Business
Learning Journey & Sequencing Rationale
Learners are introduced to the dynamic nature of business in relation to how and why business ideas come about. They also explore the impact of risk and reward on business activity and the role of entrepreneurship.
This enhanced knowledge will help learners to apply their understanding to any given business scenario and a wider acknowledgement of the real world.
Sequencing in GCSE Business
Business is taught over two years. Theme 1 in Year 10 and Theme 2 in Year 11. This is detailed in the programme of study.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16mJkswOHhpXN8CQqXQhCbBS-EwHvuUJs/edit#gid=404704968
Key Stage 4
YEAR 10
Year 10 is the first year of the GCSE Business course. Theme 1 is taught throughout this year. A linear approach is adopted throughout this theme. 1.1 considers the basic knowledge within business. For example, looking at the nature of business, the role of business and customer needs. As we finish 1.1 looking at customer needs is the natural step that leads to market research, which is the foundation of 1.2. 1.3 builds on the knowledge of 1.1 & 1.2 concentrating on business aims & objectives. As we have now identified the wants & needs of the customer/consumer, which helps learners to understand the aims & objectives a business may decide upon, it builds learners up to consider the cost of meeting these wants and therefore the likely revenue which may be generated. 1.4 & 1.5 concentrates on the ownership a business may decide upon, which can heavily be influenced by the costs associated (1.3). The end part of 1.5 starts to draw attention to the wider considerations to business such as external factors, the economy, the environment. This helps to provide a smooth transition to Theme 2 which is taught in year 11.
YEAR 11
Year 11 is the second year of the GCSE Business course. Theme 2 is taught throughout this year and examines how a business develops beyond the start-up phase, which is building on Theme 1. A linear approach is adopted throughout this theme. In 2.1 learners are introduced to methods of growth and how and why business aims and objectives change as businesses evolve. External factors are further developed in 2.1 with the impact of globalisation and the ethical and environmental questions facing businesses are explored. This leads naturally to 2.2 whereby learners explore how each element of the marketing mix is managed and used to inform and make business decisions in a competitive marketplace. 2.3 concentrates specifically on operational decisions and how to better supply customers with the product and the best logistical/feasible approach to supply and quality decisions to meet a growing audience. Leading straight into 2.4 whereby learners will explore the tools a business has to support financial decision-making, including ratio analysis and the use and limitation of a range of financial information. Finally, as the business grows the natural step and final step of the course would be to consider the personnel required. 2.5 allows learners to explore the human resources decisions a growing business will need to make, relating to organisational structure, recruitment, training and motivation need to be made to influence business activity. These are the aspects considered in this final topic.
Unit overview - unit 2.1
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Subject: Business 2.1 |
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Skills |
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Knowledge |
Business growth – methods of business growth and their impact, the types of business ownership for growing businesses and sources of finance for growing and established businesses Changes in business aims and objectives – why and how business aims and objectives changes as businesses evolve Business and globalisation – the impact of globalisation on businesses, barriers to international trade and how businesses compete internationally Ethics, the environment and business – the impact of ethical and environmental considerations on businesses |
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Rationale |
Growing the business – Learners are introduced to methods of growth and how and why business aims and objectives change as businesses evolve. The impact of globalisation and the ethical and environmental questions facing businesses are explored. This enhanced knowledge will help learners to apply their understanding to any given business scenario and a wider acknowledgement in the real world. Furthermore, learners will be able to answer GCSE Theme 2 Examination questions. |
Unit overview - unit 2.2
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Subject: Business 2.2 |
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Skills |
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Knowledge |
Product -the design mix, the product life cycle and the importance of differentiating a product or service Price – pricing strategies and influences on pricing strategies Promotion- promotion strategies for different market segments and the use of technology in promotion Place- methods of distribution Using the marketing mix to make business decisions- how each element of the marketing mix can influence other elements, using the marketing mix to build competitive advantage and how an integrated marketing mix can influence competition |
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Rationale |
Making marketing decisions – Learners will explore how each element of the marketing mix is managed and used to inform and make business decisions in a competitive marketplace. This enhanced knowledge will help learners to apply their understanding to any given business scenario and a wider acknowledgement in the real world. Furthermore, learners will be able to answer GCSE Theme 2 Examination questions. |
Unit overview - unit 2.3
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Subject: Business 2.3 |
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Skills |
List methods of production Analyse product processes Describe the impact that technology can have on production Discuss issues a business may face when introducing new technology List factors that contribute to a business’s relations with its suppliers Discuss how technology may improve the way in which a business procures its stock Know the difference between quality assurance and quality control and the benefit of both to a business Discuss why quality is important to a business Draw the sales process Describe why it is important for sales staff to have good product knowledge Answer 6, 9 & 12 mark exam questions |
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Knowledge |
Business operations - the purpose of business operations, different types of production process and the impact of technology on production Working with suppliers – managing stock and the role of procurement Managing quality - the concept of quality and its importance The sales process – the nature of the sales process and the importance to businesses of providing good customer service |
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Rationale |
Making operational decisions – this topic focusses on meeting customer needs through the design, supply, quality and sales decisions a business make This enhanced knowledge will help learners to apply their understanding to any given business scenario and a wider acknowledgement in the real world. Furthermore, learners will be able to answer GCSE Theme 2 Examination questions. |
Unit overview - unit 2.4
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Subject: Business 2.4 |
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Skills |
Know the difference between gross and net profit Calculate gross profit, net profit and the average rate of return Describe how a business could use market data to make business decisions Discuss the limitations of financial information Describe why business may prefer to use quantitative data rather than qualitative data Answer 6, 9 & 12 mark exam questions |
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Knowledge |
Business calculations – the concept and calculation of gross profit and net profit, and the calculation and interpretation of the gross margin, the net profit margin and the average rate of return Understanding business performance – the use of interpretation of quantitative business data to support, inform and justify business decisions and the use of limitations of financial information |
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Rationale |
Making financial decisions – Learners will explore the tools a business has to support financial decision-making, including ratio analysis and the use and limitation of a range of financial information. This enhanced knowledge will help learners to apply their understanding to any given business scenario and a wider acknowledgement in the real world. Furthermore, learners will be able to answer GCSE Theme 2 Examination questions. |
Unit overview - summer term unit 2.5
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Subject: Business 2.5 |
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Skills |
Know the difference between hierarchical or flat structure Know the difference between a centralised or decentralised structure List the disadvantages to a business of having excessive communication in a business Recall different methods of recruitment List recruitment documents Discuss the benefits of formal and informal training Explain why businesses train and develop employees Describe why businesses need to motivate its employees Describe the difference between financial and non - financial methods of motivation Answer 6, 9 & 12 mark exam question |
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Knowledge |
Organisational structures - different organisational structures and when each are appropriate, the importance of effective communication and different ways of working Effective recruitment- different job roles and responsibilities, and how businesses recruit people Effective training and development – how and why businesses train and develop employees Motivation – the importance of motivation in the workplace and how businesses motivate employees |
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Rationale |
Making human resource decisions – growing a business means that decisions relating to organisational structure, recruitment, training and motivation need to be made to influence business activity. These aspects are considered in this final topic. This enhanced knowledge will help learners to apply their understanding to any given business scenario and a wider acknowledgement in the real world. Furthermore, learners will be able to answer GCSE Theme 2 Examination questions. |
Knowledge organisers
A knowledge organiser is an important document that lists the important facts that learners should know by the end of a unit of work. It is important that learners can recall these facts easily, so that when they are answering challenging questions in their assessments and GCSE and A-Level exams, they are not wasting precious time in exams focusing on remembering simple facts, but making complex arguments and calculations.
We encourage all learners to use them by doing the following:
- quiz themselves at home, using the read, write, cover, check method,
- practise spelling key vocabulary,
- further researching people, events and processes most relevant to the unit.