u3 aos2 part 1

Question 1

business objectives

Answer 1

statements of desired achievement that provide direction for a business (make a profit, increase market share, improve efficiency, improve effectiveness, fulfil a market need, fulfil a social need)

Question 2

human resource management

Answer 2

the management of a wide range of responsibilities relating to the human (employees) function within a business in order to increase the efficiency of both employees and the business

Question 3

business strategy

Answer 3

the long-term plan of action adopted by a business to achieve its goals and objectives

Question 4

productivity

Answer 4

a ratio of the output of goods and services to the inputs used to achieve that output

Question 5

management by objectives

Answer 5

a process of setting goals using the SMART principle, that relate to an employee’s key areas of responsibility. It creates a sense of direction and provides a measure of assessing the work performance of the employee

Question 6

employee engagement

Answer 6

the commitment that employees feel towards a business based on identifying with its values, vision and objectives and the way the business operates

Question 7

motivation

Answer 7

the willingness of a person to expend energy and effort in doing a job or task

Question 8

hierarchy of needs

Answer 8

Abraham Maslow’s representation of human needs in the form of a pyramid (psychological needs, safety needs, social needs, self-esteem needs, self-actualisation

Question 9

psychological needs

Answer 9

basic needs such as food, water, air, shelter and other physical requirements (providing with a job, payment for a job)

Question 10

safety needs

Answer 10

security and protection from physical and emotional harm (creating job security, superannuation and insurance, competent, consistent and fair manager)

Question 11

social needs

Answer 11

love, belonging, affection, affiliation, acceptance and friendship in peer groups (friendly work associates, organised employee activities)

Question 12

self-esteem

Answer 12

the feeling of satisfaction that someone has in themselves or their own abilities (promotion, job title and task responsibilities)

Question 13

self-acctualisation

Answer 13

the sense of fulfilment or highest level of human needs determined by Abraham Maslow (challenging work allowing for creativity, participative decision-making, opportunities for personal growth and advancement)

Question 14

goal setting theory

Answer 14

a theory of motivation that focuses on the process of setting and attaining goals: set clear goals, set challenging (but achievable) goals, secure commitment to goals, provide feedback, complexity of task

Question 15

four drive theory

Answer 15

theory that identified four basic motivational needs: drive to acquire, drive to bond, drive to comprehend (learn), drive to defend

Question 16

drive to acquire

Answer 16

the desire to achieve rewards and high status. In a business setting, the drive to acquire motivates employees who want to receive financial rewards and non-financial rewards in recognition of their effort and performance.

Question 17

drive to bond

Answer 17

the desire to participate in social interactions and feel a sense of belonging

Question 18

drive to comprehend

Answer 18

the desire to gain knowledge, skills, and experience

Question 19

drive to defend

Answer 19

desire to protect personal security as well as the values of the business

Question 20

performance-related pay

Answer 20

a financial reward to employees whose work has reached or exceeded a set standard

Question 21

career advancement

Answer 21

the upwards progression of an employee’s job position

Question 22

job enlargement

Answer 22

making a job bigger or more challenging by combining various operations at a similar level

Question 23

job enrichment

Answer 23

making a job more challenging so workers are required to use their full capabilities and gain personal growth

Question 24

job rotation

Answer 24

where workers are moved between different jobs to increase variety of work and create a more flexible workforce

Question 25

investment in training

Answer 25

allocating resources to improve employee skills and knowledge

Question 26

support strategies

Answer 26

involve providing employees with any assistance that improves their satisfaction at work

Question 27

sanction strategies

Answer 27

involve penalising employees for poor performance or breaching business policies

Question 28

training

Answer 28

the process of providing staff with the knowledge or skills required to do a particular job

Question 29

development

Answer 29

process designed to build up skills necessary for future work activities and responsibilities

Question 30

on-the-job training

Answer 30

involves an employee improving their knowledge and skills within the workplace eg coaching, tutoring, mentoring, role modelling, apprenticeship, job rotation, planned work activities

Question 31

off-the-job training

Answer 31

involves employees improving their knowledge and skills in a location external to the business eg information presentation, information processing style, simulations, role plays

Question 32

performance management

Answer 32

the system used to improve organisational, functional, and individual performance through linking the objectives of each; it assess all phases of the employment cycle

Question 33

performance appraisal

Answer 33

measures how well an employee has performed their job, provides feedback to employees and establishes plans to improve performance

Question 34

self evaluation

Answer 34

involves an employee assessing their individual performance against a set of criteria

Question 35

employee observation

Answer 35

involves a range of employees from different levels of authority assessing another employee’s performance against a set of criteria