topic 7 human resources

Question 1

means of selecting and training the workforce

Answer 1

1. recruitment (process if attracting potential job applicants from available workforce)
2. selection ( process of trying to determine which individual best matches particular job, taking into account, requirements and skills.)
3. induction ( process where new employees are introduced to ne working environment, colleagues and tasks/responsibilities)
4. training (systematically planned and organized process by which employees acquire knowledge, skills, attitudes, and information needed to achieve business objectives. )

Question 2

list and explain different types of recruitment.

Answer 2

• external recruitment- process of finding suitable candidates from outside the business.(by:
  headhunting, recruitment agencies and centers run by the gov.)
• internal recruitment- when a post has to be filled from inside the business. (by:
  job posting or employee referrals.)

Question 3

list advantages and disadvantages of internal recruitment.

Answer 3

adv.
– saves time and money, no induction training needed
– worker is already familiar with the work and other employees, they know what is expected of them.
– other workers feel motivated as they see their fellow employee get promoted and they work harder.

disadv.
– no new ideas/ experiences come into the business.
– unsuitable people might be recruited due to limited choice.
– jealousy and rivalry among other employees may arise.

Question 4

list advantages and disadvantages of external recruitment.

Answer 4

adv.
– better pool of candidates.
– new ideas and expertise flow into the business.

disadvantages
– increasing costs( advertising)
– time consuming to go through all applicants.
– training is needed.
– new employees not known to the firm.

Question 5

what are the benefits of induction training?

Answer 5

– helps new employees overcome fears.
– promotes good working relationships.
– promotes future success.

Question 6

list the objectives of training

Answer 6

– improve skills and knowledge to increase efficiency
– minimizes risks for accidents.
– improves opportunities for internal promotion

Question 7

name and explain different types of training

Answer 7

1 on-the-job- training– training while working(in-service training), through observation or simulated situations.
2 of-the-job training– when employees are sent away from the workplace to obtain a specific qualification.(techniques used are more varied and complex)

Question 8

what are the advantages and disadvantages of on-the-job training?

Answer 8

advantages
– employees remain productive as they watch a more experienced employee work.
– save on costs as the employee does not have to be sent away

disadvantages
– trainer might have bad habits that the trainee could pick up.
– trainer decreases their productivity as they need to show trainee what to do and they don’t get on with their work.

Question 9

what are the methods of off-the-job training?

Answer 9

– classroom learning
– lectures
– role play
– class studies
– computer simulations

Question 10

list advantages of off-the-job training.

Answer 10

– broad range of skills can be taught
– combines the practical and theoretical side of the job
– if taught in the evenings, it might be cheaper and the employee can remain productive throughout the day.
– employees become multi-skilled and versatile.

Question 11

name and explain different types of materials for recruitment.

Answer 11

job description
– describes the nature of the work and the performance expected from the employee to do a specific job

job specification
– he list of desirable and essential requirements for the job.

job advertisement
– (MO) document including details of the job description and job specification

Question 12

what can the management do to satisfy the needs of workers with regards to job satisfaction?

Answer 12

job rotation
– swapping round and doing each specific task for only a limited time and then changing round again.

job enlargement
– where extra tasks of a similar level of work are added to a worker’s job description. (no training is required)

job enrichment
– looking at jobs and adding more tasks that require more skill and/or responsibility.( gives employees the opportunity to use the range of their abilities) NB: ( training is required)

Question 13

why is cooperation and joint responsibility important in the workplace?

Answer 13

–workers become more involved in the decision-making and take responsibility for this process.
– gives employees a feeling of control over their jobs.
– employees feel more committed, increasing job satisfaction
– leads to autonomous work groups/ team working.
– increases productivity in the business.

Question 14

define a trade union

Answer 14

group of workers who join together to ensure that their interests are protected.

Question 15

describe a white collar union.

Answer 15

represents non-manual workers e.g. office worker.

Question 16

describe a craft union

Answer 16

represent skilled workers who had undergone lengthy specialized and technical training and possess technical skills. e.g. plumbers, electricians

Question 17

describe and industrial union

Answer 17

combination of craft and general unions and represent all types of workers of a particular industry, regardless of their skill or their type of work. e.g. all workers in the clothing industry.

Question 18

describe a general union

Answer 18

represent unskilled and semi-skilled workers from a wide variety of trades and industries. usually formed by different unions merging together and are very large.

Question 19

define a shop steward, single union agreement, and closed shop.

Answer 19

shop steward
– unpaid representative of a trade union at business level elected by union members at a specific workplace.

single union agreement
– when a firm will deal with only one trade union and no others

closed shop
– where all employees must be a member of the same trade union.

Question 20

what are the benefits of a single union agreement to the employer?

Answer 20

– discussions are clear because there is only one union to negotiate with the management.
– disputes are solved quickly as there is only one union to negotiate with.
– leads to fewer industrial disputes, which is better for both employees and employers

Question 21

what are the benefits of single union agreement to the employees?

Answer 21

– employees have more power
– better working relationship between management and union
– no disagreements between unions.

Question 22

what is the role of a shop steward?

Answer 22

– recruiting new members for the union
– disseminating union information to the members
– representing members in the management meetings
– communicating members’ grievances to the union head office

Question 23

explain the economic reason for joining a trade union

Answer 23

employees join trade unions for the economic advantages they promise to offer them, e.g. higher wages, and better over-time pay

Question 24

list the reasons for joining trade unions

Answer 24

– economic
– political
– social
– psychological

Question 24

explain political reasons for joining trade unions

Answer 24

trade unions have become political pressure groups which represent the interests of its members to politicians and they strive towards the passing of laws by parliament that protect interests of their members.

Question 25

explain social reasons for joining trade unions.

Answer 25

provides a social identity for workers, especially for those who recently moved to urban areas.

Question 26

explain psychological reasons for joining trade unions.

Answer 26

union members feel secure knowing that a professional body that represents them in cases of unfair dismissal or any unfair labor practices.

Question 27

what are the benefits of joining trade unions to the employees?

Answer 27

– unions negotiate better working conditions for members, such as improved rates of pay
– members are protected from unfair dismissal at work, by living them advice or financial support
– unions ensure that members are compensated for workplace injuries
– workers are represented during wage negotiations

Question 28

what are the advantages of trade unions to employers?

Answer 28

– better communication between employer and the employee
– better feedback about worker dissatisfaction
– employees are less likely to strike, the reduced well in advance
– trade negotiates on pay, therefore the business will not receive a bad image

Question 29

what is organizational conflict?

Answer 29

disagreement between individuals or groups in an organization

Question 30

what are the causes of sources of organizational conflict?

Answer 30

– poor wage rates, poor employment conditions or poor working conditions
– rigid and authoritarian management where orders are issued and those at the bottom of the chain of command do not know what is going on
– rapid or poorly planned change in the business where employees find themselves downgraded or moved from one place to another without any consultation
– a decline in business market share, causing employees to worry about losing their jobs

Question 31

list and explain the means of avoiding and resolving conflict when relations break down

Answer 31

1. collective bargaining
   – negotiations between one or more trade unions and one or more employers on pay and conditions of employment (not the same as negotiation)
2. mediation
   – a person, agreed by both sides, who might speak to them separately, or together, and tries to find ways for them to reach an agreement.
3. ## conciliation
4. arbitration
   – listening to both sides in an industrial dispute (trade union and management) and then giving a ruling of what the arbitrator thinks is fair to both sides.

Question 32

explain the process of resolving organizational conflict

Answer 32

1. collective bargaining
   – if organizational conflict arises, collective bargaining takes place between the employers and the trade unions.
2. mediation
   – when the collective bargaining process does not reach and agreement, trade union and management might agree to mediation to help them find a solution, but the mediator does not have the power to make an agreement.
3. conciliation
   – if negotiations fail, the trade union and management can apply for the establishment of a conciliation board.
4. arbitration
   – if conciliation fails, management and trade union may agree to arbitration by a jointly agreed arbitrator.

Question 33

define negotiation and differentiate between dismissal and redundancy

Answer 33

negotiation
– a process by which two or more parties, discuss specific offers, with a view to reach a mutually acceptable agreement

dismissal
– the termination of the employment relationship by the employer (because their work performance or behavior is unsatisfactory)

redundancy
– when a business, based on valid grounds, reduces the number of employees by declaring them redundant.

Question 34

what are 5 industrial action?

Answer 34

strike(token, all-out, selective)
– employees refuse to work

picketing
– employees taking industrial action stand outside the workplace and prevent or protest at the delivery of goods as well as the arrival or departure or other employees

work to rule
– when rules are strictly obeyed so that work is slowed down, causes a lot of disruption in the business

go slow
– employees do their normal tasks, but much slower than usual(they deliberately take longer to complete their normal tasks)

non- cooperation
– employees refuse to comply with new working practices which they don’t approve of.

Question 35

define worker participation in decision-making

Answer 35

employees contribute to decision-making in the business

Question 36

explain the ways of worker participation

Answer 36

– worker directors can be appointed but are not usually allowed to attend all board meetings
– work councils are committees of workers who consulted or informed on matters that affect employees.
– democratic forms of leadership exist, where managers first engage in discussions with workers before taking decisions

Question 37

list advantages and disadvantages of worker participation

Answer 37

advantages
– increases flow of information, therefore improving relations between employers and employees
– increases motivation as workers feel more involved and committed to the company

disadvantages
– very time-consuming
– workers may lack necessary technical knowledge
– if representation is via trade union, non-union members will lose out

Question 38

define an employer’s association

Answer 38

group of employers who join together to form their own association, to provide benefits to their members

Question 39

explain the role of an employer’s association

Answer 39

– represent employers and negotiate on behalf of employers with trade unions
– give advice to members on issues such as employment laws, health and safety regulations
– act as pressure groups, as they are larger, to put arguments to government when changes are requested
– organize bulk buying for the members and therefore get a discount on good