CAIE A-Level Business AS 2.1.7 Management and Workforce Relations Questions

There are 12 marks for Q5(b):

2 marks for □

2 marks for □

2 marks for □

6 marks for □

Indicative content

Responses may include:

AO1 Knowledge and understanding

2 marks for developed knowledge L2 □

1 mark for limited knowledge L1

- Cooperation is the action or process of working together to achieve the same goal.

- A state of relations where employee and management work together to accomplish certain goals using mutually acceptable means.

- It is the outcome of a continuous process of enhancing mutual trust and respecting through sharing information, discussion, consultation and negotiation.

- Success can be defined by a number of factors;
market share, profits, share value, productivity, labour turnover, employee relations, environmental credentials, brand image.

5(b)

AO2 Application
2 marks for developed application L2
1 mark for limited application L1
- Need to cooperate in different teams that work on different parts of the car such as chassis
- Companies like Nissan have Kaizen that involves cooperation between management and workers
- Car manufacturer related terms e.g. tyres, chassis, robots, assembly, quality circles, quality assurance, production
targets, safety, car designs, TQM
- Named businesses e.g. Ford, BMW, Skoda, Audi, Nissan
AO3 Analysis
2 marks for developed analysis L2
1 mark for limited analysis L1
- Cooperation can lead to a more harmonious workplace - It can improve productivity - reduce labour turnover.
- A strong ethos of cooperation and teamwork - where ideas are shared - means objectives and goals can be achieved
successfully - customers are satisfied.
- A sense that everyone is pulling in the same direction - and are invested in the business success - can increase
productivity - increase morale - attract the best workers.
- Training and resources may be required to ensure effective cooperation - which can increase costs.
- Goals that ensure different teams, including managers need to cooperate - can improve productivity and morale.
- Communication channels between all related parties, including unions - need to work - ensure harmonious industrial
relations.
- Employees need to be empowered to contribute - as creative ideas could give the business a competitive edge - or
help streamline production - become more efficient.
- The less employee conflicts the manager has to deal with the more they can focus on helping the team achieve its
objectives - production could increase - more cars made in shorter period of time.
- When a mutual level of respect exists between managers and workers - willingness to perform well - then goals can be
achieved.
- Cooperation can enable a trusting environment - where employees feel able to take risks - increase engagement
levels of employees - improve retention rates.
- Workers may need to feel they are valued financially before cooperating - if not could lead to industrial action -production stops.

5(b)

AO4 Evaluation

6 marks for evaluation

A judgement/conclusion is made that cooperation between managers and the workforce is the most important factor in the success of a car manufacturer.

These judgements/conclusions may be made at any point in the essay, not only in a concluding section.

- A conclusion that cooperation between workers and managers should be seen as just one factor in the success of a business - and other factors are just as important - such as marketing or product quality.

- A judgement that other business activities are more important, such as marketing strategies - as they need to make the right car or it won't sell as well as competitors.

- A conclusion about what the car manufacturer hopes to achieve in the long and short term (what are its corporate goals and values) and whether this is dependent on cooperation between managers and workers.

- A judgement that the onus lies on good leadership to make cooperation work or that it depends on what the employees motivations are - not everyone is interested in cooperation.

- A judgement that cooperation may solely depend on how well represented workers are by a union.

- A judgement that enhanced productivity is key to a successful car manufacturer - and should be achieved by any means necessary.

5(b)

- A judgement that car manufacturers operate in an internationally competitive market - so it is essential to do everything possible to foster cooperation.

- A judgement about the environment in which the car manufacturer exists and that it is subject to factors beyond its control e.g. economic downturn or worldwide pandemic - so job security cannot be guaranteed.

- A judgement about cooperation depending on factors such as - the strength/role of trade unions - location factors such as the EU or where labour is cheapest - or how successfully the business changes to electric car production in comparison to its competitors.

Accept all valid responses.