2012 STAGE 2 BUSINESS & ENTERPRISE
ISSUES STUDY
TASK SHEET & TIMELINE
EVALUATION OF SOURCES TEMPLATE
(Refer to the Business and Enterprise Subject Outline, 2012)
SACE NUMBER
_______________________________
TASK
The Issues Study has a 20% weighting.
You are required to select a current issue, trend or development that affects businesses to research.
This is to be presented as an analytical essay. There is a strict 1500 word limit. You are required to
provide evidence of your learning primarily in relation to the following:
Knowledge and Understanding
Analysis and Evaluation
Communication.
You are required to:

show your knowledge and understanding of the issue

submit a clear, concise and polished piece of writing for assessment.
A key aspect of this RESEARCH task is the analysis and evaluation.
Use the SEEE model of analysis:
Social, Economic, Ethical and Environmental consequences and implications to prepare findings and
recommendations.
Appropriate acknowledgement of sources is essential as is the evaluation of the primary and secondary
sources used in the investigation process.
TIMELINE
Term 1
Week 9
Collect media article on a current business issue of interest to you.
Week 10
Meeting with teacher to discuss issue, key question and possible primary research.
Proposal due by end term – please email this.
Term 1 holidays
Conduct primary research, read and note all secondary sources.
Prepare bibliography. Optional - Begin writing your essay – draft due by end of Week 2, Term 2
Term 2
Week 1
Work in Progress due by Friday- small group meetings to discuss progress
Week 2
Draft due by Friday – electronic copy in shared drive by 4 pm – one-one-one meeting to discuss draft
Week 5
Final due by Friday.
1
Fill in the following:
Current Issue/Trend
Online Shopping
Key Question
To what extent has on-line shopping replaced brick and mortar stores?
Key business(es)/ affected
Retail stores, Department stores, Bricks and Mortar Businesses
Transport firms eg Australia Post, Fedex
Retail
Key industry/ies affected
Government/Professional
bodies involved (if relevant)
ACCC
ASIC
ASX
ATO
Retail Traders Assn (RTA)
Australian Chamber Commerce & Industry (ACCI)
Other stakeholders affected
Consumers, Suppliers, Employees
Government – no GST paid on goods purchased under $1000
Consumer can shop 24/7
Consumers more savvy – can research detail of big ticket items on line so expectations
of service from employees in b & m stores are higher
Wider range of products available to consumers
Concept of global consumer strengthened
Relatively cheaper designer brands available to more people due to high $A
Less face to face interaction
Shopping strips look like “ghost towns” due to increased number of For Lease signs on
empty premises in popular shopping strips eg KW Road, Unley Rd, Goodwood Road
Social implications and
Consequences
Economic Implications and
Consequences
Less money spent in traditional stores - failures eg Borders book stores
Less GST tax collected by Government
Job losses – eg Metcash – loss of flow on spending/less PAYG Tax collected
Increase in unemployed dependant on welfare support
Landlords – increase in unoccupied premises/loss of rent/pop up shops
Lower profits earned by dept stores eg DJ Myer Harvey Norman – shareholder’s
affected
DJ – plan to increase no of employees to try and rebuild competitive advantage of
sales service
Ethical Implications and
Consequences
Privacy issues re credit card use on line
Commercial tracking of internet behaviour when registering with on line stores
Consumers exploiting sales assistant’s expertise/time in traditional stores – eg taking
time to try on ski outfit and boots and then taking down style, size and shopping on
line to get same outfit cheaper
Concern re availability of after sales service for faulty goods
Environmental Implications and
Consequences
Positive impact re lower use of power, paper, lighting and other resources used by
bricks and mortar stores
Negative impact if more goods imported from overseas by households as higher
carbon footprint
2
Why have you chosen this topic?
3
Attach at least one print or electronic media article and summary to this proposal when submitting
the proposal to your teacher for approval and feedback. Summarise this article (no more than 100
words).
4
Keep an ongoing log of resources accessed/used as you will be required to present an evaluation
of primary and secondary sources of information. A template is attached.
CHECK 1– Mapping My Research
WEEK 10 – TERM 1
Key areas of focus relevant to issue:
Follow-up tasks
- Consumer trends
- Economic trends
- Competitive advantage
- Impact of technology
A new way to shop
The Brands Exclusive app now offers a simplified shopping experience on the iPad
Organisation/individual to be interviewed and key areas of focus:
- Find examples of local businesses that have closed b & m store and moved to online retail or
businesses that have combined on-line and traditional shopping
Key points to be included in Introductory Statement - (150 words)
- Give context to issue – why is it an issue?
- Statistics from credible source to show increased popularity of on line shopping
- Refer to Myer and David Jones response
- Statement on how essay will be structured/investigation process undertaken
Draft Headings to GUIDE writing of the Body of Essay - (1000 words)
Each section approx 250 words – Headings not to be used in final presentation of essay.
- Discussion of possible reasons for increased popularity of on line shopping
- Social/Ethical implications and Consequences
- Economic implications and Consequences
- Environmental implications and Consequences
Conclusion/Recommendations (350 words)
See ideas below
Conclusion
This is a concise paragraph that summarises and justifies the key findings of your research.
Recommendations
This is the section where you can show perceptive and discerning analysis and evaluation of the factors involved in the
current issue/trend affecting business and enterprise
Ideas for developing recommendations:



Summarise information about complexity of current issue impacting on business/industry/economy
Evaluate economic/environmental/social and ethical consequences of business/enterprise practices
Provide alternative solutions to positively manage the effects on business and other stakeholders
CHECK 1
WEEK 1 - TERM 2
WEEK 1 TERM 1
COMPLETION OF WORK

Work in Progress

Student questions for teacher

Verbal Teacher feedback on the
extent to which WIP is on track.
Satisfactory

Unsatisfactory
Summary of discussion:
Follow- up notes to be completed by student during interview
WORK IN PROGRESS DUE BY: FRIDAY Week 1 – Term 2
Hard copy made available for teacher interview
CHECK 2
WEEK 2 - TERM 2
DRAFT
COMPLETION OF WORK


Student questions for teacher

Electronic Teacher feedback on the
extent to which Draft is meeting the
performance standards:
Satisfactory
Teacher feedback:

Summary of discussion:
Follow-up notes to be completed by
student during interview
Knowledge and Understanding
Analysis and Evaluation
Communication

Unsatisfactory
Discussion on overall strengths and
areas for improvement in Draft.
DRAFT DUE FRIDAY Term 2, Week 2