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ScotlandBusiness Management

Management of People

6 dot points across 6 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do organisations and their workers manage their relationship, and what happens when it breaks down?

Employee relations: the role of trade unions, methods of resolving disputes (negotiation, ACAS, arbitration, works councils), and the forms of industrial action and their consequences.
An SQA Higher Business Management answer on employee relations, covering the role of trade unions, methods of resolving workplace disputes such as negotiation, ACAS, conciliation and arbitration and works councils, and the forms of industrial action and their consequences.
11 min answer →

What employment laws must organisations follow, and why does compliance matter?

The main areas of employment legislation (equality and anti-discrimination, health and safety, the national minimum and living wage) and the impact of complying with them on the organisation.
An SQA Higher Business Management answer on employment legislation, covering the main areas of equality and anti-discrimination, health and safety, and minimum wage law, and the impact of complying with employment law on the organisation.
10 min answer →

How do organisations motivate their staff, and how does leadership style affect performance?

Theories and methods of motivation, financial and non-financial incentives, theories of motivation such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and the main leadership styles and their effects.
An SQA Higher Business Management answer on motivation and leadership, covering financial and non-financial methods of motivation, Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and the autocratic, democratic and laissez-faire leadership styles, with their effects on staff and performance.
12 min answer →

How does technology change the way organisations recruit, train and manage their people?

The use of technology in managing people, including e-recruitment, online and e-learning, HR databases, video conferencing and remote or home working, with the advantages and disadvantages.
An SQA Higher Business Management answer on the use of technology in managing people, covering e-recruitment, online and e-learning, HR databases, video conferencing and remote working, and the advantages and disadvantages for the organisation and its staff.
10 min answer →

How do organisations develop their staff, and why is investment in training worthwhile?

Training and development: induction, on-the-job and off-the-job training, continuing professional development, staff appraisal, and the costs and benefits of training to the organisation.
An SQA Higher Business Management answer on training and development, covering induction, on-the-job and off-the-job training, continuing professional development, staff appraisal, and the costs and benefits of training to the organisation.
11 min answer →

How do organisations work out their staffing needs and find the right people to fill them?

Workforce planning, the recruitment process (internal and external, with job description and person specification) and the methods of selecting the best candidate.
An SQA Higher Business Management answer on workforce planning, recruitment and selection, covering how a firm plans its staffing needs, internal and external recruitment with the job description and person specification, and the methods used to select the best candidate.
12 min answer →