The Roles & Responsibilities of Employees (Edexcel IGCSE Business): Revision Note
Exam code: 4BS1
Roles and responsibilities
The organisational structure of a business determines the roles, responsibilities and relationships between individuals in an organisation
Business roles
The role of directors
Larger businesses often have a board of directors who make key strategic business decisions such as
Implementing new corporate policies
Investment of retained profit and share capital
Growth objectives
The board normally consists of a senior employee from each department, officers (such as treasurer or secretary) and the owner or chief executive officer (CEO) of a business
The role of managers
Managers have many responsibilities in the business and help it to operate effectively on a day-to-day basis
Types of managers include senior and functional managers, line managers and supervisors
Roles and responsibilities of managers
Role | Responsibilities |
|---|---|
Senior manager |
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Functional manager |
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Supervisor/team leader |
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The role of operational and support staff
Operational staff complete tasks to which they are directed by their manager(s)
E.g. In a department store operational staff include customer service representatives, sales assistants and security staff
Support staff assist with the non-core operations of a business
E.g. In a bank support staff may include cleaners, IT technicians and human resources assistants
Delegation
Delegation is a process where responsibility for specific tasks is given to subordinates by managers
Delegation usually involves transferring authority from manager to subordinate
E.g. the Human Resources Director of a large company delegates authority for recruitment and training to the Recruitment and Training Manager
Delegation is particularly important in businesses with a flat organisational structure, where managers have wide spans of control
The advantages of delegation
Advantages for managers | Advantages for workers |
|---|---|
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Despite its advantages, some managers are reluctant to delegate as they lose some control over decision-making
Managers may need support to be able to balance trust and control to delegate appropriate tasks
Autocratic leaders may not be willing to give authority to others
Some managers may feel threatened by highly skilled subordinates seeking promotion
Examiner Tips and Tricks
In the exam you could be asked to analyse delegation as a way to motivate workers. Remember, whilst some may see having more authority as a non-financial incentive, some workers may be anxious about taking on extra responsibility or lack the appropriate skills.
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