GCSE Applied Business Studies. Scheme of Work. Unit 4 People in Business

Transcription

1 GCSE Applied Business Studies Scheme of Work Unit People in Business

2 Teacher Resource Bank / GCSE Applied Business / Scheme of Work Unit People in Business / Version 1.1 GCSE APPLIED BUSINESS UNIT SCHEME OF WORK The purpose of this scheme of work is to provide advice and guidance to teachers. It is not intended to be prescriptive nor literal. Teachers may choose to use it to teach the specification, or may devise their own teaching patterns as they see fit. ALLOCATION OF TEACHING Approximate hours are estimated on the basis that candidates will be taught for approximately 50 hours for this Unit. In additional it is suggested that approximately 17 hours are spent researching the business, with a further 7 hours to write up their findings. RESOURCES The following are listed in date order, most recent publications first, and do not comprise a complete or exhaustive list. Note that in many cases there are also Teacher Resources to accompany texts. AQA Business for GCSE, Setting Up a Business (009). Denby and Hamman. Hodder (ISBN ) AQA Business for GCSE, Growing As a Business (009). Denby and Hamman. Hodder (ISBN ) AQA Business for GCSE, Years 1 & Combined (009). Denby and Hamman. Hodder (ISBN ) AQA Business for GCSE, Applied Business (Double Award) Denby and Hamman. Hodder (ISBN tbc) Applied Business Nelson Thornes (ISBN ) GCSE Business Studies: the Essentials (005) Denby & Thomas. Hodder Arnold, (ISBN ) The following websites may provide useful content or links: klm Copyright 009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. 1

3 Teacher Resource Bank / GCSE Applied Business / Scheme of Work Unit People in Business / Version 1.1 UNIT FOUR, PEOPLE IN BUSINESS BUSINESS ORGANISATION Candidates investigate and report on how a chosen business is organised, the job roles within the business, and the specific working arrangements at three different levels within the business manager, supervisor and employee. 1.1 Investigating Organisational Structures 30.php Interpreting Organisation Charts How Communication and Decision Making Takes Place in Organisations Candidates should be able to give a clear background to their business and show that they understand how it is organised. They will therefore need to know how an organisation chart may be constructed and the hierarchies within it. They should understand key features of organisation structure that may be deduced from a chart, for example spans of control, chains of command and the levels within a hierarchical structure. They should also understand that not all organisations are structured in the same way - for example, some may be centralised, others decentralised structures - so that they can apply their knowledge to their chosen business. Candidates should understand that communication channels and decision making steps may not be as laid down by the organisation chart. They will need to find examples of formal and informal communication, up, down and across the organisation. They should particularly note informal communication channels and their relative strength. Candidates should be able to show the formal and informal decision making in their chosen business at different levels within the organisation. Copyright 009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. klm

4 Teacher Resource Bank / GCSE Applied Business / Scheme of Work Unit People in Business / Version Investigating Job Roles Times100 Case Study: Tarmac php 03.php The Use of Job Descriptions Defining Job Roles Candidates should understand how job descriptions are written to reflect the needs of the business and job analysis. They should understand the role of the person specification. They should be able to apply each concept to managers, supervisors and employees in their chosen business. Candidates will need to be able to identify the key roles in the organisational structure for managers, supervisors and employees, including their role in communication and decision-making. They should understand what the expectations are for each type of job role and how this translates in reality to their own business. This will include job title, job security, specific roles and responsibilities (tasks or duties, who the person is responsible to and for), pay, accountability, qualifications (including personal qualities, experience and skills), responsibility for processes, people or products, decision making and problem solving roles. Research (recorded in a structured way such as via a log) will enable candidates to show how these roles meet the needs of the business and form the basis for looking at motivation and the candidate s possible future employment. klm Copyright 009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. 3

5 Teacher Resource Bank / GCSE Applied Business / Scheme of Work Unit People in Business / Version Investigating Working Arrangements Times 100 Case Study: Audit Commission Lloyds TSB php 8.php The Use of Employment Contracts The Importance of Flexible Working Arrangements Candidates need to learn the typical content and structure of an employment contract which will include: job title, place of work, duties, rate and type of pay, hours of work, holiday entitlement, sickness benefit, disciplinary procedures, Trades Union agreements and periods of notice. They should know the difference between temporary/permanent, part-time/full-time, wage/salary, monetary/non-monetary rewards. The emphasis is on why such arrangements are important to modern businesses and, in particular, to the chosen business. Flexible patterns may be permanent, or temporary (for example, to meet an order). Candidates should show how changes to working patterns may affect the morale and welfare of all employees at the business Copyright 009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. klm

6 Teacher Resource Bank / GCSE Applied Business / Scheme of Work Unit People in Business / Version 1.1 EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION Candidates investigate the practical aspects of employee motivation in their chosen business..1 Effective Working Relationships Times 100 case Study : UNISON 1.php 61.php Impact of Legislation Importance of Employer Expectations Importance of Employee Expectations Candidates need to understand the significance of legislative areas ie equality, privacy, discrimination, health and safety, employment rights but do not need detailed knowledge of specific legislation. They should be able to say how legislation affects different groups in their chosen business. Candidates should know what employers expect of employees, in terms of rights and responsibilities including contractual obligations, behaving in a way that does not risk health and safety (of themselves or others), co-operation, security of information and loyalty. In particular, they should be able to explain how these expectations are linked to the achievement of the business s objectives. Candidates should know what employees should expect of employers including meeting contractual obligations (pay, hours, conditions etc.) health and safety issues, (ie provision of protection where necessary), right to Trades Union/staff association representation and right to training. Each area should be looked at in terms of how it impacts on managers, supervisors and employees in terms of rights and responsibilities. klm Copyright 009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. 5

7 Teacher Resource Bank / GCSE Applied Business / Scheme of Work Unit People in Business / Version 1.1. Motivating Staff Times 100 case Study: Siemens Factors Affecting Motivation Methods of motivating employees Importance of Appraisal and Training The history of the theory of motivation is not necessary. What is required is an understanding of what motivates workers in a business situation which includes appraisal and training. Whilst, technically, they are hygiene factors, it also includes rates of pay and suitable working conditions. In particular, candidates need to show the different factors, and varying effect of factors, on different groups of employees and individuals. They should be able to explain why this is the case. There should be a specific focus on appraisal and training as motivators, not just their existence in a business. Candidates should be able to explain the meaning and significance of appraisal, performance management, on and off the job training, mentoring and ways to widen job experience such as job rotation and job shadowing. They should explain how and why methods of motivation suit different groups within their chosen business. 6 Copyright 009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. klm

8 Teacher Resource Bank / GCSE Applied Business / Scheme of Work Unit People in Business / Version 1.1 ATTRIBUTES OF EMPLOYEES By this stage the candidate should have a clear understanding of the way the people within a business work for and with each other. In particular, they will be able to apply this knowledge to managers, supervisors and employees. This part of the specification helps them to reflect on their own personal attributes and their suitability for future employment in their chosen business. 3.1 Understanding Personal Skills Profiles Times 100 case Study: Tesco RWE npower Web The Range of Personal Skills Producing a Personal Skills Profile The Importance of Personal Skills Candidates need to show an understanding of the range of skills that they might demonstrate such as team working, problem solving, risk taking and communicating. There are several ways to assess these self assessment, 360 degree review (using peers, siblings, parents, teachers etc.). Belbin Team Roles (at a simple level) could also be used. The results can be used to plan possible future training and development. Candidates produce a skills profile that is personal and unique to them. This will help in identifying skills and skill gaps. Candidates need to understand personal skills testing to help them analyse and reflect on their personality type. They need to understand the various methods used by businesses and why they are used. klm Copyright 009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. 7

9 Teacher Resource Bank / GCSE Applied Business / Scheme of Work Unit People in Business / Version Understanding Personality Tests Times 100 case Study: Siemens web The Importance of Personality Tests Relevance for Career Planning Candidates should attempt suitable personality tests. These are meant to test skills and aptitudes, abilities and personal qualities. Taking a test can reveal areas of weakness that may need to be worked on. Candidates should use the results to consider the type of occupation/employment that might suit them in their chosen business. Candidates learn about target setting and career planning and link this to their own personality assessment. 8 Copyright 009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. klm