AQASpec 3.4Foundation & Higher~30 min

Human Resources

Business · Topic revision workspace

Topic progress0%

Read the notes, score 80% and know 75% of the cards.

Topic overview

What you need to know

Human resources covers organisational structure, recruitment, selection, training, motivation and the financial and non-financial rewards used to support performance.

Exam tip

Link the HR decision to employee behaviour, productivity, cost, quality or staff retention.

Revision notes

Core ideas

Secure these ideas first. Say each definition in your own words, then connect it to the topic overview.

  • Organisational structure: The arrangement of roles, responsibilities and authority in a business.
  • Span of control: The number of employees directly managed by one manager.
  • Recruitment: The process of attracting and selecting people for a job.

Revision notes

Apply it in the exam

The exam will rarely ask for an isolated definition. Practise selecting the right idea and using it as part of a complete explanation or method.

  • Training: Developing employee knowledge and skills for current or future work.
  • Motivation: The willingness of employees to work effectively towards objectives.
  • Labour productivity: Output produced per employee over a period.

Core knowledge

Key facts for Human Resources

1

Organisational structure

The arrangement of roles, responsibilities and authority in a business.

2

Span of control

The number of employees directly managed by one manager.

3

Recruitment

The process of attracting and selecting people for a job.

4

Training

Developing employee knowledge and skills for current or future work.

5

Motivation

The willingness of employees to work effectively towards objectives.

6

Labour productivity

Output produced per employee over a period.

Active recall

Close the notes and answer these

  1. 1.Without looking, explain organisational structure and give one example or consequence.
  2. 2.Without looking, explain span of control and give one example or consequence.
  3. 3.Without looking, explain recruitment and give one example or consequence.
  4. 4.Without looking, explain training and give one example or consequence.

Content reviewed 23 July 2026 against the current linked specification.

Finished learning?

Mark the notes complete, then test what you can recall.