Knowledge Flashcards
What is an objective?
A target or outcome for a business which allows it to achieve its aims. This is done to monitor performance, motivation, form a basis for allocating resources and to measure success.
What is a vision statement?
A statement about the purpose and values of an organisation, outlining what it would like to be in an ideal world.
What is a mission statement?
A brief statement written by the business of its purpose and its objectives, designed to encapsulate its present operations.
What are SMART objectives?
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timed - makes it easier to access if targets have been met
What is the objective of employees?
They want the business to run smoothly and effectively and want to get paid accordingly.
What are the objective for the community?
They want businesses because it provides jobs and will help their local economy
What does a mission statement include:
- purpose of a company
- guides the actions of a company
- sense of direction
- guides decision making
What are the benefits of a mission statement:
- gives them a sense of direction
- sets a good reputation for the company
- focuses your energy&clarifies your purpose
- defines what you’re going to do
- motivates board, staff, volunteers&donors
- helps attract people and resources
- great public relations tool
What are the criticisms of a mission statement?
- not always supported by actions of the business
- often too vague&general
- merely statements of the obvious
- often seen as a PR exercise
- sometimes regarded cynically by staff
- sometimes not a true reflection of reality
- to mean anything they must be supported wholeheartedly by senior management
What is risk in business?
A threat that may prevent or hinder the ability to achieve
What is a quantifiable risk?
Risks that can be measured
What does unquantifiable mean?
Cannot be measured
Eg the adverse effect on the company’s image if a product is not successful
What are the different ways to deal with risk
- ignore it, wait and see
- reduce profitability of risk
- reduce the limit the consequences
- share or deflect the risk (eg. Insurance)
- make contingency plans-prepare it
- adapt in order to maintain performance
- treat it as an opportunity - particularly if it affects other competitors
What is corporate culture?
It is a set of beliefs and attitudes held within an organisation that affects how it gets things done or behaves
What is culture gap?
This is the difference between the culture that was wanted and what it actually is. It is important to efficiency and morale that everybody knows what the firm is trying to do and how it is trying to do it.
What are the four types of corporate culture
Power
Role
Person
Task
What is power culture?
Where decision making and power is made or rests with one person. Or a very few people at the top of the organisation.
CENTRALISED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
AUTOCRATIC
What is role culture?
Where decision making and power is linked to a role or function within the hierarchy. Here decision making is slow and business opportunities can be missed.
CENTRALISED OR DECENTRALISED
PATERNALISTIC STYLE OF LEADERSHIP
What is person culture?
Is where decisions and power rests with individuals who see themselves as ‘superior’ to the organisation e.g. Often seen in professions such as solicitors
TOTALLY DECENTRALISED
LAISSEZ FAIRE STYLE OF LEADERSHIP
What is task culture?
Where decisions and power rests with small teams or groups who work on a particular project
DECENTRALISED
DEMOCRATIC STYLE OF LEADERSHIP
What can culture affect?
- Motivation strategies used
- customer service
- innovation
- react to change
- efficiency and productivity
What are the benefits of adopting a more ethical approach?
- Improve motivation among employees
- Reduced labour turnover
- Improved customer perception