3.6 HR

• What does "Human Resources" refer to in an organization?


  The organization's employees or the department responsible for their management
• What is Human Resource Management (HRM)?


  The actual management of the employees or department
• What are the areas included in Human Resource Management (HRM)?


  • Health and safety
  • Employees rights (trade unions)
  • Hierarchy/promotion
  • Recruitment and selection
  • Legislation
  • Appraisals
  • Contracts
  • Training
  • Pay
  • Consultations
  • Motivation
• Why is setting human resource objectives important?


  It gives employees something to work towards and improves efficiency
• How do human resource objectives improve coordination between departments?


  By providing a clear focus for decision making
• What are the internal influences on human resource objectives and decisions?

  • Corporate objectives
  • Operational strategies
  • Marketing strategies
  • Financial strategies
• What are the external influences on human resource objectives and decisions?


  • Market changes
  • Economic changes
  • Technological changes
  • Social changes
  • Political & legal changes
• What is the formula for Labour Productivity?


  Labour Productivity = output per period / number of employees per period
• How do you calculate Unit Labour Costs?


  Unit Labour Costs = total labour costs / total units of output
• What is the formula for Employee Costs as a % of Revenue?


  Employee Costs as a % of Revenue = employee costs / sales turnover x 100
• How is Absenteeism calculated?


  Absenteeism = staff absent / total number of staff
• What is the formula for Labour Turnover?


  Labour Turnover = number of employees leaving during period / average number employed during period
• How do you calculate Labour Retention?


  Labour Retention = number of employees for one year or more / overall workforce number x 100
• Why is analyzing human resource data crucial for decision making and planning?


  • Ensures workforce effectiveness and efficiency
  • Helps meet business objectives
  • Supports growth and expansion
• What categories are involved in human resource objectives and planning?

  • Employee engagement and involvement
  • Talent development
  • Training
  • Diversity
  • Alignment of values
  • Number, skills, and location of employees
• What are the components of Hackman and Oldham’s Job Characteristic Model?


  • Skill Variety
  • Task Identity
  • Task Significance
  • Autonomy
  • Job Feedback
• What is Job Design?


  Job Design is the process of deciding on the content of the job, methods, and relationships involved.
• What does Skill Variety refer to in Job Design?


  It refers to how many different skills and talents the job requires of a person.
• What is Task Identity in Job Design?


  Task Identity is whether there is a clearly defined beginning, middle, and end to a given task.
• How does Task Significance affect employee motivation?


  It affects motivation by determining if the job has a substantial impact and is meaningful.
• What does Autonomy mean in the context of Job Design?


  Autonomy refers to how much freedom an individual has to accomplish their tasks.
• What is Job Feedback?


  Job Feedback is whether an employee is kept informed about their performance.
• What are the influences on organisational design?


  • Organisational influences (machinery, finance, skills, tasks)
  • External environment influences (technology, education, social changes)
  • Employee related influences (autonomy, skills, feedback, job variety)
• What is the definition of Authority in an organization?


  Authority is the rights of permission assigned to a particular role to achieve organizational objectives.
• What does Chain of Command refer to?


  Chain of Command refers to the order of authority and delegation within a business.
• What is Delegation?


  Delegation is the process of passing authority down the hierarchy from a manager to a subordinate.
• What is the difference between Centralisation and Decentralisation?


  Centralisation has greater control, while Decentralisation involves more delegated authority to subordinates.
• What does Span of Control refer to?


  Span of Control refers to the number of subordinates for whom a manager is directly responsible.
• What are the external influences on organisational design?


  • Objectives (expansion/growth)
  • Sources of finance
  • Leadership type
• What are the internal influences on organisational design?


  • Levels of education in society
  • State of economy
  • Technological developments
• What influences delegation, centralisation, and decentralisation?


  • History and nature of the organisation
  • Size of the organisation
  • Availability of competent managers
  • Time frame of decisions
  • Importance of a decision
  • Environmental influence
• What are the types of organisational structure?


  • Functional
  • Geographical
  • Product line based
  • Customer/market based
  • Matrix
• Who has the authority to make decisions in a decentralized organization?


  The head of that particular unit
• Why can decisions be made faster in a decentralized organization?


  Because decisions are made closer to the scene of action
• What type of decisions are generally made by top management?


  Decisions involving high risks and costs
• What is the most important environmental influence affecting decentralization?


  Government regulation of private business
• What are the types of organizational structures?


  • Functional
  • Geographical
  • Product line based
  • Customer/market based
  • Matrix
• What does the term 'Human Resource Flow' refer to?


  The flow of people in and out of the business
• What are the components of human resource flow?


  • Inflow: Recruitment, Selection, Induction
  • Internal flow: Performance Evaluation, Career Development, Promotions, Transfers, Training
  • Outflow: Voluntary departures, Dismissals, Redundancies, Retirements
• What is motivation in the context of human resources?


  The desire and energy to be committed to a job or goal