People in organisations (human resource management) — AS & A Level Business (9609) questions by topic
Motivation theory, communication, labour turnover and payment systems form this human resource management topic, tested across 50 real questions from 2023 to 2025 papers, worth between 5 and 30 marks.
State and identify want a precise definition or named theory, such as one of Taylor, Mayo, Maslow, Herzberg or McClelland, while evaluate on the case-study parts rewards linking a stakeholder's needs to sustainability or productivity rather than describing motivation theory in the abstract. Reports repeatedly flag analysis that runs far longer than the marks available justify, so drafting a response, checking its length against the mark scheme and submitting it for instant marking is a useful discipline here.
What examiners look for
- A recurring criticism is many candidates giving far more analysis than necessary, with analysis making up more than half of a response despite being worth relatively few marks.
- Examiners repeatedly note candidates discussing lower levels of the Maslow hierarchy without making clear how meeting those needs would lead on to self-actualisation.
- Reports flag using a financial benefit, such as fringe benefits, as evidence for a question specifically about non-financial motivators.
- Strong answers identify two-way communication used within a business and link it directly to employee motivation, then trace how motivated employees can lower unit costs and raise profits.
- Strong responses use the context of the case data to choose the most applicable motivator, for example training where a business has been criticised for poor induction, and link it to productivity, costs, sales and profit.
May–June 2025, Paper 11
May–June 2025, Paper 12
Define the term involuntary redundancy.
Answer this question and get it marked →Analyse two disadvantages to employees of an autocratic management style.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 13
May–June 2025, Paper 32
Analyse two benefits to PAIR of its organisational structure.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 33
Evaluate the most important factor Aldin should consider before changing the HRM approach at GC if the takeover goes ahead.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 41
Evaluate the impact of Chelsea's HR strategy on RR's performance between 2021 and 2024.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 11
May–June 2024, Paper 12
Analyse two benefits to a business of low labour turnover.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 13
Analyse two benefits to the workforce of McGregor's Theory X management.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 21
Identify one traditional function of a manager.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 22
May–June 2024, Paper 31
Analyse two advantages to GBS of using flexible part-time employment contracts.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 32
Analyse two advantages to SF of using flexible employment contracts.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 33
Evaluate the impact of SCC's HRM decisions on the future success of the business.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 41
Advise LC on a new HR strategy to improve employee performance.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 43
Evaluate KF's approach to human resource management (HRM) between 2018-2023.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 11
Analyse two reasons why an employee's human needs may not be satisfied at work.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 12
Analyse one way employee development could be used by a business to encourage intrapreneurship.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 13
Analyse two reasons why a business might use external recruitment.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 31
Analyse two benefits to TC of investing in artificial intelligence (AI) for human resource management (HRM).
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 33
Analyse two benefits to AFF of recruiting a new CEO who has a high level of emotional intelligence.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 42
Evaluate the success of Idir's strategy for improving employee performance between 2020 and 2024.
Answer this question and get it marked →February–March 2023, Paper 12
February–March 2023, Paper 22
Identify one content theory of motivation.
Answer this question and get it marked →February–March 2023, Paper 32
Analyse two benefits to FWB of delegating more decision-making to van managers.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 11
Analyse one responsibility to a business of an employee as a stakeholder.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 12
May–June 2023, Paper 13
Analyse two benefits to a business of using external recruitment to employ a manager.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 31
Analyse two limitations to WP of its methods of internal communication.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 32
Analyse two benefits to OV of the methods it uses to communicate with employees.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 33
Analyse how two barriers to communication resulting from LT's online operations may impact the business.
Answer this question and get it marked →Evaluate the impact on LT of giving some tour guides an employment contract with a guaranteed number of tours per month.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 11
Analyse two ways a business could use employee participation in the management of business activity.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 12
Analyse two methods that a business could use to help employees satisfy their self-actualisation needs, as defined by Maslow.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 13
October–November 2023, Paper 21
Identify one non-financial motivator.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 22
October–November 2023, Paper 23
Identify one non-financial motivator.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 31
Analyse two advantages to CP of changing to a product-based organisational structure.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 32
Analyse how two qualities of leadership demonstrated by Frederico have contributed to CQ's success.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 33
Evaluate the importance to the future success of HP of its HRM strategy.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 42
Evaluate the impact of FL's corporate culture on the success of the business between 2015 and 2022.
Answer this question and get it marked →Other AS & A Level Business topics
- Finance and accounting (77)
- Business and its environment (54)
- Marketing (40)
- Strategic management (18)