Unit 4- Human Resources

Question 1

What is meant by organizational structure?

Answer 1

The way a business arranges itself to carry out its activities.

Question 2

Write the order of the roles and responsibilities within the organizational structure

Answer 2

-Chief executive officer (CEO)
-Directors
-Managers
-Supervisors
-Operatives

Question 3

What is span of control

Answer 3

The number of employees managed directly by another employee.

Question 4

what is the chain of command

Answer 4

The line of authority within a business along which communication passes.

Question 5

What is delayering?

Answer 5

The removal of one or more levels of hierarchy from a business’s organizational structure.

Question 6

What is delegation?

Answer 6

Passing down authority to more junior employees.

Question 7

What is a tall structure?

Answer 7

• Has many levels of hierarchy
• Narrow span of control
  -Long chain of command
• Junior employees have less freedom to take decisions
• Managers will have more control

Question 8

What is a flat organizational structure?

Answer 8

-Few levels of hierarchy
- Wide span of control
-Short chain of command

Question 9

What determines the best structure for the business?

Answer 9

Skill of workforce: if they highly skilled, flat structure, less supervision,span of control can be wide. Delegation may be used. With unskilled, it’s the opposite.

Type of work: If job is to be creative, not lots of supervision needed, flat structure.

Type of management style: depends on the manager: if they want close supervision- tall
if they grant freedom- flat

Question 10

Communication in flat structure

Answer 10

-Can be passed easier bcuz fewer levels of hierachy
-However wide span of control, cannot control all employees effectively

Question 11

Communication in tall structure

Answer 11

-Info has to pass through many levels, could be not passed on or miscommunicated.
-The narrow span of control can improve communication, as info is shared with fewer people.

Question 12

What is recruitment?

Answer 12

The process of finding and appointing new employees.

Question 13

Why need recruitment?

Answer 13

-When business is first established
-When a business grows
-When methods of production changes
-When employees leave

Question 14

Benefits of effective recruitment and selection process

Answer 14

-High levels of productivity
-High quality output, high customer service standards
-Staff retention

Question 15

Contract of employment- full time work

Answer 15

Occurs when someone works a number of hours equal to the normal working week, usually between 35-40 hours.
- more contract benefits
- employees more productive
-lots of availability

• less time for personal time
• tired, demotivated
  -harder to manage work and family

Question 16

Contracts of employment- part time work

Answer 16

When an employee works fewer hours per week than full time- 30 or less
- more freedom
- cheaper for business
- more productive

• less work done

Question 17

Contract of employment- zero hours

Answer 17

Allows an employer to hire staff without any guaranteed hours of work.

• can tell employees when to work to match salary
• pressure of employees (no work= no pay)
• employee can also choose if they want to come to work

Question 18

Contract of employment- Job share

Answer 18

This exists when 2 or more employees agree to share the responsibilities of a single job.

• wide range of skills
• gives employee benefits of part time work
• less stress

-paying more than 1 persons salary for same job.
if disagreement = conflict