Keypeople is a recruitment agency which only operates in one small town in country Z. Its owner, Rachel, and her two employees know that good customer service is important. Rachel would like to expand her business. Keypeople offers a variety of human resource services to other businesses, such as recruiting employees and preparing employment contracts. Rachel has been asked by a local manufacturing business to recruit a senior manager. Identify two examples of tertiary sector business activity in your country, other than a recruitment agency. Example 1: Example 2: Identify two reasons why good customer service is important for Keypeople. Reason 1: Reason 2: Identify and explain two reasons why employment contracts are used by businesses. Reason 1: Explanation: Reason 2: Explanation: Identify and explain two stages in the recruitment process of the manager’s job for the manufacturing business. Stage 1: Explanation: Stage 2: Explanation: Do you think Rachel should expand Keypeople? Justify your answer.

7115_s14_qp_11

THEORY

2014

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Kolo owns a successful hairdressing salon in the city centre. He has 4 part-time employees. The business has made a profit in each of the last 3 years. Kolo wants to expand by opening another hairdressing salon to take advantage of the economic boom. He plans to recruit a manager for the second salon using external recruitment. Kolo has identified 2 possible candidates for the position. Information about them is shown in Table 1.1. Table 1.1 Extract from Kolo’s information on the two candidates Candidate 2 Candidate 1 20 years experience 5 years experience Experience: Basic hairdressing certificate Advanced hairdressing certificate Qualifications: Uses autocratic leadership style Never managed a salon Other information: Identify two features of an economic boom. Feature 1: Feature 2: Identify two stages of the recruitment process. Stage 1: Stage 2: Outline two possible advantages to Kolo of recruiting a manager. Advantage 1: Advantage 2: 1 3 Explain two reasons why choosing the right location for the new salon is important for Kolo. Reason 1: Explanation: Reason 2: Explanation: Do you think experience is the most important factor for a business to consider when recruiting a new manager? Justify your answer. [ 1 3

7115_w20_qp_12

THEORY

2020

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Zola is the general manager of a hotel. He believes that customer service is important if guests are to enjoy their stay at the hotel. Zola manages his staff by a mixture of financial incentives, such as bonuses, and by threats. The staff are paid on a time rate basis. What is meant by a financial bonus? Identify two reasons why customer service is important. Reason 1: Reason 2: Identify and explain one advantage and one disadvantage of paying staff by time rate. Advantage: Explanation: Disadvantage: Explanation: The hotel has a high staff turnover with a large number of employees leaving their job each year. Identify and explain three consequences of a high staff turnover to the business. Consequence 1: Explanation: Consequence 2: Explanation: Consequence 3: Explanation: Do you think that financial incentives are likely to be effective in motivating staff? Justify your answer.

7115_s10_qp_11

THEORY

2010

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Sachs-Tech makes parts for the mobile phone industry. Sales have risen very quickly. The company needs a new factory to meet demand. The management is not sure where to build the factory. The company is currently looking to recruit three new production supervisors. The Human Resources manager, Manuel, is busy writing a job description and person specification for these supervisor roles. What is meant by a ‘job description’? Identify two possible features of a person specification. Feature 1: Feature 2: Identify and explain two suitable places where Manuel could advertise the vacancies. Place 1: Explanation: Place 2: Explanation: Identify and explain three factors that Sachs-Tech should consider when deciding where to locate a new factory. Factor 1: Explanation: Factor 2: Explanation: Factor 3: Explanation: The Finance manager is worried that the business might be growing too quickly. Do you think he is right to be worried? Justify your answer.

7115_s12_qp_12

THEORY

2012

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Country S is enjoying an economic boom. During this time, businesses have increased their profits and unemployment has fallen. The only problem is inflation. All Active is a private limited company. It owns 20 sport and fitness clubs in country S. The Managing Director said: ‘This is a good time to expand by opening 5 more clubs. Finding the right locations is important. We will need to recruit more employees.’ He cannot decide whether it would be an advantage for All Active to become a public limited company. Identify two stages of the recruitment process. Stage 1: Stage 2: What is meant by an ‘economic boom’? Explain how falling unemployment might affect All Active. Identify and explain two factors that All Active should consider when deciding on the location of the new clubs. Factor 1: Explanation: Factor 2: Explanation: Consider the advantages and disadvantages for All Active of being converted to a public limited company. Do you think All Active should become a public limited company? Justify your answer.

7115_s15_qp_11

THEORY

2015

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Suki is the manager of a department in a large retail shop. Her job is varied and she is responsible for the recruitment and motivation of the staff who work in her department. Suki enjoys her job but sometimes finds it hard. ‘Finding the right staff is difficult and motivating some of them is almost impossible!’ she said. Identify two examples of fringe benefits that shop workers are likely to receive. Fringe benefit 1: Fringe benefit 2: Identify two reasons why recruiting shop workers might be difficult. Reason 1: Reason 2: Identify and explain two reasons why shop workers might lack motivation. Reason 1: Explanation: Reason 2: Explanation: Suki is also responsible for making sure that workers follow Health and Safety laws in her department. Identify and explain three ways in which such laws might help protect employees and customers. Way 1: Explanation: Way 2: Explanation: Way 3: Explanation: The sales of the shop have fallen recently. The management think that costs must be cut. Two suggestions have been made to do this: • Make 50% of the shop workers redundant • Reduce the hours of all shop workers by 50%. Which one of these two options do you think the management should choose? Justify your recommendation.

7115_w10_qp_11

THEORY

2010

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Imogen is a Human Resources manager in a chain of hotels. Recruiting and retaining employees is a major part of her job. ‘Recruiting staff is easy but keeping them is much harder’ she said. The employees are paid a wage plus a bonus but wages are low. All employees are given an employment contract when they join the company. Identify two items that are in an employment contract. Item 1: Item 2: What is meant by a ‘bonus’? Identify and explain two possible reasons why wage levels are low in this business. Reason 1: Explanation: Reason 2: Explanation: Other than paying higher wages, identify and explain three methods that Imogen could use to help keep staff. Method 1: Explanation: Method 2: Explanation: Method 3: Explanation: Do you think that it is always important for a business to reduce the number of employees leaving each year? Justify your answer.

7115_w10_qp_12

THEORY

2010

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Genel manufactures clothes. The company uses an autocratic style of management. It employs a large number of workers and pays low wages. Many employees leave the company each year but they are easily replaced. Working conditions in the factories are poor. Health and safety is ignored and long hours are worked. Employee motivation is low and employee productivity is falling. What is meant by an ‘autocratic style of management’? Identify two possible reasons why Genel ignores health and safety in its factory. Reason 1: Reason 2: Identify and explain two ways in which Genel would benefit from a more motivated workforce. Way 1: Explanation: Way 2: Explanation: Identify and explain two ways that Genel could use to improve employee productivity in its factories. Way 1: Explanation: Way 2: Explanation: Do you think Governments should introduce laws to protect employees’ interests in businesses such as Genel? Justify your answer.

7115_w14_qp_11

THEORY

2014

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C&C has a good reputation for making high quality, hand-made shoes. It has 120 full-time skilled employees. C&C needs to recruit another 20 production employees to meet increased demand. The Managing Director said: ‘I don't know why people worry about globalisation. Two years ago we did not export, now exports are 10% of our output and increasing.’ C&C has orders for 100000 pairs of shoes in 2017. The Managing Director cannot decide whether to introduce new technology into the production process. What is meant by ‘globalisation’? Identify two possible threats to C&C from globalisation. Threat 1: Threat 2: Identify and explain two suitable ways in which C&C might advertise the job vacancies. Way 1: Explanation: Way 2: Explanation: 1 2 Identify and explain two benefits to C&C of having full-time employees. Benefit 1: Explanation: Benefit 2: Explanation: Do you think C&C should introduce new technology into the production process? Justify your answer. [ 1 2

7115_w16_qp_11

THEORY

2016

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M&R Motors has 2 car showrooms. It buys old cars and repairs them before selling them to its customers. M&R is always trying to increase added value. M&R plans to open another showroom. The owner said: ‘Finding the right location is important. The new showroom will require a manager and I need to find someone with the right qualities.’ The job will be advertised in the local newspaper as shown in Figure 1. The advertisement will cost $5 for one week. Figure 1: Job advertisement M&R is planning to use for the new manager CAR SHOWROOM MANAGER REQUIRED • This successful business is expanding. • The job involves managing the office and selling cars. • You will be in charge of three workers who will repair the cars. • Do you have the qualities we are looking for? • We offer good pay and working conditions. For more information apply to M&R Motors What is meant by ‘added value’? Identify two qualities that M&R might look for in the new manager. Quality 1: Quality 2: Identify and explain two methods of selection M&R could use when choosing the new manager. Method 1: Explanation: Method 2: Explanation: 1 1 Identify and explain two factors that M&R might consider when deciding on a location for the new showroom. Factor 1: Explanation: Factor 2: Explanation: Do you think a newspaper is the best way for M&R to advertise the new job? Justify your answer. [ 1 1

7115_w18_qp_12

THEORY

2018

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