Area of Study 3 Staffing a business
Staff are one of the business’s greatest assets and are an important consideration when establishing a business. The quantity and quality of staff has a direct link to business productivity and the achievement of business objectives. In this area of study students examine the staffing requirements that will meet the needs and objectives of the business and contribute to productivity and effectiveness. They research the processes undertaken by the business with relation to the recruitment, selection and induction of staff. Students consider the opportunities that the skills and capabilities of staff can contribute to the business, the legal obligations that must be addressed and the relationship between employers and employees within a business.
Outcome 3
On completion of this unit the student should be able to discuss the staffing needs for a business and evaluate the benefits and limitations of management strategies in this area from both an employer and an employee perspective. To achieve this outcome the student will draw on key knowledge and key skills outlined in Area of Study 3.
Key knowledge
- the relationship between the performance of staff and achieving business objectives
- identification of the staffing needs of the business such as the knowledge, skills and ideas staff can contribute to the business
- the effects that developments in technology may have on staffing needs
- job analysis and its relationship to job design and related documentation, job descriptions and job specifications • recruitment methods and the advantages and disadvantages of each method:
- internal such as intranet and word-of-mouth
- external such as websites, online recruitment agencies, social media
- selection methods such as interview, psychological testing, work testing, online selection, and the advantages and disadvantages of each
- employment arrangements such as full time, part time, contractual and casual
- employer expectations such as contracts of employment, business loyalty and terms of notice
- employee expectations such as conditions of employment, remuneration, job security and work–life balance
- legal obligations for staffing such as Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and agencies such as Equal Employment Opportunities and Workplace Gender Equality Agency
- the purpose and common methods of employee induction
- global issues such as overseas recruitment • corporate social responsibility management issues regarding establishing the staffing of a business.
Key skills
- define, describe and apply relevant business management concepts and terms
- acquire, record, interpret and share business information and ideas
- research and analyse case studies and contemporary examples of business management applicable to establishing staff in a business
- apply business management knowledge to practical and/or simulated business situations • evaluate the costs and benefits of various strategies for staffing a business
- propose and justify the staffing strategies chosen for practical and/or simulated business situations.
