BUSINESS H431 For first assessment in 2017 ocr.org.uk/alevelbusiness

Transcription

1 A LEVEL Specificatin BUSINESS H431 Fr first assessment in 017 cr.rg.uk/alevelbusiness

2 We will infrm centres abut any changes t the specificatin. We will als publish changes n ur website. The latest versin f ur specificatin will always be the ne n ur website (cr.rg.uk) and this may differ frm printed versins. Cpyright 014 OCR. All rights reserved. Cpyright OCR retains the cpyright n all its publicatins, including the specificatins. Hwever, registered centres fr OCR are permitted t cpy material frm this specificatin bklet fr their wn internal use. Oxfrd Cambridge and RSA Examinatins is a Cmpany Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England. Registered cmpany number Registered ffice: 1 Hills Rad Cambridge CB1 EU. OCR is an exempt charity.

3 Cntents Intrducing A Level in Business (frm September 015) Teaching and learning resurces Prfessinal Develpment ii iii iv 1 Why chse an OCR A Level in Business? 1 1a. Why chse an OCR qualificatin? 1 1b. Why chse an OCR A Level in Business? 1c. What are the key features f this specificatin? 3 1d. Hw d I find ut mre infrmatin? 3 The specificatin verview 4 a. Overview f A Level in Business (H431) 4 b. Intrductin t cntent f A Level in Business (H431) 5 c. Cntent f A Level in Business (H431) 5 d. Prir learning, knwledge and prgressin 43 3 Assessment f OCR A Level in Business 44 3a. Frms f assessment 44 3b. Assessment bjectives (AO) 45 3c. Assessment availability 46 3d. Retaking the qualificatin 46 3e. Assessment f extended respnse 46 3f. Synptic assessment 46 3g. Calculating qualificatin results 46 4 Admin: what yu need t knw 47 4a. Pre-assessment 47 4b. Accessibility and special cnsideratin 48 4c. External assessment arrangements 48 4d. Results and certificates 49 4e. Pst-results services 49 4f. Malpractice 49 5 Appendices 50 5a. Overlap with ther qualificatins 50 5b. Avidance f bias 50 5c. Quantitative skills annex 50 A Level in Business i

4 Intrducing A Level in Business (frm September 015) The OCR A Level in Business will encurage learners t be inspired, mtivated and challenged by fllwing a brad, cherent, practical, satisfying and wrthwhile curse f study. It prvides insight int, and experience f, hw businesses wrk, stimulating learners curisity and encuraging them t engage with cmmerce in their everyday lives and t make infrmed chices abut further study and abut career chices. Each cmpnent includes synptic assessment, s learners will have a hlistic learning experience and be able t apply cncepts t different situatins. The aims f this specificatin are t encurage learners t: Develp a critical understanding f rganisatins and their ability t meet sciety s needs and wants Understand that business behaviur can be studied frm a range f perspectives Generate enterprising and creative appraches t business pprtunities, prblems and issues Be aware f the ethical dilemmas and respnsibilities faced by rganisatins and individuals Take a mre strategic view f business pprtunities, prblems and issues. Meet the team We have a dedicated team f peple wrking n ur A Level in Business qualificatins. Find ut mre abut ur Business team at cr.rg.uk/businessteam If yu need specialist advice, guidance r supprt, get in tuch as fllws: ii A Level in Business

5 Teaching and learning resurces We recgnise that the intrductin f a new specificatin can bring challenges fr implementatin and teaching. Our aim is t help yu at every stage and we re wrking hard t prvide a practical package f supprt in clse cnsultatin with teachers and ther experts, s we can help yu t make the change. Designed t supprt prgressin fr all Our resurces are designed t prvide yu with a range f teaching activities and suggestins s yu can select the best apprach fr yur particular students. Yu are the experts n hw yur students learn and ur aim is t supprt yu in the best way we can. We want t Supprt yu with a bdy f knwledge that grws thrughut the lifetime f the specificatin Prvide yu with a range f suggestins s yu can select the best activity, apprach r cntext fr yur particular students Make it easier fr yu t explre and interact with ur resurce materials, in particular t develp yur wn schemes f wrk Create an nging cnversatin s we can develp materials that wrk fr yu.. Plenty f useful resurces Yu ll have fur main types f subject-specific teaching and learning resurces at yur fingertips: Delivery Guides Transitin Guides Tpic Explratin Packs Lessn Elements. Alng with subject-specific resurces, yu ll als have access t a selectin f generic resurces that fcus n skills develpment and prfessinal guidance fr teachers. Skills Guides we ve prduced a set f Skills Guides that are nt specific t Business, but each cvers a tpic that culd be relevant t a range f qualificatins fr example, cmmunicatin, legislatin and research. Dwnlad the guides at cr.rg.uk/ skillsguides Active Results a free nline results analysis service t help yu review the perfrmance f individual students r yur whle schl. It prvides access t detailed results data, enabling mre cmprehensive analysis f results in rder t give yu a mre accurate measurement f the achievements f yur centre and individual students. Fr mre details refer t cr.rg. uk/activeresults. A Level in Business iii

6 Prfessinal Develpment Take advantage f ur imprved Prfessinal Develpment Prgramme, designed with yu in mind. Whether yu want t lk at ur new digital training r search fr training materials, yu can find what yu re lking fr all in ne place at the CPD Hub. An intrductin t the new specificatins: We ll be running events t help yu get t grips with ur A Level in Business qualificatin. These events are designed t help prepare yu fr first teaching and t supprt yur delivery at every stage. Watch ut fr details at cpdhub.cr.rg.uk. T receive the latest infrmatin abut the training we ll be ffering, please register fr A Level updates at cr.rg.uk/updates. iv A Level in Business

7 1 Why chse an OCR A Level in Business? 1a. Why chse an OCR qualificatin? Chse OCR and yu ve gt the reassurance that yu re wrking with ne f the UK s leading exam bards. Our new A Level in Business curse has been develped in cnsultatin with teachers, emplyers and higher educatin t prvide learners with a qualificatin that s relevant t them and meets their needs. We re part f the Cambridge Assessment Grup, Eurpe s largest assessment agency and a department f the University f Cambridge. Cambridge Assessment plays a leading rle in develping and delivering assessments thrughut the wrld, perating in ver 150 cuntries. We wrk with a range f educatin prviders, including schls, clleges, wrkplaces and ther institutins in bth the public and private sectrs. Over 13,000 centres chse ur A Levels, GCSEs and vcatinal qualificatins including Cambridge Natinals and Cambridge Technicals. Our Specificatins We believe in develping specificatins that help yu bring the subject t life and inspire yur students t achieve mre. We ve created teacher-friendly specificatins based n extensive research and engagement with the teaching cmmunity. They re designed t be straightfrward and accessible s that yu can tailr the delivery f the curse t suit yur needs. We aim t encurage learners t becme respnsible fr their wn learning, cnfident in discussing ideas, innvative and engaged. We prvide a range f supprt services designed t help yu at every stage, frm preparatin thrugh t the delivery f ur specificatins. This includes: A wide range f high-quality creative resurces including: Delivery Guides Transitin Guides Tpic Explratin Packs Lessn Elements and much mre. Access t Subject Advisrs t supprt yu thrugh the transitin and thrughut the lifetimes f the specificatins. CPD/Training fr teachers t intrduce the qualificatins and prepare yu fr first teaching. Active Results ur free results analysis service t help yu review the perfrmance f individual students r whle schls. All A level qualificatins ffered by OCR are accredited by Ofqual, the Regulatr fr qualificatins ffered in England. The accreditatin number fr OCR s A Level in Business is QN: 601/4675/8. 1 A Level in Business 1

8 1b. Why chse an OCR A Level in Business? 1 The OCR A Level in Business will encurage learners t be inspired, mtivated and challenged by fllwing a brad, cherent, practical, satisfying and wrthwhile curse f study. It prvides insight int, and experience f, hw businesses wrk, stimulating learners curisity and encuraging them t engage with cmmerce in their everyday lives and t make infrmed chices abut further study and abut career chices. The OCR A Level in Business is designed t allw centres t manage a diversity f different tpics in an efficient and simple way. This qualificatin ffers learners an pprtunity t learn abut prject management. This is a vital cmpnent f pst-schl life and is f particular relevance t Further Educatin, Higher Educatin (HE) and the wrkplace. This specificatin has been develped in cnjunctin with the team that created the previus OCR Business Studies specificatin, and als with input frm centres, HE and industry, thus ensuring that we have a balanced view f the requirements f the specificatin. The specificatin cntent has been updated t capture and inspire the learner s interest in the way in which businesses perate in the mdern wrld. The experience f the past three years f assessment has clearly demnstrated that OCR has the knwledge and skills t develp reliable and valid qualificatins. The OCR A Level in Business is als relevant t the mdern and changing wrld f business. It enables teachers t tailr the qualificatin t meet the needs f the learners, allwing relevant industry examples which meet the needs f the curse t be used. It prvides the pprtunity t study a wide range f cncepts which can be applied in a variety f cntexts. If learners wish t g n t Higher Educatin, many universities nw recgnise the value f a business qualificatin. Learners culd then g n t a career in law, business r finance fr example. Each cmpnent cmprises f synptic assessment, s learners will have an hlistic learning experience and be able t apply cncepts t different situatins. Aims and learning utcmes The aims f this specificatin are t encurage learners t: develp an enthusiasm fr studying business gain an hlistic understanding f business in a range f cntexts develp a critical understanding f rganisatins and their ability t meet sciety s needs and wants understand that business behaviur can be studied frm a range f perspectives generate enterprising and creative appraches t business pprtunities, prblems and issues be aware f the ethical dilemmas and respnsibilities faced by rganisatins and individuals take a mre strategic view f business pprtunities, prblems and issues acquire a range f relevant business and generic skills, including decisin making, prblem slving, the challenging f assumptins and critical analysis apply numerical skills in a range f business cntexts. A Level in Business

9 1c. What are the key features f this specificatin? This specificatin: has increased emphasis n decisin making, with learners required t cnsider why the size and scpe f a business makes a difference t the actin taken has true synptic assessment, meaning that learners will be taught skills and be able t apply them t different cncepts e.g. the relatinship between break-even cncept in bth prductin and sales uses real businesses in the assessment t enable learners t identify mre with prblem slving in real-life situatins requires learners t apply mathematical skills, which will enable them t develp their skills, knwledge and understanding f business is c-teachable with the AS Level in Business curse. The OCR A Level in Business prvides the ideal fundatin fr thse learners wh wish t pursue further study f business r related wrk, at the same time as ffering a cmplete curse fr thse wh are interested in achieving greater understanding f what they see in the news and the wrld arund them. There is a simple, straight-frward assessment structure with n cursewrk, just three tw-hur examinatins at the end f the curse 1 1d. Hw d I find ut mre infrmatin? If already using OCR specificatins yu can cntact us at: If nt already registered yu can find ut mre infrmatin at: If yu are nt yet an apprved centre and wuld like t becme ne g t: Find ut mre? Ask a Subject Advisr: OCR.Business@cr.rg.uk Teacher supprt: A Level in Business 3

10 The specificatin verview a. Overview f A Level in Business (H431) Learners must cmplete all cmpnents (01, 0 and 03) t be awarded the OCR A Level in Business. Cntent Overview Assessment Overview Business bjectives and strategic decisins External influences facing businesses Marketing and marketing strategies Operatinal strategy Human resurces Accunting and financial cnsideratins The glbal envirnment f business * Indicates synptic assessment. Operating in a lcal business envirnment (01*) 80 marks hur written paper The UK business envirnment (0*) 80 marks hur written paper The glbal business envirnment (03*) 80 marks hur written paper 33.33% f ttal A level 33.33% f ttal A level 33.33% f ttal A level 4 A Level in Business

11 b. Intrductin t cntent f A Level in Business (H431) The main areas f study in the OCR A Level in Business include accunting and finance, external influences, marketing, peratins and peple in rganisatins. The required depth f study has been amplified within tpics such as marketing (the marketing mix, digital and internatinal marketing, service marketing), human resurces (recruitment, selectin and training, wrkfrce planning, appraisals), peratins management (research and develpment, stck cntrl and lgistics/supply chain slutins) and accunting and finance (final accunts, including the calculatin f prfit). The OCR A Level in Business will prvide learners with the ability t apply basic business cncepts t a wider range f cntexts, understand and apply sphisticated cncepts and techniques, analyse, interpret and evaluate cmplex business infrmatin and take a mre strategic view f business pprtunities, prblems and issues. It will develp skills such as data analysis, prblem slving and essay writing. These transferable skills can be used within any subsequent curse f study. They can als be applied by any learner prgressing int a managerial rle within any rganisatin. It is imprtant that the cntent f this specificatin is seen as a whle and nt as a series f discrete elements, as the cntent listed in ne sectin may be assessed in any cntext. The fllwing detailed cntent is presented in three clumns which detail the areas f study as required by the Subject Criteria, the breaking dwn f thse areas f study int specific tpics and finally, what the learners shuld be able t d as a result f fllwing the OCR A Level in Business. The entire specificatin can and will be assessed within each f the three cmpnents. Althugh sme techniques and mdels are listed within a particular element f the specificatin, such techniques and mdels can and will be assessed within any apprpriate cntext. Fr example, althugh SWOT analysis is listed under the heading Marketing resurces, learners culd be asked t undertake a SWOT analysis in any cntext. c. Cntent f A Level in Business (H431) Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: Intrductin t Business Enterprise explain what is meant by an entrepreneur and by enterprise explain what is meant by the factrs f prductin: land, labur, capital and enterprise evaluate the impact and imprtance f the availability f factrs f prductin fr the stakehlders f a business evaluate the impact n and the imprtance t the ecnmy f entrepreneurship and enterprise explain the rle f the entrepreneur in making business decisins evaluate the impact and imprtance f entrepreneurial activity fr the stakehlders f a business. A Level in Business 5

12 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: Intrductin t Business Business sectrs Types f business Franchises and franchisees Business functins Business size and grwth distinguish between primary, secndary and tertiary rganisatins distinguish between private, public and third sectr rganisatins distinguish between lcal, natinal and internatinal/ glbal markets distinguish between a natinal and multinatinal business. explain the legal structure f business: including sle trader, partnership, limited liability partnership, private limited cmpany and public limited cmpany explain what is meant by limited liability and unlimited liability evaluate the factrs affecting the chice f legal structure f a business evaluate the impact and imprtance f legal structure fr the stakehlders f a business. explain what is meant by a franchise distinguish between franchisrs and franchisees evaluate the factrs affecting the use f franchises t a business evaluate the impact and imprtance f franchising t the stakehlders f a business explain what is meant by c-peratives evaluate the impact and imprtance f a c-perative structure t the stakehlders f a business. explain the functins f business, including marketing, prductin, peratins management, accunting and finance, as well as custmer service, sales and supprt services evaluate the impact and imprtance f the functins f business t the stakehlders f a business. distinguish between small, medium and large enterprises explain hw and why the size f a business is measured evaluate the factrs affecting the size f a business evaluate the impact and imprtance f the size f business t the stakehlders f a business. 6 A Level in Business

13 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: Intrductin t Business External grwth explain what is meant by a jint venture explain what is meant by a strategic alliance evaluate the impact and imprtance f jint ventures t a business and its stakehlders Business bjectives and strategy Different stakehlder and business bjectives evaluate the impact and imprtance f a strategic alliance t a business and its stakehlders. distinguish between rganisatinal aims, crprate/ business bjectives, strategic bjectives, tactical bjectives and peratinal bjectives explain the imprtance f setting SMART bjectives t a business and its stakehlders explain what is meant by the hierarchy f bjectives evaluate the impact and imprtance f setting aims and bjectives explain hw the sectr in which a business perates affects its aims and bjectives explain hw bjectives can be cmmunicated evaluate the cnsequences f mis-cmmunicating bjectives t a business and its stakehlders evaluate ways in which the bjectives f a business culd be better cmmunicated explain why the bjectives f a business may need t change recmmend and justify the aims and bjectives fr a business and hw any changes may be implemented. Stakehlders explain what is meant by the term stakehlder identify the internal and external stakehlders f a business analyse the bjectives f the stakehlders f a business explain the reasns fr cnflicts between different stakehlder grups explain why a business needs t manage the cnflicting bjectives f its stakehlders evaluate the impact n a business f different stakehlders having cnflicting bjectives recmmend and justify hw a business shuld deal with the cnflicting bjectives f stakehlders evaluate the influence different stakehlders have n a business including its aims and bjectives, decisin making, behaviur and perfrmance evaluate the impact f business decisins n different stakehlders grups. A Level in Business 7

14 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: Business bjectives and strategy Missin statement Crprate scial respnsibility (CSR) Strategy and implementatin explain the nature and purpse f a missin statement recmmend and justify a suitable missin statement fr a business evaluate the advantages and disadvantages t a business f having a missin statement evaluate the impact f changing a missin statement n a business and its stakehlders. explain what is meant by crprate scial respnsibility (CSR) explain the ptential cnflict between CSR and prfit and ther bjectives evaluate the impact and imprtance f a CSR plicy t a business and its stakehlders evaluate the advantages and disadvantages f a business s CSR prfile t the business and its stakehlders recmmend and justify hw a business culd imprve its CSR prfile evaluate the impact and imprtance f CSR t a business and its stakehlders. explain the relatinship between bjectives, strategy and tactics evaluate a business current r prpsed strategy recmmend and justify hw a business culd alter its strategy evaluate the impact and imprtance f changing a business strategy t the business and its stakehlders explain why a business needs t plan its implementatin strategy evaluate the impact and imprtance f a strategy fr a business and its stakehlders recmmend and justify a strategy fr a business. 8 A Level in Business

15 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: Business bjectives and strategy Business plan Risk and uncertainty Opprtunity cst explain the purpse f a business plan describe the main cntents f a business plan and explain why these are included in the plan evaluate the advantages and disadvantages t a business f having a business plan evaluate the impact and imprtance f a business plan t the stakehlders f a business explain what is meant by the Plan-D-Review cycle analyse hw the Plan-D-Review cycle can imprve a business perfrmance evaluate the impact and imprtance f a strategic review t a business and its stakehlders. explain what is meant by risk and reward explain the relatinship between risk and reward evaluate the relatinship between risk and reward in a business distinguish between quantifiable and unquantifiable risk evaluate quantifiable and unquantifiable risks t a business evaluate ways in which a business can reduce its level f risk evaluate the cnsequences t a business and its stakehlders f pr risk management evaluate the specific risks faced by an entrepreneur explain what is meant by uncertainty distinguish between internal and external causes f uncertainty in a business evaluate the impact f internal and external causes f uncertainty n a business and its stakehlders explain hw uncertainty can affect a business including effects n aims and bjectives, planning, decisin making, business analysis and frecasting. explain what is meant by pprtunity cst identify the pprtunity cst f a business decisin analyse the impact f pprtunity cst n business decisin making. A Level in Business 9

16 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: Business bjectives and strategy Cntingency planning and crisis management Mdels f strategic chice explain the nature and purpse f cntingency planning evaluate the advantages and disadvantages f cntingency planning t a business and its stakehlders evaluate the impact and imprtance f cntingency planning t a business and its stakehlders recmmend and justify a cntingency plan fr a business explain the nature and purpse f crisis management evaluate a business crisis management. explain the nature and purpse f Prter s Five Frces mdel evaluate a business psitin/prpsed psitin using Prter s Five Frces mdel evaluate the usefulness f Prter s Five Frces mdel t a business explain the nature and purpse f Prter s generic strategies evaluate a business psitin/prpsed psitin using Prter s generic strategies evaluate the usefulness f Prter s generic strategies t a business explain what is meant by cmpetitive advantage. 10 A Level in Business

17 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: Business bjectives and strategy Measures f Perfrmance: financial and nnfinancial distinguish between financial and nn-financial measures f business perfrmance identify financial measures f business perfrmance including final accunts, rati analysis, gearing, cash flw, budgets and variance analysis explain the imprtance t a business f using financial and nn-financial measures f business perfrmance calculate financial measures f business perfrmance interpret financial measures f business perfrmance explain the difference between cash flw and prfit distinguish between measures f liquidity, prfitability and efficiency explain why a business published accunts d nt prvide a cmplete picture f perfrmance identify nn-financial measures f business perfrmance including market share, resurce utilisatin, envirnmental impact, quality, custmer satisfactin etc. explain the imprtance t a business f using nnfinancial measures f business perfrmance explain why businesses measure perfrmance evaluate the advantages and disadvantages t a business f measuring perfrmance evaluate the perfrmance f a business using financial and nn-financial measures evaluate the imprtance f different types f perfrmance measures t different stakehlders evaluate the perfrmance f a business frm the pint f view f different stakehlders. A Level in Business 11

18 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: Business bjectives and strategy Frecasting explain the nature and purpse f frecasting evaluate the advantages and disadvantages f using frecasts t a business and its stakehlders distinguish between qualitative frecasting and quantitative frecasting describe structured methds f qualitative frecasting including Delphi technique and expert pinin describe unstructured methds f qualitative frecasting including brainstrming and intuitin evaluate the advantages and disadvantages t a business f using structured and unstructured methds f qualitative frecasting calculate and interpret a range f quantitative financial frecasts including sales, csts, prfit and cash flw explain what is meant by seasnal and cyclical variatins calculate cyclical variatin analyse hw seasnal and cyclical variatins impact n frecasting use crrelatins t analyse trends and make frecasts extraplate trends frm numerical r graphical data and interpret the utcme use time series analysis (mving averages dd number f years) t predict future values evaluate the usefulness f time series analysis fr a business recmmend and justify hw a business culd respnd t frecasts evaluate the imprtance f accurate frecasting t a business and its stakehlders. 1 A Level in Business

19 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: Business bjectives and strategy Decisin making Decisin trees Ansff s matrix explain the nature and purpse f decisin making evaluate the impact and imprtance f effective decisin making t a business and its stakehlders evaluate factrs which need t be taken int accunt when making business decisins including level f risk, nature f risk, accuracy f frecasts, vlatility and ptential fr bias explain the relatinship between the aims and bjectives f a business and its decisin making distinguish between shrt-term, medium-term and lng-term decisins distinguish between strategic, tactical and peratinal decisins distinguish between quantitative and qualitative decisin-making tls evaluate the usefulness f different measures f perfrmance: financial and nn-financial evaluate which curse f actin a business shuld take evaluate the extent t which a business can be cnsidered a success. explain the nature and purpse f decisin trees calculate and interpret prbabilities (in decimals and percentages) calculate and interpret ecnmic utcmes and expected values evaluate the utcmes shwn n a decisin tree evaluate hw a business shuld respnd t the infrmatin cntained in a decisin tree assess the imprtance f the infrmatin shwn n a decisin tree t a business assess the usefulness f a decisin tree when making a business decisin. explain the nature and purpse f Ansff s matrix distinguish between the quadrants f Ansff s matrix identify examples f strategies fr each quadrant f Ansff s matrix evaluate the level f risk fr a business and its stakehlders in each quadrant in Ansff s matrix recmmend and justify a strategy fr a business using Ansff s matrix assess the usefulness f Ansff s matrix when making a business decisin. A Level in Business 13

20 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: Business bjectives and strategy External influences Cnflicts in business decisin making The market, market size and grwth Demand and supply explain why the results f ne decisin making tl may cnflict with anther evaluate a business decisins based n quantitative and qualitative infrmatin evaluate the likely success f a business prpsal using decisin making tls evaluate which curse f actin a business shuld take evaluate the usefulness t a business f decisin making tls evaluate the strengths and limitatins f decisin making tls evaluate reasns fr success r failure f a business. explain what is meant by a market explain what is meant by cmpetitin explain what is meant by market size explain what is meant by market grwth explain the imprtance f market size t a business evaluate hw a business culd increase its market share describe the key features f mnply, ligply and mnplistic cmpetitin analyse the relatinship between market structure and a business decisin making pwer. explain what is meant by demand, supply and equilibrium explain hw demand and supply interact t establish equilibrium explain the determinants f demand and supply explain hw changes in the determinants f demand and supply affect price and utput decisins cnstruct and interpret demand and supply diagram(s) t shw hw changes in the determinants f demand and supply affect equilibrium evaluate factrs which affect demand and supply in a market cnstruct and interpret demand and supply diagram(s) t shw excesses and shrtages in a market evaluate the effect f excesses and shrtages in a market. 14 A Level in Business

21 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: External influences Market frces evaluate the impact f market frces n a business and its stakehlders recmmend and justify hw a business shuld respnd t market frces evaluate the extent t which a business is affected by the dynamic nature f the market evaluate the impact f cmpetitin at the lcal, natinal and glbal cntexts n a business. Physical and nnphysical markets Cmpetitin Market dminance distinguish between physical and nn-physical markets, including nline and digital explain why firms may chse t perate in physical and/r nn-physical markets. explain what is meant by cmpetitin evaluate hw the strength f its cmpetitin affects a business explain why firms may chse t enter r exit a market analyse barriers t entry r exit in a market evaluate the impact f cmpetitin n a business, its stakehlders and its market. explain what is meant by market dminance, mergers, acquisitins and rganic grwth explain what is meant by mnply explain hw mergers, acquisitins and rganic grwth culd lead t the creatin f dminant firms evaluate the impact n a business f a dminant firm perating in its market explain hw market dminance is restricted and regulated in the UK evaluate the impact and imprtance f the regulatin f the market n a business and its stakehlders. A Level in Business 15

22 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: External influences Glbal cntext explain what is meant by glbalisatin explain factrs which facilitate glbalisatin including the Internet, cmmunicatin technlgies, e-cmmerce, trade liberalisatin, transprt infrastructure and multinatinals explain why sme businesses are mre affected than thers by glbalisatin explain the rle f multinatinals in glbalisatin distinguish between a glbal strategy and glbalisatin recmmend and justify hw a business shuld respnd t the challenge f increasing glbalisatin evaluate the pprtunities and threats glbalisatin presents t a business explain what is meant by glbal branding evaluate the pprtunities and threats t a business f a rise in the number f glbal brands evaluate the rles f multinatinals in glbalisatin. Internatinal trade and free trade explain what is meant by internatinal trade explain the reasns fr internatinal trade explain the nature and purpse f barriers t internatinal trade evaluate factrs t be cnsidered by a business when trading internatinally including language, culture and custms, lgistics, currency and buying habits explain what is meant by an exchange rate calculate exchange rate currency cnversins evaluate the impact f changes in exchange rates n a business and its stakehlders explain the relatinship between increased glbalisatin and internatinal trade describe surces f financial and nn-financial supprt fr businesses which trade internatinally explain what is meant by free trade evaluate the advantages and disadvantages f free trade t a business and its stakehlders explain what is meant by a trading blc evaluate the advantages and disadvantages t a business f trading within a trading blc. 16 A Level in Business

23 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: External influences The Eurpean Unin explain the influence n a business f the Eurpean Unin, including its enlargement and single Eurpean currency evaluate the advantages and disadvantages t a business f the UK being/nt being part f the EU and the Eurzne recmmend and justify whether a business shuld expand int Eurpean and/r glbal markets evaluate the advantages and disadvantages t a business f the UK being a member f the Single Eurpean Market. Emerging markets and the glbal envirnment Plitical factrs explain what is meant by an emerging market evaluate the impact f emerging markets n a business evaluate the impact n a business f changes in its glbal envirnment recmmend and justify hw a business culd respnd t changes in its glbal envirnment. identify plitical factrs which influence a business explain hw plitical uncertainty may affect a business evaluate the benefits t a business f plitical stability explain hw and why plitical instability may affect internatinal trade evaluate hw the plicies f lcal, natinal, EU and internatinal gvernments can affect a business evaluate the impact and imprtance in changes in plitical factrs fr a business and its stakehlders. A Level in Business 17

24 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: External influences Ecnmic factrs explain the key ecnmic indicatrs which influence a business identify the nature and purpse f the main types f taxatin in the UK distinguish between direct and indirect taxatin identify the main types and purpses f UK gvernment expenditure explain what is meant by a subsidy analyse the benefits t a business f receiving a subsidy distinguish between mnetary, fiscal and supply-side plicies explain the relatinship between interest rates and exchange rates explain what is meant by Grss Dmestic Prduct explain what is meant by the business cycle describe the main phases f the business cycle explain hw a business can use the business cycle t its advantage explain why sme businesses are mre affected than thers by the business cycle evaluate the impact and imprtance in changes in ecnmic factrs fr a business and its stakehlders. Scial factrs Technlgical factrs describe scial factrs which influence a business evaluate the impact and imprtance in changes in scial factrs fr a business and its stakehlders. identify technlgical factrs which influence a business explain hw technlgy can be used in a business explain hw changes in technlgy may impact n a business evaluate the advantages and disadvantages f using cmputer hardware and sftware t aid a business and its stakehlders evaluate the pprtunities and threats t a business and its stakehlders changes in technlgical factrs. 18 A Level in Business

25 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: External influences The digital revlutin explain what is meant by the digital revlutin evaluate the impact and imprtance f the infrmatin age n a business evaluate the pprtunities and threats that have arisen fr a business because f the digital revlutin evaluate why sme businesses are mre affected than thers by the digital revlutin evaluate the advantages and disadvantages t a business and its stakehlders f rapid technlgical change. Ethical factrs Legal factrs distinguish between the law and ethics explain ethical issues which influence a business explain why sme businesses are mre affected than thers by ethical issues evaluate ethical trading methds and wrking practices recmmend and justify ways in which a business culd imprve its ethical prfile evaluate the advantages and disadvantages t a business and its stakehlders f behaving ethically evaluate the imprtance t a business f being seen as an ethical rganisatin evaluate pssible cnflicts between ethical bjectives and ther business bjectives recmmend and justify hw a business can manage the cnflicts between ethical bjectives and ther business bjectives evaluate the impact and imprtance in changes in ethical issues fr a business and its stakehlders. explain the nature and purpse f legislatin including that relating t emplyment, equality, cmpany and partnership health and safety, data prtectin, intellectual prperty, planning, envirnmental, cnsumer prtectin, cntract and financial cnduct evaluate ways in which a business can cmply with legislatin evaluate pssible cnflict between cmplying with legislatin and ther bjectives evaluate the imprtance t a business f cmplying with legislatin evaluate the cnsequences t a business f failing t cmply with legislatin evaluate the impact and imprtance in changes in legal issues fr a business and its stakehlders. A Level in Business 19

26 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: External influences Envirnmental factrs describe envirnmental issues which influence a business explain why a business needs t cnsider envirnmental issues evaluate the impact and imprtance f an envirnmental plicy t a business and its stakehlders recmmend and justify ways in which a business can address envirnmental issues evaluate the imprtance t a business f being seen as an envirnmentally friendly rganisatin evaluate pssible cnflicts between envirnmentally friendly bjectives and ther business bjectives recmmend and justify hw a business can manage the cnflicts between envirnmentally friendly bjectives and ther bjectives evaluate the impact and imprtance in changes in envirnmental issues t a business and its stakehlders evaluate the impact and imprtance f an envirnmental plicy t a business and its stakehlders recmmend and justify ways in which a business can address envirnmental issues explain what is meant by sustainability explain hw a business may act in a sustainable manner evaluate the impact and imprtance f sustainability t a business and its stakehlders evaluate hw a business may becme mre sustainable. External factrs and influences evaluate the cnsequences t a business f ignring external factrs and issues. 0 A Level in Business

27 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: Change Causes and effect f change Managing change identify causes f change distinguish between internal and external causes f change explain the different types f change including catastrphic, crisis, cntingency, strategic, tactical and peratinal evaluate the impact and imprtance f drivers f change t a business and its stakehlders evaluate the prblems assciated with change identify barriers t change evaluate the impact and imprtance f barriers t change t a business and its stakehlders evaluate the impact and imprtance f change n a business and its stakehlders. explain what is meant by change management explain the imprtance t a business f effective change management evaluate techniques which can be used t help a business manage change explain change management mdels including Lewin s Change Management Mdel, McKinsey 7-S Mdel and Ktter s 8 Step Change Mdel evaluate hw a business can use change management mdels t manage change evaluate the rle f leadership f a business in managing change evaluate the advantages and disadvantages f using an external agency r change cnsultant t manage change in a business recmmend and justify hw a business culd manage change evaluate the benefits t a business f effective change management evaluate the cnsequences t a business f nt managing change effectively. A Level in Business 1

28 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: Accunting and finance within a business envirnment Accunting and finance bjectives explain accunting and finance bjectives explain hw and why accunting and finance bjectives are used by a business explain the need fr a business t have clear accunting and finance bjectives evaluate the usefulness f accunting and finance bjectives t a business and its stakehlders evaluate the imprtance f accunting and finance bjectives in the achievement f business bjectives recmmend and justify accunting and finance bjectives fr a business. Surces f finance explain surces f finance distinguish between internal and external surces f finance t a business distinguish between shrt-term and lng-term surces f finance fr a business explain hw factrs affect the chice f finance fr a business including: time legal structure quantitative factrs qualitative factrs external influences evaluate surces f finance fr a business and its stakehlders. Accunting cncepts explain the need fr accunts t achieve a true and fair view f the business explain the need t cmply with Generally Accepted Accunting Practice (GAAP); (knwledge f specific rules and regulatins is nt required) explain the accunting cnventins f cnsistency, ging cncern, accruals (matching), materiality, bjectivity, prudence (cnservatism) and realisatin apply accunting cnventins t a business evaluate the usefulness f accunting cnventins t a business and its stakehlders evaluate the impact and imprtance f accunting cnventins t a business and its stakehlders. A Level in Business

29 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: Management accunting Csts, revenue and prfit explain what is meant by csts, revenue, prfit, ttal cst, average cst, fixed cst, variable cst, ttal revenue, price, average revenue, direct, indirect and verhead csts calculate and interpret csts, revenue, prfit, ttal cst, average cst, fixed cst, variable cst, ttal revenue, price, average revenue, direct, indirect and verhead csts explain the imprtance f direct, indirect and verhead csts t a business evaluate the impact f csts and revenue n business decisins evaluate the impact f csts changing n a business and its stakehlders evaluate the usefulness f cst centres and prfit centres t a business and its stakehlders calculate and interpret hw csts may be allcated: full, absrptin and marginal evaluate the usefulness f different csting methds t a business and its stakehlders evaluate hw the allcatin f csts can affect a business and its stakehlders evaluate the prfit level f a business. Break-even analysis explain what is meant by break-even, cntributin, margin f safety and target level f prfit explain what is meant by a stepped fixed cst cnstruct and interpret a break-even graph calculate and interpret cntributin, break-even, margin f safety and target level f prfit calculate and interpret the impact n break-even, margin f safety cntributin and target level f prfit f changes in csts and revenue evaluate the impact n the break-even pint, margin f safety, cntributin and target level f prfit f changes in csts and revenue evaluate the impact f break-even analysis n a business and its stakehlders evaluate the usefulness f break-even analysis t a business and its stakehlders recmmend and justify hw a business culd lwer its break-even pint evaluate special rder decisins. A Level in Business 3

30 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: Management accunting Investment appraisal explain the nature and purpse f investment appraisal calculate and interpret quantitative methds f investment appraisal: the payback perid, average rate f return (ARR) and net present value (NPV) explain hw quantitative and qualitative aspects f investment appraisal affect a business evaluate the usefulness f different methds f investment appraisal t a business and its stakehlders recmmend and justify business investments based n quantitative and qualitative investment appraisal. Budgets and variances explain what is meant by a budget explain what is meant by a variance calculate and interpret budgets and variances analyse budgets and variances (favurable/adverse) evaluate the impact f budgets and variances n a business evaluate the usefulness f the budgeting prcess and variance analysis t a business and its stakehlders. Cash-flw explain what is meant by cash-flw distinguish between a cash-flw frecast and a cashflw statement distinguish between cash-flw and prfit explain the purpse f a cash-flw frecast and a cashflw statement calculate, interpret and analyse cash-flw frecasts and cash-flw statements calculate, interpret and analyse the impact n a cashflw frecast f changes in csts and revenue evaluate the impact f a cash-flw frecast and cashflw statement n a business and its stakehlders evaluate the usefulness f cash-flw frecasting t a business and its stakehlders evaluate strategies t vercme frecast cash-flw prblems evaluate the usefulness f cash-flw frecasts and cashflw statements fr a business and its stakehlders. Wrking capital explain what is meant by wrking capital explain what is meant by the wrking capital cycle. 4 A Level in Business

31 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: Financial accunting Incme statements explain what is meant by an incme statement explain what is cntained within an incme statement calculate, interpret and analyse measures f prfit; grss prfit, perating prfit and net prfit cmplete, interpret and analyse an incme statement evaluate the usefulness f incme statements fr a business and its stakehlders. Statement f financial psitin Rati analysis explain what is meant by a statement f financial psitin explain what is cntained within a statement f financial psitin cmplete, interpret and analyse a statement f financial psitin (nn-current assets, inventry, receivables, payables, wrking capital, nn-current liabilities, net assets, retained earnings and ttal sharehlders equity) evaluate hw assets may be valued: nn-current assets, (nn-current assets), investments, patents, gdwill, receivables, bad debts, inventries explain what is meant by depreciatin explain the need fr the prvisin f depreciatin calculate and interpret methds f depreciatin: straight line and reducing balance evaluate the impact f depreciatin n a business evaluate the usefulness f a statement f financial psitin t a business and its stakehlders. calculate and interpret liquidity ratis: current rati and acid test calculate and interpret slvency ratis: gearing and interest cver calculate and interpret efficiency ratis; creditr turnver, debtr turnver, nn-current assets turnver and stck turnver calculate and interpret prfitability ratis; grss prfit margin, net prfit margin, return n capital emplyed (ROCE) and return n equity calculate and interpret sharehlder ratis: dividend per share, dividend yield, earnings per share and price/ earnings rati evaluate the financial psitin f a business evaluate the usefulness f rati analysis t a business and its stakehlders. A Level in Business 5

32 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: Accunting and finance within the external envirnment External influences n accunting and finance evaluate the fllwing influences n accunting and finance: scial legal ethical envirnmental ecnmic plitical technlgical internatinal. The finance strategy The strategy evaluate the impact and imprtance f a financial strategy fr a business and its stakehlders recmmend and justify a financial strategy fr a business. Human resurce management within a business envirnment Human resurce management bjectives Organisatin explain human resurce management bjectives explain hw and why human resurce management bjectives are used by a business explain the need fr a business t have clear human resurce management bjectives evaluate the usefulness f human resurce management bjectives t a business and its stakehlders evaluate the imprtance f human resurce management bjectives in the achievement f a business bjectives recmmend and justify human resurce bjectives fr a business. explain rganisatin structure: line relatinships, staff relatinships, chain f cmmand, span f cntrl, authrity, respnsibility, centralisatin, decentralisatin, delegatin and delayering explain mdels f rganisatin structure: hierarchy; by functin, by prduct; system, matrix, divisin distinguish between tall and flat rganisatinal structures evaluate the usefulness f rganisatinal structures used by a business evaluate the significance f rganisatinal structures t a business and its stakehlders explain what is meant by rganisatinal culture explain factrs affecting rganisatinal culture in a business evaluate the impact and imprtance which rganisatinal culture can have n a business. 6 A Level in Business

33 Area f Study Cntent Learners shuld be able t: Human resurce management within a business envirnment Cmmunicatin distinguish between frmal and infrmal cmmunicatin evaluate the use f infrmal and frmal cmmunicatin by a business explain what is meant by grup nrms distinguish between grup and individual bjectives evaluate the impact grups may have n business cmmunicatin distinguish between verbal and nn-verbal cmmunicatin methds evaluate factrs affecting the chice f cmmunicatin methds t a business and its stakehlders evaluate the imprtance f cmmunicatin methds t a business and its stakehlders explain cmmunicatin media: written, face-t-face, ral, scial, electrnic and mass evaluate factrs affecting the chice f cmmunicatin media by a business evaluate the imprtance f cmmunicatin media t a business and its stakehlders explain mdels f cmmunicatin: surce, message, media, barriers, receiver and feedback evaluate the usefulness f cmmunicatin mdels t a business and its stakehlders evaluate the impact f pr cmmunicatin n a business and its stakehlders evaluate the effect f cmmunicatin n the stakehlders f a business evaluate the effectiveness f cmmunicatin in achieving a business bjectives. The wrkfrce Wrkfrce planning explain what is meant by wrkfrce planning evaluate the impact and imprtance f wrkfrce planning fr a business and its stakehlders recmmend and justify a wrkfrce plan fr a business explain flexible wrking practices: including part-time, flexi-time, cmpressed hurs, hme/remte wrking, annualised hurs, term-time wrking, structured time ff in lieu, jb sharing and zer hurs cntracts evaluate the impact f flexible wrking practices n a business and its stakehlders recmmend and justify flexible wrking practices fr a business. A Level in Business 7