating.
13
Q
List advantages of face-to-face communication.
A
- Allows immediate feedback.
- Encourages cooperation.
- Allows new ideas to be generated.
- Saves time.
14
Q
List disadvantages of face-to-face communication.
A
- Negative body language creates a barrier.
- A record of the message may not be kept.
- Some people may not listen.
15
Q
What is electronic communication?
A
Exchange of information, data, or messages using electronic devices and technology.
16
Q
List examples of electronic communication.
A
- Internet
- Mobile phones
- Social media
17
Q
List advantages of internal communication.
A
- Information flow
- Employee engagement
- Team collaboration
- Conflict resolution
- Boosts morale
- Feedback mechanism
18
Q
List disadvantages of internal communication.
A
- Misinterpretation
- Information overload
- Lack of feedback
- Security risks
- Resistance to change
- Cultural and language barriers
19
Q
List advantages of external communication.
A
- Improved public image
- Customer satisfaction
- Market understanding
- Business opportunities
- Regulatory compliance
- Feedback and improvement
20
Q
List disadvantages of external communication.
A
- Loss of confidentiality
- Misinterpretation
- Time-consuming
- Negative publicity
- Competitive risks
- Communication overload
21
Q
What is written communication?
A
Transmission of thoughts, data, or information through written formats.
22
Q
What are communication barriers?
A
Obstacles that prevent effective communication between the sender and the receiver.
23
Q
List examples of communication barriers.
A
- Lack of clarity
- Technological breakdown
- Poor communication skills
- Jargon
- Distractions
- Business culture
- Long chain of command
- Using the wrong medium
- Different countries, languages and cultures
24
Q
What are problems of ineffective communication?
A
- High staff turnover
- Misunderstanding and misinformation
- Poor customer service
- Higher legal costs
- Lower profits
25
List ways to overcome barriers to communication.
* Recruiting staff with good communication skills
* Training in communication
* Social events for staff
* Shorter chain of command
* Repair faulty technology
26
What is recruitment?
Hiring people for the business.
27
Define full-time employment.
Full working week.
28
List advantages of full-time employment.
* Stability and regular income
* Employee benefits
* Career development
* Job security
* Stable work hours
29
List disadvantages of full-time employment.
* Limited flexibility
* Work overload and stress
* Less time for personal pursuits
* Dependency on employer
* Less control over schedule
30
Define part-time employment.
Work fewer hours than full time.
31
List advantages of part-time employment.
* Flexibility
* Skill development
* Income source
* Work-life balance
* Reduced stress
32
List disadvantages of part-time employment.
* Limited benefits
* Career advancement
* Job insecurity
* Workload and recognition
33
What is job sharing?
Two part-time employees share the work and pay of a full-time employee.
34
List advantages of job sharing.
* Flexibility
* Reduced burnout
* Diverse skill sets
* Continuous coverage
* Work-life balance
35
List disadvantages of job sharing.
* Communication challenges
* Training and coordination
* Potential for conflict
* Perceived inefficiency
* Limited availability
36
What is casual employment?
Work is often variable and needs to be 'on call'.
37
What is seasonal employment?
Employment during busy periods.
38
What is temporary employment?
Taking on staff for a short period of time to cover someone else’s place.
39
List reasons why a company might need to recruit.
* Business is growing
* People are leaving
* People are promoted
* Temporary cover for absence
40
What is a job description?
Document that shows the tasks, duties and responsibilities expected of a worker for a particular job.
41
What is a person specification?
Personal profile of the type of person needed to do a particular job.
42
What is an application form?
Standard document used to collect information from a job applicant.
43
What is a curriculum vitae (CV)?
Document produced by a job seeker that lists personal details, qualifications, work experience, references and other details.
44
List the stages in the recruitment process.
* Job analysis
* Job description
* Job specification
* Job advertising
* Methods of application
* Interview
45
What is external recruitment?
Appointing workers from outside the business.
46
What is internal recruitment?
Appointing workers from inside the business.
47
What are some methods of application for job advertisements?
* Application form
* Letter of application
* Curriculum vitae (CV)
* Résumé
48
What is a shortlist in the hiring process?
List of the most suitable people for a job, chosen from all the people who were first considered.
49
What is the purpose of referees in the interview process?
To provide a reference regarding the applicant’s character, honesty, reliability, and suitability for the job.
50
What is required by law in many countries regarding employment contracts?
Employers must provide a new employee with a contract of employment to sign.
51
What does the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 prohibit?
Discrimination against a person because of their gender.
52
What does the Race Relations Act 1976 make illegal?
Discrimination on grounds of race.
53
What does the Equality Act 2010 address?
It makes it unlawful for a business to discriminate on the grounds of disability.
54
What is training in the workplace?
Process that involves increasing the knowledge and skills of a worker to enable them to do their job more effectively.
55
What is induction training?
Training given to new employees when they first start a job.
56
What is on-the-job training?
Training that takes place while doing the job.
57
What is job rotation?
Employees alternate between different jobs during their employment.
58
What are the benefits of training?
* Keeping workers up to date
* Improving labour flexibility
* Improving job satisfaction and motivation
* New jobs in the business
59
What are some limitations of training?
* High costs of training courses
* Loss of output
* Employees leaving
60
What is employee motivation?
The desire to achieve a goal.
61
What is Herzberg's two-factor theory?
Theory that distinguishes between motivational factors and hygiene factors.
62
What is job enrichment?
Making a job more challenging and interesting.
63
What are some advantages of job enrichment?
* Increased job satisfaction
* Higher productivity
* Reduced turnover
64
What are some disadvantages of job enrichment?
* Resistance to change
* Potential stress and burnout
* Equity issues
65
What is Maslow's hierarchy of needs?
Order of people’s needs starting with basic human needs.
66
What is Taylor’s theory of scientific management?
Determining the ‘one best way to do each job’ and using incentives to encourage people.
67
What are some financial methods of motivation?
* Remuneration
* Promotion
* Fringe benefits
* Job rotation
68
What is remuneration?
Money paid to employees for their work or services.
69
What are piece rates?
Payment system where workers receive an amount of money for each unit produced.
70
What are some advantages of promotion?
* Increased sales
* Brand awareness
* Customer loyalty
71
What are fringe benefits?
Perks over and above the normal wage or salary.
72
What is a formal organization?
Internal structure of a business as shown by an organization chart.
73
What does the chain of command refer to?
Route through which orders are passed down in the hierarchy.
74
What is the span of control?
Number of people a person is directly responsible for.
75
What are the advantages of a flat structure?
* Faster decision-making
* Improved communication
* Employee empowerment
76
What are the disadvantages of a flat structure?
* Limited career progression
* Overloaded managers
* Risk of poor coordination
77
What is a potential consequence of fewer managerial positions in an organization?
Limited opportunities for career advancement
## Footnote
This can lead to employee dissatisfaction and increased turnover.
78
What issue may arise for managers in a flat organizational structure?
Overwhelm due to a wide span of control
## Footnote
This can result in manager burnout and decreased effectiveness.
79
What risk is associated with having fewer layers in an organization?
Poor coordination and control of various functions
## Footnote
This can lead to miscommunication and inefficiencies.
80
What is a potential drawback of employees handling a broad range of tasks in a flat structure?
Lack of specialization
## Footnote
This can affect the quality of work and employee expertise.
81
What is one of the roles of the Human Resources (HR) department?
Workforce planning
## Footnote
Other roles include recruitment, training, and handling employment issues.
82
Name a key function of the Finance department.
Recording transactions
## Footnote
This includes managing wages, cash flow forecasting, and budgets.
83
What role does the Marketing department play in an organization?
Market research
## Footnote
Other roles include product planning, pricing, and advertising.
84
What is one of the responsibilities of the Production department?
Design
## Footnote
This also includes purchasing, stock control, and maintenance.
85
Fill in the blank: The HR department also handles _______.
Training
86
True or False: The Marketing department is responsible for customer service.
True
## Footnote
Customer service is a key aspect of marketing functions.
87
Fill in the blank: One of the roles of the Finance department is managing _______.
Cash flow forecasting
88
What is included in the roles of the Production department?
Stock control and research and development
## Footnote
Maintenance is also a significant function.
