Resource Management and Consumer studies

2.1 Family resource management

2.1.1 Components of management

2.1.2 Attributes affecting management

Purpose of resource management
Management systems
The family as a managerial unit

Inputs:

• human and material resources, needs, wants, goals

Throughputs:

• planning, organising, implementing

Outputs:

• goals achieved, changes in values, goals and standards, satisfaction, evaluation, and effective use of feedback

Decision-making and communication

Factors that affect management, to include:

• stages in life-cycle, employment pattern, culture, values, standards, sex roles, management of dual role, life-style as determined by socio-economic status and composition of family

Use of case studies to plan routines in relation to a variety of circumstances suited to modern patterns of living, including issues of work sharing, responsibility for family tasks, delegation, and gender equity.

Use of check-lists in planning and implementing routines or work schedules.

1.3 Preparation and processing of food
3.1.4 Family functions
3.1.6 Family as a caring unit
- roles and responsibilities,
gender issues

1.1.1 Food choices
1.3.3 Meal management and planning
3.1.3 Family structures
3.1.6 Family as a caring unit

The household as a financial unit within the economy

Household income with regard to social factors:

• age, sex, social class, and culture

Wages, salaries, pensions, social welfare allowances and benefits as actual or potential sources of household income

Household expenditure:

• patterns of household expenditure relative to varying levels of household income
• essential and discretionary expenditure patterns

Planning of personal and family budgets to ensure effective management of financial resources, including credit

Housing finance: factors determining requirements, sources and conditions attaching, mortgage protection

Methods of payment (cash or credit) for household goods and services, to include:

• criteria for selection, availability

A brief outline of the protection provided to the consumer by current legislation, to include:

• Hire Purchase Act (1946, 1960)
• Consumer Credit Act (1995)

Methods of saving

Insurance, to include:

• pay-related social insurance, health insurance, household

insurance, life assurance

Case studies of sample household budgets for families living on varying incomes.

Investigation of different forms of credit available, from newspaper advertisements, brochures, mail order catalogues, credit card promotional material, etc.

Investigation of the different types of home finance available, comparing costs and conditions.

Comparisons of cash prices with cost of different forms of credit.

3.1.4 Family functions
2.2.1 Consumer choices
3.1.4 Family functions
1.3.3 Meal management and planning

• resources available

3.1.7 Family Home Protection Act (1976)

• making a will

2.1.4 Housing

2.1.5 Household
technology

2.1.6 Textiles

Factors that determine individual and
family housing choices, to include:

• socio-economic factors, national housing policy, trends in housing development, availability

Technological developments available to the household and their
contribution to the management of the home

Consumer considerations in selecting a large and a small household appliance, to include:

• selection criteria, obtaining consumer information, design, efficiency

Underlying working principles and guidelines for use of:

• one appliance with a motor
• one appliance with a heating element
• one refrigeration appliance
• a microwave oven

Use of textiles as a resource for household and clothing purposes
Selection criteria:

• fitness for purpose and suitability in use determined by fabric properties, cost, personal choice, aesthetic appeal

Textile care:

• basic scientific principles underlying the care of fabrics relative to their general properties

Safety considerations in the selection of household textiles

Students conduct individual studies on one large and one small household appliance.

Simple scientific tests to compare shrinkage, water-repellence and the crease recovery of a variety of fabrics

2.1.2 Attributes affecting management
3.1.3 Family structures
3.1.4 Family functions

1.3.4 Food preparation equipment

2.2.1 Consumer choices
2.2.2 Consumer responsibility
2.2.3 Consumer protection

1.3.4 Food preparation and cooking processes
1.3.10 Food safety and hygiene

2.1.3 Management of household
financial resources
2.2.1 Consumer choices

2.2 Consumer
studies

2.2.1 Consumer
choices

2.2.2 Consumer
responsibility

2.2.3 Consumer
protection

The identification and effects of one fire-retardant finish

Fire Safety (Domestic Furniture)
Order (1988):

• identification and purpose of the order and the labels specified

Factors that affect consumers' decision-making, with specific
reference to varying household income, merchandising and advertising, packaging and labelling

The purchasing process, to include:

• classification of retail outlets, retail psychology, shopping patterns, consumer research

Responsibility of the consumer in informed decision-making, with regard to:

• consumer information and rights
• management of the environment, to include use of renewable and non-renewable resources, recycling, pollution

The rights of the consumer as defined
by current legislation, to include:

• Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act (1980)
• Consumer Information Act (1978)

Voluntary and statutory bodies concerned with consumer protection

Procedures to be followed when a problem occurs with a product or service, to include the function and operation of the small claims procedure