1.4 - Managing People Flashcards

1
Q

What is Taylor’s approach?

A
  • scientific
  • breaking down tasks
  • manufacturing businesses use this method
  • perform only 1 task (skilled)
  • paid for completed work
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2
Q

What is Mayo’s relation Theory?

A
  • importance of social factors
  • relationships improve job satisfaction
  • empowers
  • positive environment
  • encourages development
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3
Q

What is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?

A
  • 5 tiers of needs
  • help reach full potential
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4
Q

What is Herzberg’s 2 factor theory?

A
  • hygiene factors - absence can cause dissatisfaction
  • motivators - lead to job satisfaction
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5
Q

Staff as an asset

A

Means they are developed and seen as a benefit to the business

  • Will have training and experience relevant to business needs
  • Allowed to participate more in decision making
  • Business is more able to respond quickly to marlet changes
  • Staff have more autonomy over their work
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6
Q

Staff as a cost

A

When staff viewed as a cost rather than adding value

  • Cost of wages, sickness & holidays need to be budgeted for
  • Staff need to be recruited, costly due to advertising, recruitment companies
    & interview process
  • Training costs to improve productivity
  • Mistakes could be costly
  • Workers may be inefficient
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7
Q

Multi-skilling

A

Means having a workforce that can be moved around from one job to another

  • Fewer staff needed as staff can fill many roles
  • Variety gives workers more interesting jobs
  • Costs reduced while increasing efficiency, quality & productivity
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8
Q

Part-time workers

A

Worker who works less than full-time hours

  • No specific set amount of hours
  • Allows the firm to be flexible with hours to meet the planned workload
  • Many businesses use these workers to fill evening and weekend hours not covered by full-time workers
  • Some workers may only be available part-time e.g. students/parent etc
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9
Q

Temporary workers

A
  • Workers employed for a fixed time such as 6 months/a year
  • Employed on a seasonal basis to cover busy periods of the year
  • Can be used to fill posts that will be phased out due to business reorganisation
  • Usually receive fewer benefits than permanent workers
  • Sometimes temporary staff are paid more when post is essential
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10
Q

Flexible working

A

Involves allowing some flexibility in the hours workers need to at work, or allowing some work to be done at home

  • Staff can be scheduled to fit peak times for the business
  • Can increase productivity and attract more qualified workers
  • Makes commuting easier
  • Can complicate the daily schedule for a business
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11
Q

Home working

A

When staff work from home or other premises other than the workplace

  • Lower overheads (reduces need for office space)
  • Travel-related problems reduced (less time waste)
  • May tempt better staff to come and work for the company
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12
Q

Benefits of a flexible workforce

A
  • Business can expand/contract their workforce quickly in response to rise/fall in demand
  • Temporary staff and subcontractors cheaper to employ as unlikely to get benefits that may be available to permanent staff
  • Temp workers have acquired skills elsewhere at no cost to the business
  • Business more efficient with lower costs and so is more competitive
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13
Q

Cons of flexible workforce

A
  • Less likely to have same commitment compared to permanent workers
  • Staff will take short-term view and may not carry work out to same standard as those who see long-term
  • Communicating can be an issue and benefits of teamwork may be lost
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14
Q

Zero hours contract

A

Employment contract with no guaranteed hours

Not guaranteed work (therefore pay)

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15
Q

Dismissal

A

Fired from a job;
- Absenteeism/long-term illness
- Gross misconduct
- Theft of company money/property
- Loss of driving license or refusal to complete training (if relevant to job)

Not entitled to pay-out

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16
Q

Redundancy

A

Workers job no longer exists due to lack of business/restructuring
- Could be voluntary - retire to receive pay-out
- Compulsory redundancy - forced to leave

17
Q

Changes in UK jobs market

A
  • Decline in manufacturing jobs
  • Rise in part-time/temp jobs
  • Decline in trade unions
  • Rise in self-employment
  • Ageing population
  • Net migration
  • Growth in female participation
18
Q

Individual approach

A

Worker meets manager for face to face discussion about terms and conditions of contract

+ No compromise as it’s just one worker
- Manager may not take action as it’s just one worker

19
Q

Collective bargaining

A

Representative of all workers meets with manager to discuss terms & conditions (usually pay)
- Union rep
+ Greater power to get action
- May lead to strikes or industrial action

20
Q

On the job training
(Pros & cons)

A

Coaching/mentoring while doing a job.
Assistance and advice provided by more experienced staff

+ Cost effective
productive staff
Can learn

  • Quality dependent on available staff
    Bad habits may be passed on
    Potential disruption to production
21
Q

Off the job training
(Pros & cons)

A

Work at home/courses at company. Learning through demonstration talks/lectures etc

+ Wider range of skills/qualifications obtained
Learn from specialists
More confidence

  • More expensive
    Lost working time and output
    May still need induction
    May leave for better jobs with new skills/qualifications
22
Q

Induction training
(Pros & cons)

A

Introduction for new starters to enable to do their work

+ Provides all info needed to start
Reduces employee turnover
Helps understand company culture and see where they’ll fit in

  • Need to be planned to show right impression of the business
    Requires time set aside for employee starting
23
Q

Heirarchy

A

Describes structure of the management of the business, from top of the company (managing director) through to the shop floor worker

24
Q

Chain of command

A

The order in which authority and power in an organisation is weided and delegated from top management to every employee at every level of the organisation

25
Q

Pros and cons of flat structure

A

+ Greater communication between management and workers
Less bureaucracy and easier decision making

  • May limit/hinder growth of organisation
    Limited to small organisations
26
Q

Pros and cons of tall structures

A

+ Clear progression and promotion ladder
Narrow span of control so employees can be closely supervised

  • High management costs because managers are generally paid more than subordinates
    Decision making could be slowed as approval needed by each layer
27
Q

Span of control

A

The number of people who report to one manager in a hierarchy. Wide or narrow.

Narrow adv - feedback more effective, allows close supervision

Wide adv - Given more independence, reduces number of managers required

28
Q

Matrix structure

A

Relationships are set up as a grid, or matrix, rather than traditional hierarchy

Combines traditional departments
Individuals work across teams and projects as well as within their own department or function

29
Q

Adv and disadv of matrix structure

A

+/ - Helps break down traditional barriers and improves communication
- Allows individuals to use particular skills within a variety of contexts
- Avoid needing several departments to meet regularly, reduces cost and improves coordination
- Likely greater motivation

-/ - Not a clear line of accountability for project teams given the complex nature of matrix structures
- Difficult to co-ordinate
- Takes time to get used to this structure
- May neglect their functional responsibilities

30
Q

Centralised organisation definition (+ and -)

A

Decision making power is held firmly at top of the heirarchy amongst senior management

+/ - Ensures consistency
- Easier to co-ordinate activities
- Economies of scale
- Easier to make changes

-/ -Less flexibility
- Doesn’t take into account local differences
- Reduces manager motivation
- More bureaucratic

31
Q

Decentralised definition (+ and -)

A

Decision making power is spread out to include managers lower down in the hierarchy and in different locations

+/ - Decisions made closer to customers
- Improved customer care
- Local managers more authority - good for motivation

-/ - Harder to keep financial control
- Levels of service differ and less consistency
- Diseconomies of scale

32
Q

Financial incenticves and examples

A
  • Pay systems designed to motivate employees (extrinsic rewards)
  • Better performance = monetary reward
  • Piecework
  • Commission
  • Bonus
  • Profit share
  • Performance-related pay
33
Q

Non-financial incentives and examples

A
  • Workers need intrinsic rewards to boost motivation
  • Money has limited influence on motivation
  • Delegation
  • Consultation
  • Empowerment
  • Team working
  • Flexible working
  • Job enrichment
  • Job rotation
  • Job enlargement
34
Q

Leadership vs Management

A
  • Leadership - deciding on a direction for a company in relation to its objectives and inspiring staff to achieve those objectives. They elevate and give vision to their followers
  • Management - getting things done by organising other people to do it. Concerned with day-to-day activities of a firm
35
Q

4 leadership styles

A
  • Autocratic
  • Democratic
  • Paternalistic
  • Laissez-faire
36
Q

Autocratic leader

A
  • Full control of decision making
  • Employees have little or no input
  • Good in crisis situations
  • Motivation through rewards
37
Q

Democratic leader

A
  • Encourages participation in decision making
  • Strong coaching, listening and motivating skills
  • Teamwork and communication is important
  • Prepared to make final decisions when agreement can’t be reached
38
Q

Paternalistic leader

A
  • Decisions made in a ‘father like’ style with the best interest of workers in mind
  • Workers will feel supported at part of the ‘family’
  • Leader doesn’t expect decisions to be questioned
39
Q

Laissez-faire leader

A
  • Gives employees as much freedom as possible
  • Managers communicate goals to employees but allow them to choose how to complete objectives, make decisions and resolve problems on their own