Unit 4: Human Resources

Question 1

Centralisation

Answer 1

Maintaining control by keeping authority at the senior levels of the organisation.

Question 2

Chain of command

Answer 2

The line through the hierarchy that shows who is responsible for whom from top to bottom of an organisation.

Question 3

Commission

Answer 3

An amount of money paid to an employee that is based on a percentage of the sales he/she achieved; paid in addition to a basic salary

Question 4

Contracts of employment

Answer 4

A legal document that sets out the terms and conditions of the job for the employer and the employee.

Question 5

Customer engagement

Answer 5

The relationship between the business and the customer that puts the customer’s requirements at the centre of the operation to build brand loyalty

Question 6

Decentralisation

Answer 6

Where authority is spread widely through the organisation

Question 7

Delayering

Answer 7

The reorganisation of the organisation’s employees so that there are fewer levels of management

Question 8

Delegation

Answer 8

Allocating a task to someone who would not normally be responsible for it

Question 9

Directors

Answer 9

The people who are elected by the shareholders to run the business on their behalf

Question 10

Diseconomies of scale

Answer 10

When a business grows too large, leading to a possible increase in unit cost

Question 11

Employees

Answer 11

Individuals who work full time or part time for the business; they have a contract of employment detailing their duties and rights

Question 12

Employment law

Answer 12

Rulings that relate to the rights and responsibilities of people who work for a business; they affect the recruitment and selection process and how the business deals with its
worker

Question 13

Flat organisational structure

Answer 13

An organisational structure with a wide span of control and few levels of hierarchy (a short chain of command)

Question 14

Fringe benefits

Answer 14

Additional ‘perks’ that are in addition to a wage salary; they are liable to income tax

Question 15

Full time

Answer 15

Working all the usual hours required of an employee; usually 35 hours or more.

Question 16

Hierarchy

Answer 16

The management structure of a business/organisation showing the levels of responsibility. It is often shown as an organisation chart

Question 17

Induction

Answer 17

Training given to a new employee when they start a new job; it provides information about the business, its operation and working practices

Question 18

Job analysis

Answer 18

The process of determining what the job entails, including responsibilities and tasks

Question 19

Job description

Answer 19

A summary of what the job entails, including job title, duties and who they are
responsible for/to

Question 20

Job share

Answer 20

A system where two employees choose to share a full time job; they receive the salary and benefits on a pro rata basis according to the proportion of the full time hours that each work

Question 21

Motivation

Answer 21

The reasons people are interested in and committed to their job

Question 22

Off-the-job training

Answer 22

Employees are trained away from their job, at a college, training provider or the business’ training centre

Question 23

On-the-job training

Answer 23

Employees learn alongside experienced colleagues while they are doing the job

Question 24

Organisational structures

Answer 24

The way in which the organisation is divided into levels of management, functions and responsibilities

Question 25

Part time

Answer 25

Working only a proportion of the full time hours

Question 26

Person specification

Answer 26

Identifies the requirements of the job holder, including qualifications, experience and skills

Question 27

Recruitment

Answer 27

The process of hiring a new employee

Question 28

Salary

Answer 28

A method of paying employees for their work; based on a fixed annual amount, normally paid monthly

Question 29

Span of controll

Answer 29

The number of people for whom a manager is directly responsible

Question 30

Staff retention

Answer 30

Keeping staff once they have been employed

Question 31

Styles of management

Answer 31

The methods used by those in leadership roles to achieve the most effective outcomes from the employees for whom they are responsible

Question 32

Tall organisational structure

Answer 32

An organisational structure with a narrow span of control and many levels of hierarchy (a long chain of command)

Question 33

Training

Answer 33

Employees learn the skills and techniques needed to do the job or to prepare for a new role

Question 34

Wage

Answer 34

A method of paying employees for their work based on an hourly, weekly or piece of work basis, usually paid weekly or monthly