2.1 Functions and evolution of human resource management

Question 1

Workforce planning

Answer 1

Involves analysing and forecasting the numbers of workers and the skills of those workers that will be needed by the organization.

Question 2

Human resource planning

Answer 2

The management process of anticipating and meeting an organization’s current and future staffing needs.

Question 3

Labour turnover

Answer 3

Measures the rate of change of human resources within an organization, per period of time.

Question 4

Demographic change

Answer 4

To developments and trends in the population that influence workforce planning.

Question 5

Occupational mobility

Answer 5

To the ease and flexibility of workers in moving from one job to another due to their ability and willingness to switch.

Question 6

Geographical mobility

Answer 6

To the extent to which workers are able and willing to relocate to another area for employment purposes.

Question 7

Job analysis

Answer 7

The process of identifying what a particular job entails.

Question 8

A job description

Answer 8

A document that provides details of a particular job.

Question 9

The person specification

Answer 9

Document that gives the profile of the ideal candidate for a job.

Question 10

Aptitude testing

Answer 10

A method of assessing the skills and ability of candidate to do a particular job.

Question 11

Psychometic tests

Answer 11

Used to assess the attitudes and personality traits of candidates.

Question 12

Trade tests

Answer 12

Industry-specific assessments used to examine the candidate’s skills and expertise in a specific profession.

Question 13

Intelligence tests

Answer 13

Used to assess a candidate’s skills of numeracy. literacy and general knowledge.

Question 14

Internal recruitment

Answer 14

Internal recruitment is the hiring of people from within the organization to fill a job vacancy.

Question 15

Induction

Answer 15

This type of training is intended for employees who are new to the organization.

Question 16

Mentoring

Answer 16

This is the process of an adviser or trainer providing support to less experienced colleagues in various aspects of their job role.

Question 17

On-the-job training

Answer 17

Training conducted within the workplace whilst the employee is working.

Question 18

Day release

Answer 18

Employees take time off work to attend training at a local college, training centre or conference centre.

Question 19

Distance learning

Answer 19

Employees undertake self-study courses to improve their skills and qualifications. perhaps by attending evening classes or following an online training courses.

Question 20

Seminars

Answer 20

Staff attend a lecture or meeting as part of their professional learning and training.

Question 21

Off-the-job training

Answer 21

Training conducted by specialists away from the workplace.

Question 22

Cognitive training

Answer 22

To exercising and developing the mental skills of employees so as to improve their performance and productivity.

Question 23

Behavioural training seeks

Answer 23

To change or improve the patterns of behaviour at work based on the desired outcomes.

Question 24

Appraisal

Answer 24

To the formal assessment of an employee’s performance with reference to the roles and responsibilities set out in the job description.

Question 25

Formative appraisal

Answer 25

Takes palce on an on-going basis to enable employees to improve their job perfomance.

Question 26

360-degree feedback

Answer 26

An appraisal system that involves getting comments, opinions and information about an appraisee from the various groups of people who work with that person.

Question 27

Self-appraisal

Answer 27

Involves employees evaluating themselves against a predetermined set of criteria.

Question 28

Dismissal

Answer 28

To the termination of a worker’s employment due to their incompetence or breach of employment contract.

Question 29

Redundancy

Answer 29

Occurs when a business can no longer afford to hire a certain number or group of workers or because the job ceases to exist, perhaps due to seasonal or technological factors.

Question 30

Teleworking

Answer 30

To employees working away from the office by using electronic froms of communication.

Question 31

Flecxitime

Answer 31

A variable work schedule requiring employees to work a set number of hours but giving employees the right to choose when they work.

Question 32

Part time

Answer 32

An employment practice that hires workers for fewer hours per week than those with a full-time job.

Question 33

Outsourcing

Answer 33

The use of external providers for certain non-core business activities.

Question 34

Offshoring

Answer 34

The practice of relocating business fuctions or activities abroad.

Question 35

Re-shoring

Answer 35

The transfer and relocating of a firm’s overseas operations back to its country of origin due to cost or competitivee advantages.