Calculate productivity and analyse factors affecting it, its link with competitiveness, employee motivation, technology, training and ways to improve output.
Sources for use with Extract A Brooke Downs Vennard Partnership (BDVP) BDVP is a firm of solicitors located in British Columbia, Canada. Established in 1980, it has grown into one of the most respected legal businesses in the area. This is important because there are over 10,000 qualified solicitors competing for clients in British Columbia. As well as providing clients with assistance when buying property or making a will, the partners specialise in business, contract and commercial law. Clients are allowed either 30 or 60 days to pay on completion of legal work provided by the partnership. This has helped BDVP increase its client base. However, it can make cash flow more difficult to manage. Communication is very important to BDVP and the partners try to replace computers whenever they become out‑of‑date and slow. They also make sure employees are trained in the use of technology. As well as employing five solicitors, BDVP has a team of other employees in legal occupations such as secretaries, administrative assistants and junior associates. Employees currently work from 8.30 am – 5 pm with a 30 minute lunch‑break. All employees are encouraged to take responsibility for their work and are often consulted about changes affecting the office. The latest example of a consultation was a discussion about changes to employee protection legislation and how it would affect the partnership. Extract B British Columbia Employment Standards Act British Columbia employers can expect significant amendments to the Employment Standards Act to be introduced in 2019. Some of the more significant recommendations for amendment include: allow alternative working hours within the 40‑hour week to the standard eight‑hours per day allow employees the right to refuse overtime in circumstances where overtime would conflict with significant family‑related commitments, scheduled educational commitments, or other employment obligations the existing five days per year unpaid family responsibility leave would be replaced with seven days per year of unpaid leave, which could be taken for reasons of the employee’s own illness or for the care, health, or education of a child in the employee’s care.
Assess whether improving employee motivation is likely to be the most effective
way to increase productivity for a business such as BDVP.
Indicative content guidance
Answers must be credited by using the level descriptors (below) in line with the
general marking guidance. The indicative content below exemplifies some of
the points that candidates may make but this does not imply that any of these
must be included. Other relevant points must also be credited.
Knowledge, Application, Analysis, Evaluation - indicative content
- Motivation is a factor that encourages employees to be more interested
and committed to their work
- Productivity is a measure of the efficiency with which labour or capital
completes a task
- Secretaries and administrative assistants may increase their work-rate if
they are offered bonuses or profit share incentives
- By empowering employees, BDVP helps its secretaries and administrative
assistants to take pride in their work and to feel a sense of responsibility
- This could encourage employees to work harder in order to complete their
work to a higher standard, meaning they would be more productive
- Consulting with junior associates about alternative working hours to
8.30am - 5pm is likely to increase the productivity of the employees as
they feel more motivated as their views are being taken into account
- Increasing labour flexibility would not only comply with new regulations
but also help employees to balance their work with personal
commitments. This could increase productivity
- However, some junior associates may not be more productive even if
offered financial methods of motivation or by being consulted about the
hours they are in the office, as they may already be working as hard as
they are able
- Improving motivation alone may not be very effective if the technology
used is out-of-date and slow. New technology could be more effective
- Many ways to improve productivity could increase motivation as well, thus
providing multiple benefits to BDVP
- A combination of ways to improve productivity, such as bonuses,
introducing flexible working practices and replacing old technology may
be the best way to increase productivity
Level
Mark
Descriptor
0
A completely inaccurate response.
Level 1
1-2
Isolated elements of knowledge and understanding - recall based.
Weak or no relevant application to business examples.
Generic assertions may be presented.
Level 2
3-4
Elements of knowledge and understanding, which are applied to the
business example.
Chains of reasoning are presented, but may be assertions or
incomplete.
A generic or superficial assessment is presented.
Level 3
5-7
Accurate and thorough knowledge and understanding, supported
throughout by relevant and effective use of the business
behaviour/context.
Analytical perspectives are presented, with developed chains of
reasoning, showing cause(s) and/or effect(s).
An attempt at an assessment is presented, using quantitative and/or
qualitative information, though unlikely to show the significance of
competing arguments.
Level 4
8-10
Accurate and thorough knowledge and understanding, supported
throughout by relevant and effective use of the business
behaviour/context.
A coherent and logical chain of reasoning, showing cause(s) and/or
effect(s).
Assessment is balanced, wide ranging and well contextualised, using
quantitative and/or qualitative information and shows an awareness of
competing arguments/factors, leading to a supported judgement.