Blue Booklet Flashcards
What is the function of the Human Resources department? Give an example
To hire and train staff and keep records of their performance in work.
For example:
Ensure business abides by safety and employment regulations, e.g. holiday and sick leave entitlement
Give 3 impacts of new technology on working practices:
- Improved productivity and quality - machines speed up process
- More flexible working hours for employees
- Can be seen as a way to cut labour costs
What is meant by workforce planning?
Employing the correct number of staff with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time to deliver the businesses aims and objectives
Give 3 benefits of workforce planning:
- More able to meet objectives
- Able to respond to external factors more effectively
- Gaining a competitive advantage
What is recruitment and selection?
Process of finding and hiring the best qualified candidate for the job, in a timely and cost effective manor.
Recruitment takes place through a SELECTION PROCESS
What is internal recruitment? Give 3 examples of how
A job vacancy is filled from within a businesses existing workforce.
Through; Internet Email Meeting Notice board
What is external recruitment? Give 3 examples of how
The business recruits an applicant from outside its existing workforce
Through;
Social media
Banners
Job centres
What is meant by training?
Process whereby an individual acquired new skills and knowledge or improves their existing knowledge and skills
Starts with induction and then job specific training
What is on the job training? Give 3 aspects it includes
Where employees are trained while carrying out an activity at their place of work
- Demonstration
- Coaching
- Job rotation
What is off the job training?
Where employees are trained away from the job at a different location
What is an apprenticeship?
Where a person agrees to work for a business to gain skills over a period of time, usually for lower rates of pay
Give 1 advantage and 1 disadvantage of an apprenticeship:
Advantage:
Can gain highly motivated staff for lower level jobs
Disadvantage:
May be misused as cheap labour, demotivating Greg apprentices and leading to poorer quality of output
What is meant by appraisal?
System of reviewing the performance of workers.
Usually through discussion between manager and employee about pre-agreed objectives
What is meant by labour productivity? Give calculation
Measure efficiency of a person or machine in converting inputs into useful outputs
Labour productivity =
output per time period / no. of employees at work
What is meant by labour turnover? With calculation:
Proportion of firms workforce that leaves during the year
( Staff leavers per year / average no of staff ) x 100
Give 2 internal factors that may effect labour turnover:
- Poor recruitment and selection procedures
2. Ineffective motivation or leadership
Give 2 external factors that may effect labour turnover:
- More alternative employment opportunities in the area
2. Better transport links
What is meant by chain of command?
The way the authority to make decisions is organised
What is meant by span of control?
Number of employees working directly under the manager
What is the matrix structure?
An organisational structure in which people can work across teams and projects as-well as within their own department
What is meant by delayering?
When a business removes one or more levels from its heirarchy
Give 4 benefits of a motivated workforce:
- Increased productivity
- Increased quality
- Lower levels of staff turnover
- Higher levels of innovation
What is Taylor’s theory?
Employees are mainly motivated by pay
- low skilled
- repetitive, simple tasks
- should be paid a piece rate
Give 1 advantage and 1 disadvantage to Taylor’s theory:
Advantage:
Workers encourages to increase productivity
Disadvantage:
Employees likely to be demotivated by boring, repetitive jobs = high labour turnover
What is Mayo’s theory? ( a.k.a. Human relations theory )
Employees are motivated by social needs
- encourages managers to take greater interest in workers
Give 1 advantage and 1 disadvantage of Mayo’s theory:
Advantage:
Workers motivated to increase productivity
Disadvantage:
Staff don’t always have the same objectives as the business, communication may not always be positive
What is Herzberg’s two-factor theory?
Certain factors cause job satisfaction, e.g. recognition for achievements
Certain factors cause job dissatisfaction, e.g. pay being too low
What is Vroom’s expectancy theory?
Individual will undertake a task if they think they will receive a worthwhile result as a reward
What it Porter and Lowler’s expectancy theory?
Individuals motivation is affected by the reward they expect to receive
Intrinsic reward = positive feeling (pride)
Extrinsic reward = material rewards (bonus)
Give 6 financial methods of motivating staff:
- Piece-rate
- Commission
- Bonuses
- Profit share
- Performance related pay
- Share ownership
Give 6 non financial methods of motivating employees:
- Delegation
- Flexible working
- Consultation
- Job rotation
- Job enlargement
- Team working
What is centralisation?
Decision making is kept at the centre, not passed down to individual outlets/stores or individuals. Junior staff cannot complete tasks until managers give authority for them to do so
What is decentralisation?
Business give authority to make decisions to operating units such as stores or factories
What is meant by management by objectives?
Improving the business performance through clearly defined objects for managers and employees. Objectives must be S.M.A.R.T
What is management by objective process? MBO
- Review objectives for whole business
- objectives for management of different functions of the business
- objectives for departments and workers
- Monitor progress
- Evaluate performance and give reward if objectives are reached
What is a theory X manager?
Pessimistic view of worker believes they are:
- motivated by rewards and punishments
- generally dislike work
- avoid responsibility
What is a theory Y manager?
Passive view of workers and use a participation style of management. Believes;
- workers are happy working individually and are self-motivated
What is the difference between management and leadership?
Management = plan, organise and co-ordinate
Leadership = set clear goals, then help managers see how to achieve them
Give 5 types of leadership:
- Autocratic
- Paternalistic
- Democratic
- Laissez-Faire
- Bureaucratic
What is meant by autocratic? and give 1 advantage and 1 disadvantage:
Leaders make all decisions independently of employees
Advantage:
Quick decision making
Disadvantage:
Employees can feel undervalued and demotivated
What is meant by paternalistic? and give 1 advantage and 1 disadvantage:
More attention given to needs and views of workers.
Advantage:
Employees feel motivated
Disadvantage:
Influence of employees is limited
What is meant by democratic ? and give 1 advantage and 1 disadvantage:
Leader encourages others to participate.
Advantage:
Workers more likely to be commuted to decisions they make
Disadvantage:
Decisions take longer, business becomes less responsive to change
What is meant by Laissez-Faire? and give 1 advantage and 1 disadvantage:
Leaders are “hands off” and allow group members to make decisions
Advantage:
Innovation and empowerment = more competitive business
Disadvantage:
Little incentive for workers to work hard = reduces productivity
What is meant by bureaucratic? and give 1 advantage and 1 disadvantage:
Makes use of hierarchy, decisions made by application of rules.
Advantage:
Can efficiently manage staff who do repetitive tasks
Disadvantage:
Can stifle innovative staff = reduced productivity
What is F.Flieder’s contingency theory? (3)
Quality of leadership is the most important factor effecting the success of a business.
Leaders should be friendly and supportive
Leaders should be able to adapt to fit the situation
What is P.Wright and Taylor’s theory?
Possible to improve a leaders ability through education
Staff would perform better under a leader who had excellent interpersonal skills
What is meant by employer-employee relationship?
Individual and collective relationship the employer has with employees in the workplace
Give 4 duties and rights of employees and employers:
- Contract of employment
- Health and safety
- Dismissal
- Minimum wage
What is meant by equal opportunities?
Right to be treated without discrimination, emphasises on education and employment and advancement in a business
What did the Equality Act of 2010 do?
Protects people from discrimination in the workplace from;
- dismissal
- pay and benefits
- opportunities for training and promotion
Protect against gender, race, religion, etc from discrimination
