Unit 4 Human Resources Flashcards
What is meant by ‘span of control’?
Span of control refers to the number of subordinates a supervisor has.
Explain what a ‘tall’ structure is.
In a tall structure there is a long chain of command with more layers of management. Each manager only has a narrow span of control.
Explain what a ‘flat’ structure is.
In a flat structure there is a short chain of command. Each manager has a wide span of control. Each manager has to manage a lot of employees.
What is the difference between a centralised and a decentralised organisation?
In a centralised one all major decisions are made by one person or a few senior managers whereas in decentralised the decision making is shared out.
What kind of structure would big supermarket chains have?
Decentralised structure.
What type of structure would a small business have?
Flat structure.
Give one advantage of a centralised structure.
Senior managers tend to have plenty of experience and can get an overview of the whole business.
Give one advantage of a decentralised structure.
Employees can used expert knowledge of their sector to make decisions.
What is meant by the term delayering?
Delayering is where layers are removed in the heirachy between the highest and lowest levels in order to boost operational efficiency.
Give three ways in which different areas of a business might be organised.
Function
Product
Region
What is a contract of employment?
A contract of employment is a legal agreement between an employee and an employer.
Give 5 things a contract of employment should include.
Job title Start date Hours of work Where employees will work Holiday entitlement
What does it mean if a staff member is full-time?
They work around 35-40 hours a week.
What does it mean if a staff member is part-time?
They work less than a full working day- usually between 10 and 30 hours.
What is job-sharing?
They share the hours of a full time contract.
