Human Resources

The way a business arranges itself to carry out its activities

So that everyone:
Understands their duties
Know who to report to
Know who they are responsible for

Establish overall goals
Set long-term plans and targets

To achieve the short and long term targets set by directors
Responsible for a function
Use employees and resources in the best way

Help managers achieve targets
Report problems
Pass on instructions
Take simple decisions

Carry out the business' basic duties

The number of employees another employee manages

The line of authority which the communication passes

The removal of one or more levels of hierarchy from a business' structure to reduce costs

Reduces cost
Reduces chain of command

Junior employees have to take on more duties
Senior employees have a wider span of control

Passing authority down to more junior employees

Many levels of hierarchy
Narrow spans of control
Lengthy chain of command

Few levels of hierarchy
Wide spans of control
Short chain of command

Little use of delegation

Lots of delegation

Junior employees have little authority

Junior employees have more authority

The skill of the workforce
The management style used
The business' competitive environment

communication that flows from one level of a group or organization to a lower level

communication that flows from lower to higher levels in an organization

communication between members of an organization with equal power

Upward and downward communication is easier
Quality of communication suffers
Horizontal communication harder

Upward and downward communication harder, may become unclear
High quality communication
Horizontal communication easier

A structure where decisions are made further down the hierarchy

Decisions being taken at the top of the hierarchy

Reduces pressure on seniors
Motivates employees
Better decisions
Faster decision making

Can't see the bigger picture
Training may be needed
Communication is essential

To increase production
To diversify
If other employees leave
Setting up a new business

Recruitment from within the business

They already have an understanding of the business
Already know co-workers
Provides a chance of promotion which motivates
Cheaper

Limited choice
May have to pay for training

Recruitment from outside the business

Advertising
Job centres
Employment agencies

Wider choice of candidates
Fresh ideas
Can hire employees who already have the right skills

Expensive
Know less about the person

Identify a job vacancy
Carry out a job analysis
Create a job description and person specification
Advertise the job
Send out application forms or request cvs

A document stating information about the duties of a job

Title of the job
Hours
Place of work
Main tasks
Who the employee will be responsible for

the process of getting detailed information about a job

A document stating the qualifications and skills required by an employee to fill a job

Educational qualifications
Vocational qualifications
Personal skills
Experience of similar jobs

CV's
Interviews
Psychometric tests
Assessment centres

high productivity
high quality work
high quality customer service
staff retention

higher costs of recruitment
reduced quality as new employee needs to settle in
reduced productivity as new employee is less familiar

A legal document stating conditions of employment

normal working hours
pay
holidays
duties
place of work

when an employee works hours equal to the normal working week
35-40 hours

Employees are more experienced so work performance is better
Better communication

Better pay
More likely to be promoted

when an employee works less than the normal working hours a week

Help during busy periods
May need specialist skills but not all the time

Can fit around commitments
Good compromise with retirement

when two or more employees agree to share the responsibilities of a single job

An employment contract with no guaranteed hours of work

a need or desire that energizes and directs behavior

Increased productivity levels
Improved staff retention
Higher level of sales
Improved recruitment

Increased salary or wage
Commission
Profit sharing
Piece work

employees are paid according to the quantity of products they produce

payment based on the level of sales achieved by an employee

when employees receive a portion of profit earned by the business

Salaries are made monthly based on an annual figure whereas wages are paid weekly based on hours of work

Job enrichment
Job enlargement
Training
Different management styles
Fringe benefits

designing a job to include more interesting and challenging tasks

giving people additional tasks to prevent boredom

extras the employees receive in addition to their pay

healthcare
a company car
discounts

5 human needs that would provide a motivated work force if met

Physiological
Safety
Love and belonging
Self-esteem
Self-actualisation

Increased productivity
Increased motivation
Staff retention
Production of high quality goods
Good customer service

On-the-job
Off-the-job
Induction

Training given to an employee when they first start a job

Helps employees integrate with other employees
Avoid low staff retention

Work shadowing
Formal training sessions
Technology based training

Cheap
Targeted to exact needs of the business

No new ideas
Those receiving and giving training aren't then working

Brings in new ideas
Can motivate as employer is spending lots of money on them

Expensive
Employee may leave for a new job after

The business' financial position
How specific the required training is
The skills of the business' workforce to train