2.5 resources

• Organizational structures determine how different members of staff are assigned roles within an organization for efficient work
• Organizational structures can be tall or flat:

  • Tall structures have many layers, a narrow span of control, and a long chain of command
  • Flat structures have fewer layers, fewer managers, a wider span of control, and a short chain of command
• Centralization involves all decisions being made at the center of an organization, while decentralization spreads decisions across the business
• Centralized businesses like McDonald's ensure consistency across all locations, while decentralized businesses like Waterstones allow for customization based on local markets
• Different types of staff include full-time and part-time staff, permanent and temporary workers, and those who work flexibly
• Flexible working, such as working from home or having flexible work hours, is a significant trend in Human Resources
• Effective communication in organizational structures is crucial to avoid misunderstandings and errors
• Problems like excessive communication and using technical jargon can hinder effective communication within an organization
• Effective recruitment involves defining roles and responsibilities for different staff members, such as CEOs and directors
• In multicellular organisms, the distance for substances to enter cells is larger due to a higher surface area to volume ratio
• Multicellular organisms require specialised exchange surfaces for efficient gas exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen
• Recruitment is important for businesses to add more skills, expand, manage labor turnover, avoid wrong decisions, and increase capacity
• Internal recruitment involves existing staff, while external recruitment involves hiring from outside the organization
• Internal recruitment benefits: familiarity with procedures, potentially cheaper, but may require training and replacement
• External recruitment benefits: new ideas, more experience, but may require waiting time and higher costs
• Documents in the recruitment process: application form, job description, person specification, CV
• CV includes personal details, qualifications, work experience, personal traits, and references
• Training and development methods in businesses: on-the-job training and off-the-job training
• On-the-job training involves learning while doing the job, benefiting the business immediately
• Off-the-job training involves training away from the job, such as courses or reading, for skills not easily learned on the job
• Training for responsibilities during emergencies like fires involves understanding the causes of fires and how to use different fire extinguishers
• Off-the-job training for emergency responsibilities involves specialized training sessions conducted by experts in the field
• Informal training, like mentoring, is also valuable for personal development and improvement in a business setting
• Training is essential for adding new skills, adapting to new technologies, and feeling supported and motivated in the workplace
• Motivation in the workplace is crucial for keeping staff happy, loyal, and productive
• Financial motivators in the workplace include wages, salaries, bonuses, fringe benefits, commission, and promotion opportunities
• Non-financial motivators include job rotation, job enrichment, and autonomy and independence in the workplace
• Examples like Google show how offering a range of benefits and opportunities can effectively motivate employees