Unit 4 Human Resources Flashcards
Part time
Working only a proportion of the full time hours.
Decentralisation
Where authority is spread widely through the organisation.
Diseconomies of scale
When a business grows too large, leading to a possible increase in unit cost.
Flat organisational structure
An organisational structure with a wide span of control and few levels of hierarchy (a short chain of command).
Induction
Training given to a new employee when they start a new job; it provides information about the business, its operation and working practices.
Organisational structures
The way in which the organisation is divided into levels of management, functions and responsibilities.
Delayering
The reorganisation of the organisation’s employees so that there are fewer levels of management.
Customer engagement
The relationship between the business and the customer that puts the customer’s requirements at the centre of the operation to build brand loyalty.
Motivation
The reasons people are interested in and committed to their job.
Recruitment
The process of hiring a new employee.
Job analysis
The process of determining what the job entails, including responsibilities and tasks.
Trade Credit
The process of buying items from a supplier and paying for them later; for example, 30 days after invoice date.
Directors
The people who are elected by the shareholders to run the business on their behalf.
Full time
Working all the usual hours required of an employee; usually 35 hours or more.
Span of control
The number of people for whom a manager is directly responsible.
Styles of management
The methods used by those in leadership roles to achieve the most effective outcomes from the employees for whom they are responsible.
Hierarchy
The management structure of a business/organisation showing the levels of responsibility. It is often shown as an organisation chart.
Chain of command
The line through the hierarchy that shows who is responsible for whom from top to bottom of an organisation.
Employment law
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 workers.
Centralisation
Maintaining control by keeping authority at the senior levels of the organisation.
Staff retention
Keeping staff once they have been employed.
Employees
Individuals who work full time or part time for the business; they have a contract of employment detailing their duties and rights.
Person specification
Identifies the requirements of the job holder, including qualifications, experience and skills.
Salary
A method of paying employees for their work; based on a fixed annual amount, normally paid monthly.
Training
Employees learn the skills and techniques needed to do the job or to prepare for a new role.
Off-the-job training
Employees are trained away from their job, at a college, training provider or the business’ training centre.
Tall organisational structure
An organisational structure with a narrow span of control and many levels of hierarchy (a long chain of command).
Commission
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.
Delegation
Allocating a task to someone who would not normally be responsible for it.
Fringe benefits
Additional ‘perks’ that are in addition to a wage/salary; they are liable to income tax.
Job share
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 works.
On-the-job training
Employees learn alongside experienced colleagues while they are doing the job.
Job description
A summary of what the job entails, including job title, duties and who they are responsible for/to.
Wage
A method of paying employees for their work based on an hourly, weekly or piece of work basis, usually paid weekly or monthly
Contracts of employment
A legal document that sets out the terms and conditions of the job for the employer and the employee.
