Business

Decentrlization

When daily operations and decision-making power are delegated by top management to middle-and lower-level managers

Job Design

The way a set of tasks or the entire job is organized

job rotation

enlarging jobs by moving employees among several different jobs

job enrichment

A motivational strategy that emphasizes motivating the worker through the job itself.

automation

The use of technology to ease human labor or to extend the mental or physical capabilities of humans.

flexible working hours

give employees some choice in daily work hours

contingent workers

Workers who do not have the expectation of regular, full-time employment.

top-down change

change implemented by managers at a high level in the organization

Bottom-up change

change implemented by employees at low levels in the organization and gradually rises until it is felt throughout the organization

functional structure

people with similar occupational specialties are put together in formal groups

divisional structure

people with diverse occupational specialties are put together in formal groups by similar products or services, customers or clients, or geographic regions

Delegation

transferring responsibility to a person for a specific task

Empowerment

giving employees the authority to correct a problem without first checking with management

Job Analysis

the process of getting detailed information about jobs

recruitment

the process through which the organization seeks applicants for potential employment

work sampling

evaluates job candidates as they perform actual work tasks

Reference Checks

Contacting previous employers of a job applicant to determine his or her job history. Reference checks may also include checking with school(s) or college(s) attended by the applicant to verify educational qualifications.

background check

the process of verifying certain information provided by a job applicant

orientation

how a company or organization approaches its strategies for success

performance appraisal

An evaluation that measures employee performance against established standards in order to make decisions about promotions, compensation, training or termination.

critical incident

any situation that causes unusually strong emotions that interfere with the ability to function

360-degree feedback

a performance appraisal process in which feedback is obtained from the boss, subordinates, peers and coworkers, and the employees themselves

stock options

rights to buy a certain number of shares of stock at a specified price

fringe benefits

payments to employees other than wages or salary

Termination

the act of ending something

Dismissal

being sent away; being removed from a duty, position, or employment

layoff

An involuntary separation of the employee from the employer for a temporary or indefinite period, through no fault of the employee.

laissez-faire leadership

a form of "leadership" characterized by a general failure to take responsibility for leading

Transformational Leadership

transforms employees to pursue organizational goals over self-interests

communication channel

The medium—print, broadcast, the Internet—that carries the message.

halo effect

the tendency to draw a general impression about an individual on the basis of a single characteristic

Extroversion

outgoing, assertive, active

intrinsic rewards

satisfaction a person receives from performing the particular task itself

severance pay

a sum of money for which an employee is eligible upon termination

labour union

an organization of workers that acts to protect workers' rights and interests

collective bargaining

Process by which a union representing a group of workers negotiates with management for a contract

reward power

power that comes from the ability to provide rewards or favors

coercive power

The ability of a manager to punish others

visionary leadership

leadership that creates a positive image of the future that motivates organizational members and provides direction for future planning and goal setting

autocratic leadership

leadership style that involves making managerial decisions without consulting others

employee assistance programs

help employees cope with personal stresses and problems

profit sharing

the distribution to employees of a percentage of the company's profits

mentor

a wise and trusted guide and advisor

realistic job preview

background information about a job's positive and negative qualities

job sharing

performance of one full-time job by two people on part-time hours

chain of command

the order of authority within a facility

Human Resource Management

consists of the activities managers perform to plan for, attract, develop, and retain an effective workforce

Selection

Choosing from among qualified applicants to hire into an organization

Conscientiousness

the care a person gives to organization and thoughtfulness of others; dependability

locus of control

A belief about the amount of control a person has over situations in their life.

cognitive dissonance

unpleasant mental experience of tension resulting from two conflicting thoughts or beliefs

emotional intelligence

the ability to perceive, understand, manage, and use emotions

constructive stress

a positive influence on effort, creativity, and diligence in work

social loafing

phenomenon whereby individuals become less productive in groups