Managing people 1.4

Question 1

What is the difference between staff as a cost and staff as an asset?

Answer 1

Cost = treating employees as a resource of the business and finding skills a business needs and then finding employees to meet this 
Asset = treating employees as the most important resource to a business and a source of competitive advantage

Question 2

What are some key features of a cost?

Answer 2

• Little communication, taller organisational structure and little delegation

Question 3

What are some key features of an asset?

Answer 3

• competitive pay, empowered and encouraged using delegation and flatter organisational structures

Question 4

Benefit and drawback of a cost

Answer 4

Cost effective and quicker decision making but increased absenteeism

Question 5

Benefit and drawback of an asset?

Answer 5

Motivates employees and increases productivity but more expensive

Question 6

What is flexible working?

Answer 6

There are a variety of options offered to employees such as location, hours, pattern of working

Question 7

Benefits of flexible working?

Answer 7

• Saving costs when working from home for example, increased motivation, meeting needs

Question 8

Drawbacks of flexible working?

Answer 8

Increased administrative costs involved in running a flexible business.

Question 9

What is multiskilling?

Answer 9

staff carry out many tasks instead of one which increases job rotation.

Question 10

What is outsourcing?

Answer 10

delegating a task or business process to an external provider who them manages and completes the tasks in that sector

Question 11

What is a individual approach?

Answer 11

When employees negotiate contracts etc directly to the employer

Question 12

What is collective bargaining?

Answer 12

This is when contracts etc are represented through trade unions who are able to fight the workers case

Question 13

When may a vacancy become available?

Answer 13

• Skills gap, someone leaving and growth of the business

Question 14

What is the main differences between a job description and a job specification?

Answer 14

A job description is when a business lays out what the job role will involve the individual doing and a specification is the qualifications and requirements that an employee must have.

Question 15

Advantages of internal recruitment…

Answer 15

• They already understand business operations, policies and practises
• Already known in the business
• May be cheaper for the recruiter

Question 16

Advantages of external recruitment?

Answer 16

• They can bring in new skills
• new innovation
• Large businesses may see no worry with paying more for someone externally

Question 17

What are the 3 stages that come after deciding what recruitment a business wants?

Answer 17

• Shortlisting the applicants
• Interviewing and assessments
• Appoint and re-advertise

Question 18

What is on-the-job training?

Answer 18

Training that takes place at the employers place of work
People can be given mentors
Work shadowing (working alongside some experienced)

Question 19

What is off-the-job training?

Answer 19

Not working at this point

Question 20

What the hierarchal structure in a business?

Answer 20

This is how a business is split up into departments and the people who manages each of these departments. The higher up the hierarchy people are, generally the more power and responsibility that they have

Question 21

What is the chain of command in a business?

Answer 21

Shows the level of authority within the work place. Information is passed up the chains of command and the orders are passed down the chain of command

Question 22

What is span of control in a business?

Answer 22

The number of people being managed in all departments. For example, one manager may manage 5 people whereas another may manage 1. The one who manages 5 has a wider span of control

Question 23

What are the advantages of a centralised structure?

Answer 23

Senior management has more control which means faster decision making and may not make bias decisions

Question 24

What are the advantages of a decentralised structure?

Answer 24

Employees are motivated and empowered. Reduces stress on senior management. May have better knowledge of ‘local’ conditions.

Question 25

The differences between tall and flat organisational structures?

Answer 25

Tall have a long chain of command but a narrow span of control and a flat organisational structure have a wider span of control and a shorter chai of command.

Question 26

What is a matrix organisational structure?

Answer 26

Involves getting people in from different areas of the business to form a project team which then means all areas of the business are heard and none are missed

Question 27

Implications of different organisational structures…

Answer 27

Tall - slow decision-making and less communication
Flat - loss of control of workforce and poor productivity
Matrix - May be difficult to co-ordinate teams from different departments.

Question 28

What is Taylors approach (scientific management)?

Answer 28

The theory is finding exactly what you want your workforce to do and then find the cheapest way to do it
A: Higher wages can be achieved, increased productivity
D: May not suit all people, time consuming, ignored other aspects of the business

Question 29

What is Herzerg’s theory (the two-factor theory)?

Answer 29

People are motivated by hygiene factors (pay, working conditions) and motivator factors (recognition, improvement.)
A: Job enrichment, increased productivity
D: Can become expensive to alter policy in the workplace

Question 30

What is the order of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?

Answer 30

Food and shelter, safety needs, relationships, Esteem needs, Self-fulfilment

Question 31

What is Maslow’s theory (hierarchy of needs)?

Answer 31

A: meets the needs of all workers, simple to understand, inclusive
D: some may disagree with orders, hard to measure satisfaction retained from hierarchal level

Question 32

What is Mayo’s theory (human relationships theory)?

Answer 32

Motivation comes from the relationships in the workplace.
A: increased freedom, needs of workers being met
D: Hard to meet everyone’s needs, less focus on work.

Question 33

What are the 5 financial incentives that improve employee performance?

Answer 33

Piecework, commission, bonus, profit share, performance-related pay

Question 34

What is the difference between job enrichment and job enlargement?

Answer 34

Enrichment is having an increasing range and complex tasks whereas enlargement is the addition of extra tasks

Question 35

What is consultation?

Answer 35

When managers and leaders obtain the views of employees when making decisions

Question 36

What is the difference between management and leadership?

Answer 36

Leaders have a vision and are the ones who direct the business whereas managers are there to motivate and set business objectives.

Question 37

Advantages and disadvantages of autocratic leadership

Answer 37

A: managers make all decisions and improved productivity
D: Less motivation

Question 38

Advantages and disadvantages of democratic leadership

Answer 38

A: Hearing other people out, motivation
D: Slower decision making, arguments

Question 39

Advantages and disadvantages of paternalistic leadership

Answer 39

A: higher motivation, social needs met, building a relationship
D: Over-reliant on the leader, slower decision making

Question 40

Advantages and disadvantages of laissez-faire leadership

Answer 40

A: motivation, feeling more involved and increased responsibility
D: Indecisive, slower decision making and depends on how skilled workers are