| Date | November 2017 | Marks available | 4 | Reference code | 17N.2.SL.TZ0.5 |
| Level | Standard level | Paper | Paper 2 | Time zone | Time zone 0 |
| Command term | Explain | 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.
Explain one advantage and one disadvantage for GC of recruiting gardeners externally.
Explain one advantage and one disadvantage for GC of using off-the-job training for the cleaners who would like to become gardeners.
With reference to two motivation theories, examine the motivation of cleaners at GC.
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.)
Advantages could include:
- GC will have access to a larger pool of applicants for the job. They will increase their chances of recruiting trained professional gardeners to offer a wider range of quality services.
- New employees will have the necessary professional qualifications when hired.
- Recruiting externally could bring younger workers to the company that could help to motivate current employees and provide a fresher outlook at GC.
Disadvantages of recruiting gardeners externally:
- Recruiting gardeners externally can damage morale and motivation at GC. Cleaners may feel it lessens their chances of becoming gardeners. Productivity in the cleaning services may fall. Conflict with the union may
arise and erode the working environment at GC. - External recruitment could take more time, especially if in the labour market it is difficult to find professional gardeners.
- Externally recruited gardeners could take more time to adjust and adapt to the organization.
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:
- For an identification or a description of an advantage / disadvantage with or without application [1].
- For explanation of an advantage / disadvantage with no application [1].
- For explanation of an advantage / disadvantage and application [2].
Advantages include:
- An external provider is likely to have more expertise and knowhow in gardening than GC.
- It could help motivate cleaners who may see training to become a gardener as a form of promotion due to the higher wage paid.
Disadvantages include:
- Assuming that the training will take place during work time, there will be some disruption to productivity in addition to the cost incurred for the training itself.
- It is difficult for GC to monitor what the trainees have learnt. Will there be an examination at the end of the course?
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:
- For an identification or a description of an advantage / disadvantage with or without application [1].
- For explanation of an advantage / disadvantage with no application [1].
- For explanation of an advantage / disadvantage and application [2].
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.
- Herzberg’s motivation factors, for example, can be widened so as to include job satisfaction through being treated fairly, especially as the cleaners perceive the gardeners to be at the same skill level as themselves.
- Candidates could use Adams’ theory in relation to the rewards from GC not meeting the efforts that cleaners are putting in. Though HR are considering offering employee share ownership scheme, which, if introduced, may cause resentment among shareholders as their wealth is shared.
- Maslow’s higher level of needs can be reached due to empowerment and trust. Although cleaners are often low skilled they are trusted to work in various environments.
- Taylor says that people are motivated by economic factors. The cleaners may feel demotivated from being paid less than gardeners.
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.
