WASSCE Business Management: Human resource management
Human resource management is the work of bringing people in, choosing among them, training them, paying them and keeping them willing to do the job.
The idea
Recruitment attracts people to apply. It can be internal, from people who already work there, or external, from outside. An advertisement, a notice on the staff board, and a visit to a school are recruitment. Selection is the next step: choosing among those who applied. An application form, a test and an interview are selection tools. Calling the interview "recruitment" swaps the two marks. Training builds the skill the job needs. On the job training happens at the workstation, for example by watching a colleague. Off the job training happens away from the workstation, for example on a course. Induction is the introduction a new worker gets to the people, the rules and the tasks. It is not the same as a skill course taken years later.
Motivation is what moves a person to do the work. Pay matters. So do praise, a chance of promotion, fair treatment and conditions that are safe. If you name a theory, tie it to one of those practices. A theory with no practice is a name. Labour turnover is the rate at which people leave. High turnover costs money: the firm recruits again, trains again, and loses the skill that walked out. Low turnover is not always good. A firm that never loses anyone may also be keeping people who should have moved. Say what the question asked. Wages are usually paid by the hour or the week for work that is measured that way. A salary is usually a fixed sum for the month. Use the word the question used.
The Business Management tips guide treats recruitment and selection as two steps, which is how the paper marks them. WASSCE Business Management tips
What earns the marks
Recruitment then selection, in that order. An advertisement does not select. An interview does not, by itself, attract a crowd. Training answers must say where it happens or what it changes. "Train the workers" earns little. "Show a new machinist the safe way to run the machine at the bench" earns the point. Motivation needs a method, not the word "motivate".
Practice questions
These are practice questions in the style of the paper, with a model answer and a mark scheme. They are not a promise of what your paper will ask.
1Question 1
4 marks
(a) Distinguish between recruitment and selection. (2 marks)
(b) Give one example of each. (2 marks)
Model answer
(a) Recruitment attracts people so that they apply. Selection chooses among the people who have applied.
(b) A job advertisement is recruitment. An interview used to choose a candidate is selection.
Mark scheme
Recruitment attracts applicants1 mark
Selection chooses among applicants1 mark
A recruitment example, such as an advertisement or a vacancy notice1 mark
A selection example, such as an interview, a test or checking an application1 mark
2Question 2
4 marks
Explain one advantage of training a worker on the job, and one advantage of training off the job. (4 marks)
Model answer
On the job, the worker learns with the real tools and produces something while learning. Off the job, the worker can practise a difficult skill without slowing the line or risking a machine.
Mark scheme
On the job uses the real workplace, tools, or output2 marks
Off the job avoids disrupting work, or allows practice away from danger or pressure2 marks
3Question 3
2 marks
State two costs to a firm of a high labour turnover. (2 marks)
Model answer
The firm spends money to recruit and train replacements, and it loses the experience of the people who left.
Mark scheme
Cost of recruiting or training replacements1 mark
Loss of skill or experience, or disruption of the work1 mark
Practise Business Management with Anna
More questions on this topic are inside glearn, marked as you answer, with the reason written out. The first ones need no account.
What is the difference between recruitment and selection?+
Recruitment gets people to apply. Selection picks from the people who applied. A poster is recruitment. An interview used to decide who is offered the job is selection.
What is induction training?+
It is the introduction a new worker receives at the start: the people, the rules, the workplace and the first tasks. It is not a later course that teaches a new technical skill. All WASSCE Business Management past questions