Theme 1.4 Managing people Flashcards
authority?
having power or control over something
Line manager?
The person immediately above the worker, to whom the worker is answerable
Chain of command?
The levels of authority in a business
Levels of hierarchy?
The layers of authority in a business where each level has authority over the levels below
Delayering
Removing tiers of management usually in the middle
Span of control?
The number of people that a person is responsible for in a business
Delegation?
The passing down of authority to more junior employees
Subordinate?
A person under the authority or control of a line manager within an organisation
What is a tall structure?
One with a long chain of command, narrow span of control
What is a tall structure?
One with a long chain of command and narrow span of control
2 positives of a tall structure?
More chances for promotion which will increase motivation
Managers have less employees under their control
2 disadvantages of a tall structure?
Slower communication
Higher costs due to more managers
2 advantages of delegation as non-financial motivation?
Reduce management and workload
Can provide on the job employees
disadvantage of delegation as non-financial motivation?
can overwork the subordinate and cause stress
consultation?
A process of formally discussing an issues e.g. between managers and employees
Advantage of consultation as non-financial motivation?
Helps solve any issues that employees may have and creates better relationships and better work environment
Disadvantage of consultation as non-financial motivation?
Managers may jsut ignore queries which will cause tension with employees which could reduce productivity
Empowerment?
Giving employees more control over their working lives e.g. delegation, training
Advantage of empowerment as non-financing method of motivation?
Employees can plan their own work and overall the more independent
3 disadvantages of empowerment as a non-financial method of motivation?
Time consuming to train employees
Could be costly
May not be productive if they’re not being watched
Teamworking?
Organizing employees into teams
3 advantages of team-working as a non-financial method of motivation?
Creates good working relationships
Employees can take control and be independent without a manager
Lower risk of burnout
3 disadvantages of teamworking?
Can cause disagreements
No clear leader
Some workers may do a lot more than others
Flexible working?
Helps employees choose and balance work life with home life e.g. choose when they work
2 advantages of flexible working as a non-financial method of motivation?
Increase employee retention and satisfaction
Fewer absences and reduce stress
2 disadvantages of flexible working as a non financial method of motivation?
Can increase employee loneliness if they’re choose to work from home
May not stay disciplined and not work many hours
Job enrichment?
Giving employees greater responsibility by increasing the range and complexity of what they’re asked to do
2 advantages of job enrichment?
More opportunities to develop new skills
Increase likelihood of performance-based rewards
3 disadvantages of job enrichment as a non financial method of motivation?
-Increased workload
insufficient skills
-Can lead to reduced quality and lower productivity
Job rotation?
Moving or rotating employees through a series of different jobs
3 advantages of job rotation as a non-financial motivator?
-Helps reduce boredom
-Helps the employee develop multiple skills
-Easier to cover absent employees
3 disadvantages of job rotation?
-Increase amount of training which can be costly and time consuming
-Employees may dislike their jobs
-May reduce productivity due to unfamiliarity and confusion
Job enlargement?
Widening the activities that a worker is asked to do
3 advantages of job enlargement as a non financial motivator?
-Skill development
-Reduced boredom which will in increase retention
-Personal growth
3 disadvantages of job enlargement?
-More stress for employees
- Reduced productivity
- Training which will be costly and time consuming
Piece rate?
Gives a payment for each item produced
2 advantages of piece rate?
Increased productivity and determination
Helps businesses save money of workers are not being productive
3 disadvantages of piece rate as a financial motivator?
Quality of work may decrease because workers are working extremely quick
Workers may be overworked
No sick pay for employees which may result in them coming in when they’re ill /have a very important event
Commission?
A payment made to employees based on their performance or for completing a task e.g. sales person
3 advantages of commission as a financial motivator?
increases productivity
Attracts customers as salespeople will be extra helpful when trying to sell something
Potential of earning a lot of money
2 disadvantages of commission?
Uncertain long term security as possible of earning very little if sales are not generated
Can create negative competitiveness and create arguments
Bonus?
A payment an employer gives to staff in addition to their basic wages due to their impressive performance
2 advantages of a bonus?
Encourages employees to work harder and be more productive
Make employees feel valued and appreciated
3 disadvantages of a bonus as a financial motivator?
Employees may become less productive due to unrealistic expectations
May financially damage the business but they need to give bonuses to retain employees
May encourage aggressive competitiveness
Profit sharing?
When employees get a share of the profits of the business
2 advantages of profit sharing as a financial motivator?
Increase employee retention
Employees feel valued and appreciated and can contribute to the decision making more
Disadvantage of profit sharing?
Rewards may not be equal
Performance related pay?
Links an employee’s salary increase to their individual performance
3 advantages of performance related pay?
Increase productivity and hard work so employees can earn more
Can make employees feel valued and appreciated
Increase employee retention
3 disadvantages of performance related pay as a financial motivator?
Targets set by managers may be unrealistic which will demotivate employees
Costly for the business
Can cause unhealthy competition between employees
Performance related pay will only increase motivation if….?
The business recognises and rewards hard work
Leadership?
A relationship where one person influences the behaviour or actions of others
What is a strategic leader?
The people who influence or control the corporate strategy of a business
4 ways that strategic leadership is demonstrated?
Leadership as command
Leadership as vision
Leadership as symbolic
Leadership as decision-making
What is an autocratic leadership style?
Focus of power is with the manager, very little delegation, formal systems of command and control
What is a paternalistic leadership style?
Leader decides what is best for employees, Similar to parent/child relationship, Softer form of autocratic
What is a democratic leadership style?
Focus of power is more with the group as a whole, employees have greater involvement in decision making, emphasis on delegation and consultation
What is a Laissez-Faire style of leadership?
Leader has very little input into day to day decision making, Managers/employees have the freedom to do what they think is best, Effective when staff are willing to take on responsibility
4 factors affecting leadership style?
Type of organisation (size, structure)
Skills and experience of subordinates
Pressure (time, costs)
Effectiveness of teams and groups
4 reasons why modern businesses are moving away from autocratic styles?
Focus on need for soft HR skills
Pressure for greater employee involvement
Changes in society values
Greater workplace legislation (regulated relationship between employees and employers)
Contract of employment?
A legal agreement between a business and an employee which contains info on pay, roles, start and end date and hours
Advantage of redundancy?
Reduced costs
4 things that training can do?
Provide information
Provide flexibility - range of different skills for different jobs
Retrain employees - changing jobs and will need to develop new skills
Update techniques
3 types of training?
Induction
On the job
Off the job
3 things induction training is used for?
When someone is new to the job
Introduce them to culture/objectives/workplace/organisational structure/colleagues
Health and Safety briefing
3 benefits of induction training?
Familiarise new employees with the workplace
Allows new employees to meet colleagues and feel comfortable in the workplace
Helps ensure health and safety is met
Example of on the job training?
Mcdonald’s
Can teach someone how to make a burger with the right amount of each ingredient
3 advantages of off-the-job training?
External trainers have experience of training people on a regular basis
Specialist external trainers, with knowledge and experience greater than the people in the business can be used
Workers can be motivated to gain qualifications and new skills
3 Disadvantages of off-the-job training?
Often general and not specific to any one business
More expensive, also with additional travel and accommodation costs
Day off work, leading to cover needing to be provided and work time is lost
3 advantages of on-the-job training?
Employees gain confidence through doing the job with someone helping them
Employees from within the business carry out the training at no extra cost
Specific to the needs to of the business
3 disadvantages of on-the-job training?
Internal trainers may not have the required skills to train workers
Bad habits can be passed on
Takes trainer away from their own job
What is Taylor’s motivation theory?
Focused on efficiency and productivity “do it quick”
His view was that money was the biggest motivator if not the only one
What is Mayo’s motivation theory?
He believe that physical were the key to increasing employee motivation. Positive relationships between managers and employees were found to be as key as that feel valued and appreciated
“The Hawthorn effect” the more sociable and the more attention employees receive, the more valued they feel —> increased productivity
3 benefits of Mayo’s theory?
Encourages positive working relationships
Considers the wellbeing of employees
Social factors help to increase employee productivity, retention
3 drawbacks of mayo’s motivation theory?
Unscientific approach and original findings lack sufficient evidence in hawthorne effect
Ignores the potential impact of conflict
Oversimplifies human behaviours as it assumes satisfied workers will automatically be productive
Maslows hierarchy of needs?
A set of 5 basic human needs
- Physiological - basic needs (food,water etc
- Safety - How safe employees feel
- Love - Desire to feel loved and accepted and a sense of belonging
- Esteem - Feeling of being appreciated and valued
- Self Actualisation - Where a person achieves their full potential
Examples of Maslows 5 stages in Mcdonald’s?
Physiological - Free meal at work, free uniform
Safety - Sick pay, fair pay
Love - Part of a team, positive relationships
Esteem - Performance reviews, Employee of the month award
Self A - Opportunities for promotion, job enrichment
