SECTION 6

Question 1

DESCRIBE THE POSSIBLE ROLE OF THE RESEARCH DEPARTMENT IN AN ORGANISATION (6 MARKS)

Answer 1

• INVESTIGATE THE NEW TECHNIQUES/TECHNOLOGIES/MATERIAL AVAILABLE
• TEST THEIR SUITABILITY FOR THE COMPANY’S PRODUCTS
• CARRIES OUT FEASIBILITY STUDIES
• CARRIES OUT MARKET RESEARCH/CUSTOMER QUESTIONNAIRES
• ANALYSES FINDINGS FROM PROTOTYPES
• MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS OF DESIGNS

Question 2

DESCRIBE THE POSSIBLE ROLE OF THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IN AN ORGANISATION
(4 MARKS)

Answer 2

• DEVELOP IDEAS FOR PRODUCTS/TO IMPROVE EXISTIGN PRODUCTS
• INCLUDES CREATING PROTOTYPES OF PRODUCTS
• CREATES DESIGNS FOR ACTUAL PRODUCTS BASED ON PERSCEIVED CUSTOMER NEEDS FROM MARKET RESEARCH
• RE-DESIGN PRODUCTS FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM RESEARCH

Question 3

DESCRIBE ONE OUTPUT OF THE DESIGN PROCESS THAT WOULD BE NEED BY THE MANUFACTURER

Answer 3

• PRODUCTION DRAWINGS
• WHICH SHOW HOW THE PRODUCT WILL BE ASSEMBLED/THE EXACT DIMENSIONS OF THE PRODUCT

                                          OR

• PRODUCT SPECIFICATION
• THAT INCLUDES PRECISE DETAILS OF SIZES, MATERIALS AND OTHER COMPONENTS

Question 4

DESCRIBE THE ROLE OF HR IN A LARGE ORGANISATION (6 MARKS)

Answer 4

• RECRUITMENT
  
  • ADVERTISING JOB VACANCIES
  • SENDING OUT/ RECEIVING APPLICATION FORMS
  • COLLATING RESPONSES
  • SHORT LISTING APPLICANTS
  • ORGANISE INTERVIEWS
  • SENDING LETTERS TO SUCCESSFUL/UNSUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS

                                       OR

• STAFF WELFARE
  
  • HANDLING REQUESTS FOR LEAVE
  • DEALING WITH DISCIPLINARY MATTERS
  • ARRAGING COVER FOR STAFF ABSENCE
  • KEEPING RECORD OF HOURS/WAGES
  • ORGANISING PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS
  • DEALING WITH TRADE UNIONS AND STAFF ORGANISATIONS

                                     OR 

• TRAINING
  
  • ORGANISE STAFF APPRAISALS
  • MAINTAIN STAFF DEVELOPMENT PLANS
  • ARRANGE FOR STAFF TO ATTEND TRAINING
  • KEEP RECORDS OF STAFF TRAINING
  • KEEP RECORDS OF STAFF QUALIFICATIONS
  • ORGANISE IN-HOUSE TRAINING

Question 5

IDENTIFY 3 MOBILE DEVICES THAT A SALES REPRESENTATIVE COULD USE WHILE ON THE MOVE TO VISIT CUSTOMERS AND EXPLAIN A BENEFIT TO THE SALE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEVICES BUSINESS USE (6 MARKS)

Answer 5

MOBILE/SMART PHONE

• CAN KEEP CUSTOMER INFORMED IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE LATE
• BECAUSE THEY CAN CALL/SEND SMS FROM ANYWHERE

TABLET

• CAN ACCESS MOST UP-TO-DATE PRICES/AVAILABILITIES OF PRODUCTS
• BECAUSE THEY CAN ACCESS COMPANY SERVER/VPN USING 3G/WIRELESS

GPS

• CAN FIND CUSTOMERS’ PREMISES MORE EASILY
• BECASUE POST CODE CAN BE ENTERED TO FIND DIRECTIONS

Question 6

EXPLAIN A DISADVANTAGE TO THE SALES REPRESENTATIVE OF USING MOBILE DEVICES ]
(4 MARKS)

Answer 6

• MAY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO TAKE A BREAK
• BECAUSE THEY’RE ALWAYS CONTACTABLE
• MAY HAVE CONCERNS OVER SECURITY OF DEVICES
• BECAUSE THEY MAY CONTAIN COMPANY SENSITIVE DATA

Question 7

THE EXPERT PRINTERS AT A QUALITY WALLPAPERS CAN SPEND MOST OF THEIR WORKING DAY LOOKING AT A COMPUTER SCREEN. DESCRIBE THREE ACTIONS QUALITY WALLPAPERS MUST TAKE TO COMPLY WITH THE HEALTH AND SAFETY (DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT) REGULATIONS (1992) IN RELATION TO THESE EMPLOYEES (6 MARKS)

Answer 7

1 ACTION

• ANALYSE WORKSTATIONS TO ASSESS AND REDUCE RISK
• INCLUDES ASSESSING EQUIPMENT/FURNITURE/WORKING ENV.

2 ACTION

• ENSURE WORKSTATIONS MEET MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
• INCLUDES PROVISION OF ADJUSTABLE CHAIRS/ MONITORS/ SUITABLE LIGHTING/SUFFICIENT WORKSPACE

3 ACTION

• PLAN EMPLOYEES’ WORK
• SO THERE ARE BREAKS AND CHANGES IN ACTIVITY

                                       OR

4 ACTION

• ARRANGE EYE TESTS ON REQUEST
• AND PROVIDE SPECTACLES IF SPECIAL ONES ARE NEEDED

5 ACTION

• PROVIDE HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING
• TO ENSURE THAT EMPLOYEES CAN USE THEIR WORKSTATIONS SAFELY

Question 8

EXPLAIN HOW THE COPYRIGHT, DESIGNS AND PATENTS ACT (1988) AFFECTS QUALITY WALLPAPERS (4 MARKS)

Answer 8

• DESIGNS QUALITY WALLPAPERS CREATE ARE PROTECTED
• BECAUSE THEY OWN THE DESIGNS
• OTHERS MUST REQUEST PERMISSION/PAY A FEE TO USE THE DESIGNS LEGALLY/BE ALLOWED TO USE THE DESIGNS
• QUALITY WALLPAPERS CAN SUE ANYONE USING THE DESINGS ILLEGALLY/WITHOUT PERMISSION

Question 9

DISCUSS THE IMPACTS ON QUALITY WALLPAPERS AND ITS STAFF OF USING PROCESS CONTROL TO MAKE THE PAPER RATHER THAN MANUAL CONTROL (10 MARKS)

Answer 9

• FASTER THAN MANUAL PRODUCTION
• HIGHER QUALITY/CONSISTENCY OF PRODUCT
• REDUCTION OF WASTE
• REDUCED PRODUCTION COSTS
• LOWER WAGE BILL
• 24/7 PRODUCTION POSSIBLE
• SAFER WORKING CONDITIONS FOR STAFF
• OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE TECHNICAL JOBS AT HIGHER PAY AVAILABLE TO STAFF.
• COST OF MAINTAING SYSTEM
• NEED TO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR STAFF
• FEWER JOBS AVAILABE FOR STAFF
• STAFF MAY NEED TO LEARN NEW SKILLS
• STAFF MAY FEEL DE-SKILLED

Question 10

WHICH TYPE OF BUSINESS ACTIVITY BENEFITS MOST FROM THE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS ACT 2000 (1 MARK)

Answer 10

• E-COMMERCE