Unit 1: Investigating People at Work AS compulsory unit Externally assessed

1.1 Business aims, objectives and organisation  All businesses have to make goods and/or provide services that meet customer requirements. To do this, businesses set long-term aims that influence how they operate, and objectives to guide the people who work for them. Businesses also have an internal structure and organisation. In the external assessment, you will need to explain and relate your knowledge of business aims, objectives and organisation to hypothetical businesses and to those businesses you have studied.

You need to know:  businesses’ aims — how these vary from business to business and the  ways that these aims influence business objectives  why objectives apply to certain businesses, eg surviving, making a  profit or surplus, non-profit objectives, eg caring for the environment  how the way a business operates is influenced by its ownership,  control and financing, eg sole traders, partnerships, private and  public limited companies and the public sector  the range of functions carried out by different businesses — how these  functions work with each other and the contribution of each to a  successful business  organisation structures, the roles and responsibilities of managers,  supervisors and employees in different businesses.

1.2 How businesses obtain employees Businesses must plan to make sure they have the right number of suitable employees for their needs. You will consider a number of points about recruiting and selecting staff, including:  the different qualities that business people look for in their employees  reasons for recruiting staff, such as the growth of the business,  changing job roles, filling vacancies caused by leavers, and internal  promotion  the role and preparation of job descriptions and person specifications  and where businesses advertise for staff  the strengths and weaknesses of job applications, curriculum vitae and letters of application

 the main legal and ethical responsibilities relating to discrimination and equal opportunities.  the range of interviews, such as job, appraisal and exit interviews  shortlisting procedures, planning and carrying out job interviews using appropriate interview techniques, and assessment methods eg psychometric and aptitude testing  evaluating the recruitment and selection process in different businesses  reasons for, and approaches to, training staff, including examples of  induction training, mentoring, coaching, apprenticeships, inhouse/  on-the-job training and external/off-the-job training  the influence on businesses of nationally recognised training  structures, such as Investors in People and Individual Learning  Accounts.

1.3 How businesses motivate employees  Having obtained and trained their staff, businesses will look to keep these staff happy in their work. You will need to know:  about the legislation that protects the well-being of employees, such  as the maximum number of hours they can work in a week, regulations  governing leave arrangements (including maternity and paternity  leave), and minimum wage rates  the ways in which businesses seek to retain employees, including pay  and non-financial incentives, conditions of work and internal  promotion  the importance of motivating individuals  the influence (in outline) of motivation theories/ideas on the way in  which different businesses manage their employees.

1.4 How people are influenced at work Managers and employees are affected not only by internal issues such as the conditions of work and levels of motivation, but also by external issues. You will need to consider how the following external issues affect different businesses and the people who work in them:  environmental issues such as pollution, recycling and global warming,  social and ethical issues such as ethical behaviour and codes of  practice, stakeholders and pressure groups  legal and self-regulatory constraints and issues, including competition law, consumer protection, the work of trade unions, employment  protection and health and safety.