Explain one advantage and one disadvantage to SSE of using internal recruitment for its new managers.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] Quicker - fewer applicants will apply so quicker to process application forms
2. [1] Cheaper than external recruitment as no expensive advertising is required
3. [1] Applicant is already known to the business so already know their skills, abilities, and reliability – know if able to do the job
4. [1] Applicant already knows the organisation and how it works so no induction training required – reduces training costs / quicker to get started in the new job and be productive
5. [1] Motivating for other employees – as can see progression routes for themselves – may make them work harder for the business and produce more output
6. [1] No new ideas come into the business - not become aware of different methods used by other companies – so more efficient working practices may not be introduced
7. [1] There may be rivalry and jealousy amongst existing employees as they did not gain promotion – may have an unhappy atmosphere in the workplace - less productive
8. [1] There may not be suitable candidates internally – more qualified/skilled people may be outside the business – these will not be employed if only internal recruitment is used
9. [1] There will still be a vacancy to fill
10. [3] For example: No new ideas will come into the business (1) and SSE will not become aware of different methods used by other companies (1) that make sports helmets for bicycle riding (app) so more efficient working practices may not be introduced into the factory (1).
11. [App] Application might include: bicycle riding; cricket; skateboarding; flow production; operated successfully for 30 years; build its own factories in its most important foreign markets; need to communicate between its head office and its new factories in other countries; production workers are specialised in one task.
12. [Medium] Too many people for the message to pass between – as at each stage the message can be distorted – hence reaches the receiver in a different form than when it started off so not effective in communicating the intended message
13. [Medium] Message may be lost so receiver never sees it - hence message is not acted upon – for example if a message about an order for bicycle riding helmets to be manufactured is emailed to the factory and it goes into junk mail and is not seen the order will not be made
14. [Medium] Wrong channel used – if the communication is urgent but the communication channel chosen is slow - such as letter used when telephone call would have been more appropriate
15. [Medium] Technical breakdown – internet goes down/mobile phone loses connection/battery is flat - message is not passed on and sender may not be aware of this
16. [Sender] Unclear message - language used is too difficult to understand/jargon used/speaks too quickly
17. [Sender] Message too long – includes too much information about children's cricket helmets so the key message is lost amongst the rest – important points not grasped and acted upon
18. [Sender] Sent to the wrong person/wrong message sent - message not appropriate and may not be passed on so is lost
19. [Receiver] Not listening - when message is being given by phone about orders for components to make bicycle riding safety helmets
20. [Receiver] Lack of trust - receiver may not like or trust the sender and therefore the message may not be fully trusted and acted upon immediately
21. [Receiver] Poor attitude – casual approach to the message and no urgency to act upon it
22. [Receiver] Speaks a different language and does not clearly understand the message sent
23. [JUS] Problems with the medium used to send a message about the sport safety helmets is the easiest to overcome as they can insist that feedback is given and hence any problems with the message can be corrected. If no feedback is received, then the message has probably been lost. Problems with the sender and receiver are more difficult to correct as there are many senders and receivers in the different factories and it is more difficult to adjust their behaviour when communicating between factories to correct problems that arise.
24. [JUS] Problems with the sender of a message about sport safety helmets is the easiest to overcome as instructions to keep messages short and use clear simple language to avoid problems of messages being misunderstood can be communicated to all employees.
25. [JUS] Problems with the receiver of messages in the new factories in other countries about sport safety helmets is the easiest to overcome by indicating the level of importance of the message so important messages will be read straight away and not be ignored until too late.