ZIMSEC O Level Business Studies/Business Enterprise and Skills Notes

To view a topic just click on the topic name and you will be taken to the topic post.
A quick Introduction to the subject
  1. Motivation at the workplace
    1. Motivational Theories:
      1. Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs:
        1. Ways in which Maslow’s theory can be used to motivate workers
      2. Frederick Herzberg’s Two factor theory
        1. Uses of Herzberg’s Theory
      3. McGregor’s Theory of X and Y
      4. F W Taylor’s Theory of Scientific Management
    2. How to motivate workers:
      1. Financial Reward Systems:
        1. Hourly rate/Time rate
        2. Piece Rate
        3. Performance Related Pay
        4. Profit Sharing
        5. Commissions
        6. Fringe Benefits
        7. Productivity Agreements
        8. Share Options
        9. Salary
      2. Non Financial Methods of Motivation:
        1. Job Rotation
        2. Job enlargement
        3. Job Enrichment
  2. Management functions and organisational structure
    1. Introduction to organisational structures
    2. Organisational structure terms:
      1. Organisational Charts
      2. Power,Authority, Responsibility and span of control
      3. Chain of Command,Line vs Staff Authority
      4. Centralisation and decentralization
      5. Delegation
      6. Tall and Flat organisational structures
      7. Job description
    3. Types of Organisational Structures:
      1. Functional organisation structure
      2. Product based Organisational structure
      3. Market based organisational structure
      4. Geographical organisation structure
      5. Matrix based organisational structure
    4. Informal and Formal groups
    5. Importance of informal groups
    6. Leadership:
      1. Autocratic Leadership style
      2. Democratic Leadership style
      3. Laissez-faire leadership style
  3. Communication in business
    1. The communication process
      1. Verbal Communication
      2. Written Communication
      3. Visual Communication
      4. Upward, Downward, Horizontal Communication
      5. The Grape vine: Formal vs Informal communication
    2. Ways of communicating in business:
      1. Open meeting
      2. Face to face communication
      3. Emails
      4. Notice Boards
      5. Reports
      6. Circulars
      7. Phones
      8. Teleconferencing/ Video Conferencing
    3. The need/importance for effective communication
      1. Problems of communication failure/ineffective communication
    4. Barriers to effective communication
      1. Ways to overcome barriers to the communication process
  4. Formal and informal representation and participation
    1. Trade Unions: Introduction:
      1. Types of Trade Unions
      2. Trade Unions in Zimbabwe and their types
    2. Conflict and ways of resolving conflict:
      1. Types of Industrial Action
      2. Employer’s responses to industrial actions
  5. Functions of the personnel department
    1. Introduction to Human Resources Management
    2. Human Resources Planning
      1. The recruitment process
      2. The selection process
      3. Employment contract
      4. Induction/Orientation
      5. Labour Turnover
        1. Problems of high labour turnover
      6. Dismissal, retrenchment and redundancy of employees
    3. Training: Introduction
      1. On the job training methods
      2. Off the job training methods
    4. The Management function
Karen Borrington Business Studies

Judith Mushipe Advanced Level Business Studies

Bruce Jewel Integrated Business Studies