Unit 4 - People

Question 1

What are the two methods of recruitment?

Answer 1

Internal and external

Question 2

What is internal recruitment?

Answer 2

Employees being promoted.

These jobs are advertised via staff email, notice boards, intranet etc.

Question 3

What is external recruitment?

Answer 3

Employees that do not currently work for the business.

These jobs will be advertised via websites, job centres, in stores etc.

Question 4

What are the costs and benefits of internal recruitment?

Answer 4

Costs - 
Usually less applicants
Creates another vacancy
No new ideas brought in
Conflict due to who gets promoted

Benefits -
Employees know the organisation therefore can save training costs and time
Advertising costs are less
Opportunity to gain promotion can motivate employees
Vacancies filled quickly

Question 5

What are the costs and benefits of external recruitment?

Answer 5

Costs -
Induction training will have to be carried out
Long selection process due to high number of applications
Demotivates staff due to no opportunity for promotion

Benefits -
Wider pool of applicants to choose from
Brings in new ideas
Avoids creating a further vacancy to fill

Question 6

What are the 8 steps in the recruitment/selection process?

Answer 6

RECRUITMENT

1. Identify a vacancy
2. Prepare a job analysis (job description and person specification)
3. Advertise the job
4. Issue application forms/request CV’s

SELECTION

5. Receive completed applications
6. Shortlist candidates
7. Hold interviews
8. Offer the position

Question 7

What is a job description?

Answer 7

Gives candidates more information about the job e.g. job title, pay, working hours, responsibilities

Question 8

What is a person specification?

Answer 8

Describes the ideal candidate the employer is looking for e.g. skills, experience, qualifications, qualities etc

Question 9

What are the three types of interview?

Answer 9

One-to-one
Panel interviews
Group interviews

Question 10

What are the benefits of training?

Answer 10

Improves skills/knowledge
Motivational for staff if they’re kept up to date
Improves product quality

Question 11

What is on the job training?

Answer 11

Takes place in the business
Takes place whilst performing the job
Usually experience is given by a more experienced worker
Feedback and guidance is provided

Question 12

What is off the job training?

Answer 12

Provided away from the workplace (sometimes a training centre)
Training conducted by specialists

Question 13

What is induction training?

Answer 13

Given to new employees when they join an organisation
Can include a tour and health and safety training
Usually conducted by managers

Question 14

What are the costs and benefits of training?

Answer 14

Costs -

Expensive (travel, accommodation, cost of the course itself)

Question 15

What is a peer to peer appraisal?

Answer 15

When the appraisal is carried out by a colleague at the same level in the organisation

Question 16

What is a 360 degree appraisal?

Answer 16

Conducted by the HR manager or line manager
As well as interviewing the employee about their own performance, they interview fellow colleagues, supervisors etc about the employees performance

Question 17

What is a traditional appraisal?

Answer 17

A 2-way meeting between two members of staff to discuss the employees performance and set targets.

Question 18

Costs and benefits of traditional appraisals?

Answer 18

Benefits -
Positive feedback and targets given which motivate the employee
Training needs are highlighted which increases quality output
Strong relationships formed

Costs -
Negative feedback demotivates employees
Areas of development being highlighted can demotivate the employee
Time consuming

Question 19

Costs and benefits of peer-to-peer appraisals?

Answer 19

Benefits -
Employees can be more relaxed as feedback is given by a colleague

Costs -
Personal relationships could result in it being ineffective

Question 20

Costs and benefits of 360 degree appraisals?

Answer 20

Costs -
Some employees may find it difficult to be critical about their colleagues

Benefits -
A complete employee profile is gained

Question 21

What are financial methods of motivating staff?

Answer 21

Time rate - paying per hour (incentive to work many hours)

Piece rate - employees receive money for every unit they produce

Overtime - paid at a higher rate

Bonus - additional money for meeting a target or working hard

Commission - receiving a percentage of the sale they make

Question 22

What are non-financial methods of motivating staff?

Answer 22

Praise - motivates staff

Job rotation - performing different roles keeps employees interested

Team working - motivates workers and they show commitment to their team

Worker participation - consulting employees in the decision making process makes them feel more valued

Question 23

What are the 4 flexible working practices?

Answer 23

Part time
Flexi-time - flexibility in start and finish times
Job share
Home working

Question 24

What are the 5 parts of Maslow’s hierarchy needs?

Answer 24

Self-actualisation - morality, problem solving etc

Esteem - confidence, achievement etc

Love/belonging - friendship, family etc

Safety - security of body, employment etc

Physiological - food, water, breathing etc

Question 25

What is Herzberg’s motivator-hygiene theory?

Answer 25

Employees are motivated by 2 sets of factors: motivators and hygiene factors.

Hygiene factors do not motivate but demotivate if not met - clean toilets, safe working conditions, fair pay

Motivator factors don’t lower motivation if absent but do increase motivation if present - linked to top tier of Maslow’s hierarchy (rewards)

Question 26

What are some motivation methods?

Answer 26

Fair pay - work to earn therefore poor pay will decrease their motivation/productiveness

Incentives - rewarded for a job

Permanent contracts - security makes employees feel more secure

Question 27

What are 5 forms of industrial action?

Answer 27

Strike - employees refuse to work/enter the workplace

Sit in - employees refuse to work and sit in the workplace

Overtime ban - working no hours above their contract

Work to rule - only carry out tasks in their job description

Go slow - work slower than normal to reduce productivity

Question 28

What are the advantages and disadvantages to the employer of industrial action?

Answer 28

Advantages -
New procedures can be introduced to avoid conflict in the future
Relationship can be improved by talking about the problem

Disadvantages -
Loss in productivity
Sales might suffer
Bad publicity

Question 29

What are the advantages and disadvantages to the employee of industrial action?

Answer 29

Advantages -
Forces the employer to take the complaint seriously
The relationship should improve once the problem is dealt with

Disadvantages -
No pay during the strike
Bad publicity
Job losses due to lack of sales

Question 30

What is a trade union?

Answer 30

An organisation that represents a group of employees
Give employees a stronger voice

Examples include
UNISON
Unite the union
EIS

Question 31

What are the benefits of belonging to a trade union?

Answer 31

Obtain good rates of pay
Protect workers jobs
Ensure satisfactory working conditions

Question 32

What is the equality act 2010?

Answer 32

The act aims to reduce inequalities in the working environment by protecting 9 characteristics

Question 33

What is the health and safety at work act 1974?

Answer 33

Aims to raise the standard of health and safety in workplaces

Employers duty -
Maintenance of machinery and equipment to ensure it is safe to use
Provision of health and safety training
Health and safety policy

Employee’s duties -
Behave in a reasonable manner
Report incidents
Accept training

Question 34

What is an autocratic management style, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of it?

Answer 34

Absolute authority and control is retained by the leader

Advantages -
Quick decision making
Direct assistance for employees
Clear expectations

Disadvantages -
Lack of input from employees
Employees are totally dependant on leaders

Question 35

What is a democratic management style, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of it?

Answer 35

Good communication between managers and employees
Managers let employees have a say in decision making

Advantages -
Employees are more engaged and motivates
Empowerment = greater job satisfaction

Disadvantages -
Longer decision making process
Effective leader required

Question 36

What is a laissez-faire management style, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of it?

Answer 36

Managers set tasks but don’t supervise and don’t interfere

Advantages -
Motivation is increased as employees are highly empowered
Reduction in stress for managers

Disadvantages -
Employees may feel more pressure
No supervision can lead to poor-quality output

Question 37

How can technology be used in managing people?

Answer 37

Internet - to advertise vacancies

Video conferencing - interview candidates saves time and money

Presentation software - meetings