Human resource management

Question 1

What is an organisational structure?

Answer 1

The way in which a business is organised

Question 2

What is span of control?

Answer 2

The number of employees for whom a manager is responsible for.

Question 3

What is delayering?

Answer 3

Reducing the number of levels in the hierarchy of an organisation.

Question 4

What is delegation?

Answer 4

Delegation occurs when someone with authority confers upon another person the power to do a particular task.

Question 5

What will delegation be dependent in a business?

Answer 5

Leadership style, a democratic style will mean more delegation.

Ability and willingness of employees to take on responsibility

Type of task that is to be delegated.

Question 6

What is empowerment?

Answer 6

Giving employees responsibility for the tasks they perform. It hopes to motivate staff by enriching employees jobs.

Question 7

What is organisation by system?

Answer 7

The business is split into specialist areas which operate together to make the business function efficiently.

Question 8

What is organisation by product?

Answer 8

Alternatively, the company could be organised by product that is the business organised around recognizable individual products. These are known as profit centres.

Question 9

What are the types of organisational structure models?

Answer 9

Organisation by system
Organisation by product.
Matrix

Question 10

What are the advantages of operating as organisation by product?

Answer 10

It’s easier to see which products are performing well.

Managers of each product can concentrate their energies on one product rather than several.

Managers can see direct result of their decisions and so may be more motivated.

Question 11

What are the disadvantages of operating as organisation by product?

Answer 11

Different products compete for resources, this can lead to conflict in the business on how to allocate resources.

Don’t gain from economies of scale as there will be multiple departments for each product.

Question 12

What is a flat structure?

Answer 12

A structure where there is a large span of control for managers. This type of structure is associated with a democratic style of leadership. Delegation is encouraged, allowing for a more motivated workforce.

Question 13

What is a tall structure?

Answer 13

A structure where there is a smaller span of control. This style of leadership is less democratic than a flat structure. As there are a large number of layers, decisions are generally made by the senior management.

Question 14

What is a centralised structure?

Answer 14

The decision making process is undertaken by the leader at the top of the hierarchy.

Question 15

What is a decentralised structure?

Answer 15

The decision making process is delegated and undertaken on a product basis.

Question 16

What are the advantages of a centralised structure?

Answer 16

Decisions are quicker as there is no need to consult all areas or branches.

Strong leadership in the event of a crisis.

Less duplication of resources, which may reduce costs.

Question 17

What are the disadvantages of a centralised structure?

Answer 17

Decisions are made without the benefit of local knowledge.

Lack of involvement in the decision making process is demotivating.

Experts in a region may be ignored, resulting in mistakes.

Question 18

What are the advantages of decentralised structure?

Answer 18

Local regions are better informed for some decisions, as they will know local consumer needs and trends.

Being able to make decisions will motivate staff.

Decisions are made for individual areas rather than a standardised approach should lead to better decision making.

Less time is spent on arguing with specific branches.

Question 19

What are the disadvantages of a decentralised structure?

Answer 19

Some decisions will be made with no overview for the business as a whole, as they are made at a regional level and may not be appropriate for the whole business.

Duplication of resources occurs, this will increase costs.

Question 20

What is a Matrix organisational structure?

Answer 20

A matrix organisational structure is where employees with similar skills are put together to complete tasks or projects, with more than one manager supervising.

Question 21

What is the value of having an organisational structure?

Answer 21

Having an organisational structure brings a sense of order to the business. It is then plain to see who is responsible for whom and who reports to whom.

Employees can see where it is possible for promotion.

The level of authority is easy to see from the chain of command.

Question 22

What is organisational culture?

Answer 22

Organisational culture of a business reflects the values, attitudes and beliefs of a business. The culture of a business will influence the manner in which it operates.

Question 23

How can the organisational culture of a business be seen?

Answer 23

The way it conducts business
The way it treats customers
If it shows concern to the local community
If it allows staff to be involved in the decision making process.

Question 24

Why is communication important for a business?

Answer 24

Effective communication will ensure that the number of mistakes inside the business will be reduced.

If the communication is clear and effective then employees will feel a sense of involvement and belonging.

Question 25

What are types of communication are there?

Answer 25

One way, Two Way
Formal and Informal
Open and Closed
Vertical and Horizontal.

Question 26

What is open communication?

Answer 26

The involves the use of language that will be understood by the vast majority of the population.

Question 27

What is closed communication?

Answer 27

A business may have its own language for activities and procedures and components within the business that is not understood by the whole population just those inside the business.

Question 28

What is vertical communication?

Answer 28

This is normally associated with communication from the management being passed down to the employees on the shop floor. It can also take place from employees to managers.

Question 29

What is horizontal communication?

Answer 29

This type of communication involves communication between people on the same level of the organisational structure.

Question 30

What is a channel of communication?

Answer 30

Communication channels refer to the way this information flows within the organization

Question 31

What types of channels of communication are there?

Answer 31

Chain
Circle
Wheel
All Networks

Question 32

What is chain communication network?

Answer 32

The type of network is normally associated with a formal and vertical hierarchy. Information can be communicated up and down the hierarchy.

Question 33

What is Wheel communication network?

Answer 33

The wheel has the leader, chief executive or board of directors at the centre. All communication goes through the leader (Centralised structure) allowing the leader to stay in touch with everything.

Question 34

What is circle communication network?

Answer 34

This is a restricted network for communication, which can take place between employees usually within the a department or hierarchy.

Question 35

What is All Networks communication network?

Answer 35

This network has no set route and allows communication between anyone within the business. This means that communication may be quicker.

Question 36

What are barriers to effective communication Theory (Part 1)?

Answer 36

Technical-This barrier is concerned with the ability of the receiver to receive the information being communicated.
Semantic-Receivers ability to understood what is being sent.
Effectiveness-If communication has been acted upon in an appropriate manner.

Question 37

What are practical barriers to effective communication?

Answer 37

Skill of the sender
Ability of the receiver 
Body language
Inappropriate medium used
Cultural differences
Size of the business and the number of layers
Amount of information

Question 38

What are group norms?

Answer 38

Group norms are a set of rules which may be written or unwritten, spoken or even just implied. The rules will vary according to the type of group. They are rules that are expected in terms of behaviour within the group can vary.