BUSINESS STUDIES

GRADE 12
PAPER 1: LAST PUSH STRATEGY
2022
 TOPICS TO BE COVERED IN PAPER ONE
 Paper 1 covers the following TWO main topics:
 Business Environments which consists of THREE sub-topics
 Business Operations which consists of TWO sub-topics
 Both topics are equally assessed in this paper
 The total mark allocation for this paper is 150 marks which will be written for 2 hours
 BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTS
 This topic will also be assessed in section B : Question 2 and 4 and/or in Section C : Q5
 It consists of the following THREE sub-topics:
 Impact of recent legislation on businesses (Low hanging fruits: BCEA provisions,
LRA rights, CPA & NCA consumer rights, BBBEE pillars, SETAs
 Macro environment: Business strategies (Low hanging fruits)
 Business sectors and their environments (Low hanging fruits)
BREAKDOWN OF MARKS FOR THIS TOPIC

Legislation A maximum of 30 marks if it is only assessed in section B

A maximum of 60 marks if its is assessed in section B and C
Business strategies A maximum of 20 marks if it is only assessed in section B
A maximum of 60 marks if its is assessed in section B and C
Business sectors and A maximum of 9 marks in section B
their environments
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTS : BUSINESS STRATEGIES

 The strategic management process which covers all aspects that must be taught in this
sub-topic
 Provide the correct name of each Porters’ Five Forces Model and focus on HOW
businesses should apply this model to analyse their position in the market. This will
enable them to identify these forces from given statements and scenarios.
 PESTLE analysis: Focus on HOW each PESTLE factor poses challenges to businesses
and suggest strategies businesses can use to deal with each challenge
 NOTE that the strategy must be linked to each challenge
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTS : BUSINESS STRATEGIES
 Be able to identify the FOUR types of business strategies from given
scenarios/statements.
 Be able to discuss the types of business strategies and refrain from only
focusing on defensive and intensive strategies.
 Make a clear distinction between the diversification and defensive
strategies as candidates tend to confuse these strategies .
 BUSINESS OPERATIONS
 This topic will also be assessed in section B : Question 3 and 4 and/or in Section C question 6
 It consists of the TWO following sub-topics:
 Human resources activities : Low hanging fruits
 Quality of performance ( Low hanging fruits: Quality concepts, benefits of a good quality
management system, PDCA, poor implementation of TQM, Cost reduction of TQM
BREAKDOWN OF MARKS FOR THIS TOPIC (116)

HUMAN RESOURCES FUNCTION QUALITY OF PERFROMANCE

Question 3: 20 marks Question 3: 20 marks

Question 4: 10 marks Question 4: 10 marks
Question 6: 40 marks if it is Question 6: 40 marks if it is assessed in
assessed in section C section C
 BUSINESS OPERATIONS: HUMAN RESOURCES FUNCTION
You should know the following about the human resources function:
 The recruitment procedure which includes the components of a job analysis, methods and
sources of internal and external recruitment
 The selection procedure consists of many marks because it covers the following sub-topics:
 Screening as part as the selection procedure ( Which is normally 6 marks)
 Interviews: Purpose, role of the interviewer x 2 and interviewee x 1
 Employment contract: Definition, aspects, legal requirements and termination
 The placement procedure should not be confused with either the selection or recruitment
procedures
 Induction: Definition, purpose, induction programme and benefits of induction
NOTE: The benefits of induction for businesses are informed by the purpose of induction
 Refrain from giving examples of fringe benefits when asked to discuss the impact of fringe
benefits on businesses.
 The salary determination methods should not be confused with a net and gross salary as these
are not even covered in the grade 12 syllabus.
 BUSINESS OPERATIONS: QUALITY OF PERFROMANCE
You should know the following about quality of performance :
 Quality concepts: Know key words for each quality concept that will enable you to explain
the meaning of these concepts and be able to identify them from given
scenarios/statements
 Refrain from giving vague/plain statements on the benefits of a good quality
management systems. The focus should be how businesses benefit from producing a
good quality product e.g.
 Effective customer services are rendered, resulting in increased customer satisfaction
 Vision/Mission/Business goals may be achieved.
 The quality indicators of the different business functions are the same as the factors that
contribute to the success of the business. Focus on what each function should do to
produce a quality product /service ?
 BUSINESS OPERATIONS: QUALITY OF PERFROMANCE
 The meaning of total quality management /TQM should not be confused with the meaning of
quality
 Only focus on the impact of FIVE TQM elements on large businesses. Refer to of the 2021
exam guidelines
 Know the meaning of quality circles to understand their role.
(Role/importance of quality circles)
 NOTE: Quality circles form part of continuous improvement to processes and systems
 Know the meaning and the application of the PDCA model as part of continuous improvement
to processes and systems
 Negative impact of TQM if is poorly implemented: Only focus on the” disadvantages”.
 Focus on “ how” businesses should implement TQM in order to reduce the cost of quality.