This course prepares candidates for the AQA Business Studies A Level syllabus
(2130), for examinations in
June 2012 and later years.
The A Level Business Studies course is split
into four units:
Unit 1 - Planning and Financing a Business
In the study of this unit you will examine the topic areas below
in relation to the two core themes: Starting a Business and
Financial Planning.
a) Starting a Business
This section provides you with an introduction to the scope of
Business Studies within the context of starting a new business. You
will be expected to have an understanding of the following range of
activities involved in setting up a small business:
- Enterprise
- Generating and protecting business ideas
- Transforming resources into goods and services
- Developing business plans
- Conducting start-up market research
- Understanding markets
- Choosing the right legal structure for the business
- Raising finance
- Locating the business
- Employing people
b) Financial Planning
This section provides you with an understanding of key financial
concepts essential for the planning of small businesses. You will
be expected to carry out calculations and to be able to interpret
their results.
- Calculating costs, revenues and profits
- Using break-even analysis to make decisions
- Using cash flow forecasting
- Setting budgets
- Assessing business start-ups
Unit 2 - Managing a Business
In the study of this unit of the AQA A Level Business Studies
course, you will examine the topic areas below in relation to the
core theme of improving the effectiveness of a business. You will
be able to calculate and be able to interpret data measuring the
effectiveness of the business. These measurements should include:
profitability, labour productivity, labour turnover, unit costs and
market share.
a) Finance
This section introduces you to the importance of the management
of finance. You will understand that financial measures can be used
to indicate how well a business is managed and will understand
actions that can be taken to improve financial performance. You
will be expected to carry out calculations and to be able to
interpret their results. This section builds upon 'Financial
Planning' in Unit One.
- Using budgets
- Improving cash flow
- Measuring and increasing profit
b) People in Business
This section considers the issues that managers face in relation
to managing the human element to make a business more effective.
You will appreciate the value of these techniques in tactical
decision-making.
- Improving organisational structures
- Measuring the effectiveness of the workforce
- Developing an effective workforce: recruitment, selection,
training
- Developing and retaining an effective workforce: motivating
employees
c) Operations Management
This section should promote understanding of the importance of
operational decisions in managing a business in tertiary, secondary
and primary sectors. You will understand how operations management
can help a business to be more effective, and the role that can be
played in this by technology.
- Making operational decisions
- Developing effective operations: quality
- Developing effective operations: customer service
- Working with suppliers
- Using technology in operations
d) Marketing and the Competitive
Environment
In this section you will understand the importance of marketing
to businesses and issues affecting their competitiveness. The study
of marketing at AS Level should focus on using the results of
market research and developing an appropriate and integrated
marketing mix. Consideration should be given to how information
technology might be used to assist marketing.
- Effective marketing
- Designing and effective marketing mix
- Using the marketing mix: product
- Using the marketing mix: promotion
- Using the marketing mix: pricing
- Using the marketing mix: place
- Marketing and competitiveness
Unit 3 - Strategies for Success
- In the study of this unit you will examine the topic areas
below in relation to the core themes of setting objectives,
measuring performance and devising strategy. The assessment for
this unit will draw upon AS material which you should use to
respond to A2 questions.
a) Functional Objectives and Strategies
This section introduces you to functional objectives and
strategies, and examines their appropriateness in the context of
corporate objectives.
- Using objectives and strategies
b) Financial Strategies and Accounts
This section examines the financial objectives of larger
businesses, the ways in which financial performance might be
measured and the strategies they may deploy. It builds upon AS
Finance material.
- Understanding financial objectives
- Using financial data to measure and assess performance
- Interpreting published accounts
- Selecting financial strategies
- Making investment decisions
c) Marketing Strategies
This section considers the development of marketing strategies
for larger businesses through a scientific approach to decision
making. It builds upon AS Marketing materials.
- Understanding marketing objectives
- Analysing markets and marketing
- Selecting marketing strategies
- Developing and implementing marketing plans
d) Operational Strategies
This section considers the operational objectives and strategies
that a business may use to achieve success in its particular
market. It builds upon AS Operations materials.
- Understanding operational objectives
- Operational Strategies: scale and resource mix
- Operational Strategies: innovation
- Operational Strategies: location
- Operational Strategies: Lean production
e) Human Resource Strategies
This section considers the strategies available to businesses in
managing their human resources. It builds upon AS Human Resources
materials.
- Understanding HR objectives and strategies
- Developing and implementing workforce plans
- Competitive organisational structures
- Effective employer/employee relations
Unit 4 - The Business Environment and Managing
Change
This unit is designed to be synoptic and draws upon all other
units of the specification including the AS units.
It considers the relationship between businesses and external
factors. It examines how external factors can impact upon
businesses, and the responses they may take. The unit also examines
a number of themes which are important in the strategic management
of businesses, for example, leadership and corporate culture.
You will consider how businesses can manage change
successfully.
This unit should be studied through a variety of real business
contexts to allow you to understand how the impact and response to
change varies.
a) Corporate Aims and Objectives
This section considers what the organisation is attempting to
achieve, and how this helps to determine its strategies.
- Understanding mission, aims and objectives
b) Assessing Changes in the Business
Environment
This section examines the relationships between organisations
and their external environment. You will understand the
opportunities and threats created by changes in the contemporary
business environment. The importance of acquiring and managing
information and of communicating effectively should be considered
throughout.
- The relationship between businesses and the economic
environment
- The relationship between businesses and the political and legal
environment
- The relationship between businesses and the social
environment
- The relationship between businesses and the technological
environment
- The relationship between businesses and the competitive
environment
c) Managing Change
Organisations operate in a changing environment and change
creates opportunities and threats.
You will understand how businesses plan for and manage change,
and how external and internal change is linked.
- Internal causes of change
- Planning for change
- Key influences on the change process: leadership
- Key influences on the change process: culture
- Making strategic decisions
- Implementing and managing change