2.5 | Making human resource decisions Flashcards
define centralised organisational structure
All major decisions are made by one person or a few managers at the top of the structure
define decentralised org structure
decision making is shared out between managers or senior employees
give 2 pros of a centralised or structure
p:
- consistency across the business
- operations and decisions are closely controlled and managed
give 2 cons of a centralised org structure
- can slow down decision making as communication will take long to reach employees demotivating them
- lowers productivity as business depends on a few people who may lack specialist knowledge
give 2 pros of a decentralised org structure
- improved employee motivation as there is more autonomy increasing productivity
- changes can be made quickly as decisions do not have to be discussed with managers allowing the firm to meet changes in trends rapidly and stay ahead of competition
give 2 cons of a decentralised org structure
- consistency is not achieved across all departments
- managers can make ineffective decisions negatively impacting sales and overall business performance
give two features of a hierarchical structure and an impact of each
- long chain of command making communication slow and difficult
- narrow span of control making a firm more effective as managers can monitor employees
give two features of a flat structure and an impact of each
- short chain of command leading to more autonomy for employees increasing productivity
- wide span of control so there is more workload for managers and so management may not be as effective
when if flat structure and hierarchical structure appropriate for business
FS: best for small business run by owner as no need for additional mangers
HS: when a business grows and employs more staff thus managers are needed to control things
give 2 reasons why effective communication is important
- everyone has a clear understanding of their job role improving staff motivation as they feel confident they are doing their job properly
- make decisions faster
give 2 impacts of insufficient communication
- negatively impact efficiency and motivation, as employees may not fully understand what is required of them
- may result in duplication of tasks which wastes time and money decreasing productivity
give 2 impacts of excessive communication
- receive the same message via multiple channels causing employees to become confused or feel stressed
- could lead to wasted time reducing efficiency productivity and output
briefly define the 3 barriers to communication and their impact (1)
- jargon: technical language used in one department may be misunderstood by another
- distance: operating at different sites
- lack of understanding
- reduces business efficiency and cause mistakes
what is full time work
Full time usually refers to an employee working more than 35 hours per week
what is part time work
refers to an employee working for only part of the working week
what are flexible hours and a positive impact of them
employees are given a set number of hours to work but choose when they work
- lead to higher staff retention and better productivity
what are zero hour contracts and give 2 impacts ( n+p)
there is no specified number of work hours per week
- they are given work when a business requires them
-provides flexibility but no regular income
define permanent and temporary contracts
permanent - one that has no fixed end date until the employee decides to leave
temporary - has an end date when the worker is only employed for a certain period of time
what are free lance contracts
where a self-employed individual is engaged to carry out a specific piece of work over a defined period of time
give two impacts of technology on efficiency
- increased efficiency and productivity of a business
- allows for remote working less need for large premises
give 3 reasons why motivation is important in a business
- attracts employees
- higher retention of employees decreasing training costs due to high skill and experience
productivity: increases productivity increasing revenue
give the 4 financial methods of motivation and briefly define them/impact
remuneration: money employees are paid in return for working in a business. ( bonuses)
commission: paid on top of normal wage or salary making them work harder
fringe benefits: perks of working there allowing workers to save money
promotions: provide a higher rank within a business granting them more responsibility
give the 3 non financial methods of motivation and impacts
job rotation: gives workers variety and change reducing boredom
job enrichment : providing wide range of tasks giving them greater responsibility and higher staff retention
autonomy: has the ability to make more decisions making them feel valued and trusted by the employer
