Unit 4: Human Resources Flashcards
What is Human Resources?
Its the staff of a firm that makes sure all employees are working as effectively as possible
What is Internal Organisational Structure?
It is how a Business Organises its employees to know everyone’s roles and responsibilities.
What is Chain of Command?
A chain connecting directors to operatives
What is a Tall Structure?
Describe a Pro and a Con.
A long chain of command with more layers of management.
Pro: Managers can monitor employees more closely
Con: Difficulty to pass messages to higher-ups
What is a Flat Structure?
Describe a Pro and a Con.
A short chain of command with a manager having a wide span of control.
Pro: Communication between employees and higher ups is easier
Con: Managers can struggle to simultaneously manage a lot of employees effectively
What is a Centralised Organisation.
Describe a Pro and a Con
When all major decisions are made by one person or directors.
Pro: Directors have plenty of experience and are capable of overviewing the whole business
Con: React slow to change as communication of decision can take a long time to filter through employees
What is Decentralized Organisation.
Describe a Pro and a Con
When the authority to make decisions is shared out.
Pro: Changes are made quickly as employees don’t always need to communicate these decisions with managers above them
Con: Not all decisions may be the most efficient for business
What does it mean for a Business to be organised by Function
Businesses are organised according to their roles and skills into smaller departments [One person is head of Sales, below him are other Salesmen of the business etc…]
Advantage and Disadvantage of a Business being organised by Function
Advantage: Specialist can concentrate on their role
Disadvantage: May not necessarily work well together
What does it mean for a Business to be organised by Product
Organised via the production of product [Example; Head of ‘iPhone’ , then ‘iPhone Engineers, iPhone designers etc…]
Advantage and Disadvantage of a Business being organised by product
Advantage: Managers make decisions that are relevant to each product
Disadvantage: Can be a possibility of Wasteful Duplication of resources between sectors
What does it mean for a Business to be organised by region.
Divided by Regions [Head of McDonalds in Europe, Then another Head of McDonalds in Asia etc…
Advantage and Disadvantage of a Business being organised by Region
Advantage: Most efficient decisions can be made to improve business in specific region
Disadvantage: Wasteful Duplication of resources between regions
What is a Contract Employment?
A legal agreement between an employee and an employer
What is Full-time?
Working 35-40 Hours a week
What is Part-Time?
Working 10-30 Hours a week [less than full time]
What are Job shares?
When some Employees share the work and pay received from a full time job
What are Zero Hour Contracts?
When Businesses call to offer employee work at any moment.
[the employer doesn’t have to offer work at all and the employee doesn’t have to accept it either]
What must a Business include in a Job offer
1) Job Description; the duties and responsibilities of job
2) Person Specification; the qualification and experience needed for the job
What is Internal Recruitment?
State an Advantage and a Disadvantage.
Recruiting from current employees into new jobs.
(+) Cheap, Candidates already know about the business.
(-) No New Ideas, Candidates past job will need to be filled
What is External Recruitment?
State an Advantage and a Disadvantage.
Recruiting from outside the company
(+) New Ideas
(-) Costly; advertisement is expensive
Why is it Important that a Business invests into finding the ‘right person’ for a job?
- Increase Productivity
- Quality Output
- Increase Staff retention [minimising having to recruit new people regularly, which can be costly]
What is a CV [Curriculum vitae]?
A summary of applicants’ details, skills, qualifications and interests.
What is Induction Training?
Training for new employees to help them settle in and ensure they have the knowledge to perform their role.
What is on-the-Job Training?
Training that takes place while working
What is off-the-Job Training?
Training that takes place outside work [going to Uni, in order to have the knowledge required to take on a senior position]
Benefits of firms providing training the workforce
- Workers are more likely to be Efficient and Productive
- Helps staff to stay up to date with changes in business [Eg; New technology]
Financial Methods to keep staff motivated?
- Increase in Wages
- Commission based work
- Profit sharing schemes; when a percentage of the company’s profits is divided between employees.
Non-Financial Methods to keep staff motivated?
- Training; Employees learn new skills that can help them take on more senior positions
- Style of Management; whether they have input in decision-making
- Fringe Benefits; Free gym memberships, staff discount etc…
Benefits of Motivated Staff?
- More Productive
- High Level of Staff retention
- Less Money spent having to recruit and train new workers
