Business is concerned with how organisations are formed, financed and run, looking at services involved such as banking, transport, taxation and semi-state organisations. It provides an excellent foundation for anyone contemplating a business career, though like Accounting it is not an essential subject for any course but it would still be very useful.
Course Content
Section 1
People in Business, Conflict in Business - The Consumer, Conflicting Interests - Industrial Relations
Section 2
Enterprise
Management Skills - Leadership, Motivation, Communicating
Management Activities - Planning, Organising, Controlling
Household and Business Manager - Finance, Insurance, Taxation
Monitoring the Business
Human Resource Management
The Management of Change
Identifying Oportunities
Getting Started
Marketing
Expanding the Business
Section 3
Categories of Industry
Ownership Structures
Community Development
Business, Government and the Economy
Ethics and Social Responsibilities in Business
International Trading Environment
The European Union
Global Business
The exam paper is divided into 3 sections (4 for higher level)
Short fill-in questions - answer 8 out of 10 for higher level, 10 out of 15 for lower level.
Part 1 - 1 question on People in Business, and 2 from Domestic/International Environment. You must answer one question.
Part 2 - There are 2 Managing questions and 2 Business in Action questions on the paper. You must anwer 2 questions from this section. The fourth long question can be taken from either Part 1 or Part 2.
In addition Higher level students must answer an 80-mark Applied Business Question. This is a case study question where 3 questions must be answered based on the case study. Reference must be made to the text when answering.
Ordinary Level: 2 ½ hour paper. Higher Level: 3 hour paper.
