-approaches to staffing-

Question 1

What is staff as an asset?

Answer 1

soft arm
Treats employees as the most important resource within the business and a source of competitive adv.
Employees are treated as individuals and their needs are planned accordingly

Question 2

What is staff as a cost?

Answer 2

hard him
Treats employees as a resource
Strong link with corporate business planning

Question 3

Adv and disadv of staff as an asset:

Answer 3

Seen as the approach that rewards employee performance and motivates staff more effectively
When all employee benefits are added up, cost of workforce may leave business at a competitive disadvantage

Question 4

Adv and disadv of staff as a cost:

Answer 4

May result in more cost-effective workforce where decision making is quicker and focused on senior managers.
May suffer from higher absenteeism and staff turnover and less successful recruitment

Question 5

What is multi-skilling?

Answer 5

Where staff are allowed to carry out a variety of tasks rather than specialise.
Enables greater use of job rotation.
Common in service industries
Greater requirement on training

Question 6

What is outsourcing?

Answer 6

Involves delegating one or more business processes to an external provider who owns, manages and administers the processes ti an agreed standard.

Question 7

What is employee representation?

Answer 7

When employees are part of a formal structure for involving them in the decision making process of a business.
Increases motivation.
Employees become more committed to objectives and strategy of business
Time consuming
Conflicts may block essential change

Question 8

What is the Trade Union

Answer 8

AN organised association of workers in a trade, group of trades, or profession, formed to protect and further their rights and interests