random definitions

Question 1

flexible workforce

Answer 1

• reduce staffing costs by creating more flexible working
• e.g. multi-skilling, part time staff
• easier to respond to fluctuation in demand

Question 2

what are multi-skilling and the benefits?

Answer 2

• training employees to do several jobs within the business

- greater utilization of staff and prevents disruption when staff are absent

Question 3

part-time employees

Answer 3

• allows greater flexibility for businesses to stay open longer
• shifts will be shared
• less than 30 hours a week

Question 4

temporary staff

Answer 4

• employing for a specific period of time only

Question 5

flexible hours

Answer 5

• staff are able to vary the hours they work to meet the needs of business
• may have time for their own needs

Question 6

zero answer contracts

Answer 6

• business doesnt guarantee any work until there is demand for them to be working

Question 7

what is meant by outsourcing?

Answer 7

when the business finds another business to complete tasks

Question 8

dismissal

Answer 8

when an employee leaves their job due to gross misconduct, broken their contract or their performance is inadequate

Question 9

what is meant by redundancy?

Answer 9

employees may need to leave their job role as it is no longer needed by the business

Question 10

what is recruitment?

Answer 10

is to employ and retain the best possible human resources

Question 11

what is a job description?

Answer 11

summary of the main duties and responsibilities associated with an identified job

Question 12

person specification

Answer 12

identifies the skills, knowledge and experience a successful candidate is likely to have

Question 13

how does a business decide what training method to use?

Answer 13

size of the business, cost of training, time available to spend on training

Question 14

on the job training

Answer 14

learning a new skill at the place of employment by watching an experienced employee

Question 15

off the job / external training

Answer 15

• takes part externally away from the job - training is expensive
• run by experts

Question 16

sitting next to Neille

Answer 16

learning by sitting, watching and the doing

e.g shadowing

Question 17

apprenticeships

Answer 17

training on the job and in college on a day release system

Question 18

courses

Answer 18

sending employees away on a course for additional training

Question 19

span of control

Answer 19

the number of employees the manager is responsible for

Question 20

chain of command

Answer 20

concerned with the way in which responsibility is shared within the business

Question 21

delegation

Answer 21

the responsibility for another person to carry out specific activities

Question 22

motivation

Answer 22

forces that encourage and drive people to work harder

Question 23

Taylors theory

Answer 23

• idea that we are motivated by money
• paying employees per product they make motivates them to produce more
• can cause quality to fall

Question 24

Mayos theory

Answer 24

Hawthorne studies - altered the working conditions

• staff were asked for feedback
• sense of involvement that motivated the workers

Question 25

Absenteeism

Answer 25

the number of staff absent as a percentage of the total number of staff employed

Question 26

Labour turnover

Answer 26

the number of staff who leave each year as a percentage of total staff employed

Question 27

productivity of labour

Answer 27

the total level of output in a given period / total number of staff employed

Question 28

job enrichment

Answer 28

offering a range of tasks to an employee

Question 29

job rotation

Answer 29

completing different task throughout the shift

Question 30

what is an autocratic leader?

Answer 30

makes all major decisions and there is little worker involvement

Question 31

what is a democratic leader?

Answer 31

leaders and the workforce has some control over decision making

Question 32

what is a laissez-faire leader?

Answer 32

leaders have no control over their decisions, leaving the workforce to make them

Question 33

home working

Answer 33

• carry out their job at home

Question 34

outsourcing

Answer 34

the practice of using the service of another organisation

Question 35

collective barganing

Answer 35

when a trade union negotiates with an employer on behalf of all employees