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Business Studies
WHAT WILL I LEARN?
Students will learn why businesses exist and the reasons for choosing and changing business structure.
The four key areas in business: finance, human resources, operations / production and marketing are studied in detail.
Students will learn about how decisions are made regarding these core functions and develop the skills to discuss the impact on the firm of certain decisions. Financial planning is a significant part of this unit and students will carry out calculations using financial documents and interpret their results. The Year 13 work builds on Year 12 to include analysing the strategic position of a business and choosing and managing strategic change including an international perspective.
A TWO YEAR A LEVEL COURSE, EXAMINED AT THE END OF YEAR 13.
Business Studies A Level is a great choice for anyone interested in the world of commerce and entrepreneurship. It’s a great way to prepare for university courses in the fields of business and management, and to equip yourself with the know-how to start up your own business or follow a career in finance, accounting, marketing or management post university.
Through Business Studies A Level, you’ll engage with the world of business through the context of current business developments and real business situations. You’ll learn how management, leadership and decision-making can improve performance in marketing, operational, financial and human resources. You’ll also explore the interrelated nature of business activities and how they affect businesses, be they large or small, UK or internationally focussed and in different sectors such as service or manufacturing.
MARKETING AND PEOPLE:
This theme enables students to understand how businesses identify opportunities and to explore how businesses focus on developing a competitive advantage through interacting with customers. Students develop an understanding of how businesses need to adapt their marketing to operate in a dynamic business environment. This theme also considers people, exploring how businesses recruit, train, organise and motivate employees, as well as the role of enterprising individuals and leaders.
MANAGING BUSINESS ACTIVITIES:
This theme enables students to develop an understanding of raising and managing finance, and measuring business performance. The theme outlines the importance of using resources efficiently within a business to ensure that goods or services can be delivered effectively and efficiently, and to a high quality. Students also consider the external influences that have an impact on businesses, including economic and legal factors.
BUSINESS DECISIONS AND STRATEGY:
This theme moves from functions to strategy, enabling students to develop their understanding of the core concepts and to take a strategic view of business opportunities and issues. Students analyse corporate objectives and strategy against financial and nonfinancial performance measures and how businesses grow, and develop an understanding of the impact of external influences. The theme covers the causes and effects of change and how businesses mitigate risk and uncertainty.
GLOBAL BUSINESS:
Students investigate businesses that trade on a global scale and explore their reasons for doing so. Students develop an understanding of the globally competitive environment and consider the ethical and moral dimensions of global business activities.
WHAT SKILLS WILL YOU GET FROM STUDYING BUSINESS?
Business is becoming a more and more important qualification. As business becomes more complex, employers are looking for candidates who can bring a level of prior business knowledge to their companies.
Having a Business qualification shows that you are capable of understanding some difficult concepts and you have developed the communication, analytical and evaluative skills that modern businesses and universities are looking for. It often leads students into careers in management, business consultancy and financial services (the highest paid sector of the economy!). You’ll learn how to analyse competitive environments and markets; assess how ethical, environmental and technological factors influence decision making; use a range of quantitative and non-quantitative data to evaluate strategic and functional options; understand how decision made affect stakeholders and how they will respond.
You’ll also develop your critical analysis, decisionmaking and problem-solving skills.
The knowledge and skills gained on this course can be utilised in a huge range of business and management fields, are transferable across many areas of study and professions and can be used to manage your personal decision-making, planning and finances.
WHAT COULD I GO ON TO DO AT THE END OF MY COURSE?
A good grade in Business at A Level can enable you to go on study at university or go into the world of work. In particular it helps students to:
• develop a critical understanding of organisations, the markets they serve and the process of adding value.
• be aware that business behaviour can be studied from the perspectives of a range of stakeholders.
• acquire a range of skills including decision-making and problem-solving.
• be aware of the current structure of business and business practice.
• develop their ability to acquire a range of important and transferable skills including data skills, presenting arguments, making judgments and conducting research. This course has no coursework or controlled assessment.
FURTHER INFORMATION ON SPECIFICATIONS
