B4 Human Resources Flashcards
Why do businesses need a business structure
Makes communication easier across the company
Chain of command
Flow of information, power and authority through the business
Span of control
The number of subordinates a head of a department can delegate to
A head of department may have 6 teachers working for them
Delegation
Where a task is given to a subordinate employee in the hiercahy
Managers delegate tasks to employees
Delayering
When one or more layers of management are removed from the business
Advantage of delayering
Helps improve communication as it will be faster as one less layer to go through
Advantages of hierachical structure
Opportunities for promotion as multiple layers
Knowing subordinates means they can delegate the right tasks
Disadvantages of hierachical structure
Slow communication as lots of layers
Expensive as more managers and supervisors
Flat structure
A company with few or no hiearchical levels between employees
Advantages of flat structure
Allows more communication and collaboration between employees
Staff given greater responsibility so more opporunity to use their abilities
Disadvantages of flat structure
Can create power struggle if manager is rarely around
Wide span of control means managers have too many staff to manage and may lose touch with them
Demotivation, stress
Centralisation
Where a business has its own organisation of management at one central head office
Decentralisation
Where a business divides the orgainsation of its business into areas
Business will have separate budgets for each area
Disadvantages of tall structure
Communication and decision making slow as more people message has to travel through
Recruitment
Process of finding and hiring the best qualified candidate for job opening
Skill gap
Difference between skills the business wants and the skills the employees have
Internal recruitment
Attracting staff already working in the business to apply for new job
How do internal recruitments attract employees
Newsletter
Internet
How do external recruitments attract employees
Adverts
Newspapers
Recruitment agencies
Job analysis
When a business gets information about a job vacancy to make sure the managers of the business know the type of person they need to recruit
What can job analysis be used to identify
Job duties
Salary level
Minimum requirements
Interview questions
Person specification
This document provides information about the type of person the business wants to hire
What does person specification outline
Personal qualities
Qualifications
Work experience
Skills
Advantages of effective recruitment process
High productivity as employees with correct skill set and experience for job more likely to be productive
High quality output
Staff retention
Ability of a business to keep its employees
Advantages of full time work
More committed to business so more productivity
Loyalty
Disadvantages of full time work
Less flexible with working hours no-one to cover late nights and weekends
Challenges in maintaining work-life balance
Part-time worker
Someone who works fewer hours than a full-time worker
Advantages of part time worker
Cheaper for business
Flexibility
Disadvantages of part time work
Employees may not give a business the commitment a full-time worker would
Employee might leave if they find full-time job
Zero hours
Means employees are “on call” to work when you need them but have no fixed hours of employment
Advantages of zero hours
Ideal when staff needed at short-term notice
Gives the business flexibility to meet increases in demand without having to pay staff when they are not needed
Disadvantages of zero hours
Might not be loyal to business
May leave to find more permanent work
Advantages of job share
Cost saving
Flexibility
Disadvantages of job share
2 employees may not get along
Higher training costs
Motivation
When people are more encouraged to work or do something if motivated
How does commission increase motivation
Employees recieve reward for every sale they make
How does profit sharing increase motivation
Paying employees based on how much profit busniess makes
Fringe benefits
Things in addition to their salary (company car, gym membership)
Autocratic
1 person telling everyone what to do
Democratic
Democratic managers offer guidance to more employees and allow other members to have a say
Paternalistic
Managers listen to what employees say but managers make final decision
Laissez faire
When employees freely carry out activities and make decisions
Disadvantages to laissez faire
Lack of supervision may lead to poor productivity and lack of motivation
Induction training
Training an employee recieves when they start a new job
Advantages of induction trainining
Cheap
Increases employee retention
Disadvantages of induction training
Takes time so reduces output
Costly
On-the-job training
Being coached or mentored while doing the job
Advantages of on-the-job training
Flexibility
Cheap
Off-the-job training
Training that happens outside place of work
Advantages of off-the-job training
More focused as less distractions
Decreases employee turnover
Disadvantages of off-the-job training
More expensive than on-the-job training
Employees may fail to see link between training and workplace
What is on-the-job and off-the-job training best for
On-the-job - zoo
Off-the-job - security patrols
Disadvantages of on-the-job training
Expensive
Time consuming
