Human Resource Cycle and Management Strategies

Question 1

What is the Human Resource Cycle?

Answer 1

Acquisition > Development > Maintenance > Separation > Renewal

Question 2

What is Acquisition?

Answer 2

For acquisition the business needs to be able to identify staff needs, recruit suitable applicants
with the expertise and appropriate skills to complete the job and then select the best possible
candidate.

Question 3

What is Development?

Answer 3

The development of staff includes all forms of training that aims to improve the employees’
present and future performance in the workplace.

Question 4

What is Training?

Answer 4

Training results in upgrading of skills, knowledge and competency levels in order to better meet
the needs of the business.

Question 5

What is Maintenance?

Answer 5

Maintenance of staff is achieved through monetary and non-monetary benefits and achieves
loyalty, job satisfaction and improved work relations.

Question 6

What is Separation?

Answer 6

Separation may be voluntary, as in a worker’s retirement or resignation, or involuntary through
dismissal or redundancy/retrenchment.

Question 7

What are Maintenance Rewards?

Answer 7

Monetary:
• Salary/wage
• Commission
• Bonuses
• Profit Sharing
• Share plans
• Fringe benefits

Non-Monetary:
• Job Variety
• Positive feedback
• Flexible working hours
• Secure organisation

Question 8

What are the 5 Management Styles?

Answer 8

· Refers to the way management gets things done
· Involves on aspects of the manager's personality, values and ability as a leader 
· Main styles are:
	o Autocratic
	o Persuasive 
	o Consultative
	o Participative
	o Laissez faire

Question 9

What is the Autocratic Style?

Answer 9

· Authoritarian style
· Management tells staff what decisions it has made
· All policies dictated by management
· Rigid setting of work organisation
· Payment is sufficient motivation and reward for effort
· Orders to be carried out without question
· Short time frame

Problems:
· Creates poor relationship between management and staff
· Stifling initiative and management potential
· Need for constant supervision

Considered least effective management style

Question 10

What is the Persuasive Style?

Answer 10

· Management communicates decisions effectively to staff
· Management sells decision to staff
· All policy dictated by management
· Commitment to tasks through persuasive techniques
· Willingness to empathise with staff on occasions

Problems:
· Similar to autocratic

Question 11

What is the Consultative Style?

Answer 11

· Management consults staff before making significant decisions
· Upwards channels of communication
· Information to staff
· Encouragement of group discussion on policy
· Staff suggestions are valued
· Management seen as a regular part of the group (not them and us)
· Objective and fact-based praise and criticism of work
· Can be seen as expensive and time consuming

Question 12

What is the Participative Style?

Answer 12

· Management joins with staff to make a group decision
· Authority delegated to subordinates
· Goals and decision making by group
· Faith and trust in staff
· Praise in terms of work results
· Support of persons being criticised

Problems:
· Cumbersome in responding to need for rapid change
· Perceived lack of authority can lead to insecurity among staff

Question 13

What is the Laissez-faire Style?

Answer 13

· Organisation and its people are allowed to drift with very few useful management outcomes
· French work for ‘leave alone’
· Extreme form of participative style

Works best with highly skilled employees.

Question 14

What is known as the Situational approach?

Answer 14

· Choice of the best management style depends on the situation
· Each situation involves
	o Manager
	o Subordinates
	o Tasks to be completed
	o Constraints on organisation