Unit 2 Key Words

Question 1

Motivation

Answer 1

The factors that influence the behaviour of employees towards achieving set business goals.

Question 2

Labour productivity

Answer 2

A measure of the efficiency of employees by calculating the output per employee.

Question 3

Absenteeism

Answer 3

Employees’ non-attendance at work without good reason.

Question 4

Labour turnover

Answer 4

The rate at which employees leave a business.

Question 5

The theory of economic man

Answer 5

The view that humans are only motivated by money. (F.W. Taylor)

Question 6

Piece-rate

Answer 6

A payment to employees based on the number of units produced.

Question 7

Hygiene factors

Answer 7

The factors that must be present in the workplace to prevent job dissatisfaction.

Question 8

Motivators

Answer 8

The factors that influence a person to increase their efforts.

Question 9

Job dissatisfaction

Answer 9

How unhappy and discontent a person is with their job.

Question 10

Financial rewards

Answer 10

Cash and non-cash rewards paid to employees which are often used to motivate employees to increase their efforts.

Question 11

Non-financial rewards

Answer 11

Methods used to motivate employees that don’t involve giving any financial reward.

Question 12

Hourly wage rate

Answer 12

A payment to employees based on a fixed amount for each hour worked.

Question 13

Salary

Answer 13

A fixed annual payment to certain grades and types of staff not based on hours worked or output.

Question 14

Commission

Answer 14

A payment to sales staff based on the value of the items they sell.

Question 15

Bonus

Answer 15

An additional reward paid to employees for achieving targets set by managers.

Question 16

Performance-related pay

Answer 16

A bonus scheme used to reward staff for performing to the required standard.

Question 17

Fringe benefits

Answer 17

Non-cash rewards often used to recruit or retain employees and to recognise the status of certain employees.

Question 18

Profit sharing

Answer 18

An additional payment to employees based on the profits of the business.

Question 19

Job rotation

Answer 19

Increasing variety in the workplace by allowing employees to switch from one task to another.

Question 20

Job enlargement

Answer 20

Increasing or widening tasks to increase variety for employees.

Question 21

Job enrichment

Answer 21

Organising work so that employees are encouraged to use their full abilities.

Question 22

Quality circles

Answer 22

Groups of employees who meet regularly to discuss work-related problems.

Question 23

Team working

Answer 23

Organising production so that groups of employees complete the whole unit of work.

Question 24

Delegation

Answer 24

Passing authority to perform tasks to employees lower down the organisation.

Question 25

Organisational structure

Answer 25

The formal, internal framework of a business that shows how it's managed and organised.

Question 26

Functional departments

Answer 26

The main activities of business: finance, marketing, operations, human resources and research and development.

Question 27

Hierarchy

Answer 27

The number of levels in an organisational structure.

Question 28

Chain of command

Answer 28

The route through which authority is passed down through an organisation.

Question 29

Subordinate

Answer 29

An employee who is below another employee in the organisation's hierarchy.

Question 30

Span of control

Answer 30

The number of subordinates reporting to each supervisor/manager.

Question 31

Delayering

Answer 31

Reducing the size of the hierarchy by removing one or more levels - most often middle management.

Question 32

Centralised organisation

Answer 32

One where all the important decision-making power is held at head office, or the centre.

Question 33

Decentralised organisation

Answer 33

An organisation where the decision-making powers are passed down to lower levels.

Question 34

Directors

Answer 34

Appointed or elected members of the Board of Directors of a company who have the responsibility for determining and implementing the company's policy. Some directors might also have a management role, for example a marketing director.

Question 35

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Answer 35

A meeting for shareholders that limited companies must hold once every year.

Question 36

Chief executive officer (CEO)

Answer 36

The most senior manager responsible for the overall performance and success of a company.

Question 37

Manager

Answer 37

An individual who is in charge of a certain group of tasks, or a certain area or department of business, for example factory manager.

Question 38

Supervisor

Answer 38

An individual who checks and controls the work of subordinates.

Question 39

Autocratic leadership

Answer 39

A leadership style where the leader makes all the decisions.

Question 40

Democratic leadership

Answer 40

A leadership style where employees take part in decision-making.

Question 41

Laissez-faire leadership

Answer 41

A leadership style where most of the decisions are left to the employees.

Question 42

Trade union

Answer 42

An organisation of employees aimed at improving pay and working conditions and providing other services, such as legal advice, for members.

Question 43

Internal recruitment

Answer 43

Filling a vacant post with someone already employed in the business.

Question 44

External recruitment

Answer 44

Filling a vacant post with somebody not already employed in the business.

Question 45

Job description

Answer 45

A list of the key points about a job, job title, key duties, responsibilities and accountability.

Question 46

Person specification

Answer 46

A list of the qualifications, skills, experience and personal qualities looked for in a successful applicant.

Question 47

Shortlist

Answer 47

A list of candidates who are chosen from all of the applicants to be interviewed for the job.

Question 48

Induction training

Answer 48

A training programme to help new recruits become familiar with their workplace, the people they work with and the procedures they need to follow.

Question 49

On-the-job training

Answer 49

Training at the place of work; watching or following an experienced employee.

Question 50

Off-the-job training

Answer 50

Training that takes place away from the workplace, for example at college, university or specialist training provider's premises.

Question 51

Resignation

Answer 51

Termination of employment by the employee, perhaps because they have found a job with a different employer.

Question 52

Retirement

Answer 52

Termination of employment due to the employee reaching an age beyond which they do not need to work.

Question 53

Redundancy

Answer 53

Termination of employment by the employer because the job is no longer needed.

Question 54

Dismissal

Answer 54

Termination by the employer because the employee has broken company rules or isn't performing work to the required standard.

Question 55

Communication media

Answer 55

The methods used to communicate a message.

Question 56

Feedback

Answer 56

The receiver's response to a message.

Question 57

Effective communication

Answer 57

Information passed between two or more people or groups, with feedback to confirm that the message has been received and understood.

Question 58

Two-way communication

Answer 58

The receiver is allowed to respond to the message and the sender listens to the response.