Chapter 2.1 - Introduction to human resource management

Question 1

Ageing population

Answer 1

Demographic change that tends to occur in high-income countries, with the average age of the population getting higher

Question 2

Demography

Answer 2

The statistical study of population characteristics
(Using data such as birth rates, death rates, ageing populations, and net migration rates)

Question 3

Flexitime

Answer 3

A system that enables workers to have a degree of autonomy to determine when they work, so long as they complete their work by set deadlines

Question 4

Gig economy

Answer 4

Refers to labor markets where workers are typically on short-term, temporary contracts or carry out freelance work as independent contractors

Question 5

Homeworking

Answer 5

An aspect of flexitime whereby people work from their own homes

Question 6

Human resource management (HRM)

Answer 6

Refers to the role of managers in planning and developing the organization’s people.
This is done through interrelated functions such as the recruitment and selection, as well as training and development of employees

Question 7

Human resource planning (workplace planning)

Answer 7

The management process of forecasting an organization’s current and future staffing needs

Question 8

Migrant workers

Answer 8

People who move to other countries in search of better job prospects and opportunities

Question 9

Mobility of labor

Answer 9

The extent to which workers are flexible enough to move to different locations and/or their flexibility in changing to different jobs

Question 10

Net migration

Answer 10

Measures the difference between the number of workers entering a country (immigration) and the number of people leaving (emigration)

Question 11

Portfolio workers

Answer 11

Those who simultaneously carry out a number of different jobs, often for various contractors, usually on a temporary basis

Question 12

Six change approaches

Answer 12

John P. Kotter’s model for reducing the impact of change and resistance to change.
Consists of six strategies or approaches:
(I) education and communication
(ii) participation and involvement
(iii) facilitation and support
(iv) negotiation and agreement
(v) manipulation and co-option
(vi) explicit and implicit coercion

Question 13

Teleworking

Answer 13

Refers to working away from the office by using electronic forms of communication, such as telephones, the Internet and email

Question 14

Workforce

Answer 14

Refers to the number of employees at any one point in time for a particular organization