6A- Staff Performance
Define the term staff.
Staff are the people who work for businesses in exchange for payment.
Define staffing needs.
Staffing needs are the requirements a business has for employees.
Define developments in technology.
Developments in technology are the inventions and innovations of tools that solve problems and enhance processes.
Define job analysis.
Job analysis is the process of identifying the essential duties, tasks and responsibilities of a specific role.
A restaurant wants employees who understand food-safety requirements and can prepare meals to a high standard.
Knowledge and skills.
Food-safety requirements represent knowledge because they involve an understanding of a particular subject.
Preparing meals to a high standard represents a skill because it involves the ability to complete a particular task to a certain level of quality.
A restaurant manager regularly meets with employees to explain the business's goals and encourages employees to ask questions and contribute to the discussion. Identify the management strategy being used.
Clearly communicating business goals.
The manager is clearly communicating business goals because employees are being informed about what the business wants to achieve and are given an opportunity to ask questions.
Distinguish between knowledge and skill.
Knowledge is the theoretical or practical understanding of a specific subject, whereas skill is the ability to complete a specific task to a certain level of quality.
A consulting business introduces communication software that allows employees to attend meetings and communicate with colleagues from home.
It could allow employees to work remotely or more flexibly.
Communication software such as email, instant messaging and video calling allows employees to communicate from different locations. This can give employees greater flexibility in where they perform their work.
A café advertises for a barista. The advertisement includes:
A. Prepare coffee and serve customers
B. Strong communication skills and knowledge of coffee preparation
Identify which statement is a job description and which is a job specification.
A = Job description
because preparing coffee and serving customers are tasks and duties of the role.
B = Job specification
because communication skills and knowledge of coffee preparation are requirements the employee needs.
Statement
“A capital-intensive business does not need employees because machinery completes the production process.”
Question
Explain why this statement is incorrect.
A capital-intensive business uses a high degree of machinery and equipment during its production process, but this does not mean that it requires no employees. Employees may still be required to operate, monitor or maintain the machinery and complete other business activities
Describe the role of a human resource manager.
A human resource manager is an individual who coordinates the relationship between employees and management within a business. This can involve managing and supporting employees so they are encouraged to perform effectively within the business.
Handmade Furniture Co. currently relies heavily on employees to cut, assemble and finish its furniture. The business is considering introducing automated machinery to complete many of these production activities.
Question:
Explain how introducing the machinery would change the production process from being more labour intensive to more capital intensive
A labour-intensive business uses a high degree of employee involvement during its production process, whereas a capital-intensive business uses a high degree of machinery and equipment. By introducing automated machinery to complete activities previously performed by employees, Handmade Furniture Co. would become less reliant on employee involvement and more reliant on machinery and equipment. Therefore, its production process would become more capital intensive.
HireSmart introduces AI that scans job applications and identifies applicants who meet particular requirements. HR employees previously reviewed every application manually.
Question
Describe how the introduction of AI could change the role of HireSmart's HR employees.
AI could complete some of the routine application-screening activities previously performed by HR employees. As a result, HR employees may spend less time manually reviewing applications and take on different responsibilities, while some employees may require new knowledge and skills to work with or oversee the AI system.
CityCare Medical Centre is recruiting a receptionist. The role involves answering telephone calls, scheduling appointments, greeting patients and maintaining records. Applicants must have strong communication skills and knowledge of booking software.
Question
Using the scenario, identify one element of the job description and one element of the job specifications. Justify each response.
Scheduling appointments is an element of the job description because it is a task that the receptionist will be responsible for performing.
Strong communication skills are an element of the job specifications because they are an ability the successful applicant needs to perform the receptionist role.
Alternatively, students could use:
Job description:
Job specifications:
ClearBooks Accounting introduces new accounting software that automatically completes several routine financial-recording activities. Employees are now expected to use the software and investigate any errors identified by the system.
Question
Explain how the new software could change ClearBooks' staffing needs.
The accounting software can complete some routine financial activities more efficiently and with fewer errors. Therefore, ClearBooks may require fewer employees to manually perform these activities. However, the business may require employees with the knowledge and skills needed to use the accounting software and investigate errors. As a result, the technology may change both the number of employees required and the capabilities employees need.
Bella's Burgers has experienced an increase in incorrect customer orders. Employees frequently make mistakes when preparing meals, causing food to be remade. Customers have also complained about long waiting times.
Question
Explain how poor staff performance could affect Bella's Burgers' objective of making a profit.
Poor staff performance may negatively affect Bella's Burgers' objective of making a profit. Employees making incorrect orders can cause meals to be remade, increasing costs through wasted ingredients and additional employee time. Poor service and longer waiting times may also decrease customer satisfaction, causing some customers to purchase from competitors and reducing sales revenue. Therefore, increased costs and potentially lower sales may reduce the business's profit.
Urban Eats recruits employees from a range of ages, cultural backgrounds and previous workplaces. Management regularly asks employees to suggest improvements to products and business processes.
Question:
Explain how a diverse workforce could benefit Urban Eats through the contribution of staff ideas.
Employees from different backgrounds may have different personal and professional experiences, allowing them to contribute a variety of perspectives and ideas. These different perspectives may help Urban Eats identify new ways of improving its products or business processes. This can encourage creativity and innovation within the business.
Precision Motors introduces robotics to perform repetitive assembly tasks that were previously completed manually by production employees. The business still requires employees to oversee the robots and respond when equipment malfunctions.
Question
Explain how the introduction of robotics could change the knowledge and skills required by Precision Motors.
Robotics are programmable machines capable of performing specified tasks. As the robots now complete repetitive assembly activities, employees may no longer require some of the manual production skills previously used to perform those tasks. However, Precision Motors may require employees with specialised knowledge and skills to operate, oversee and troubleshoot the robotics. Therefore, the technological development changes the type of knowledge and skills required by the business.
Fresh Bite Café is creating a new Front-of-House Coordinator position. Management has identified several activities that need to be completed: supervising bookings, responding to customer enquiries, coordinating table allocations and assisting new employees. The manager decides to combine these related activities into one position.
Question
Explain how Fresh Bite Café is using job design.
Job design is the process of organising several duties, tasks and responsibilities into one specific role. Fresh Bite Café has identified related activities such as supervising bookings, responding to customer enquiries, coordinating table allocations and assisting new employees. Management is organising these activities together into the Front-of-House Coordinator position. Therefore, the business is using job design to combine related duties, tasks and responsibilities into one specific role.
Skyline Warehousing introduces drones to move some items around its warehouse. The business decides to create a Drone Operations Assistant position. The employee will monitor the drones, respond to problems and report equipment faults.
Question
Explain how job analysis could assist Skyline Warehousing after introducing the new technology. (4 marks)
The introduction of drones has changed Skyline Warehousing's staffing needs because employees may now require different knowledge and skills to work with the technology.
The business could conduct a job analysis for the new Drone Operations Assistant position to identify the essential duties, tasks and responsibilities of the role, such as monitoring drones, responding to problems and reporting equipment faults.
The information obtained from the job analysis could then be used to develop an appropriate job description and identify the skills, knowledge and qualifications required for the role through job specifications. This could assist Skyline Warehousing in recruiting an employee suited to its changed staffing needs.
Velocity Sports has trained its employees to provide expert product advice and respond quickly to customers. Customer satisfaction has increased, and more customers are choosing Velocity Sports instead of competing sporting-goods businesses.
Question
Explain how the performance of Velocity Sports' staff could assist the business in achieving its objective of increasing market share.
High-performing staff at Velocity Sports can provide customers with accurate product advice and high-quality customer service. This may increase customer satisfaction and encourage customers to continue purchasing from the business. Positive customer experiences may also attract customers who would otherwise purchase from competitors, increasing Velocity Sports' sales relative to competitors. As a result, Velocity Sports may increase its proportion of total sales within the sporting-goods industry and therefore increase its market share.
Coastal Fitness currently operates one gym. Due to increasing demand, the owners plan to open two additional locations next year. Each new location will require a manager, personal trainers and customer-service employees.
Question
Explain how human resource planning could assist Coastal Fitness in meeting its future staffing needs.
Human resource planning is the process of identifying current and future employee needs. Coastal Fitness could use human resource planning to determine the number and types of employees it will require when it opens its two additional locations. For example, the business can identify in advance that it will require additional managers, personal trainers and customer-service employees with appropriate knowledge and skills. By identifying these future staffing requirements before the expansion occurs, Coastal Fitness can prepare to recruit appropriate employees so that the new locations have the staff required to operate effectively.
A business owner states:
“Whenever a business introduces new technology, its staffing needs will decrease because technology replaces employees.”
Explain why this statement is not necessarily correct. Refer to two possible effects of technological developments on staffing needs.
The statement is not necessarily correct because technological developments can affect staffing needs in different ways. Technology such as software, artificial intelligence and robotics may automate activities previously performed by employees, which can reduce the number of employees required for some roles.
However, new technology can also change the type of employees a business requires rather than simply reducing employee numbers. Employees may need new or specialised knowledge and skills to operate, oversee, maintain or troubleshoot the technology. Existing employees may also move into different roles or take on broader responsibilities. Therefore, technological developments can reduce some staffing requirements while simultaneously creating different staffing needs.
rightTech is expanding its customer-support department and wants to create a new Technical Support Officer position. Before advertising the position, the human resource manager investigates the duties, tasks and responsibilities required. These include responding to customer enquiries, diagnosing basic technical problems and recording support requests.
Question
Explain the relationship between job analysis, a job description and job specifications at BrightTech.
BrightTech can first conduct a job analysis to identify the essential duties, tasks and responsibilities of the Technical Support Officer role, such as responding to customer enquiries and diagnosing basic technical problems.
The information obtained from the job analysis can then be used to develop a job description, which summarises the duties, tasks and responsibilities of the position.
The job analysis can also help BrightTech determine the job specifications, which identify the necessary skills, knowledge and qualifications required for the role, such as customer-service skills or technical knowledge.
Therefore, job analysis provides the information BrightTech needs to develop an appropriate job description and job specifications before recruiting an employee
Nova Foods operates several food-production facilities. The business wants to increase its market share by improving the speed and quality of production.
Nova Foods introduces robotics to complete some repetitive production activities previously performed by employees. As a result, fewer employees are required for some manual tasks. However, the business now needs employees who can operate and monitor the robotics. Management decides to create a new Automation Support Officer position.
Question
Explain how the introduction of robotics could affect Nova Foods' staffing needs and contribute to the achievement of its objective of increasing market share. Refer to job analysis in your response.
The introduction of robotics could change Nova Foods' staffing needs, which are the requirements a business has for employees. Because robotics can complete some repetitive production activities previously performed manually, Nova Foods may require fewer employees to perform those particular tasks.
However, the business may now require employees with different knowledge and skills to operate, monitor and respond to problems with the robotics. Therefore, the technology changes not only the number of employees required but also the type of employees needed by Nova Foods.
Nova Foods could conduct a job analysis for the new Automation Support Officer position to identify the essential duties, tasks and responsibilities of the role. This information could help the business develop an appropriate job description and determine the skills, knowledge and qualifications required through job specifications, helping it recruit a suitable employee.
If appropriate employees operate and monitor the robotics effectively, production may become more efficient and products may be produced to a high standard. This may improve customer satisfaction and encourage more customers to choose Nova Foods instead of its competitors. If