Eve makes all the major decisions in the business.\n\nAnalyse one effect of Eve's style of management on staff motivation.
How to approach this question
1. **Identify the management style:** Based on the fact "Eve makes all the major decisions", identify her style (it's autocratic).
2. **State an effect:** Explain how this style typically affects staff motivation (e.g., it can lower it).
3. **Explain why:** Give reasons why this style demotivates staff (e.g., they feel undervalued, lack of autonomy).
4. **Use the case study:** Link your analysis to the evidence in Item C that "staff turnover in the buying team has increased". Explain what this shows.
5. **Analyse the impact on STC:** What are the consequences of this demotivation and high staff turnover for the business?
Full Answer
Eve's management style is **autocratic**. This is a style where the leader makes decisions individually without input from team members.\n\n**Effects on Staff Motivation:**\n* **Negative:** It can be highly demotivating. Employees may feel untrusted, undervalued, and that their skills are not being used. This can lead to low job satisfaction.\n* **Consequences:** Low motivation can result in lower productivity, more mistakes, and a lack of creativity. A key consequence, mentioned in Item C, is **high staff turnover** ("staff turnover in the buying team has increased"). This means employees are leaving the company, which is expensive and disruptive.\n* **Positive (in some situations):** In situations requiring quick, decisive action, it can be effective. However, in a creative field like fashion buying, it is generally less effective as it stifles ideas from the team.
Common mistakes
✗ Not identifying the management style as autocratic.\n✗ Not using the key piece of evidence from Item C: "Recently staff turnover in the buying team has increased." This is a clear consequence of the situation.\n✗ Discussing management styles in general without focusing on the effect on *motivation*.
Expert