2. Human resource management (AS Level)
A section of Business Studies, 9609
Listing 10 of 87 questions
Fretter’s Music (FM) FM is a private limited company based in country Z. FM manufactures a range of musical instruments, such as guitars and keyboards, for the consumer market. FM uses batch production to produce its range of instruments. However, FM is in the process of changing to mass customisation. FM’s customers are all in country Z and include musicians and students. It sells through its own chain of retail stores. FM’s marketing mix has been successful; sales increased by 45% in the last two years. The changes in the production process and the increase in sales have put pressure on employees to maintain quality and speed of production. FM employs 108 people. The Human Resource Manager, Kylie, is concerned about the high labour turnover. Kylie has produced Table 1.1, which shows reasons why employees left in 2022. Table 1.1 Reasons why employees left FM in 2022 Reason for leaving Number of employees who left Better job in another industry Higher pay at a competitor Lack of promotion opportunities at FM Unhappy with the work environment Retirement FM’s directors would like to grow the business and plan to enter international markets. FM’s brand is not well-known internationally and they will have to compete against established musical instrument businesses. FM will have to change its supply chain and increase production. Identify one element of the marketing mix. Explain the term consumer market. Refer to Table 1.1 and other information. Calculate FM’s labour turnover rate for 2022. Explain one method of reducing FM’s labour turnover. Analyse two impacts on FM’s costs if it enters international markets. Evaluate the impact on FM’s stakeholders of a change from batch production to mass customisation.
9609_s23_qp_23
THEORY
2023
Paper 2, Variant 3
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Clever Televisions (CTCTV is a public limited company that produces and sells televisions. It has been operating in country A for 30 years. CTV owns 3 factories and has over 100 employees. CTV’s factories use a combination of capital and skilled labour to produce the televisions. The leadership style in all the factories is autocratic. Employees’ pay is based on time worked each week. The CTV brand is known for high‑quality and reliability. It targets high‑income customers. CTV uses price skimming when it launches a new product. In total, 6 million televisions were sold in country A in 2019. Table 2.1 shows market growth data. Table 2.1: Television sales in country A Year Market growth +2% +1% –3% The market for televisions in country A is very competitive and the business environment is dynamic. CTV plans to introduce a lower priced television brand to appeal to the mass market. This brand will be known as STV. CTV has decided to introduce automation into one of its factories to produce the STV televisions. This will lead to redundancies in that factory. The employees in the other two factories are concerned they might also face redundancy and so motivation is currently low. The Human Resources Director recommends that CTV should find ways in which employees can participate in the management and control of the business. Define the term ‘capital’ (line 3). Explain what is meant by ‘the business environment is dynamic’ (lines 14–15). Refer to Table 2.1 and other information. Calculate the total number of televisions sold in country A in 2021. Explain one implication for CTV of the forecast change in market growth for 2022. Analyse two advantages to CTV of introducing automation into one of its factories. Recommend ways in which CTV employees can participate in the management and control of the business. Justify your recommendation.
9609_s22_qp_23
THEORY
2022
Paper 2, Variant 3
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Questions Discovered
87