Flexible Workforce (Quick Revision)

Question 1

Define: Flexible Workforce

Answer 1

A flexible workforce is a workforce that is able to respond to the changing demands of the organisation.

Question 2

State three problems of employing a temporary workforce.

Answer 2

• May lack commitment
• Career development may not be available as an incentive
• May have to recruit regularly

Question 3

A firm has four employees working half a week and eight employees working a quarter of a week.

How many full-time equivalent employees does it have?

Answer 3

(4 X 1/2) + (8 X 1/4) = 4

Question 4

State one possible benefit of a flexible workforce.

Answer 4

Greater competitiveness- can respond more easily to changes in demand.

Question 5

What is meant by subcontracting? State one benefit.

Answer 5

Employing other firms to complete part of the work; can employ specialists and use them as and when needed.

Question 6

What is the Examiner’s note on a Flexible Workforce?

Answer 6

Without a flexible workforce, firms may be employing more staff than are needed given the level of demand. This generates unnecessary costs.

Question 7

What is the Evaluation point on a Flexible Workforce?

Answer 7

A flexible workforce is especially important as part of a lean approach to production, which tried to match output to demand and avoid an excess.