AQA GCSE Business (8132) · Spec 3.4.1, 3.4.2, 3.4.3 and 3.4.4
3.4 Human resources
Read the notes, then try the questions. Each one is marked the moment you press Check, and shows the right answer and why.
Key ideas
- Span of control is the number of employees a manager is directly responsible for. A flat structure has few levels and wide spans of control.
- Delayering removes a level of management, which widens the spans of control below it.
- A job description sets out the duties of a role. A person specification lists the skills and qualities the ideal candidate needs.
- Recruiting externally brings fresh ideas and skills. Recruiting internally avoids hiring a stranger but leaves a vacancy elsewhere.
- On-the-job training happens at the workstation, such as shadowing a colleague. Off-the-job training happens away from it, such as a college course.
- Financial motivators include pay and commission. Non-financial ones include praise, responsibility and flexible hours.
Key terms
- Span of control
- The number of employees a manager is directly responsible for.
- Chain of command
- The route instructions travel down the hierarchy.
- Delegation
- Passing authority for a task to someone below you.
- Delayering
- Removing a level of management from the structure.
- Induction
- Training given when an employee first joins a business.
- Zero-hours contract
- A contract where the employer does not guarantee any minimum hours.
- Commission
- Pay linked to the sales a worker makes.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up the job description (about the role) and the person specification (about the person).
- Thinking delayering makes spans of control narrower. It makes them wider.
- Calling commission non-financial. It is money, so it is financial.
Exam tip
In 'Explain' questions about motivation or training, name the method and then say what it does for the business or the worker. 'Commission motivates staff because the more they sell, the more they earn' is a developed point.
Free practice questions
7 questions, 13 marks. Answer, then press Check. The marking guide explains how the marks are worked out. Nothing is saved.
- Question 1 · Matching[4 marks]
Match each term to its definition.
- Question 2 · Multiple choice[1 mark]
What is the direct effect of delayering on an organisational structure?
- Question 3 · Multiple choice[1 mark]
Which of the following is an example of on-the-job training?
- Question 4 · Multiple choice[1 mark]
Which of the following is a financial method of motivating employees?
- Question 5 · Matching[4 marks]
Match each HR term to its definition.
- Question 6 · True or false[1 mark]
State whether this statement is True or False.
- Question 7 · True or false[1 mark]
State whether this statement is True or False.