Section 4-Human Resources
Human Resources is all to do with making sure a firm's employees are working as effectively as
possible.
Internal Organisation Structure
Organisational Structure- is how a business organises its staff to represent the different layers
of management. This information can be displayed in the form of a chart.
There are 4 layers of staff within a hierarchical:
Directors- responsible for the business strategy.
Managers- organise the carrying out of the director strategy's.
Supervisors- look after specific projects or small teams.
Operatives- workers and staff.
Key terms in organisational structure
There are a number of key terms that apply to organisational structures:
Chain of command- the route by which instructions and communications flow from the top to
the bottom of a business.
Span Of Control - the number of staff that a manager has responsibility for.
Delegation - a process where tasks are given to members of staff, where often managers give
tasks to employees further down the chain of command
Delayering - a process where a business removes layers of its management to make its
structure more flat
Subordinates - members of staff below a manager in the chain of command
There are 2 types of Organisational Structure's:
Hierarchical structure/Tall Structure
A hierarchical structure is often also referred to as a ‘tall’ organisational structure. A
hierarchical structure has many layers of management, and businesses with this structure
often use a ‘top-down’ approach with a long chain of command. In a hierarchical structure,
managers will have a narrow span of control and a relatively small number
of subordinates (staff).
Advantage
Narrower spans of control
Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and everyone know their role
Disadvantage
Longer lines of communication
Subordinates feel less motivated as there are so many managers
Not much discussions or verbal communication
Flat structure
A flat structure is an organisational structure with only a few layers of management. In a flat
structure, managers have a wide span of control with more subordinates, and there is usually
a short chain of command. Flat organisational structures are commonly used by smaller
businesses or those adopting a more modern approach to management.
Contracts of employment
A contract of employment should be given to every employee within two months of starting
work. It is a legal agreement between the employer and employee, which sets out the terms
and conditions of employment, including:
Human Resources is all to do with making sure a firm's employees are working as effectively as
possible.
Internal Organisation Structure
Organisational Structure- is how a business organises its staff to represent the different layers
of management. This information can be displayed in the form of a chart.
There are 4 layers of staff within a hierarchical:
Directors- responsible for the business strategy.
Managers- organise the carrying out of the director strategy's.
Supervisors- look after specific projects or small teams.
Operatives- workers and staff.
Key terms in organisational structure
There are a number of key terms that apply to organisational structures:
Chain of command- the route by which instructions and communications flow from the top to
the bottom of a business.
Span Of Control - the number of staff that a manager has responsibility for.
Delegation - a process where tasks are given to members of staff, where often managers give
tasks to employees further down the chain of command
Delayering - a process where a business removes layers of its management to make its
structure more flat
Subordinates - members of staff below a manager in the chain of command
There are 2 types of Organisational Structure's:
Hierarchical structure/Tall Structure
A hierarchical structure is often also referred to as a ‘tall’ organisational structure. A
hierarchical structure has many layers of management, and businesses with this structure
often use a ‘top-down’ approach with a long chain of command. In a hierarchical structure,
managers will have a narrow span of control and a relatively small number
of subordinates (staff).
Advantage
Narrower spans of control
Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and everyone know their role
Disadvantage
Longer lines of communication
Subordinates feel less motivated as there are so many managers
Not much discussions or verbal communication
Flat structure
A flat structure is an organisational structure with only a few layers of management. In a flat
structure, managers have a wide span of control with more subordinates, and there is usually
a short chain of command. Flat organisational structures are commonly used by smaller
businesses or those adopting a more modern approach to management.
Contracts of employment
A contract of employment should be given to every employee within two months of starting
work. It is a legal agreement between the employer and employee, which sets out the terms
and conditions of employment, including:
