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Cambridge International As and A Level Business Revision Guide
Cambridge International As and A Level Business Revision Guide
Cambridge International As and A Level Business Revision Guide
Business
Revision Guide
Second edition
All exam-style questions and sample answers have been written by the authors.
………………………………………………………………………………………….
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Table of contents
How to use this book iv Unit 4: Operations and project management 125
Introduction vi 22 The nature of operations 126
23 Operations planning 131
Unit 1: Business and its environment 1 24 Inventory management 138
1 Enterprise 2 25 Capacity utilisation (A Level) 142
2 Business structure 7 26 Lean production and quality management
3 Size of business 12 (A Level) 148
4 Business objectives 16 27 Project management (A Level) 154
5 Stakeholders in a business 21
6 Business structure (A Level) 26 Unit 5: Finance and accounting 159
7 Size of business (A Level) 30 28 Business finance and its sources 160
8 External influences on business 29 Costs 167
activity (A Level) 35 30 Accounting fundamentals 171
9 External economic influences on 31 Forecasting and managing cash flows 177
business behaviour (A Level) 42 32 Costs (A Level) 183
33 Budgets (A Level) 188
Unit 2: People in organisations 49 34 Contents of published accounts
10 Management and leadership 50 (A Level) 192
11 Motivation 55 35 Analysis of published accounts (A Level) 195
12 Human resource management 62 36 Investment appraisal (A Level) 200
13 Further human resource management
(A Level) 68 Unit 6: Strategic management 207
14 Organisational structure (A Level) 75 37 What is strategic management?
15 Business communication (A Level) 81 (A Level) 208
38 Strategic analysis (A Level) 213
Unit 3: Marketing 87 39 Strategic choice (A Level) 219
16 What is marketing? 88 40 Strategic implementation (A Level) 224
17 Market research 95
18 Marketing mix: product 41 Answers 231
and price 102 Index 279
19 Marketing mix: promotion
and place 109
20 Marketing planning (A Level) 115
21 Globalisation and international
marketing (A Level) 121
iii
andsmall
why and
some new
large enterprises fail
businesses
epreneur recognise what social enterprises are and how
they differ from other businesses.
f products.
• Governments
After you havewant to know
studied if nationalyou
this chapter businesses
should
are becoming
Capital and larger
intermediatecomparedgoods: to those
goods of other
bought Market share Employment
be able to: A relative measure – Number of workers
provide countries
by industry – and
to bewhether
used in thethenumber
production of small
of other total business employed (usually
businesses
products. is increasing.
understand what business activity involves
sales compared to
assess why enterprise
total market sales is important
Business size
measured by ‘full-
to a country
time equivalent’)
can be
None of the measures
Opportunity cost: of business
the ofsize
benefitvalue’ theis next
perfect. In
most
m understand what ‘added and ‘creating understand what ameasured
businessin needs to succeed
different
some cases
desired they
option can give rather
that is given up. misleading indications
value’
of business sizemean– which is why it is common to use and why some new enterprises
ways fail
more than one measure
recognise to make
what makes comparisons
a successful between
entrepreneur recognise what social enterprises are and how
1.3 Added value
businesses. Market
they differ Capital employed
from other businesses.
capitalisation The value of capital
s
Some of the problems include: (plcs only) used by the
Issued shares x business
Business activity aims to increase added value. Increasing share price
• Market
Learning capitalisation:
summary would
– a benefits exclude
summary– list IKEA, Virgin and
onsumers
theofkey
keyone
topics and concepts that you
ustomers) 1.1 Business activity
‘added value’
otherlooking
will
thatbe
has many
large private
it could lead at to
in thislimited
higher
companies.
chapter,
profitstofor
help
thewith
being
The market
navigation
owners of thethrough the
TERMSbook
capitalisation values can also change greatly with a
and give a reminder of what’s important about each topic forFigure
business. your revision.
3.1 Measuring business size
Stock Market
Businesses aim to‘boom’
meet or the‘slump’.
needs of customers by
ducts • Employment:
using resources to this would
make make
goods anda nuclear
servicespower
that Consumer products (goods and services):
company – with relatively few employees
they will buy. These products can be either for final but huge bought by ‘final’ consumers who will benefit
TERMS
capital investments – appear quite small. All measures of size have shortcomings.
otherIt
TIP
consumers or capital and intermediate goods for from them and not use them to produce
• Capital employed: this would make a labour intensive products.is best to use a measure in the context of
business customers. Which resources (factors of
industry –
Added value: such as a postal
the difference service – appear
between the cost quite small an industry/sector and over time.
usiness production) do businesses need? Capital and intermediate goods: goods bought
is made compared
of purchasing to the
rawlarge number
materials andofthe
people
priceit of
employs.
the The to level
• Labour:
• Sales human
value:
finished good. effort to produce goods
although useful for making comparisons or provide by industry beofused
profit made
in the by a business
production of other
chine – is not a good measure of size. It may
services to customers
between firms in the same industry, it is of limited products.
re Creatingequipment
value: increasing the difference between be a useful indicator of performance/
• value
Capital: and machinery
in making inter-industry comparisons. Opportunity cost: the
n gained the cost of bought in materials and the price effectiveness butbenefit of the next most
not size.
ost. Land: a location
• Market to operate
share: useful the business
for making comparisonsfrom desired option that is given up.
finished goods are sold for.
nd • between
Enterprise: therisk takingimportance
relative and decisionofmaking
firms in
undertaken by an entrepreneur.
12 Terms – clear and straightforward
explanations
Land are provided for the most
1.3 Added value
Tip – quick suggestions to remind you about key
facts and highlight important points.
Consumer goods
important
Labour words in each topic. Business activity aims to increase added value. Increasing
Business activity Services (final consumers
and business customers)
‘added value’ has many benefits – the key one being
Capital
that it could lead to higher profits for the owners of the
Enterprise Capital goods business.
Progress check A
1 Enterprise
2 Business structure
why the new entrepreneur might decide to just new planning to start a
set up her own café under her own name. Also, new café would not take out a franchise – but much
she probably wants to be independent – this is an will depend on how much capital they have and how
important reason why many people set up their own much risk they are prepared to take.
Exam-style question
Additional exam-style questions ‘We have capital saved from retained profits and
we could consider conversion to a public limited
Paper 1 Section A
Additional exam-style questions company’,
Paper 2 (part said the other main shareholder of SML
question)
Pablo Massa. ‘With the capital raised we could
1 a Explain the term ‘sole-trader business’. [3] NMR Mining Group
Paper 1 (essay) aim to become a highly mechanised and efficient
b Explain why a sole-trader might take on a ‘The opening
supplier of highofgrade
the new open-cast
minerals. If the sale of shares
1 a Analyse why many businesses attempt to
partner. [3] copper mine in this country will
was successful, we could also become benefit
veryall rich!’
satisfy the objectives of stakeholder groups
Section B
other than shareholders. [8] stakeholder groups.’
‘Perhaps’, Joe replied, ‘we should focus on our
Thiscement
was a recent
factoryheadline in a some
which uses company’sof theinternal
minerals
2 ba Discuss whether
Explain why it is possible
the concept for a steel
of limited liability is
making business to shareholders
satisfy the objectives of all newspaper. The NMR Mining Group is suggesting
we extract. If we concentrated on processing
important to both and limited
of its stakeholders. [12] thatminerals
its investment
ratherinthan
Country a developing
miningA,them, we could use
companies. [8] country,
ROC as one of our suppliers oreveryone.
would be for the good of even form a
b Discuss whether a retailing business that joint venture with the company’.
plans to set up operations for the first time
in a foreign country should establish a joint 3 a i Define the term ‘private limited company’.
venture with a retailing company in that [2]
24 country. [12] ii Briefly explain the term ‘private sector’.
Paper 2 [3]
Spanish Minerals Ltd. (SML) b Using examples from the text, explain the
difference between primary sector activity
‘I do not see how we are going to compete with and secondary sector activity. [6]
ROC Incorporated’, said Joe Sainz, the managing
director and main shareholder of SML. This is a c Analyse the reasons why SML might gain
private limited company that extracts minerals from forming a joint venture with ROC. [8]
from three quarries in Spain. ‘As one of the d Evaluate whether Joe and Pablo should
largest public limited mining companies in the convert SML into a public limited company.
world, ROC Inc’s decision to start up operations [11]
in Spain by opening a huge new quarry could
force us out of business! We operate in the
private sector and have no government support.’
v
Introduction
vi
Explanation of the features in • Vary your revision plan – do not revise one topic or
Introduction
even one subject for a whole day but include other
each chapter subject areas to avoid becoming bored with just one.
Each chapter title is drawn from the headings used in • Build ‘time off ’ into your plan – allow five or ten
the specification. minutes’ break each hour and go out of the room
you are in and take some exercise.
• Write up your plan, display it somewhere visible and
Obtain a copy of the syllabus (you are do your best to stick to it!
TIP
vii
Use the Student CD-ROM in the
Application
Introduction
TIP
Cambridge International AS and A Level This skill requires you to make a clear link between
Business Coursebook published by your answer and the business in the case study
(Example: Cambridge Papers 2 or 3) or in the stem of
Cambridge University Press (Stimpson/
the question (Example: Cambridge Paper 1). A ‘clear
Farquharson ISBN 9781107677364) as it
link’ does not just mean mentioning the name of the
has many multiple choice questions and
business or the names of the owners/directors of the
mind maps to aid your revision.
business. True application of an answer means that, for
example, your knowledge and understanding are being
used to analyse the problems this business may be
facing or how an important decision will impact on this
Examination skills particular business.
How can you use the skills and For example, if the question is: ‘Analyse the advantages
and disadvantages of the piece rate system of payment
knowledge you have been building for cooks in Jamie’s restaurant’, then an example of part
to perform to your best abilities in of an answer which is not applied would be: ‘The piece
examination? rate system encourages faster working by employees
The answer to this question is: show the key and this may reduce the quality of the finished product’.
examination skills in your answer that are relevant to This argument could apply to any business, not just a
the question set. restaurant.
viii
• Selecting information presented in different forms,
Questions consist of:
Introduction
such as graphs, tables and charts, and identifying
TIP
trends and changes and explaining their impact on a ‘Command word’ + Topic being
business. examined + Context (for example,
• Drawing together ideas and information. case study).
If the question is: ‘Analyse the likely impact on Spend time thinking about what each
Business B’s profits of an increase in its selling prices’ question is asking before writing answers!
then an example of one part of an analytical response
would be:
These are the main command words that will be used
‘An increase in prices means that the gross profit margin
on Business AS and A Level examination papers:
on each unit sold will be higher, assuming that the costs
of making it did not increase too. If the business sells the Command words Skills being examined
same amount as before, then total gross profits will rise’. State Knowledge
However, this is not contextual yet.
List
Evaluation Define
This skill requires students to draw conclusions from
the arguments used, make judgements which are What is meant by…
supported or make recommendations that are justified Calculate for this Knowledge
by preceding analysis. To be effective – and to earn the business…
Application
marks – the evaluation must be rooted in the context
Explain how this
of the business featured in the data or case study –
business…
which means the judgement made must be applied to
the business. From the data outline…
Before evaluation can be effectively demonstrated, the Analyse Knowledge
answer must show evidence of knowledge, application Explain why… Application
and analysis. Evaluation cannot just ‘appear’ in an
Explain the advantages Analysis
answer without the building up of relevant and applied
and disadvantages of…
arguments, based on subject knowledge, to support it.
Many examples of questions that require evaluation – Evaluate Knowledge
and students’ answers to them – are contained in Discuss Application
this book.
Assess Analysis
Recommend and justify… Evaluation
How will I know which skills Do you agree…
are being examined?
The ‘command words’ are the important word or Spend time analysing questions to decide
TIP
words that appear in a question that indicate to which is the best way to demonstrate
students which skills are being examined. It is very evaluation in an answer. For example:
important that you understand these command words ‘Recommend’ requires a justified recom-
so that you do not: mendation, ‘Evaluate the factors’ requires a
✓ waste time developing an answer with examination prioritisation of factors, ‘Discuss’ requires a
skills that are not being examined in a question balancing of arguments and so on.
✗ throw away marks by not showing evidence of the
skills that are being examined.
ix
Understanding mark schemes • When the exam starts, read the instructions carefully
Introduction
mark schemes from past Cambridge always leads to poor marks if the case study material
examination papers. is not understood and key points from it are not
incorporated in your answer.
• Look at the marks available for each question and
Mark schemes are the documents used by examiners the ‘command’ word – these will indicate to you
to guide their assessment of examination scripts. which of the examination skills are being tested. They
Although the schemes contain details of the subject will also give you an indication of how long to spend
knowledge that students are expected to show in on answering each question.
their answers, this is not their only purpose. They also
give details of the number of marks available for each • Divide the total time up – you may need to make a
examination skill – and these are normally divided note of this – between the questions in proportion
into ‘levels’ that denote the quality of the answer. It’s to the marks each one carries.
demonstration of skills that gets the marks – the higher • Write as neatly as you can. It is recommended that
the skill, the higher the mark! you leave a line between each paragraph and at least
two lines between each separate answer.
Keys to examination success – the • Plan answers to the longer questions.
day of the examination • Answer the question that has been set, not
necessarily the one that you want to answer!
Assuming you have done your very best during the
• Allow ten minutes at the end to read through
Business course and that you have followed the revision
answers to correct any glaring errors or to add a key
tips above, what are the best ways to prepare for the
point that has been missed out.
examination day itself?
Now that you have read this introduction you are well
• Check the time of the examination and leave for the
prepared with important advice on how to face your
exam in plenty of time.
examinations! However, first, you have to actually do the
• Take all of the necessary equipment with you – revision and the remainder of this book will, we hope, make
for Business, two black pens (one could run out of your revision more effective and will help you gain the final
ink!), a calculator and a ruler should be sufficient. grade that you deserve. Good luck in your examinations!
Your exam centre will want these in a ‘see through’
Peter Stimpson
plastic case.
Peter Joyce
x
Unit 1
Unit 1
BUSINESS AND ITS
ENVIRONMENT
1
Enterprise
Chapter 1
Learning summary
After you have studied this chapter you should
be able to:
understand what business activity involves assess why enterprise is important to a country
understand what ‘added value’ and ‘creating understand what a business needs to succeed
value’ mean and why some new enterprises fail
recognise what makes a successful entrepreneur recognise what social enterprises are and how
they differ from other businesses.
Land
1.3 Added value
Consumer goods
Labour Business activity aims to increase added value. Increasing
Business activity Services (final consumers
and business customers)
‘added value’ has many benefits – the key one being
Capital
that it could lead to higher profits for the owners of the
Enterprise Capital goods business.
Figure 1.1 Business activity – resources and products
2
TERM
1 Enterprise
equals Value added
Selling
Entrepreneur: someone who takes the financial risk
price of starting and managing a new business venture.
Cost of
less bought in
materials
Progress check A
Figure 1.2 Valued added
1 What capital equipment would a hairdressing
Ways of adding more value to raw materials include: business need?
1 Raising the selling price but keeping the raw material 2 Where is an entrepreneur likely to locate a
costs constant but will customers still buy? new shop selling mobile (cell) phones?
2 Purchasing cheaper raw materials but keeping 3 What types of workers would an
selling prices the same but will customers notice a entrepreneur operating a road transport
reduction in quality? business most probably need to employ?
3 Using raw materials more efficiently so the cost 4 A business making clothes has managed to
per item falls but this might need more accurate use ten per cent less material on each item
machines or more highly trained staff. of clothing by using a new cutting machine.
Explain what will happen to the ‘value created’
1.4 Entrepreneurs by this business.
5 Explain how a computer could either be sold
The role and characteristics as a ‘consumer good’ or a ‘capital good’.
of successful entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs are people who are determined to
create their own business – not work as an employee 1.5 What do businesses need
for another firm. This means they must have:
to succeed and why do many
• a business idea
• some savings to invest
new businesses fail?
• willingness to take risks and accept responsibilities.
Business success requires:
Committed and • Adequate factors of production
self-motivated: • Customers
setting up a new
business is not for • Suppliers
lazy people!
• Government – to provide a legal framework,
Risk takers: Good leaders:
new ideas are employees need to infrastructure and education.
often more be well motivated,
successful than for example, to These are the most common reasons for new
copying others attract new
customers enterprises not succeeding:
Entrepreneurs 1 Lack of finance or working capital – often difficult to
need to be:
encourage people or banks to invest in new business
Self confident: Innovative: ideas.
believing in their
own business
many successful
new businesses offer
2 Lack of record keeping – not having sufficient
idea and their ‘something information to operate the business.
own abilities different’
3 Poor management skills – even the hardest working
Multi-skilled:
there are many and most enthusiastic entrepreneur needs basic
different jobs to
do in a new
management skills, for example, communication and
business leadership skills.
3
4 Competition – most new enterprises are small The ‘triple bottom line’ of social enterprises means that
1 Enterprise
and compete against larger rivals who may try to they aim to achieve:
‘squeeze them out of business’.
1 Economic objectives – making profits to reinvest.
5 A dynamic business environment – economic or
2 Social objectives – supporting disadvantaged groups
technological changes can be a serious problem for
such as providing work for disabled workers or
new small businesses as they often do not have the
providing support for refugee groups.
resources to respond to them effectively.
3 Environmental objectives – managing the business in
an environmentally sustainable way.
Progress check B
1 Why are leadership skills important to TERM
an entrepreneur?
2 Why is it often important for an entrepreneur Social enterprise: business with mainly social
to be prepared to be a ‘risk taker’? objectives that reinvests most of its profits into
3 Why might an ‘entrepreneur’s innovation’ be benefiting society rather than maximising returns
important for the success of a new business? to owners.
4 Explain why a new business might fail even
though the entrepreneur who set it up has all
of the ‘key characteristics’ listed above.
Do not confuse social enterprises with
TIP charities – social enterprises will aim to
make a profit but will try to do so in an
1.6 Benefits for the environmentally and socially responsible way.
entrepreneurs’ countries
Entrepreneurs’ new businesses give economic benefits
to a country. These include: Progress check C
• Reduce unemployment. 1 Explain two reasons why most countries’
• Increase national output – some could be exported governments are trying to increase the
to earn foreign currency. number of new enterprises in the economy.
• Create additional competition for existing firms.
• Increase government tax revenue. 2 Why might a social enterprise find it easy to
• Innovate and accept technological change. recruit well motivated staff?
• May develop and expand into huge corporations! 3 Does a social enterprise need profits?
4 What other objectives might a social enterprise
1.7 Social enterprises have apart from making a financial return?
It is wrong to assume that ‘all businesses want is to
make profits’. This is too simple – as Chapter 4 shows.
Good examples of business organisations that try When a question asks you to ‘discuss’ you
TIP
to achieve non-profit based objectives are ‘social must make sure that you weigh up several
enterprises’. Many cooperative organisations are possibilities and draw a conclusion in your
operated as social enterprises (see Chapter 2). answer – this will demonstrate the skill of
evaluation.
4
Exam-style questions
1 Enterprise
and shout at workers in front of customers in the
shop then this will lead to customers leaving. If they
Paper 1 Section B cannot talk to customers to find out what they really
1 a Explain the importance of business want then the shop may end up selling the wrong
activity to a country. [8] products.
b Discuss the characteristics an entrepreneur Perhaps the most important characteristic that
needs to set up a successful new retail the entrepreneur must have is to be multi-skilled.
business. [12] They will have to be good at numbers to do the
accounting and check the inventory. They need to
Student’s answer to 1(b) know about the product they are selling. They will
An entrepreneur is a person who is prepared to take need to know about displays and presentation. As the
risks in setting up and managing a business, often with business is new and small the owner will not be able
their own savings or capital. to afford to employ people to do all of these things
which is why multi-skilling is so important.
Such a person needs to have several personal
characteristics if they are going to set up a successful So, a successful entrepreneur must have many
business. They will have to be prepared to work hard characteristics to succeed in retailing. However, even
as there will be so much to do. Plans will have to be all of these might not be enough to make sure the
made, a location needs to be arranged, inventory business is successful if there is a recession or if
bought and, if the shop is going to be big enough, customer tastes change quickly.
workers will have to be employed. If an entrepreneur Authors’ comments
is lazy the retail business is unlikely to succeed.
This is an excellent answer. It demonstrates
The entrepreneur will need to be good at making knowledge as entrepreneur is defined and good
decisions. As there are already so many shops the awareness of personal characteristics is shown. Can
entrepreneur will need to make the new retail store you also see that the answer is applied to retailing?
‘stand out’. Perhaps unusual products will be sold to This is very important – the student tries to make
attract customers or the location of the shop might points that are particularly relevant to setting up and
be really important. If it was a shop selling sandwiches running a shop. The points made are well explained
and drinks then locating it near where many people or analysed and there is good judgement or
work would be a good idea. If the entrepreneur is evaluation. The evaluation is strong in two ways. The
not good at making decisions, the shop will fail. student suggests and justifies the ‘most important
The entrepreneur will need people skills too. This characteristic’ and also looks briefly at other factors,
means they will need to be able to get on well with apart from the entrepreneur, that could affect the
customers and workers. If they are bad leaders success of a shop.
Additional exam-style questions b Discuss the most likely reasons why some
new enterprises fail in the first year of
Paper 1 Section A operation. [12]
1 Explain the term ‘creating value’. [3] Paper 2
2 Explain why opportunity cost results from Linda’s Pottery
the decision by a business to purchase a new
vehicle. [3] 4 Linda decided three months ago to set up her
own business. She has been told that she has
Paper 1 Section B (essay) enough enterprise to make a success of her
3 a Explain the main features of social new business idea – a pottery making plates
enterprises. [8] and bowls. After leaving her office job she spent
5
1 Enterprise
some of her savings to obtain essential factors of prepared to spend a lot of time learning how to
production. In the first three months of trading operate her business successfully.
she recorded the following figures: a i Define the term ‘enterprise’. [2]
Plates sold, 50 – average price $4 ii Briefly explain the term ‘factors of
Bowls sold, 120 – average price $3 production’. [3]
Cost of bought in materials used − $280
b i Calculate the added value of Linda’s
Linda wants to create more value. She is planning business in the first three months. [3]
either to increase prices by ten per cent or cut
ii Explain one reason why ‘added value’ is
the cost of the materials she buys in – mainly important to Linda. [3]
clay and paints.
c Analyse two of the characteristics that Linda
There are several pottery businesses in her will need to reduce the chance of her new
region and some of them claim to sell the best business failing. [8]
quality plates and bowls.
d Recommend to Linda which method of
Although Linda is a skilled potter she has never creating added value she should choose.
gained any management experience. She is Justify your answer. [11]
6
Business structure
Chapter 2
Learning summary
After you have studied this chapter you should
be able to:
understand the different levels of business assess the factors that influence the most
(economic) activity and the difference between appropriate form of business organisation
private sector and public sector
understand the problems of changing from one
understand limited liability and its importance legal structure to another.
understand legal forms of business organisation
and their main differences
2.1 Economic activity have other objectives. These could include social aims,
such as caring for the elderly, or keeping law and order.
It is common to divide business activity into three sectors. Nearly all economies have a ‘mixture’ of these two
The relative importance (as a percentage of total national sectors and are referred to as mixed economies. If
output) of these varies greatly between countries. there was no public sector activity it would be called a
Generally, it is true that in high income developed free-market economy. If there was no private sector, it
economies, such as France, the tertiary sector is the would be called a command or a planned economy.
most important. In middle income emerging economies
such as Brazil and China, the secondary sector tends
ACTIVITY SECTOR
to be the most important. In low income developing
economies the primary sector is often the most
Market
significant. This helps to explain the low average incomes Developing Private economy
economies Primary sector
in these countries – the value added by the primary
sector is usually much lower than that of the other two. Middle
Mixed
income Secondary Business
economies
countries
TERMS Public
Developed Tertiary Planned
sector
economies economy
Primary sector: businesses involved in farming,
fishing and extracting natural resources.
Figure 2.1 Economic activities and economic systems
Secondary sector: businesses involved in
manufacturing products from primary goods.
Tertiary sector: businesses involved in providing TERMS
services to consumers and other businesses.
Private sector: comprises businesses owned and
controlled by individuals or groups of people.
2.2 Private sector and Public sector: comprises organisations owned by,
accountable to and controlled by the state.
public sector Limited liability: investors/shareholders are only
Private sector businesses are often operated with the liable (can only lose) for their original investment
objective of earning profits. Public sector organisations – in a company.
such as police force, schools, universities and hospitals –
7
Progress check A
2 Business structure
1 Research (using the internet) the share 3 Explain one reason why the tertiary sector
of the total economy accounted for by is often much more important in developed
the private sector in any two countries of economies than in developing economies.
your choice.
4 Is the private sector more or less important than
2 Would you classify a business that roasts and the public sector in your economy?
grinds coffee beans as being in the primary or
Use employment or output data to help you
secondary sector of industry?
answer.
8
Sole trader Partnership Private limited company Public limited company
2 Business structure
A business owned A business owned by A business owned by A business, owned by
and controlled by two or more people shareholders, often family shareholders, which has
one person sharing investment members, which cannot the right to sell shares
and responsibilities sell shares to general to general public
public
Common Owner keeps all More capital invested Limited liability for Limited liability for
benefits profits by partners shareholders shareholders – this
makes it easier to attract
Owner takes all Sharing of Less disclosure of
new shareholders who
decisions – no need responsibilities accounts than public
can now include the
to consult with limited company
Often partners have general public
others which can be
different skills and Continuity
time – consuming Access to more capital
experience
through sale of shares via
Stock Market
Continuity
Most likely One person The owner wants to Owners want the security Owners want to raise
to be business owned by expand business by of limited liability, want large sums of capital
appropriate an entrepreneur taking on partner with to raise funds by sale for substantial business
for wanting to keep capital – able to share of shares and status of growth
control and not responsibilities separate legal entity
Prepared to risk some
expand the business
loss of control
Table 2.1 Types of business organisation
form of legal structure or business An entrepreneur might decide to take out a franchise of
organisation – it depends on the size and an existing successful business to reduce risks, to receive
nature of the business and the objectives advice and training, to gain a reliable source of supplies
of the owners. and benefit from a well-established brand. However,
this business model will reduce the entrepreneur’s
independence and there will be franchise fees to pay plus,
probably, a share of the sales or profits to the franchisor.
2.4 Other business structures
Cooperatives
TERM
These can offer the opportunity for members to gain
from bulk buying and the incentive to operate the Franchise: a business that uses the name, logo and
cooperative efficiently as all will benefit from higher profit. trading systems of an existing business.
Decision making can be slow if all members have to be
consulted.
Joint venture
TERM This structure is particularly common when expanding
abroad as local knowledge can be gained through a
Cooperatives: all members/owners can contribute joint venture with a firm based in the country.
to the running of the organisation and profits are Different leadership/management styles and clashes of
shared between them. culture can lead to problems with these ventures.
9
TERM
2.5 Problems of changing
2 Business structure
legal structure
Joint venture: two or more businesses agreeing to
work together on a particular project. This allows • Cost – it can be expensive to create a limited company
risk and costs to be shared although it might lead or to arrange the public sale of shares to convert a
to disputes over leadership. private company into a public limited company.
• Loss of control – taking on a partner, selling shares to
new shareholders or converting a private company
into a public limited company all involve some loss of
control over business decision making.
• Sharing of profits – by taking on additional owners,
profits have to be shared between more people.
Progress check B
1 List two types of business organisation that do 6 Explain why the managers of a retailing business
not give their owners limited liability. might choose to expand the business through
franchising.
2 Why is ‘shareholders’ limited liability’ important
to a public limited company when it advertises 7 Explain why a business planning to operate in a
its shares for sale? foreign country for the first time might decide to
establish a joint venture there.
3 Why might a sole trader decide not to take a
partner into the business? 8 Why is limited liability important to someone
planning to invest in a business?
4 Why might the directors of a private limited
company decide not to convert the business into 9 Explain two problems to the owners of a private
a public limited company? limited company of converting the business to a
public limited company.
5 Differentiate between a joint venture and a
franchise.
10
2 Business structure
why the new entrepreneur might decide to just I think most new entrepreneurs planning to start a
set up her own café under her own name. Also, new café would not take out a franchise – but much
she probably wants to be independent – this is an will depend on how much capital they have and how
important reason why many people set up their own much risk they are prepared to take.
business. The franchisor will insist on taking many
Authors’ comments
decisions and will also demand a share of revenue or
profits. For an independent minded person this level This is a well-planned and clearly written answer. Can
of control might be too much. you see the clear references to ‘new entrepreneur’
and ‘café’? – these help to apply the answer firmly
There are many factors for the new entrepreneur
in the context given by the question. There is
to consider before making this important decision.
some good analysis of both the advantages and
Operating a café is not as difficult as, say, setting up
disadvantages of franchising. There is clear evaluation –
a car factory and the machinery and materials used
not only in the final paragraph but also when the
are relatively easy to work with. The brand name of
student assesses the ‘important reasons’ and explains
a large franchisor could also be damaged, e.g. by a
these well.
food poisoning scare in another café. For this reason,
Additional exam-style questions ‘We have capital saved from retained profits and
we could consider conversion to a public limited
Paper 1 Section A company’, said the other main shareholder of SML
1 a Explain the term ‘sole-trader business’. [3] Pablo Massa. ‘With the capital raised we could
aim to become a highly mechanised and efficient
b Explain why a sole-trader might take on a supplier of high grade minerals. If the sale of shares
partner. [3] was successful, we could also become very rich!’
Section B ‘Perhaps’, Joe replied, ‘we should focus on our
2 a Explain why the concept of limited liability is cement factory which uses some of the minerals
important to both shareholders and limited we extract. If we concentrated on processing
companies. [8] minerals rather than mining them, we could use
ROC as one of our suppliers or even form a
b Discuss whether a retailing business that joint venture with the company’.
plans to set up operations for the first time
in a foreign country should establish a joint 3 a i Define the term ‘private limited company’.
venture with a retailing company in that [2]
country. [12] ii Briefly explain the term ‘private sector’.
Paper 2 [3]
Spanish Minerals Ltd. (SML) b Using examples from the text, explain the
difference between primary sector activity
‘I do not see how we are going to compete with and secondary sector activity. [6]
ROC Incorporated’, said Joe Sainz, the managing
director and main shareholder of SML. This is a c Analyse the reasons why SML might gain
private limited company that extracts minerals from forming a joint venture with ROC. [8]
from three quarries in Spain. ‘As one of the d Evaluate whether Joe and Pablo should
largest public limited mining companies in the convert SML into a public limited company.
world, ROC Inc’s decision to start up operations [11]
in Spain by opening a huge new quarry could
force us out of business! We operate in the
private sector and have no government support.’
11
Size of business
Chapter 3
Learning summary
After you have studied this chapter you should
be able to:
understand ways of measuring business size explain why and how a business might
grow internally
recognise benefits of small firms for
an economy recognise the benefits and limitations of
family businesses.
understand the advantages and disadvantages of
small and large businesses
3.1 Measuring business size the same industry, it is of no use in making size
comparisons between firms in completely different
Why is it important to know ‘how big’ a business is or industries.
‘how many’ small businesses there are in a country?
Business managers and governments are interested in
measuring business size. For example: Sales value
This is the total
• Managers want to know if their business is becoming value of goods sold
in a time period
relatively larger than others in the industry.
• Governments want to know if national businesses
are becoming larger compared to those of other Market share Employment
A relative measure – Number of workers
countries – and whether the number of small total business employed (usually
businesses is increasing. sales compared to
total market sales Business size
measured by ‘full-
time equivalent’)
can be
None of the measures of business size is perfect. In measured in
some cases they can give rather misleading indications different
ways
of business size – which is why it is common to use
more than one measure to make comparisons between
businesses. Market Capital employed
capitalisation The value of capital
Some of the problems include: (plcs only) used by the
Issued shares x business
share price
• Market capitalisation: would exclude IKEA, Virgin and
other large private limited companies. The market
capitalisation values can also change greatly with a
Stock Market ‘boom’ or ‘slump’. Figure 3.1 Measuring business size
• Employment: this would make a nuclear power
company – with relatively few employees but huge
capital investments – appear quite small. All measures of size have shortcomings. It
TIP
• Capital employed: this would make a labour intensive is best to use a measure in the context of
industry – such as a postal service – appear quite small an industry/sector and over time.
compared to the large number of people it employs. The level of profit made by a business
• Sales value: although useful for making comparisons is not a good measure of size. It may
between firms in the same industry, it is of limited be a useful indicator of performance/
value in making inter-industry comparisons.
effectiveness but not size.
• Market share: useful for making comparisons
between the relative importance of firms in
12
Progress check A
3 Size of business
1 Company A is a construction business employing of an office cleaning business using the ‘capital
100 part-time workers who, on average, work 20 employed’ measure?
hours per week. Company B
3 Why would it be impossible to compare the
is a construction business employing 30 full-
size of two sole trader businesses by using the
time workers (40 hours per week, on average).
‘market capitalisation’ measure?
Which company is larger (using the employment
measure)? 4 Explain whether ‘sales value’ is a good way of
measuring the size of two car manufacturing
2 Why would it be misleading to compare the size
businesses.
of an electricity generating business with that
13
Feature of family business Common strengths Common weaknesses
3 Size of business
Succession Training successors can begin early, can Family issues get in way, unwillingness to let
choose when to leave. go, unwilling to choose a successor.
Ownership/control Closely held, family owned, high degree May sacrifice growth for control, often no
of control, earnings are motivators. outside directors, need for privacy.
Culture Innovative, informal, flexible, creative, Founder’s role can stifle innovation,
adaptable, common language, efficient inefficient, emotional, resistant to change,
communications. high risk of conflicts.
14
Exam-style question
3 Size of business
Author comment
Additional exam-style questions at $12.5m. Joe believes that JT is now one of the
largest retailers of sports equipment in the country.
Paper 1 Section A JT operates 35 shops, all leased from property
1 a State two ways in which business size can be companies at very competitive rents. Joe thinks the
measured and compared. [2] main reasons for JT’s success are his commitment to
the business and low prices. 2 years ago Joe passed
b Explain one reason why small businesses are overall control of the business to Liam, his son. He
commonly found in the hairdressing industry. had just graduated from university with a Business
[3] degree. Some JT workers have recently left the
Section B business because of Liam’s different approach to
management, compared with Joe. Liam has appointed
2 Analyse the possible weaknesses of family his sister as Marketing Director. She is keen to do
businesses. [8] well but admitted to a friend that she was not really
3 Discuss the importance of small firms to the interested in sport.
economy of a country. [12] 4 Analyse two benefits to JT from being ‘one of
Paper 2 (part question) the largest retailers of sports equipment in the
country’. [8]
Joe Trading (JT)
5 Discuss whether the future success of JT will
Joe started JT 25 years ago with capital of $1000.
depend mainly on it remaining a family business.
JT’s accountant now values the capital employed
[11]
15
Business objectives
Chapter 4
Learning summary
After you have studied this chapter you should
be able to:
understand why it is important for a business to explain the factors that determine business
set objectives at corporate, departmental and objectives and why objectives might change
individual levels over time
explain different stages of business decision explain corporate social responsibility as an
making and the role of objectives in decision objective and the importance of ethics when
making setting business objectives.
understand the links between mission statement,
objectives, strategy and tactics
4.1 Why should businesses Is this a clear and effective corporate objective?
set objectives?
An objective is an aim or target for the future. If
TERMS
businesses do not have objectives then:
Strategies: long-term plans to achieve objectives.
• there is no sense of direction or focus for the
management team or employees Corporate objectives: specific goals set for the
• employees in the organisation do not know what business to achieve.
they are aiming to achieve
• there is no way of assessing ‘success’ or ‘failure’
• investors will not be keen to invest in the business as
it is unlikely to have a clear future strategy – because
S=
there is no clear objective. Specific to the
business
Having set objectives, senior management must
communicate them to stakeholders for them to have M=
any impact on employees, investors, customers and T=
Measurable to
Time specific –
other groups. allow for
they should have
comparisons
a time limit to be
with actual
achieved by SMART results
4.2 Why should objectives objectives
be SMART?
A=
R=
Consider this statement by a company Managing Realistic and
Achievable
because
Director: relevant to the
objectives
people trying to
set too high will
‘Our company should aim to become bigger in achieve them
demotivate
the future and dominate the market we sell our
products in’. Figure 4.1 SMART objectives
16
Progress check A
4 Business objectives
1 Explain why the objective: ‘Our company 3 Give an example of a SMART objective that a
should aim to become bigger in the future and large business might set.
dominate the market we sell our products in’, is
4 Explain two benefits to this business of the
not SMART.
objective being ‘measurable’.
2 Explain two benefits to an entrepreneur of
5 Explain how the workers in a business might
setting clear objectives for a newly formed
react if the firm had no clear objectives.
business.
6 Give an example of an ‘unrealistic objective’ for a
small shop selling food and drinks.
Mission
Corporate objectives
developing effective plans of action or
Divisional objectives taking strategic decisions will become
almost impossible.
Departmental objectives
Individual targets
Further points:
Figure 4.2 Hierarchy of objectives 1 Once a corporate objective(s) has been established
the senior management of a business will then focus
Advantages Disadvantages on developing strategies to achieve this objective.
2 Corporate objectives should not be ‘set in stone’.
• Tells stakeholders what • It can be very general
They may need to be adapted or changed
the business ‘is about’. and just ‘wishful thinking’.
completely over time. For example:
• The process of creating • It does not provide i Once a newly established firm has ‘survived’ the
a mission statement SMART objectives for first crucial few months of operation the owner
can help bring use within the business. may seek to expand the business or aim to
managers together. achieve high profits.
• It provides a sense of • It may need to be ii Major changes to the external environment –
purpose to managers revised frequently such as an economic recession – might result in
and workers. if the nature of the objectives for business growth being changed to
business changes. aiming for survival.
Table 4.1. Mission statements - advantages and
disadvantages
17
4.4 Objectives and decision
4 Business objectives
Profit
maximisation
Can this be accurately making
measured?
Could it put other Profit
Maximising returns
to shareholders
objectives at risk? satisficing Clear objectives are essential for effective business
Earning sufficient
Aim for above industry
average returns to
profits to satisfy decision making. Objectives should be at the centre of
shareholders – to
owners but then
pursuing other
the decision-making process (see Fig 4.3).
make takeover
objectives
less likely
Corporate Growth
Corporate social Increased size can
7 Control
responsibility
objectives and review
bring benefits but
Aiming to satisfy 2 Assess and
it can be too rapid against
stakeholder objectives and may be achieved clarify problem
as well as owners
objectives
by reducing short-
(see also Chapter 5) term returns to
owners 6 Plan and
Increase Survival implement 1 Set
market share Likely to be the decision – objectives 3 Gather data
Increases power main objective for
action! (SMART) to analyse
over suppliers and small or newly formed problem
prices but risks businesses, important
In t
monopoly during economic er n a ts
investigation recession l c o n s t r ai n
5 Use e. g . an c e
n
appropriate 4 Consider ideas
tools to decide
Figure 4.3 Corporate objectives between opions
and options
Ex
t er )
Never confuse an objective with a strategy nal o rs
et it
TIP
c ons o m p
t raint s (l
in your answer. An objective is what a aw , ec onomy, c
business is trying to achieve – a strategy is
the means used to achieve it. Figure 4.4 Corporate objectives at the centre of the
For example, expanding the company into decision-making cycle
another country might be the strategy
used to meet the objective of higher
shareholder returns in the long run. 4.5 Factors influencing
corporate objectives
Age of business
1 ‘We intend to make our products the best
known computers in the world’. Do you think Competition
this is an objective or a mission statement? Economic situation Objectives
Explain your answer.
Sector
2 Explain why the objectives set for the (public/private)
marketing and finance departments of a car
manufacturing business should be based on Culture
the company’s overall objectives.
Figure 4.5 Influences on business objectives
3 Would you advise an entrepreneur to spend
time on developing a well thought out mission
statement? Explain your answer.
4 Explain one reason why a business might
change its objectives over time.
18
4.6 Potential conflicts between The arguments for and against ethical decisions are:
4 Business objectives
objectives For
• May give business positive publicity
Conflicts can occur in a number of different ways: • Attracts customers who are ethically minded
1 Maximum sales growth might conflict with a profit • Attracts employees who want to work for an ethical
objective – selling more does not necessarily mean business
higher profits. • Avoids breaking laws and the consequences of this.
2 Between short-term objectives and long-term
objectives – investing capital for long-term expansion
Against
may conflict with short-term profit objectives. • May add to business costs, for example, paying
3 Stakeholders objectives often conflict (see Chapter 5). workers above ‘poverty wages’.
• May make the business uncompetitive if other firms
in the industry are not acting ethically.
4.7 Ethics – should business • Sales may be lost if bribes are not paid.
objectives reflect ethical • Most customers want low prices and are not
worried about how products are made or how
standards? workers are treated.
Should business decisions be influenced by just profit Most businesses have an ethical code. This can be used
calculations – or should moral issues be considered as a guide to all employees as to what behaviour is and
too? This is one of the big debates in global business is not acceptable in that business. However, if workers
today. Should managers be allowed to: or managers are paid large bonuses for ‘outstanding
• advertise directly to children? sales or profits’, might they be tempted to break the
• employ very young workers? ethical code to try to cut costs or increase sales?
• pay workers as little as possible?
• pollute the environment if it is not illegal to do so?
• pay bribes to gain extra orders? When discussing a question about ethical
TIP
Progress check C
1 Explain why the objectives of a business might 3 Explain why some business analysts think that
change if it was a private limited company but is advertising products directly to children is
converted to a public limited company. unethical.
2 Explain how the economic cycle of boom and 4 Suggest three statements that might be included in
recession might influence business objectives. the ethical code of a large oil company.
19
Exam-style questions
4 Business objectives
Additional exam-style questions Liam plans to make JT even more profitable. He has
told all workers that making the highest levels of profit
Paper 1 Section A will benefit the business and make their jobs more
1 a What is meant by a ‘SMART objective’? [2] secure. Liam has told his purchasing manager to insist
that all suppliers of sports equipment – especially the
b Explain briefly why ethics might influence smaller one who depend greatly on JT’s orders – cut
the objectives of a business. [3] the cost of their supplies to JT by 15% or risk losing
Paper 1 Section B contracts. He also insists that all new employees should
be put on a 12 month trial period before their job is
2 a Explain the relationship between mission confirmed. Liam has recently met with the country’s
statement, objectives and strategy. [8] Sports Minister and told her that “I will make whatever
b Discuss the extent to which setting clear payments are necessary to secure the contract to
business objectives will ensure that a book supply the country’s Olympic sports teams”.
retailing business is successful. [12] 3 Analyse the benefits to JT of having a clear
Paper 2 (part question) long term objective. [8]
Read again the Paper 2 case study in the Additional 4 Discuss whether Liam’s recent decisions are
exam-style questions in Chapter 3. examples of unethical business practices. [11]
20
Stakeholders in a business
Chapter 5
Learning summary
After you have studied this chapter you should
be able to:
know what a stakeholder is and the main analyse problems caused by conflicting
stakeholder groups stakeholder objectives
understand the roles, rights and responsibilities understand how changing business objectives
of stakeholders might affect stakeholders.
know about ‘stakeholder interests’ and how
socially responsible firms try to be accountable
to stakeholders
in limited companies but the term • Customers – good value, safe products, fair
‘stakeholders’ has a much wider meaning. competition
Do not confuse these two terms – and do • Workers – fair pay, job security, safe working
not forget that shareholders are just one conditions
of the many stakeholder groups. • Suppliers – payment on time
• Local community – pollution kept to minimum,
support for local groups.
21
Business decisions can affect different stakeholders in
5 Stakeholders in a business
5 Stakeholders in a business
Local community – provide • To be consulted about major changes • To cooperate with the business,
local facilities to business. that affect it, for example, expansion where reasonable to do so, on
or rationalisation (closure) plans. expansion and other plans.
• Not have lives of local residents very • To meet reasonable requests from
badly affected by the businesses’ business for local services such as public
activities, for example, pollution or transport (for example, to allow staff to
excessive truck movements. get to work) and waste disposal.
Government – control • Businesses have the duty to • Treat businesses equally under the law.
business activity and provide government to meet all legal
• Prevent unfair competition which
secure and stable economic/ constraints such as producing only
could damage business survival
political/legal environment. legal goods, and to pay taxes on time.
chances.
• Establish good trading links with other
countries to allow international trade.
Table 5.1 Stakeholders - roles, rights, responsibilities
23
5.5 Changing business objectives
Progress check B
5 Stakeholders in a business
1 a Analyse why many businesses attempt to ‘The opening of the new open-cast
satisfy the objectives of stakeholder groups copper mine in this country will benefit all
other than shareholders. [8] stakeholder groups.’
b Discuss whether it is possible for a steel This was a recent headline in a company’s internal
making business to satisfy the objectives of all newspaper. The NMR Mining Group is suggesting
of its stakeholders. [12] that its investment in Country A, a developing
country, would be for the good of everyone.
24
5 Stakeholders in a business
The company plan was to use a large area for open- 2 a Explain how any two stakeholder groups
cast copper mining. Few people live in this area. A might be adversely affected by this decision.
new road would be built from the capital city to [4]
transport the copper. The world price of copper is
b Evaluate the extent to which business
very high. It is needed by electronics industries in
decisions such as this lead to a conflict of
industrialised countries.
stakeholder objectives. [11]
25
Business structure
Chapter 6
Learning summary
After you have studied this chapter you should
be able to:
understand the main differences between local, discuss the benefits and disadvantages that a
national and multinational businesses multinational might bring to a country and the
relationship between MNCs and the state
understand the growing importance of
multinational trading links and their impact on assess the advantages and disadvantages of
business activity privatisation in a given situation.
6.1 Local, national and flows can be quickly reversed causing instability and
profits from capital investment are usually sent abroad.
multinational businesses • More choice for domestic consumers and prices are
often lower as a result of importing goods and services.
Local businesses have operations in just one location or
region.
National businesses have operations in several locations TERM
or regions of a country but do not operate in other
countries. Globalisation: the increasing freedom of movement
of goods, capital and people around the world.
Multinational businesses operate in more than one
country and these are termed ‘multinationals’.
26
• Potential cost savings made by operating in a low- The relationship between multinationals and the states
6 Business structure
cost country they operate in can be a close one – with the company
• Foreign operations might be closer to important helping governments meet their economic objectives
markets – goods can be exported more easily and, commonly, governments providing financial
• Access to local resources that might not be available incentives to the company to invest in their country. The
in ‘home’ country. issues to be considered when considering the impact of
MNCs include:
TERM
6.4 Privatisation
Multinational company (or corporation):
businesses with headquarters in one country Privatisation has been used by many governments in
but with operating branches or factories in other recent years. The reasons for this include:
countries. Commonly known as MNCs. • Raises finance for government
• Businesses can now operate without political
control/interference
• Private owners will expect profits from their
Be prepared to examine the impact of the
TIP
27
Progress check B
6 Business structure
1 What factors are important in deciding whether 3 Suggest reasons why each of these multinationals
the water supply industry in your country should is operating in your country.
operate in the public sector or the private
4 Suggest three benefits to your country from the
sector?
operation of these multinationals.
2 Name four multinational businesses operating in
5 Suggest three possible limitations to your country
your country.
from the operation of these multinationals.
28