KPI Detective
Employees frequently leave the business. Which KPI is affected?
Staff turnover
What is staff training?
Improving employees’ knowledge and skills so they can perform their roles more effectively.
What is staff motivation?
Strategies used by managers to encourage employees to work towards business objectives.
What does a management style describe?
How a manager exercises authority and makes decisions.
Business expenses have become unsustainable. Which strategy is most appropriate?
Cost cutting.
Employees regularly fail to attend work. Which KPI is affected?
Rate of absenteeism
Name TWO KPIs that staff training may improve.
Any two of workplace accidents, customer complaints, staff turnover, productivity growth, number of sales.
Name TWO strategies that could motivate employees.
Performance-related pay, career advancement, investment in training, support strategies.
What is a management skill?
An ability a manager uses to perform their role/manage employees and business activities.
Employees do not know how to operate new equipment. Which strategy should management consider?
Staff training.
Workers are producing less output. Which KPI should a manager monitor?
Rate of productivity growth
Explain how training could reduce workplace accidents.
Training improves employees’ skills and competence, which can reduce errors and accidents.
Employees lack enthusiasm and effort. Which strategy is most appropriate?
Staff motivation.
Name THREE management styles.
Any three of autocratic, persuasive, consultative, participative, laissez-faire.
What does cost cutting mean?
Reducing business expenses to improve financial performance.
Customers are increasingly dissatisfied. Which KPI is most directly affected?
Number of customer complaints
Customer complaints are increasing because staff lack product knowledge. Explain how training could improve the KPI.
Training improves employees’ knowledge and competence, allowing better customer service and potentially reducing complaints.
Explain how increased staff motivation could improve productivity growth.
Greater motivation can increase employee effort and engagement, which may increase productivity.
Employees feel ignored by management. What change in management style could help?
Move towards a consultative or participative style so employees have greater involvement in decisions.
A manager struggles to communicate organisational change. Which management skill should be improved, and why?
Communication skills; clearer communication can help employees understand expectations and feel supported.
Revenue from products is falling. Which KPI is most directly relevant, and why?
Number of sales, because falling sales can reduce revenue.
Hawkins introduced new technical processes and staff turnover increased. Explain how staff training could improve TWO KPIs.
Training can improve employees’ competence/confidence with the new processes, potentially reducing staff turnover. Better-trained employees may also improve customer service, reducing complaints and potentially increasing sales.
Absenteeism is increasing and productivity growth is falling. Recommend a motivation strategy and explain the cause-and-effect relationship.
career advancement or performance-related pay may increase motivation and engagement, encouraging attendance and effort, potentially reducing absenteeism and increasing productivity growth.
Explain the difference between changing a management style and changing a management skill. Give one example of each.
Style refers to how authority and decision-making are used, e.g. moving from autocratic to consultative. Skill refers to an ability used by a manager, e.g. improving communication or interpersonal skills.
Hawkins Challenge: Staff turnover increased after a major technical change, sales decreased and customer complaints increased. Choose ONE management strategy and justify how it could improve the KPIs.
Staff training or change in management skill, with a logical strategy → employee effect → KPI outcome explanation.