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2.4 Motivation and demotivation Topic Practice

2.4 Motivation and demotivation Topic Practice
IB Business Management syllabusBusiness Management SL/HLFirst assessment 2025

Students practise applying motivation theories and HR tools to real organisational challenges—linking theory to labour turnover, appraisal systems, rewards, and recruitment…

Exam points

  • apply Herzberg’s or Maslow’s theory to explain employee morale, demotivation, or behavioural change
  • evaluate HR interventions by weighing stakeholder impacts and theoretical limitations

Question 3(a)

[Maximum number: 4]

Outline two non-financial rewards that SVT could have used for the long-serving employees that wanted to leave the company because of the implementation of the flexible-working contract (lines 56-64).

Question 3(a)

[Maximum number: 4]

Outline two steps in the recruitment process for the 300 new employees needed for the former H4 factories (lines 65-72).

Question 4(b)

[Maximum number: 4]

4. Les Amis PLC (LA)
Les Amis PLC ( L A ) is a public limited company that sells casual clothes for men. Its target market is high-income professionals who value a personalized sales service. LA has developed brand awareness and operates 42 shops around the country. It owns 10 of these shops and leases the remaining 32 . LA employs 950 people, who receive a higher wage than the industry average. LA also pays commission to sales staff working in the shops. LA's organizational culture values the wellbeing and needs of its employees. Labour turnover is very low.
Recently, L A launched an online shop. Since then, online sales have increased considerably, while sales in LA's physical shops have fallen. Shareholders want LA to close all its physical shops and sell online only. However, many of the employees will be made redundant if the physical shops are closed.
LA's current chief executive officer (CEO), Marie Brossard, has a democratic leadership style, and she regularly meets with employees and encourages feedback. LA's managers and employee representatives have never had a conflict. Marie plans to discuss the shareholders' desire to close LA's physical shops with all the shop managers.
Customer returns of clothing orders at L A have increased substantially. Most returns are from online customers unfamiliar with LA's clothing sizes. Marie has consulted the e-commerce department on how to reduce the increasing cost of returns, and they have suggested investing in expensive software that will enable online customers to find their correct clothing size.

Explain one advantage and one disadvantage for L A of paying commission to sales staff working in its shops.

Question 4(b)

[Maximum number: 4]

4. Les Amis PLC (LA)
Les Amis PLC ( L A ) is a public limited company that sells casual clothes for men. Its target market is high-income professionals who value a personalized sales service. LA has developed brand awareness and operates 42 shops around the country. It owns 10 of these shops and leases the remaining 32 . LA employs 950 people, who receive a higher wage than the industry average. LA also pays commission to sales staff working in the shops. LA's organizational culture values the wellbeing and needs of its employees. Labour turnover is very low.
Recently, L A launched an online shop. Since then, online sales have increased considerably, while sales in LA's physical shops have fallen. Shareholders want LA to close all its physical shops and sell online only. However, many of the employees will be made redundant if the physical shops are closed.
LA's current chief executive officer (CEO), Marie Brossard, has a democratic leadership style, and she regularly meets with employees and encourages feedback. LA's managers and employee representatives have never had a conflict. Marie plans to discuss the shareholders' desire to close LA's physical shops with all the shop managers.
Customer returns of clothing orders at L A have increased substantially. Most returns are from online customers unfamiliar with LA's clothing sizes. Marie has consulted the e-commerce department on how to reduce the increasing cost of returns, and they have suggested investing in expensive software that will enable online customers to find their correct clothing size.

Explain one advantage and one disadvantage for L A of paying commission to sales staff working in its shops.

Question 4(b)

[Maximum number: 4]

4. Les Amis PLC (LA)
Les Amis PLC ( L A ) is a public limited company that sells casual clothes for men. Its target market is high-income professionals who value a personalized sales service. LA has developed brand awareness and operates 42 shops around the country. It owns 10 of these shops and leases the remaining 32 . LA employs 950 people, who receive a higher wage than the industry average. LA also pays commission to sales staff working in the shops. LA's organizational culture values the wellbeing and needs of its employees. Labour turnover is very low.
Recently, L A launched an online shop. Since then, online sales have increased considerably, while sales in LA's physical shops have fallen. Shareholders want LA to close all its physical shops and sell online only. However, many of the employees will be made redundant if the physical shops are closed.
LA's current chief executive officer (CEO), Marie Brossard, has a democratic leadership style, and she regularly meets with employees and encourages feedback. LA's managers and employee representatives have never had a conflict. Marie plans to discuss the shareholders' desire to close LA's physical shops with all the shop managers.
Customer returns of clothing orders at L A have increased substantially. Most returns are from online customers unfamiliar with LA's clothing sizes. Marie has consulted the e-commerce department on how to reduce the increasing cost of returns, and they have suggested investing in expensive software that will enable online customers to find their correct clothing size.

Explain one advantage and one disadvantage for L A of paying commission to sales staff working in its shops.

Question 4(b)

[Maximum number: 4]

4. Les Amis PLC (LA)
Les Amis PLC ( L A ) is a public limited company that sells casual clothes for men. Its target market is high-income professionals who value a personalized sales service. LA has developed brand awareness and operates 42 shops around the country. It owns 10 of these shops and leases the remaining 32 . LA employs 950 people, who receive a higher wage than the industry average. LA also pays commission to sales staff working in the shops. LA's organizational culture values the wellbeing and needs of its employees. Labour turnover is very low.
Recently, L A launched an online shop. Since then, online sales have increased considerably, while sales in LA's physical shops have fallen. Shareholders want LA to close all its physical shops and sell online only. However, many of the employees will be made redundant if the physical shops are closed.
LA's current chief executive officer (CEO), Marie Brossard, has a democratic leadership style, and she regularly meets with employees and encourages feedback. LA's managers and employee representatives have never had a conflict. Marie plans to discuss the shareholders' desire to close LA's physical shops with all the shop managers.
Customer returns of clothing orders at L A have increased substantially. Most returns are from online customers unfamiliar with LA's clothing sizes. Marie has consulted the e-commerce department on how to reduce the increasing cost of returns, and they have suggested investing in expensive software that will enable online customers to find their correct clothing size.

Explain one advantage and one disadvantage for L A of paying commission to sales staff working in its shops.

Question 4(e)

[Maximum number: 10]

HSM Bakery Ltd. (HSM)

HSM Bakery Ltd. (HSM), a privately held company, produces baked goods (bread, cakes, and cookies), which are sold to shops.

In recent years, HSM has broadened its target market by producing a range of gluten-free cakes.

With reference to the stimulus and Herzberg's motivation-hygiene theory, discuss whether HSM should implement Option 1 or Option 2.

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