Business Studies:Single

Course summary

Students will receive an introduction to business, including aims and legal structure, then progress on to learning how decisions are made in business in the various functions – marketing, operations, human resources and finance. Year 12 focuses on small to medium-sized businesses operating within national, as opposed to international, markets. Year 13 looks at business from a strategic point of view, with students using some of the key models used by large, often international businesses, to help them in their decision-making. Year 12 Students will study business in a variety of contexts (eg large/small, UK-focused/global, service/manufacturing) and consider: The importance of the context of business in relation to decision-making. The interrelated nature of business activities and how they affect competitiveness. The competitive environment and the markets in which businesses operate. The influences on functional decisions and plans including ethical and environmental issues. The factors that might determine whether a decision is successful e.g. the quality of data and the degree of uncertainty. How technology is changing the way decisions are made and how businesses operate and compete. The impact on stakeholders of functional decisions and their response to such decisions. Use of non-quantitative and quantitative data in decision-making (including the interpretation of index numbers and calculations such as ratios and percentages). Year 13 Strategic decision making - The study of strategic decision-making will build on the Year 12 study of decision-making in the functional areas. Students will consider: The impact of technology on strategic decision-making. The influences of Corporate Social Responsibility, ethical and environmental issues on strategic decisions. The difficulties in forecasting future trends. The importance of assessing feasibility and risk when making strategic decisions. The impact on stakeholders of strategic decisions and their response to such decisions.