Unit 6

Question 1

Human resource objectives

Answer 1

-Employee engagement and motivation
-Training
-Diversity
- Alignment of values
-Numbers, skills and location of employees

Question 2

External influences of HR objectives

Answer 2

• Economy: E.g. if the economy is growing then they maybe a greater requirement for labour.
  -Political factors: How legislation will affect the way HR can operate
  -Technology: Intro of tech has now required new skills needed. Illustrates the changing nature of work.
  -Competitive advantage: Change in market is likely to affect demand for a product or service.

Question 3

Internal influences of HR objectives

Answer 3

-Corporate objectives: HR must be aligned with the cooperate objectives. HR can prepare the right training towards it.
-Type of product or service: A business must make sure the skills of the workforce are right for the business.

Question 4

Labour turnover formula

Answer 4

Number of people leaving in a year/average number of staff X 100

Question 5

Timescale of a Hard HR approach

Answer 5

Operates in the short term only.
Employees are fired and hired necessary.

Question 6

Key features of Hard HR

Answer 6

• Pay is kept at a minimum
• Communication is mainly downwards from a hierarchy
  -Little or no empowerment

Question 7

The suitable leadership style for Hard HR approach

Answer 7

Will be an autocratic type of approach

Question 8

Motivational techniques used for soft HR approach

Answer 8

• Prinicpally financial e.g. delegation

Question 9

Timescale of an Soft HR approach

Answer 9

-Employees are developed over time.
-Done to help fulfil their cooperate objectives.

Question 10

Key features of a Soft HR approach

Answer 10

• Employees are empowered and inclined to take decisions
• Employees are consistently consulted by managers
  -A long-term relationship is developed with employees through internal recruitment

Question 11

Leadership style of a Soft HR approach

Answer 11

Adopted by a democratic style of leadership

Question 12

Motivational techniques of a Soft HR approach

Answer 12

-Intended to give employees more control over their working lives

Question 13

Labour retention

Answer 13

Number of employees with one or more year of service/ overall workforce numbers X 100

Question 14

Reasons why a business may have employees leaving

Answer 14

-Low wages leading to employees defect to competitors
-Poor morale and motivation
- Local labour market offering better opportunities

Question 15

The five features of the Hackman Oldham Job design model

Answer 15

-Skill variety
- Task variety
- Task significance
- Autonomy
- Feedback

Question 16

Methods used to create a better job design

Answer 16

• Job rotation: Provides variety and not doing the repetitive tasks
• Job enlargement: Called horizontal loading where the job will extend more tasks in a similar nature
• Job enrichment: Attempts to give employees greater responsilbity by increasing the range and complexity of the job which aims to improve motivation and engagement
• Empowerment: Gives employees control over their working lives and can be achieved by organising employees into teams by setting targets etc.