CAIE A-Level Business 2.1 Human Resource Management Question Bank

CAIE A-Level Business 2.1 Human Resource Management Question Bank
Cambridge International AS & A Level Business 9609 syllabus for exams in 2026, 2027 and 20282026–2028

Practise applying workforce planning, recruitment, training, diversity, welfare and employee relations to analyse HRM choices and evaluate their effects on performance and cost.

Exam points

  • apply recruitment or workforce-planning choices to the skills, time and cost needs in the case
  • analyse how training, welfare, diversity or equality affects motivation, productivity and retention
  • evaluate an HRM priority by balancing employee outcomes against operational and financial needs

Covered syllabus points

2.1.1—HRM purpose and roles2.1.2—Workforce planning2.1.3—Recruitment and selection2.1.4—Redundancy and dismissal2.1.5—Morale and welfare2.1.6—Training and development2.1.7—Management and workforce relations

Question 2

Question 2(a)

(a)

Define the term involuntary redundancy.

[ 2 ]

Question 2(b)

(b)

Explain one way a business could use employee development to encourage multi-skilling.

[ 3 ]

Question 2(a)

[Maximum number: 2]

Define the term employee morale.

Question 2

Question 2(a)

(a)

Define the term on-the-job training.

[ 2 ]

Question 2(b)

(b)

Explain one advantage to a business of induction training.

[ 3 ]

Question 2(a)(i)

[Maximum number: 1]



Popular Drinks (PD)

PD is a mass market fizzy drinks manufacturer in country Z. The fizzy drinks market in country Z is dominated by a few well-known brands. The total market value is $ 5.3 bn and the PD brand has a 17% share of this market.

Pablo was recruited to be the Marketing Director of PD in 2022. He launched a new promotional campaign based on trending music on social media. He decided to use social media influencers to focus on this market.

Online feedback of the campaign was poor. Many of PD's customers did not want to be associated with trending music. National news highlighted the negative feedback and PD's sales volume decreased by 20% within a week and continued falling. This led to excess inventory in PD's warehouses. The bad publicity also caused a drop in PD's share price and a negative impact on cash flow.

Fig. 2.1 shows feedback from a recent questionnaire where previous PD customers were asked what they thought about the promotional campaign.

Fig. 2.1 Market analysis data of a sample of PD's customers

Fig. 2.1 Market analysis data of a sample of PD's customers

Pablo has called an emergency meeting of PD's marketing managers to repair the damage done to the PD brand from this recent promotional campaign.

Identify one recruitment method.

Question 4

[Maximum number: 5]

Analyse one benefit to a business of low labour turnover.