Business Studies

COURSE CONTENT

YEAR 11 – Unit 1: Starting a business Pupils are introduced to the fundamentals of starting a business. They will examine why businesses start and the resources required to maintain and grow them. Pupils explore the aims and the impact that various stakeholder groups may have on businesses. Pupils explore marketing options and consider the impact of ebusiness on potential growth strategies. They also consider why businesses conform to quality assurance standards and health and safety legislation.

YEAR 12 Unit 2 – Developing a business In this unit, pupils examine recruitment and selection practices and analyse the importance of a business having motivated and well-trained employees. They identify the signs of business success and failure and evaluate the different ways in which businesses grow. Pupils learn about business finance. They examine the sources of finance and complete basic cash flow forecasts, as well as interpreting simple financial statements. When analysing business performance, pupils consider concepts such as ratio analysis and break-even (BE).

Unit 3 – Planning a business In this synoptic unit, which may examine any area of content from the specification, pupils apply knowledge and understanding drawn from across the whole specification to a real business context. Links to other units appear in italics. Pupils carry out research and apply it, together with their own knowledge, to a range of circumstances. They examine and evaluate specified areas of a business plan and make reasoned recommendations. This unit is assessed by controlled assessment.

Unit AS 1: Introduction to Business
This unit introduces pupils to the business world. It begins, as many businesses do, with the entrepreneur and what motivates individuals to develop business enterprises. Pupils become familiar with different business ownership structures and the key stakeholder groups that may have an interest in how a business is managed. Pupils acquire a critical understanding of the importance of quality and its significance in the competitive marketplace, including recruiting and training a
quality labour force and the production process. Pupils should appreciate the impact of management and leadership styles on employee motivation and business operations.

Unit AS 2: Growing the Business
In this unit pupils explore the role of technology in growing a business and how it helps with decision making. They also understand the impact of competition on a business. Pupils develop a critical understanding of the marketing process, marketing strategy and the use of e-business. Pupils also develop an appreciation of the role of accounting and financial information in business decision making and financial control.

A2 1: Strategic Decision Making
Pupils identify business objectives and the potential for these to conflict with those of various stakeholder groups. Pupils analyse and evaluate stakeholder management strategies.  Pupils gain an insight into business planning and the need to manage risk and uncertainty when developing business strategies. They also analyse the importance of accounting and financial information in making strategic business decisions.

A2 2: The Competitive Business Environment
In this unit, pupils examine the macroeconomic framework that businesses operate in. They evaluate the impact of globalisation on business activities. Pupils develop an appreciation of the importance of ethics and sustainability on business decision making and culture. They also evaluate the influence of stakeholders on business operations. Pupils examine how businesses are affected by and react to change in the dynamic and technology-driven business environment.