1. Flexible Workforces
A2 Business Studies

2. Aims and Objectives Aim:
Understand methods of creating a flexible workforce
Objectives:
Define a flexible workforce
Explain how a flexible workforce can meet changes in demand.
Analyse flexible working.
Evaluate what the success of flexible working depends on.

3. Starter Define decentralisation Define centralisation
Give two benefits of each.
Give two drawbacks of each.
What does the success of delayering depend on?

4. Flexible Workforces
Firms are less able to respond to changes in the market if they have a largely permanent staff. If it has a proportion of part time/temp workers, it can be more flexible in meeting changes in demand.

5. Peripheral Workers
Peripheral workers: part time/temp workers used as needed.
Not entitled to all the same employment rights as full time employees.

6. Core Workers
Core Workers: essential full time employees performing tasks which are key for the business to operate. Often rewarded with high salaries.

7. Organisation of a Flexible Workforce
Core workers Peripheral Workers

8. Outsourcing
Outsourcing: where business functions are provided by external specialist organisations rather than provided in house.
Can lead to customer service problems.
Although can reduce labour costs.
Increases flexibility by using on an ADHOC basis.

9. Homeworking
Homeworking: where employees can perform their job from home, increasingly linked to their employer via internet.
Task: analyse the benefits and drawbacks of creating/having a flexible workforce.

10. AN: Flexible Workforce
Benefits
Drawbacks
Meet changes in demand with more ease.
Motivation may increase as working hours suit employee.
Reduce absenteeism.
Costs savings.
Improve competitiveness.
Customer service may suffer.
Productivity and efficiency may be inconsistent.

11. EV: Flexible Workforce
What does the success of either depend on?
Workforce plan quality.
Communication lines and efficiency.
Relationships between core workers and peripheral workers.

12. January 2010 Question 1

13. January 2010 Question 1