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Date November 2017 Marks available 2 Reference code 17N.2.SL.TZ0.5
Level Standard level Paper Paper 2 Time zone Time zone 0
Command term Define Question number 5 Adapted from N/A

Question

Green Clean (GC)

Green Clean (GC) is a private limited company controlled by the Hitta family. Its unique selling point (USP) is offering high-quality, reliable cleaning services by teams of professional cleaners who clean offices and houses.

GC has strong ethical objectives. They only use eco-friendly cleaning products and pay their employees fair wages. Labour turnover is low and many cleaners have worked for the company for over two decades.

However, the cleaning market has become very competitive. GC has been slow to react. Other cleaning companies are beginning to offer a wider range of services. GC’s management has decided to introduce a gardening service to maximize profit.

GC will recruit professionally trained gardeners. As it is very difficult to find professional gardeners in the market, GC will pay them 20 % more than its cleaners. GC prefers to use external recruitment. GC’s management will also offer cleaners the opportunity to become gardeners even though off-the-job training costs are very high. If most of GC’s cleaners choose training, the company could fall short of workers to meet the demand for cleaning services.

The cleaners are becoming demotivated because they are unhappy about the difference in pay between cleaners and future gardeners. They believe that gardeners are not more skilled than cleaners but just have a different skill set. Human resource managers are concerned about the potential impact of demotivated cleaners and are looking for ways to improve morale. One option they are considering is to offer cleaners an employee-share ownership scheme. Shareholders, however, are opposed to this proposal.

Define the term ethical objective.

[2]
a.

Explain one advantage and one disadvantage for GC of recruiting gardeners externally.

[4]
b.

Explain one advantage and one disadvantage for GC of using off-the-job training for the cleaners who would like to become gardeners.

[4]
c.

With reference to two motivation theories, examine the motivation of cleaners at GC.

[10]
d.

Markscheme

Ethical objectives are the goals of a business based on a set of values or moral beliefs. They should cover all the actions of an organization and guide its decision-making process and strategies. Ethical objectives at GC: using
environmentally friendly products to reduce pollution; paying fair wages.

Accept any other relevant definition.

N.B. no application required. Do not credit examples alone. The candidate must provide a definition.

Award [1] for a basic definition that conveys partial knowledge and understanding (Ethical objectives are the goals of a business based on a set of values or moral beliefs).

Award [2] for a full definition that conveys knowledge and understanding similar to the answer above, especially the idea that ethical objectives are more expansive than doing some ethically upstanding act (giving to a charity, paying for employees’ attendance at night school, etc.)

a.

Advantages could include:

Disadvantages of recruiting gardeners externally:

Accept any other relevant advantage or disadvantage.

Mark as 2 + 2.

Award [1] for identifying or describing the advantage / disadvantage of recruiting gardeners externally and a further [1] for a development with respect to GC. Award a maximum of [2].

[2] cannot be awarded per advantage / disadvantage if the response lacks either explanation and / or application.

For example:

b.

Advantages include:

Disadvantages include:

Mark as 2 + 2.

Award [1] for identifying or describing the advantage / disadvantage of off-the-job training and a further [1] for a development with respect to GC. Award a maximum of [2].

[2] cannot be awarded per advantage / disadvantage if the response lacks either explanation and / or application.

For example:

c.

GC wants to recruit professional gardeners and pay them higher wages. This decision is causing resentment among current cleaners at GC.

Candidates may refer to the following motivation theories: the works of Taylor, Maslow, Herzberg, Adams, Pink.

Candidates are expected to use two theories in order to examine the motivation of cleaners. Candidates are tested on their ability to apply theories with constant use of, and reference to, the information from the stimulus.

Candidates should demonstrate an understanding that paying gardeners a higher wage is causing insecurity and a feeling of injustice among cleaners. It is likely that they are scared of the change. Some of them have worked for GC for over two decades. Consequently, the cleaners are becoming demotivated and may reduce their efforts. Some employees might not be interested in training to become gardeners but want to be treated fairly.

Accept any relevant theory that is applied to the information given in the stimulus material.

Theorists and theories should be applied not just mentioned. If a candidate does not apply the theories, maximum award [2].

Accept any other relevant examination.

A conclusion with judgment is expected.

A balanced response is one that covers two motivation theories.

Marks should be allocated according to the SL Paper 2 markbands on page 3 with further guidance below.

For one relevant issue that is one-sided, award up to [3]. For more than one relevant issue that is one-sided, award up to a maximum of [4].

Award a maximum of [6] if the answer is of a standard that shows balanced analysis and understanding throughout the response with reference to the stimulus material but there is no judgment/conclusion.

Candidates cannot reach the [7–8] markband if they give judgment/conclusions that are not based on analysis/explanation already given in their answer.

d.

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.
[N/A]
b.
[N/A]
c.
[N/A]
d.

Syllabus sections

Last exams 2023 » Unit 1: Business organization and environment » 1.3 Organizational objectives » Ethical objectives and corporate social responsibility (CSR)
Last exams 2023 » Unit 1: Business organization and environment » 1.3 Organizational objectives
Last exams 2023 » Unit 1: Business organization and environment

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