Internal Environment

Question 1

state 5 internal variables

Answer 1

1. procedures (operational)
2. leadership
3. employees
4. innovation
5. financial resources

Question 2

what are the 6 elements of organisational culture?

Answer 2

1. atmosphere
2. compensation
3. standards + policies
4. people
5. leadership
6. organisation

Question 3

what is the external environment made up of? (2 environments)

Answer 3

task and general environments

Question 4

what are the 5 dimensions of the general external environment?

Answer 4

1. political
2. international
3. technological
4. economic
5. sociocultural

Question 5

what is the external task environment comprised of? (5)

Answer 5

1. regulators
2. competitors
3. customers
4. suppliers
5. strategic partners

Question 6

define the internal environment (5 components)

what is the POV we take in this course?

Answer 6

1. owners
2. board of directors
3. employees
4. physical environment
5. culture

from the perspective of employees

Question 7

state characteristics of organisational culture.

Answer 7

1. visible in all relationships
2. evident through rituals and day-to-day practice
3. actuated (caused to operate) through organisational structure
4. amplified by words+deeds of leaders
5. strenghtened in commitment to shared purpose

Question 8

which element of organisational culture is the most important one?

Answer 8

people = employees

Question 9

state 4 challenges that companies deal with internally

Answer 9

1. discrimination
2. harassment
3. stress (workplace-related)
4. work from home

Question 10

how are internal challenges measured? (3)

Answer 10

1. quantitative indicators
2. qualitative indicators
3. company’s goodwill, public image

Question 11

why is it important to track and manage company’s internal challenges?

Answer 11

because they have a significant impact upon the company’s performance

Question 12

state 5 examples of quantitative indicators that are used to measure internal challenges.
what is their main purpose?

Answer 12

to lower HR costs.

1. fluctuation (turnover)
2. sick leaves
3. accidents at work
4. productivity per employee
5. labour costs (fluctuations)

Question 13

state 5 examples of qualitative indicators that are used to measure internal challenges.
what is their main purpose?

Answer 13

to increase productivity and business effects.

1. recruitment of skilled personnel
2. enhancing company’s image
3. satisfaction
4. commitment
5. stress

Question 14

def discrimination

Answer 14

= making distinction towards a person based on the group/class they belong to

Question 15

state the 4 types of discrimination

Answer 15

1. adverse
2. age
3. race / nationality
4. gender

Question 16

def adverse discrimination + 3 examples

Answer 16

practices that appear neutral but have an adverse effect on a protected group

e.g. not giving legal entitlements, not hiring someone, offering unfair terms to candidates

Question 17

def age discrimination + general regulation

Answer 17

= treating someone unfavourably because of their age

prevention of age discrimination over the age of 40

Question 18

def race/nationality discrimination

Answer 18

= treating someone unfavourably because of their (percieved) ethnicity/origin

Question 19

state 6 possible sources of discrimination (triggers)

Answer 19

1. inadequately trained staff
2. law ignorance
3. complaint scepticism
4. misplaced loyalty
5. excessive amounts of unsupervised leisure time
6. too much personal expression

Question 20

def affirmative action

Answer 20

= policy of promoting the education+employment of discriminated groups

Question 21

state 3 possible negative aspects of using affirmative action.

Answer 21

1. overlooking highly qualified candidates that are not part of discriminated group (employing to meet standards of affirmative action)
2. meeting quotas rather than to employ qualified applicants
3. treating ‘majority’ groups unfairly

Question 22

is discrimination legally regulated?

Answer 22

yes

Question 23

state 4 possible consequences of discrimination.

Answer 23

1. physical and emotional impacts on employees –> high fluctuation
2. financial impacts on discriminated employee (less pay)
3. business is not seen as a nice place to work (talented workforce isn’t attracted)
4. possible legal action against the company by discriminated groups

Question 24

what are the two types of sexual harassment?

Answer 24

1. quid pro quo

2. hostile work environment

Question 25

state 6 types of workplace harassment

Answer 25

1. sexual 2. offensive jokes and pictures 3. intimidation 4. physical assault 5. ridicule

Question 26

what is the general regulation regarding harassment?

Answer 26

to be unlawful, conduct must be unwelcome. (doesn't include consensual relationships, social invitations are acceptable)

Question 27

state 4 reasons for today's stress.

Answer 27

1. meeting people with different value systems 2. comparison with others 3. less job security (efficient markets mean easier replacement of workforce) 4. increasing performance demands (fast innovation)