Comprehensive Study Cards for Human Resource, Marketing, and Operations Management

Flashcards testing critical concepts from Human Resource Management, South African Labour Legislation, Marketing Management, and Operations Management.

Why is Human Resource Management (HRM) considered crucial for organizational success?

Having the right people in the right jobs at the right time provides a competitive advantage and helps achieve organizational goals efficiently while building a trained, motivated workforce.

Who carries out HR functions in smaller organizations that lack a dedicated HR department?

Line managers perform many HR functions alongside their normal daily duties.

What are the three phases of Human Resource Planning?

1. Identify the work required by the organisation.
2. Conduct human resource forecasting.
3. Develop the human resource plan.

What are the four broad stages of the selection process?

1. Preliminary Screening (removing non-qualifying applicants)
2. Intensive Assessment (in-depth suitability evaluation)
3. Final Selection (choosing the most suitable applicant)
4. On-boarding (integrating the employee into the organisation)

What are key examples of on-the-job employee development methods?

Job rotation, job instruction training, job shadowing, coaching, job enrichment, mentoring, apprenticeships, and internships.

What are key examples of away-from-the-job employee development methods?

Lectures, e-learning, conferences/discussions, case studies, seminars, role playing, vestibules/simulations, and in-basket exercises.

What three steps prevent a 'shotgun' approach to employee training?

1) Thoroughly analyse development needs. 2) Spend training money on employees showing potential for further development. 3) Plan with the employee's immediate superior how new skills/insights will be applied in the workplace.

What is the core purpose of performance appraisals?

To determine whether an employee has performed exceptionally well, complied with job requirements, or failed to comply with requirements.

How do extrinsic rewards differ from intrinsic retention factors?

Extrinsic rewards consist of salary and financial benefits, whereas intrinsic factors include achieving personal goals, supervisor support, work-life balance, flexibility, access to training, and exposure to challenging tasks.

Which section of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 specifically protects labour rights?

Section 23.

Which key areas are regulated by the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 (LRA)?

Freedom of association, organisational rights, bargaining and statutory councils, CCMA, Labour Court, Labour Appeal Court, strikes/lock-outs, collective agreements, agency/closed shop agreements, workplace forums, and unfair dismissals.

What is required of employers under the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 (EEA)?

End unfair discrimination, implement affirmative-action measures (if designated), prepare employment-equity plans, restrict unjustified medical/psychometric testing, and progressively reduce disproportionate income differentials.

How long must employee, wage, and time records be retained under the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA)?

For $4$ years, and submitted annually to the Commissioner.

What protection does the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) provide?

It protects personal information held or processed by public and private bodies by establishing minimum conditions for lawful processing.

What are the four core principles of the marketing concept philosophy?

1. Profitability
2. Consumer orientation
3. Social responsibility
4. Organisational integration

What components constitute the 4 Ps of the marketing mix?

Product, Place, Promotion, and Price.

What are the 12 steps of conducting a marketing survey?

1. Define problem 2. Identify objectives/hypothesis 3. Investigate secondary resources 4. Compile questionnaire 5. Pre-test questionnaire 6. Select sample 7. Train fieldworkers 8. Analyse data 9. Interpret information 10. Prepare report/recommendations 11. Evaluate management 12. Implement decisions

What are the 5 phases of the consumer decision-making process?

1. Awareness of an unsatisfied need or problem
2. Gathering information
3. Evaluation of possible solutions
4. Decision on purchase/course of action
5. Post-purchase evaluation

What four criteria make a market segment meaningful?

The segment must be: 1. Identifiable and measurable, 2. Substantial and sustainable, 3. Reachable, and 4. Responsive.

What are the four fundamental components of a Total Product offering?

1. Core product (basic benefit/physical qualities)
2. Formal product (style, brand, packaging, quality)
3. Need-satisfying product (warranties, installation, delivery, support)
4. Product image (symbolic value)

What are the sequential stages of the Product Life Cycle (PLC)?

Introduction, Growth, Maturity, and Decline.

What are the 4 sequential phases of price determination?

1. Determine the cost price.
2. Determine the market price.
3. Determine the target price.
4. Determine the final price.

What are the six elements comprising marketing communication?

Advertising, Personal Selling, Direct Marketing, Sales Promotion, Publicity, and Public Relations.

What are the six general performance objectives in operations management?

1. Quality (do things right)
2. Speed (do things quickly)
3. Dependability (deliver as promised)
4. Flexibility (adapt quickly)
5. Cost (do things cost-effectively)
6. Improvement (continually do better)

In the operations transformation model, what is the difference between transformed resources and transforming resources?

Transformed resources are changed by the process (materials, customers/clients, information), whereas transforming resources execute the transformation (human resources, equipment/facilities, technology).

What are the four operational characteristics (4 Vs) that define operations processes?

Volume (output quantity), Variety (mix of output types), Variation (changes in demand over time), and Visibility (level of customer contact).

What are the five distinct manufacturing process types?

1. Project
2. Jobbing
3. Batch
4. Mass
5. Continuous

What four basic facility layout types are used in operations design?

1. Fixed-position layout
2. Process layout
3. Cellular layout
4. Product layout

What are the 6 steps involved in operational quality planning and control?

1. Define quality characteristics
2. Measure quality characteristics
3. Set standards for each quality characteristic
4. Control quality against standards
5. Identify and rectify causes of poor quality
6. Continuously improve quality

What essential implementation factors are needed to support Total Quality Management (TQM)?

Systems (integration into strategy), Commitment (top management and staff), Teams (improvement projects), Communication (quality feedback), Culture (quality awareness), and Techniques/Methods (skills training).