Unit 6

Question 1

what is human resource management (HRM)?

Answer 1

HRM is the strategic approach to managing people in an organisation to help the business gain a competitive advantage

Question 2

give two examples of HR objectives

Answer 2

1. improves employee engagement
2. reduce labour turnover

Question 3

what is labour turnover?

Answer 3

the proportion of a firms workforce that leaves over a period of time (usually annually)

Question 4

what formula is used to calculate labour turnover?

Answer 4

(number of staff leaving / average number of employed) x 100

Question 5

what is absenteeism?

Answer 5

the rate at which employees miss work without a valid reason

Question 6

what is workforce planing?

Answer 6

forecasting the number and types of employees an organisation will need in the future

Question 7

what are internal influences on HR objectives?

Answer 7

corporate objectives, financial constraints and organisational cultures

Question 8

what are external influences on HR objectives?

Answer 8

legislation, labour market trends and technology

Question 9

define job design

Answer 9

structuring jobs to improve employee satisfaction and performance

Question 10

what is recruitment?

Answer 10

the process of identifying and attracting suitable candidates to fill job vacancies

Question 11

whats the difference between internal and external recruitment?

Answer 11

internal: hiring from within the business
external: hiring from outside

Question 12

what are the advantages of internal recruitment?

Answer 12

cheaper, quicker, boosts morale, known candidates

Question 13

what is selection?

Answer 13

the process of choosing the most suitable candidate from applicants

Question 14

name three selection methods

Answer 14

interviews, assessment centres, psychometric tests.

Question 15

what is induction training?

Answer 15

training provided to new employees to familiarise them with the business

Question 16

what is on-the-job training?

Answer 16

training done while performing the job in the workplace

Question 17

what is off-the-job training?

Answer 17

training conducted outside the workplace (e.g. courses, workshops)

Question 18

define organisational design

Answer 18

structuring a company’s workforce to improve communication, efficiency and flexibility

Question 19

what is a span of control?

Answer 19

the number of subordinates a manager directly oversees

Question 20

what is a tall organisational structure?

Answer 20

many hierarchical levels with narrow spans of control

Question 21

what is a flat organisational structure?

Answer 21

fewer hierarchical levels with wide spans of control

Question 22

what is delayering?

Answer 22

removing levels of management to flatten the organisational structure

Question 23

define employee engagement

Answer 23

the emotional commitment an employee has to their organisation and its goals

Question 24

what is employee involvement?

Answer 24

the extent to which staff are encouraged to contribute ideas and take part in decision-making

Question 25

what's the difference between Taylor's and Maslow's theories of motivation?

Answer 25

Taylor: pay motivates workers Maslow: motivation depends on fulfilling a hierarchy of needs

Question 26

what is Herzberg's two-factor theory?

Answer 26

motivation is driven by hygiene factors (e.g. pay, conditions) and motivators (e.g. recognition, responsibility)

Question 27

define appraisal

Answer 27

a performance review where an employee's work is evaluated and feedback is given

Question 28

what are the benefits of appraisals?

Answer 28

improves communication, identifies training needs, supports motivation

Question 29

what is an industrial dispute?

Answer 29

a conflict between employers and employees, often over pay, working conditions or redundancies

Question 30

what is collective bargaining?

Answer 30

negotiations between employers and employee representatives (e.g. trade unions) over employment terms

Question 31

name two methods of employee representation

Answer 31

trade unions and works councils

Question 32

what's the role of ACAS?

Answer 32

Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service - helps resolve workplace disputes

Question 33

what is empowerment?

Answer 33

giving employees the authority and responsibility to make decisions

Question 34

how can technology impact HR?

Answer 34

improves communication, automates admin, enables remote work, and supports performance tracking