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2.5 Making human resource decisions

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How does a business motivate its employees, with money and without it?

The importance of motivation in the workplace (attracting and retaining employees and raising productivity); and how businesses motivate employees through financial methods (remuneration, bonus, commission, promotion, fringe benefits) and non-financial methods (job rotation, job enrichment, autonomy).
A focused answer to Edexcel GCSE Business 2.5.4, covering the importance of motivation (attracting and retaining staff, productivity) and the financial methods (remuneration, bonus, commission, promotion, fringe benefits) and non-financial methods (job rotation, job enrichment, autonomy) businesses use to motivate employees.
7 min answer →

How is a business organised, and how do communication and ways of working affect it?

Different organisational structures and when each is appropriate (hierarchical and flat, centralised and decentralised); the importance of effective communication (the impact of insufficient or excessive communication, and barriers to communication); and different ways of working (part-time, full-time, flexible, permanent, temporary, freelance, and the impact of technology).
A focused answer to Edexcel GCSE Business 2.5.1, covering hierarchical, flat, centralised and decentralised structures, the importance of effective communication and its barriers, and different ways of working including the impact of technology.
8 min answer →

What jobs exist in a business, and how does it recruit the right people?

Different job roles and responsibilities (directors, senior managers, supervisors/team leaders, operational and support staff); and how businesses recruit people, including documents (person specification, job description, application form, CV) and recruitment methods (internal and external).
A focused answer to Edexcel GCSE Business 2.5.2, covering key job roles and responsibilities, the documents used in recruitment (person specification, job description, application form, CV), and internal and external recruitment methods.
7 min answer →

How and why does a business train and develop its employees?

How businesses train and develop employees (formal and informal training, self-learning, ongoing training, target setting and performance reviews) and why they do so (the link between training, motivation and retention, and retraining to use new technology).
A focused answer to Edexcel GCSE Business 2.5.3, covering how businesses train and develop employees (formal, informal, self-learning, target setting, performance reviews) and why (the link to motivation, retention and using new technology).
6 min answer →