AS BUSINESS STUDIES
(Specification 1131)
The AS Business Studies course is divided up into 2 units. Unit 1 is 40% of the AS examination and
Unit 2 is 60%.
Unit 1 – BUSS1 is about planning and financing a business. This unit covers the issues involved
when starting up a business and what factors determine success.
Unit 2 – BUSS2 is concerned with managing a business with a core theme of improving a
business’ effectiveness.
This course will be taught using six work schedules:
A: Business Enterprise
B: Legal Structures
C: Marketing and the Competitive Environment
D: Financial Planning
E: People in Business
F: Operations Management
Although the specification is divided into two units, topics are studied and explored in a holistic
way. This ensures the greatest level of understanding and allows appropriate focus on small to
medium-sized firms operating within national markets.
At the end of each schedule there will be a test on everything you have covered. Whilst you are
doing this, your files will be checked to ensure your notes (from class and your own) are extensive.
This places the emphasis on you to keep up to date, even if you have missed a lesson. You will be
expected with guidance, to expand on some of these notes in your own time to aid your
independent learning. Be prepared to seek help from your teacher on any topics you don’t
understand.
The work schedules will provide a structure for your notes and will also be an index for your notes
when it comes to revision.
AS BUSINESS STUDIES
(Specification 1131)
Schedule A
Business Enterprise
1.
Enterprise
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
What is the meaning of Enterprise and Entrepreneur?
The importance of Risk and Rewards and Opportunity Cost
The motives for becoming an Entrepreneur
Government support for Enterprise and Entrepreneurs
2.
Generating and Protecting Ideas
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
Identifying New Products and Market Niches
Patents
Trademarks
Copyrights
3.
Franchises
3.1
3.2
3.3
What is a Franchise?
Problems with buying a Franchise
Selling a Franchise
4.
Transforming Resources
4.1
4.2
4.3
Inputs and Outputs
The Transformation Process
Adding Value
5.
Location
5.1
Factors Influencing Location
5.2
The Impact of Location
AS BUSINESS STUDIES
(Specification 1131)
Schedule B
Legal Structures
1.
Business Plans
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
The Purpose and Content of a Business Plan
Who Needs a Business Plan
Benefits and Limitations of Business Plans
Guidance for Business Plans
2.
Choosing Legal Structures
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
Sole Traders
Partnerships
Private Limited Companies (Ltd)
Public Limited Companies (Plc)
3.
Not-for-profit Businesses
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
Social Enterprises
Charities
Pressure groups
Cooperatives
Mutual Societies
4.
Divorce of Ownership and Control
4.1
4.2
What is Ownership and Control?
Corporate Governance
AS BUSINESS STUDIES
(Specification 1131)
Schedule C
Financial Planning
1.
Costs, Revenue and Profit
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
What is a Cost?
Fixed, Variable and Semi Variable Costs
Total Costs and Total Revenue
Net Profit Margins
Return on Capital Invested (ROCE)
2.
Breakeven analysis
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
Contribution Per Unit and Total Contribution
Calculating Breakeven with a:
- table
- formula
- graph
Effects of Changes in Costs and Price
Strengths and Weakness of Breakeven Analysis
3.
Cash-flow
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
The Nature of Cash-flow
Constructing and using Cash-flow Forecasts
Causes of Cash-flow Problems
Raising Finance and Improving Cash-flow
4.
Budgets
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
Types and Processes involved when setting budgets
Completing and Amending Budgets
Variance Analysis
Reasons and Problems with setting budgets
AS BUSINESS STUDIES
(Specification 1131)
Schedule D
Marketing and the Competitive Environment
1.
Market Research
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
What is Market Research?
Primary and Secondary Research
Sampling
Quantitative and Qualitative Market Research
2.
Understanding Markets
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
Customers and Consumers
Business-to-business and Business-to-consumer
Market Size
Market Growth
Market Share
3.
Effective Marketing
3.1
3.2
3.3
Purpose of Marketing
Market Segmentation
Niche -vs- Mass Marketing
4.
An Effective Marketing Mix
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
What is an Effective Marketing Mix?
Product
Pricing
Understanding and using Price Elasticity of Demand
Place
Promotional Mix
5.
Competitiveness
5.1
5.2
5.3
Market Structure
Degrees of Competition
Determinants of Competitiveness
AS BUSINESS STUDIES
(Specification 1131)
Schedule E
People in Business
1.
Organisation Structures
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
Key elements in Organisational Structure
Types of Structures and Delegation
Workforce Roles and Job Allocation
Communication
2.
Recruitment, Selection and Training
2.1
2.2
2.3
Employing People and the Recruitment Process
Selecting the Right Staff
Methods and Reasons for Training
3.
Measuring the Effectiveness of the Workforce
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
Labour Productivity
Labour Turnover
Absenteeism
Health and Safety
4.
Theories of Motivation
4.1
4.2
4.3
Scientific Management
Human Relations School
Neo-Human Relations School of Management
5.
Motivation in Practice
5.1
5.2
5.3
Financial Methods of Motivation
Non-monetary forms of Motivation
Organisation Structure and Motivational Techniques
AS BUSINESS STUDIES
(Specification 1131)
Schedule F
Operations Management
1.
Making Operational Decisions
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
The Nature of Operations
Unit Costs
Capacity and Capacity Utilisation
Matching Production with Demand
2.
Developing Effective Operations - Quality
2.1
2.2
2.3
What is Quality?
Quality Control and Quality Assurance
Total Quality Management and Kaizen
3.
Developing Effective Operations – Customer Service
3.1
3.2
The Importance of Good Customer Service
Essential Elements in Customer Service
4.
Working With Suppliers
4.1
4.2
The Importance of Suppliers
Choosing Effective Suppliers
5.
Using Technology in Operations
5.1
5.2
5.3
Types of Technology
Benefits of Using Technology
Problems and Costs