Chapter Motivating Business IGCSE
1. Nigella is a Human Resources manager of a chain of fast food restaurants. She is planning to recruit a manager of a new restaurant soon to be opened. A job description has been prepared and a job advertisement written.
OCT/NOV 2010 V3 Q
a. What is meant by a ‘Human Resources manager’?
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d. Identify and explain three functions of management in a fast food restaurant.
Function 1: .....................................................................................................................
Explanation: ...................................................................................................................
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Function 2: .....................................................................................................................
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Function 3: .....................................................................................................................
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2. Michelle is the Head Teacher of a large school. She is an autocratic leader. She believes that highly motivated teachers are very important if the school is to get good examination results. The teachers are all paid the same salary.
MAY/JUNE 2010 V2 Q4
a. What is meant by an ‘autocratic leader’?
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3. LWC is a large multinational mining business with operations throughout the world. The management knows that effective communication is important in such a business. Decision making is centralised at the Head Office of the company.
OCT/NOV 2010 V3 Q5
d. Identify and explain three consequences to a business of centralising decision
making at its Head Office.
Consequence 1: ............................................................................................................
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Consequence 2: ............................................................................................................
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Consequence 3: ............................................................................................................
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5. PKC is a chain of fast food restaurants. The business is unsuccessful because it is badly managed. There is no organisational structure. Job tasks and roles are unclear. The workers are demotivated and low paid. Communication in the business is poor and meetings are rarely held because the management think they are ‘a non-productive use of time’.
MAY/JUNE 2011 V2 Q3
a. What is meant by the term ‘organisational structure’?
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6. Tesslo is a large manufacturing business. Many workers complain about poor communication in the business. Tesslo pays its factory workers a basic wage plus a bonus. The Human Resources Director wants to introduce new working practices in its factories, such as making workers more flexible in their jobs. The aim is to improve productivity and cut costs. The trade union leader is opposed to these
changes.
OCT/NOV 2011 V3 Q4
e. How can the management at Tesslo persuade the trade union to accept the proposed changes in working practices? Justify your answer.
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7. AM Designs is a private sector business. It makes dresses. It is a successful
business because it adds value. Amira is directly responsible for a team of 12 people.
‘I want to keep a short chain of command but I do need a manager to help me. I must
find someone with the right qualities. All of my team are highly motivated and
someone with the wrong management style might cause problems.’
MAY/JUNE 2013 V1 Q5
c. Identify and explain two advantages of a short chain of command for Amira.
Advantage 1: .................................................................................................................
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Advantage 2: .................................................................................................................
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e. Do you think that the management style of the new manager might cause
problems? Justify your answer.
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8. Cole Brokers is a medium sized company. The company provides a range of
insurance products to customers around the world. It operates in a highly competitive
market. Many insurance businesses are now using the Internet as a way to sell their
products. The management of Cole Brokers has been looking at its current
organisational structure. They think the span of control and chain of command need
to be changed.
MAY/JUNE 2012 V2 Q4
a. What is meant by ‘organisational structure’?
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b. What is meant by ‘chain of command’?
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c. Identify and explain two possible disadvantages for a business of having a wide
span of control.
Disadvantage 1: ......................................................................................................
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Disadvantage 2: ......................................................................................................
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11. VXH produces a range of soft drinks made from fruit using batch production. VXH
uses specialisation in its factory. The business has grown quickly over the last two
years. VXH has increased the 4 number of production workers from 40 to 80. This
has increased the span of control for each manager. It has been difficult for VXH to
keep workers motivated. The Human Resources Manager has to decide whether it is
better to use job rotation or financial bonuses to improve employee motivation.
OCT/NOV 2019 V1 Q4
a. What is meant by ‘span of control’?
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