Human Resources

Question 1

What is workforce planning?

Answer 1

The process of forecasting the workforce requirements of the business for future years.

Question 2

What are the benefits of workforce planning?

Answer 2

• Flexible working practices
• Encourages proactive management
• Prepares for significant changes
• Identifies staffing gaps
• Avoids understaffing and overstaffing
• Ensures continuity of production

Question 3

What does the Facilitator Role in HR entail?

Answer 3

Provide or facilitate training.

Question 4

What does the Auditor Role in HR involve?

Answer 4

Monitor and report on how effectively individual staff and departments are following HR policies and procedures.

Question 5

What is the Consultancy Role of HR?

Answer 5

Provide specialist guidance and information to managers on how to deal with particular staffing situations.

Question 6

What is the Executive Role in HR?

Answer 6

HR staff assume the role of ‘resident expert’ in all staffing matters.

Question 7

What does the Service Role in HR provide?

Answer 7

Provide useful information on things such as current employee legislation and other changes that may affect staff.

Question 8

List some activities carried out by HR.

Answer 8

• Human resource planning
• Creating job descriptions and person specifications
• Organising interviews and recruiting staff
• Training staff and encouraging professional development
• Ensuring safe working conditions
• Handling grievances between staff members
• Developing and implementing HRM policies and procedures

Question 9

Why is it important to retain and develop human resources?

Answer 9

Without efficient and effective workers, strategic aims and objectives cannot be assured.

Question 10

What is the aim of workforce planning?

Answer 10

To have the right number of employees in the right place with the right skills at the right time.

Question 11

What might be some reasons for needing new employees?

Answer 11

To address changes in business needs, growth, or restructuring.

Question 12

What are some reasons existing employees might leave?

Answer 12

Retirement, career changes, or dissatisfaction.

Question 13

What is involved in the steps to workforce planning?

Answer 13

• Looking at changes and trends in the labor market
• Identifying and estimating future staffing needs
• Assessing current staffing levels and practices
• Developing training programs for future skills

Question 14

True or False: Workforce planning helps avoid both understaffing and overstaffing.

Answer 14

True

Question 15

Fill in the blank: Workforce planning allows strategies to be put in place to fill _______.

Answer 15

gaps in the workplace