GCSE BUSINESS STUDIES UNIT 3 - BUILDING A BUSINESS OVERVIEW PLANNING SHEET (YEAR 11)
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Compulsory unit – Unit 3
Examination length: 1 hour 30 minutes
The paper is untiered and divided into three sections. Questions will require a mixture of multiple-choice selection, short- and
extended/long-answers. Sections B and C will both consist of questions based on a scenario given in the paper*.Compulsory multiple-choice
and objective test questions with a total of 90 marks
Weighting – 50% of total GCSE
UNIT 3 – BUILDING A BUSINESS
MODULE/WEEK
TOPIC
1
1-2
Topic 1 –
Marketing
CHAPTER/CONTENT
1 – Marketing
WHAT STUDENTS WILL LEARN
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the meaning of the term ‘marketing’
how to collect and interpret quantitative and
qualitative
research data to help decide on issues such as the
appropriate marketing mix
ASSESSMENT/
KEY TASKS
Module 1 –
Task 1
1
2
Topic 1 –
Marketing
2- Product trial and
repeat purchase
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the concept of breaking down ‘sales’ into product
trial and repeat purchase and how to maximise repeat
purchase through customer loyalty
Module 1 –
Task 2
1
3-4
Topic 1 –
Marketing
3- Product life cycle/
Boston Matrix
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the four phases of the life cycle, extension strategies,
cash flow and the life cycle, and product portfolio
analysis through the Boston Matrix
Module 1 –
Task 3
1
4-5
Topic 1 –
Marketing
4 – Branding &
differentiation
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the importance of brands as an aid to product trial and
repeat purchase and the need to differentiate a
product/service from others, given the level of
competition
Module 1 –
Task 4
1
6-7
Topic 1 –
Marketing
5 - Building a successful
marketing mix
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the importance of managing a brand through the key
variables that make up the mix: Product, Price,
Promotion and Place
Module 1 –
Key Task 1
Module 1 –
Task 5
Module 1 –
Key Task 2
1
7-8
Topic 2 – Meeting 6 - Design and research
Customer Needs
development
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design as a key approach to product differentiation, be
able to appreciate the design mix and show the need
for scientific research to provide the basis for
development
Module 1 –
Task 6
1
8-9
Topic 2 – Meeting 7 – Managing stock
Customer Needs
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to interpret bar gate stock graphs to see how stock
control should work in theory and understand the need
for the use of Just In Time (JIT) stock control
the advantages and drawbacks of different stock
control methods
quality control versus a culture of quality assurance
Module 1 –
Task 7
Look at the nature of quality control
Look at quality assurance and the implications for a
business
Look at quality standards and the advantages for a
business
Module 1 –
Task 8
keeping productivity up and costs down to ensure low
costs and allow for competitive prices
Module 1 –
Task 9
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1
10
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Topic 2 – Meeting 8- Quality
Customer Needs
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1
10
1
11-12
Topic 2 – Meeting 9 – Cost-effective
Customer Needs
operations and
competitiveness
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MODULE 1 – ASSESSMENT, REVISION & RE-CAP
2
12-13
Topic 2 – Meeting 10 – Effective customer
Customer Needs
service
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2
13
Topic 2 – Meeting 11 – Meeting consumer
Customer Needs
protection laws
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Module 1 –
Key Task 3
Unit 3 – Past
Paper
(chapters 1-9)
providing customers with the service level they want,
when they want it, and to see the link with repeat
purchase levels
the disadvantages of poor customer service
Module 2 –
Task 1
a brief introduction to the purpose of Trade
Descriptions and Sale of Goods legislation and the
effects of this legislation on business
Module 2 –
Task 2
Module 2 –
Key Task 1
2
14
Topic 3 –
12 – How to improve
Effective Financial cash flow
Management
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2
2
15-16
16-17
Topic 3 –
13 – How to improve
Effective Financial profit
Management
Topic 3 –
14 – Break-even charts
Effective Financial and break-even
Management
analysis
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2
18
2
18-19
key aspects of financial management such as how to
establish more favourable credit terms with customers
and suppliers and the practice of de-stocking
An easy context to use is that of running a small shop;
ideally contrasting this with a small manufacturer.
how to analyse the difference between increasing cash
inflows and reducing cash outflows
cutting costs and increasing revenues, and the impact
of price changes on profit
how to draw and interpret break-even charts; calculate
the break-even point and margin of safety
how changes to price and costs affect the break-even
point
the value to a business of using break-even analysis
Module 2 –
Task 3
Module 2 –
Task 4
Module 2 –
Key Task 2
Module 2 –
Task 5
Module 2 –
Key Task 3
Topic 3 –
15 – Financing growth
Effective Financial
Management
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how to finance a business from both internal sources
(profit, asset sales) and external sources (share capital,
debt), including stock market flotation
Module 2 –
Task 6
Topic 4 –
Effective People
Management
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the importance of divisional structure, levels of
hierarchy, chains of command, and centralised versus
decentralised systems
Module 2 –
Task 7
16 – Organisational
structure
Module 3 –
Key Task 1
2
20-21
MODULE 2 – ASSESSMENT, REVISION & RE-CAP
3
21
Topic 4 –
Effective People
Management
17 – Motivation theory
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Unit 3 – Past
Paper
(chapters 1-16)
the significance of motivation in the workplace, with
specific focus on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and its
potential in organisations
the idea that motivation comes from within
Module 3 –
Task 1
3
22
Topic 4 –
Effective People
Management
18 – Communication
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the impact of insufficient or excessive communication
on efficiency, the impact on staff and their motivation
and the barriers to effective communication
Module 3 –
Task 2
3
23
Topic 4 –
Effective People
Management
19 – Remuneration
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the impact on staff of various payment strategies,
including time, piece rate, commission; full-time
salary versus freelance or temporary work; fringe
benefits
the impact on business of different payment systems
Module 3 –
Task 3
the meaning of the term ‘ethics’ in business and the
complexity of moral issues affecting organisations
possible trade-off between ethics and profit
the importance of the potential effects of pressure
group activity
Module 3 –
Task 4
how businesses affect the environment
the importance of short-term environmental effects
(impact on traffic congestion; air, noise and water
pollution; recycling) and long-term environmental
effects (global warming and resource depletion)
Module 3 –
Task 5
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3
3
24
25
Topic 5 – The
20 – Ethics in business
wider world
affecting business
Topic 5 – The
21 – Environmental
wider world
issues
affecting business
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Module 3 –
Key Task 2
Module 3 –
Key Task 3
3
25-26
3
26
3
27-28
Topic 5 – The
22- Economic issues
wider world
affecting international
affecting business trade
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the extremes of income distribution internationally
the effect of import protection and export subsidy on
businesses
Module 3 –
Task 6
Topic 5 – The
23 – The impact of
wider world
government and the EU
affecting business
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the impact of regulation and taxation and the benefits
and drawbacks of minimum wage, maternity/paternity
rights and health and safety regulations on businesses
Module 3 –
Task 7
MODULE 3 – ASSESSMENT, REVISION & RE-CAP
3
28-30
REVISION
Unit 3 Past
Paper (all
chapters)