People in Business

Question 1

What is employee motivation?

Answer 1

The reasons why workers want to work hard, stay focused, and help the business succeed.

Question 2

Why is motivation important in a business?

Answer 2

It increases productivity, reduces absenteeism, improves quality, and lowers staff turnover.

Question 3

What is Taylor’s theory of motivation?

Answer 3

People are motivated by money. He introduced the piece-rate system and believed in training for efficiency.

Question 4

What is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?

Answer 4

A theory that says people have 5 levels of needs: physical, safety, social, esteem, and self-actualisation.

Question 5

What are Herzberg’s hygiene factors and motivators?

Answer 5

Hygiene factors prevent dissatisfaction (e.g. pay), motivators encourage better performance (e.g. recognition).

Question 6

What is time-rate pay?

Answer 6

Pay based on hours worked.

Question 7

What is piece-rate pay?

Answer 7

Pay based on the number of items made or tasks done.

Question 8

What is commission?

Answer 8

Extra money earned for making sales.

Question 9

Name two non-financial ways to motivate workers.

Answer 9

Job rotation, job enrichment, delegation, teamwork.

Question 10

What is job enrichment?

Answer 10

Giving workers more meaningful and challenging tasks.

Question 11

What is an organisational chart?

Answer 11

A diagram that shows the structure of a business, including who reports to whom.

Question 12

What is span of control?

Answer 12

The number of workers a manager is directly in charge of.

Question 13

What is delayering?

Answer 13

Removing levels of management to cut costs and improve communication.

Question 14

What are the five functions of a manager?

Answer 14

Planning, Organising, Commanding, Coordinating, Controlling.

Question 15

What is an autocratic leadership style?

Answer 15

The leader makes all the decisions without input from workers.

Question 16

What is a democratic leadership style?

Answer 16

The leader includes employees in decision-making.

Question 17

What is laissez-faire leadership?

Answer 17

Workers make their own decisions with little direction.

Question 18

What is a trade union?

Answer 18

A group of workers that works to improve wages and working conditions.

Question 19

Give one advantage and one disadvantage of trade unions.

Answer 19

✅ Workers have stronger voice; ❌ Strikes can harm the business.

Question 20

What does the HR department do?

Answer 20

Manages hiring, training, pay, employee relations, and legal issues.

Question 21

What is a job description?

Answer 21

A list of duties and responsibilities for a job.

Question 22

What is a person specification?

Answer 22

A description of the ideal skills and traits for a job candidate.

Question 23

What is internal recruitment?

Answer 23

Hiring someone from inside the company.

Question 24

What is external recruitment?

Answer 24

Hiring someone from outside the company.

Question 25

What’s the difference between full-time and part-time workers?

Answer 25

Full-time works over 35 hours/week; part-time works less than 35 hours/week.

Question 26

Why is training important for employees?

Answer 26

Improves skills, safety, job satisfaction, and promotion chances.

Question 27

What is induction training?

Answer 27

Training for new employees to help them settle into the job.

Question 28

What is on-the-job training?

Answer 28

Training while doing the actual work.

Question 29

What is off-the-job training?

Answer 29

Training done outside the workplace by experts.

Question 30

What is redundancy?

Answer 30

When an employee loses their job because it's no longer needed.

Question 31

What is dismissal?

Answer 31

When an employee is removed due to poor behaviour or performance.

Question 32

What does a contract of employment include?

Answer 32

Job role, hours, pay, holidays, and notice period.

Question 33

What is unfair dismissal?

Answer 33

When someone is fired without a good reason or without following correct procedures.

Question 34

What do anti-discrimination laws protect against?

Answer 34

Unfair treatment based on gender, race, age, religion, or disability.

Question 35

What do health and safety laws require?

Answer 35

Employers must provide safe working conditions and training.

Question 36

What is the purpose of minimum wage laws?

Answer 36

To protect workers from being paid too little.

Question 37

Why is communication important in business?

Answer 37

It prevents mistakes, improves teamwork, and helps decisions be made.

Question 38

What are internal and external communication?

Answer 38

Internal = within the company; External = with customers, suppliers, etc.

Question 39

Give 3 methods of communication.

Answer 39

Verbal (meetings), Written (emails), Visual (charts, posters).

Question 40

What are 3 common communication barriers?

Answer 40

Unclear message, wrong method, lack of feedback.