Motivating employees

Steppa is a private-sector shoe manufacturer. The business employs 200 workers, all of whom are paid a high hourly wage rate. The Human Resources Director stated: ‘We use a democratic leadership style. Employees are an important stakeholder group. Happy workers help the business. Revenue rose by 10% last year.’ She cannot work out why so many workers leave the business every year. She is considering other non-financial ways to motivate employees.

May/June 2017

Ben runs a small gardening business that he launched 15 years ago. He thinks that offering a quality service is vital to his success. His business has several stakeholder groups, including 2 full-time workers and 4 part-time workers, all of whom have worked for him for several years. Ben expects each worker to carry out whatever task he tells them to do. Every worker receives an hourly wage rate. They also earn a bonus if customers recommend the business to other people. Ben is always considering further ways to raise his workers’ motivation.

May/June 2018

JNK produces pottery such as plates and bowls for the mass market by using batch production. Quality control matters. JNK employs 30 unskilled workers, all of whom are paid the legal minimum wage. To motivate staff, JNK uses job enrichment. Because demand has risen, JNK plans to replace its old machines with new technology. The Managing Director believes that some of the low cost materials bought by JNK are made using child labour. One of JNK’s competitors has recently adopted a new ethical policy.

May/June 2019

George has spent 10 years working in a small flower shop. He dislikes his manager’s autocratic leadership style and wants to move on. He must choose between setting up his own business and purchasing a BunchesRUs franchise. The franchise would cost him $5000, although BunchesRUs would provide training and support. Whichever option he picks, George will need finance and to hire 2 part-time employees. George understands that building customer relationships will matter to his business’s success.

May/June 2019

Identify and explain how the two stakeholder groups below may be affected by SA’s expansion plans.

May/June 2019

Identify and explain the likely effect of the reduction in profit in 2018 on two stakeholder groups of WA.

May/June 2019

Alex set up APB as a sole trader business 4 years ago. APB offers printing services to local businesses, including leaflets and brochures. Alex believes that a strong location matters to every business. All of APB’s employees are trained on-the-job. Alex uses a democratic leadership style and job rotation to maintain employee motivation. To cope with higher demand, Alex intends to purchase another printing machine. It will cost $1800. Alex must choose the most suitable source of finance.

May/June 2021

MBH is a public-sector business organisation. It operates 5 hospitals and employs 5600 staff, including 440 doctors. When hiring skilled employees, it relies on external recruitment. The Human Resources Director uses ideas from Herzberg’s theory to raise employee motivation. He is concerned about communication barriers inside MBH. The business has a tall organisational structure and a long chain of command. Most internal communication at MBH takes place by email and phone calls.

May/June 2022

RWB makes buses. 1200 workers are employed in its factory. Every employee gets off-the-job training. RWB motivates its staff using financial rewards. In the previous year, RWB recorded a $1.7$ million loss. The Managing Director stated: ‘A number of external influences are affecting our business, including shifts in unemployment levels and fresh legal restrictions on business activities that affect the environment.’

May/June 2022

Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of Yasin adopting a democratic leadership style.

May/June 2022

Explain two leadership styles that Zane and Zaara could use when managing ET’s employees.

May/June 2023

Explain one effect each of the following issues could have on TSE when it enters a new market in another country. Cultural differences. Lack of knowledge.

May/June 2025

Rafael’s son would like to understand employee motivation more fully. Identify and explain four levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as they could apply to the workers in Rafael’s company.

Oct/Nov 2015

P & P is a business that makes paint.

Oct/Nov 2016

VXH makes a variety of fruit-based soft drinks using batch production. Specialisation is used in VXH’s factory. Over the last two years, the business has expanded rapidly. VXH has raised its production workforce from 40 to 80, which has increased the span of control for each manager. It has been hard for VXH to maintain worker motivation. The Human Resources Manager must choose whether job rotation or financial bonuses would be the better way to raise employee motivation.

Oct/Nov 2019

Neil and the part-time employees are both stakeholders in QC. Identify and explain: • one objective that will be identical for both of these stakeholders • one objective for Neil that will conflict with an objective of the part-time employees.

Oct/Nov 2019

GCF is a public limited company that offers businesses a variety of computer services, such as designing websites and developing apps. The Human Resources Director uses ideas drawn from Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to help keep GCF’s 250 employees highly motivated. Table 4.1 shows an extract of the methods used. GCF plans to grow by acquiring one of its competitors. This will cost $50m. To fund the takeover, GCF is thinking about issuing new shares.

Oct/Nov 2021

Explain four ways SSM could raise the motivation of its production workers.

Oct/Nov 2021

TFN is a travel business that sells holidays. It has 37 shops and 1000 employees. Last year TFN’s profit rose to $46 million. The Managing Director knows that strong customer service has helped to preserve customer loyalty. He said: ‘TFN’s managers use ideas from Herzberg’s two-factor theory to help motivate employees. All employees receive off-the-job training and each manager has a wide span of control.’

Oct/Nov 2023

Explain two advantages and two disadvantages of BB operating as a public limited company.

Oct/Nov 2024