Human Resources | AQA GCSE Business (8132)
Human Resources
- 64 questions
- 4 subtopics
- Paper 1
- Paper 1
Human Resources is examined in Paper 1, Influences of operations and HRM on business activity.
It covers organisational structures, span of control and delegation, recruitment, selection and contracts of employment, financial and non-financial methods of motivation and induction, on-the-job and off-the-job training.
Sample questions from Human Resources
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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Organisational structures, span of control and delegation
What is a tall organisational structure?
Show the answer
A tall structure has many layers of management and narrow spans of control. Each manager supervises only a few staff. -
Organisational structures, span of control and delegation
What are the benefits of delegation?
Show the answer
Delegation frees managers to focus on important decisions. Employees gain responsibility and skills, which can motivate them. -
Recruitment, selection and contracts of employment
What is a job description?
Show the answer
A job description sets out the title, duties and responsibilities of a job. A job description also states who the post holder reports to. -
Recruitment, selection and contracts of employment
What is the difference between full-time and part-time contracts?
Show the answer
A full-time employee usually works around 35 to 40 hours a week. A part-time employee works fewer hours, such as three days a week. -
Financial and non-financial methods of motivation
What is commission?
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Commission is a payment linked to the value of sales an employee makes, often a percentage. Commission is common for sales staff. -
Financial and non-financial methods of motivation
How can the style of management affect motivation?
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A democratic manager involves staff in decisions, which makes them feel valued. An autocratic manager makes decisions alone, which can demotivate skilled staff. -
Induction, on-the-job and off-the-job training
What is induction training?
Show the answer
Induction training introduces new employees to the business when they start. Induction covers the workplace, key people, rules and health and safety. -
Induction, on-the-job and off-the-job training
Which type of training would suit a new checkout assistant in a supermarket, and why?
Show the answer
On-the-job training would suit the assistant, because the skills are simple and best learned at the till. A supervisor can demonstrate and check the work cheaply.
The 4 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Organisational structures, span of control and delegation | Job roles and the chain of command, span of control, tall and flat structures and delayering, delegation, centralisation against decentralisation, and how structure affects communication. | 16 |
| Recruitment, selection and contracts of employment | Internal and external recruitment, job analysis, job descriptions and person specifications, selection methods, full-time, part-time and job-share contracts, and zero hours contracts in a seaside café. | 16 |
| Financial and non-financial methods of motivation | Why motivation matters, wages, salaries and commission worked through examples, profit sharing and fringe benefits, management styles, and training and responsibility as non-financial motivators. | 16 |
| Induction, on-the-job and off-the-job training | Training and productivity, coping with new technology and keeping staff, induction, on-the-job and off-the-job training compared, apprenticeships, and why firms spend more or less on training. | 16 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
AQA GCSE Business Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 659 questions with their answers.