Unit 2: Key Words

Question 1

Define motivation

Answer 1

the reason why employees want to work hard and work effectively for the business

Question 2

Define wage

Answer 2

a payment for work, usually paid weekly

Question 3

Define time rate

Answer 3

the amount paid to an employee for one hour of work

Question 4

Define piece rate

Answer 4

an amount paid for each unit of output

Question 5

Define salary

Answer 5

payment for work, usually paid monthly

Question 6

Define bonus

Answer 6

additional amount of payment above basic pay as a reward for good work

Question 7

Define commission

Answer 7

payment relating to the number of sales made

Question 8

Define profit sharing

Answer 8

a system whereby a proportion of the company’s profits is paid out to employees

Question 9

Define job satisfaction

Answer 9

the enjoyment derived from feeling that you have done a good job

Question 10

Define job rotation

Answer 10

workers swapping around and doing each specific task for only a limited time and then changing around again

Question 11

Define job enrichment

Answer 11

looking at job and adding tasks that require more skill and responsibility

Question 12

Define teamworking

Answer 12

using groups of workers and allocating specific tasks and responsibilities to them

Question 13

Define training

Answer 13

the process of improving a workers skills

Question 14

Define promotion

Answer 14

the advancement of an employee in an organisation. for example to a higher job/managerial level.

Question 15

Define organisational structure

Answer 15

the levels of management and division of responsibilities within an organisation

Question 16

Define organisational chart

Answer 16

refers to a diagram that outlines the internal management structure

Question 17

Define hierarchy

Answer 17

the levels of management in any organisation from the highest to lowest

Question 18

Define levels of hierarchy

Answer 18

refers to managers/supervisors/other employees who are given a similar level of responsibility in an organisation

Question 19

Define chain of command

Answer 19

the structure in an organisation which allows instructions to be passed down from senior management to lower levels of management

Question 20

Define span of control

Answer 20

the number of subordinates working directly under a manager

Question 21

Define directors

Answer 21

senior managers who lead a particular department or division of a business

Question 22

Define line manager

Answer 22

line managers have direct responsibility for people below them in the hierarchy of an organisation

Question 23

Define supervisor

Answer 23

junior managers who have direct control over the employees below them in the organisational structure

Question 24

Define staff managers

Answer 24

specialists who provide support, information and assistance to line managers

Question 25

Define delegation

Answer 25

giving a subordinate the authority to perform particular tasks

Question 26

Define leadership styles

Answer 26

the different approaches to dealing with people and making decisions when in position of authority - autocratic, democratic or laissez-fair

Question 27

Define autocratic leadership

Answer 27

when the manager expects to be in charge of the business and to have their orders followed

Question 28

Define democratic leadership

Answer 28

when the manager gets other employees involved in the decision making process

Question 29

Define laissez-faire leadership

Answer 29

the manager makes the broad objectives of the business known to employees, but then they are left to make their own decisions and organise their own work

Question 30

Define trade union

Answer 30

a group of employees who have joined together to ensure their interests are protected

Question 31

Define closed shop

Answer 31

when all employees must be made a member of the same trade union

Question 32

Define recruitment

Answer 32

the process from identifying that the business needs to employ someone up to the point at which applications have arrived at the business

Question 33

Define employee selection

Answer 33

the process of evaluating candidates for a specific job and selecting an individual for employment based on the needs of the organisation

Question 34

Define job analysis

Answer 34

identifies and records the responsibilities and and tasks relating to a job

Question 35

Define job description

Answer 35

outlines the responsibilities and duties to be carried out by someone employed to do a specific job

Question 36

Define job specification

Answer 36

a document which outlines the requirements, qualifications, expertise, physical characteristics, etc. for a specified job

Question 37

Define internal recruitment

Answer 37

when a vacancy is filled by someone who is an existing employee of the business

Question 38

Define external recruitment

Answer 38

when a vacancy is filled by someone who is not an existing employee and will be new to the business

Question 39

Define part-time

Answer 39

part-time employment is often considered to be between 1 and 30-35 hours a week

Question 40

Define full-time

Answer 40

full-time employees with usually work 35 hours or more a week

Question 41

Define induction training

Answer 41

an introduction given to a new employee, explaining the business’s activities, customs and procedures and introducing them to their fellow workers

Question 42

Define on-the-job training

Answer 42

training by watching a more experienced worker doing the job

Question 43

Define off-the-job training

Answer 43

being trained away from the workplace, usually by specialist trainers

Question 44

Define workforce planning

Answer 44

establishing the workforce needed by the business for the foreseeable future in terms of the number and skills of the employee required

Question 45

Define dismissal

Answer 45

when employment is ended against the will of the employee, usually not for working in accordance to the employee contract

Question 46

Define redundancy

Answer 46

when an employee is no longer needed and so loses their job. it is not due to any of their work being unsatisfactory

Question 47

Define contract of employment

Answer 47

a legal agreement between an employer and employee, listing the rights and responsibilities of workers

Question 48

Define industrial tribunal

Answer 48

a type of law court that makes judgments on disagreements between companies and their employees, for example, workers’ complaints of unfair dismissal or discrimination at work

Question 49

Define ethical decision

Answer 49

a decision take by a manager of a company because of the moral code observed by the firm

Question 50

Define communication

Answer 50

the transferring of a message from the sender to the receiver, who understands the message

Question 51

Define message

Answer 51

the information/instructions being passed by the sender to the receiver

Question 52

Define internal communication

Answer 52

communication between members of the same organisation

Question 53

Define external communication

Answer 53

communication between the organisation and other organisations or individuals

Question 54

Define transmitter/sender

Answer 54

the person starting of the process by sending the message

Question 55

Define medium of communication

Answer 55

the method used to send a message, for example a letter is a method of written communication and a meeting is a method of verbal communication

Question 56

Define receiver

Answer 56

the person who receives the message

Question 57

Define feedback

Answer 57

the reply from the receiver which shows whether the message has arrived, been understood and if necessary, been acted upon.

Question 58

Define one-way communication

Answer 58

a message which does not call for or require a response

Question 59

Define two-way communication

Answer 59

when the receiver gives a response to the message and there is a discussion about it

Question 60

Define formal communication

Answer 60

when messages are sent through established channels using professional language

Question 61

Define informal communication

Answer 61

when information is sent and received casually using everyday language

Question 62

Define communication barriers

Answer 62

factors that stop effective communication of messages