Unit 6 - human Resources

Question 1

Hard approach - HRM

Answer 1

Employee relations are strained due to controlled corporative business planning.

Question 2

Soft approach - HRM

Answer 2

Employees welfare and motivation are top priorities, and are treated as the most important resource in the workplace.

Question 3

Features of hard approach HRM

Answer 3

Judgemental appraisal system
External recruitment
Fixed term contract
Centralised decision making

Question 4

What is centralised and decentralised decision making?

Answer 4

Centralised decision making is decisions being made at the top of the hierarchy eg. CEO & Owner.

Decentralised decision making is decisions being made lower down the hierarchy eg. store managers.

Question 5

What is the difference between job enrichment and job enlargement

Answer 5

Job enrichment is motivating workers to give them more challenging & interesting tasks eg. job rotation

Job enlargement is giving workers more tasks to do of a similar nature

Question 6

Types of employee engagement

Answer 6

Intellectual - training and upskilling employees

Affective - expressing interest and colleague relationships

Social - forming professional relationships

Question 7

Taylor’s Scientific Management theory

Answer 7

A business motivates workers by financial methods eg. paying for productivity through a piece rate.

Question 8

Mayo’s management theory

Answer 8

only social needs need to be met to motivate employees by improving communication, greater management involvement and working in groups or teams.

Question 9

Herzberg’s Two Factor theory

Answer 9

suggested there were 2 key factors to employee motivation:

1. Motivators eg. responsibility and promotion
2. Hygiene factors eg. working conditions, job security, pay

Question 10

3 Financial incentives for employees (PCF)

Answer 10

Performance related pay - bonuses
Commission
Fringe benefits

Question 11

Benefits of delayering

Answer 11

Lower labour costs
Shorter communication paths
Wider span of control

Question 12

Hackman and Oldhams model : 5 core dimensions

Answer 12

• Skill variety
• Task identity
  *Task significance - skills match to job
  *Autonomy - responsible for outcome
  *Feedback

Question 13

Employee representation

Answer 13

A formal structure that involves employees in the decision making process.

Question 14

Two main functions of trade unions

Answer 14

Represent and protect interest of employees
Negotiate on behalf of employees with employer.

Question 15

Methods of industrial action

Answer 15

Work to rule - following strict conditions and doing bare minimum
Overtime ban - refusing to work overtime during peak demand
Go-slow - working at the least productive rate
Strike

Question 16

Alternatives to striking (MAC)

Answer 16

Mediation - impartial individual who reaches a solution acceptable to everyone - not legally binding.

Arbitration - Alternative to court of law, and the arbitrator makes decision based on evidence.

Conciliation - Concilator encourages parties to come to an agreement, to avoid employment tribunal.

Question 17

Pros of trade unions

Answer 17

Improved working conditions
Co-operation
Efficiency wage theory

Question 18

Cons of trade unions

Answer 18

Reduce productivity
Cost push inflation
Tension and potential conflict between stakeholders