1. What is Business?

1.1 The Nature and Purpose of Business

Why Businesses Exist

Business Objectives

The Importance of Profit

1.2 Forms of Business

Private Sector Businesses: Sole Traders

Private Sector Businesses: Companies

The Public Sector

Non-Profit Organisations and Social Enterprises

Shares and Shareholders

1.3 The External Environment

Competition and Market Conditions

Household Incomes

Interest Rates

Demographic Factors

Environmental Issues and Fair Trade

2. Managers, Leadership and Decision-Making

2.1 Management and Leadership

Managers Versus Leaders

Leadership Styles

Comparing Leadership Styles

2.2 Management Decision-Making

Management and Decision-Making

Scientific Decision-Making

Decision Trees

Influences on Decision-Making

2.3 The Role and Importance of Stakeholders

Stakeholder Needs

Stakeholder Mapping

Managing Stakeholder Relationships

3. Marketing Management

3.1 Marketing Objectives

Setting Marketing Objectives

3.2 Understanding Markets and Customers

The Importance of Marketing Research

Primary Market Research

Secondary Market Research

Interpreting Marketing Data

Elasticity of Demand

3.3 Making Marketing Decisions

Segmentation

Targeting and Positioning

3.4 The Marketing Mix

Elements of the Marketing Mix

Product Decisions

Pricing Decisions

Promotional Decisions

Distribution Decisions

People, Process and the Physical Environment

An Integrated Marketing Mix

4. Operational Management

4.1 Operational Objectives

The Value of Setting Operational Objectives

Setting Operational Objectives

4.2 Operational Performance

Operations Data

4.3 Efficiency and Productivity

The Importance of Capacity, Efficiency and Productivity

Lean Production

Technology and Efficiency

4.4 Quality

Improving Quality

4.5 Inventory and Supply Chain Management

Matching Supply and Demand

Inventory Control

The Supply Chain

5. Financial Management

5.1 Financial Objectives

Setting Financial Objectives

Cash, Profit and Types of Profit

5.2 Financial Performance

Budgeting

Cash Flow Forecasts

Analysing Timings of Cash Flow

Break-Even Analysis

Calculating Break-Even

Analysing Profitability

5.3 Sources of Finance

The Need for Finance

Internal Sources of Finance

External Sources of Finance

5.4 Cash Flow and Profit

Improving Cash Flow, Profits and Profitability

6. Human Resource Management

6.1 Human Resource Objectives

Setting Human Resource Objectives

6.2 Human Resource Performance

Calculating and Interpreting Human Resource Data

6.3 Organisational Design

Principles of Organisational Design

Models of Organisational Structure

The Value of Changing Organisational Design

6.4 Human Resource Planning

The Human Resource Plan

Recruitment

Training

Redeployment, Dismissal and Redundancy

6.5 Motivation

Motivation and Motivation Theories

Financial Methods of Motivation

Non-Financial Methods of Motivation

Building a Rewards Package

6.6 Improving Employer-Employee Relations

The Value of Good Working Relations

Trade Unions and Work Councils

7. Analysing the Strategic Position of a Business (A Level)

7.1 Mission, Objectives and Strategy

Influences on Mission, Objectives and Strategies

Mission, Objectives, Strategy and Tactics

Strategic and Functional Objectives

SWOT Analysis

7.2 Assessing the Internal Position of a Business

The Income Statement

The Balance Sheet

Financial Ratios

Efficiency Ratios

Using Operations Data

Using Human Resource Data

Using Marketing Data

Core Competencies

Assessing Short- and Long-Term Performance

Assessing Overall Business Performance

7.3 Changes in the External Environment

Political and Legal Change

Economic Changes: GDP and Taxation

Economic Changes: Inflation and Exchange Rates

Economic Changes: Fiscal and Monetary Policy

Economic Changes: Open Trade Versus Protectionism

Social and Technological Change

Corporate Social Responsibility

7.4 The Competitive Environment

Competition: Porter's Five Forces

7.5 Investment Appraisal

Investment Appraisal Methods

Factors Influencing Investment Decisions

8. Choosing Strategic Direction (A Level)

8.1 Strategic Direction

Choosing an Appropriate Market

8.2 Strategic Positioning

Strategic Positioning Strategies

Competitive Advantage

9. Strategic Methods: How to Pursue Strategies (A Level)

9.1 Changes in Scale

Why and How Businesses Grow

Types of External Growth

Managing Issues Caused by Growth

The Impact of Changes to Size on the Functional Areas

9.2 Innovation

The Value of Innovation

The Impact of Innovation on the Functional Areas

9.3 Globalisation and Internationalisation

The Value of Globalisation

Operating and Trading Internationally

The Attractiveness of International Markets

Multinational Businesses

9.4 Digital Technology

The Value and Use of Digital Technology

10. Managing Strategic Change (A Level)

10.1 Managing Change

The Value and Causes of Change

Flexible Organisations

Barriers to Change

10.2 Organisational Culture

The Importance of Organisational Culture

Changing the Organisational Culture

10.3 Implementing Strategy

The Effective Implementation of Strategy

Network Analysis

10.4 Strategic Failure

Problems With Strategy and Why Strategies Fail

Contingency Planning and Crisis Management

Exam boards

• Cambridge (CIE) A Level Business
• Edexcel A Level Business

Study tools

• AQA A Level Business · Past Papers

Related links

• A Level Business · Revision Notes
• A Level Business · Exam Questions
• A Level Business · Flashcards
• A Level Business · Past Papers
• AQA A Level Business · Exam specification