People | OCR GCSE Business (J204)
People
- 110 questions
- 7 subtopics
- Component 01
- Component 01
People is examined in Component 01, Business 1: business activity, marketing and people.
It covers the role of human resources, organisational structures and ways of working, communication in business, recruitment and selection, employee motivation and retention, training and staff development and employment law.
Sample questions from People
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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The role of human resources
Why does a growing business need to plan its human resources carefully?
Show the answer
New branches or products need extra staff who must be recruited and trained in advance. Too few staff can lead to poor service and lost sales. -
The role of human resources
How does human resources help a business keep to employment law?
Show the answer
Human resources makes sure contracts, pay, hours and holidays meet legal requirements. A breach of employment law can lead to fines, tribunal claims and bad publicity. -
Organisational structures and ways of working
What is the chain of command?
Show the answer
The chain of command is the line of authority through which instructions pass from the top of a business to the bottom. -
Organisational structures and ways of working
What is flexible working?
Show the answer
Flexible working lets employees vary when or where they work, such as flexitime or job sharing. Employees in Great Britain have been able to request flexible working from day one since April 2024. -
Communication in business
When might a business use text messages to communicate?
Show the answer
A business might text customers short reminders, such as appointment times or delivery updates. Texts are read quickly because most people carry a phone. -
Communication in business
State two drawbacks of digital communication for a business.
Show the answer
Messages can be misread without tone of voice or body language. Systems can fail or be hacked, putting data at risk. -
Recruitment and selection
Why does a business write a job description and person specification before advertising a job?
Show the answer
The two documents make clear what the job involves and who is suitable. Applicants can then judge whether to apply, and managers can compare candidates fairly. -
Recruitment and selection
What is the difference between a CV and an application form?
Show the answer
A CV is a document the applicant writes to summarise their education, skills and experience. An application form is designed by the business, so every applicant gives the same information.
The 7 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| The role of human resources | The tasks of the human resources function, workforce planning, skills audits, seasonal staffing, keeping to employment law, and how poor human resource management harms a business. | 14 |
| Organisational structures and ways of working | Tall and flat structures, span of control, chain of command, authority and delegation, and full-time, part-time, flexible, temporary, home, mobile and self-employed working. | 16 |
| Communication in business | Letters, email, texts, phone calls, meetings and presentations, social media and websites, how digital communication and video conferencing changed business, and choosing the right method. | 16 |
| Recruitment and selection | Skill gaps, job descriptions and person specifications, internal and external recruitment, CVs, application forms and letters, and interviews, tests, group activities and references in selection. | 16 |
| Employee motivation and retention | Pay, bonuses, profit sharing and fringe benefits, praise, awards and the working environment, why retention matters, and worked profit-sharing and staff turnover calculations. | 16 |
| Training and staff development | Induction, on-the-job and off-the-job training, how training raises productivity, customer service and retention, vocational and academic qualifications, apprenticeships, and the costs of development. | 16 |
| Employment law | The Equality Act 2010 and protected characteristics, direct and indirect discrimination, equal pay, written terms, paid holiday, the Working Time Regulations 1998 and the National Living Wage. | 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
OCR GCSE Business Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 582 questions with their answers.