1. Introduction to Business Management

1.1 What is a Business?

The Nature of Business

The Four Business Sectors

Entrepreneurship

Starting up a Business

1.2 Types of Business Entities

Private & Public Sector Businesses

Types of For-Profit (Commercial) Businesses

Types of For-Profit Social Enterprises

Types of Non-Profit Social Enterprises

1.3 Business Objectives

Aims, Objectives, Strategies & Tactics

Common Business Objectives

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

1.4 Stakeholders

Internal & External Stakeholders

Stakeholder Conflicts

1.5 Growth & Evolution

Economies & Diseconomies of Scale

To Grow or Not To Grow?

Types of Business Growth

1.6 Multinational Companies (MNCs)

Multinational Companies (MNCs)

2. Human Resource Management

2.1 Introduction to Human Resource Management

Human Resource Planning

Recent Trends in Workplace Change

Resistance to Change & Change Management

2.2 Organisational Structure

Organisational Design

Types of Organisational Charts

Adaptive Organisational Structures

2.3 Leadership & Management

Types of Leadership Styles

2.4 Motivation & Demotivation

Motivational Theories: Taylor, Maslow, Herzberg

Motivational Theories: Other Theories

Labour Turnover

Types of Employee Appraisal

Methods of Recruitment

Types of Financial Rewards

Types of Non-Financial Rewards

Types of Training

2.5 Organisational (Corporate) Culture

Types of Culture

Cultural Clashes

2.6 Communication

Formal & Informal Communication

2.7 Industrial Relations

Sources of Conflict with Employees

Approaches to Conflict

Conflict Resolution Processes

3. Finance & Accounts

3.1 Introduction to Finance

Role of Finance for Businesses

3.2 Sources of Finance

Internal Sources of Finance

External Sources of Finance

The Best Choice of Finance

3.3 Costs & Revenues

Types of Costs

Sales Revenue

3.4 Final Accounts

Statement of Profit or Loss

Statement of Financial Position (Balance Sheet)

Depreciation Methods

3.5 Profitability & Liquidity Ratio Analysis

Profitability Ratios

Liquidity Ratios

3.6 Efficiency Ratio Analysis

Efficiency Ratios: Stock Turnover & Gearing Ratio

Efficiency Ratios: Debtor & Creditor Days

3.7 Cash Flow

Cash Flow & Working Capital

Cash Flow Forecasts

Strategies to Improve Cash Flow

3.8 Investment Appraisal

Simple Payback Period

Average Rate of Return (ARR)

Net Present Value (NPV)

3.9 Budgets

Cost & Profit Centres

Budgets & Variances

4. Marketing

4.1 Introduction to Marketing

Marketing & Markets

Market Share & Growth

4.2 Marketing Planning

The Role of Marketing Planning

Unique Selling Points & Differentiation

4.3 Sales Forecasting

Benefits & Limitations of Sales Forecasting

4.4 Market Research

Types of Market Research

Sampling Methods

4.5 The Marketing Mix (7 P's)

The Marketing Mix: Product

Product Portfolio Analysis

Product Branding

The Marketing Mix: Common Pricing Strategies

The Marketing Mix: Advanced Pricing Strategies

The Marketing Mix: Promotion

The Marketing Mix: Place

The Marketing Mix: People

The Marketing Mix: Processes

The Marketing Mix: Physical Evidence

4.6 International Marketing

Entering & Operating Internationally

5. Operations Management

5.1 Introduction to Operations Management

The Purpose of Operations Management

5.2 Operations Methods

Types of Production Methods

5.3 Lean Production & Quality Management

Lean Production

Quality Management

5.4 Location

Choosing a Production Location

Reorganising Production

5.5 Break-Even Analysis

Break-Even Analysis

Changes to & Limitations of Break-Even

5.6 Production Planning

Supply Chain Processes

Stock Control Charts

Useful Production Metrics

5.7 Crisis Management & Contingency Planning

Crisis Management

Contingency Planning

5.8 Research & Development (R&D)

Research, Development & Innovation

5.9 Management Information Systems

Information System Terminology

Data Management

6. The Business Management Toolkit

6.1 The Business Management Toolkit

SWOT Analysis

Ansoff Matrix

STEEPLE Analysis

Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Matrix

Business Plan

Decision Trees

Descriptive Statistics

Circular Business Models

Force Field Analysis

Gantt Charts

Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions

Porter's Generic Strategies

Contribution

Critical Path Analysis

Simple Linear Regression

6.2 Business Management Toolkit Case Studies

SWOT & STEEPLE Analysis: AirBnB

BCG Matrix & Decision Trees: Starbucks

Business Plans & Descriptive Statistics: Sunset Sails Tours

7. Exam Technique

7.1 The Exam Papers

Paper 1

Paper 2

Paper 3

7.2 Business Management Skills

Skills You Need To Demonstrate

7.3 Structuring Your Responses

Answering 2-mark questions

Answering 4-mark questions

Answering 6-mark questions

Answering 10-mark questions

Answering 17-mark questions

8. Pre Released Statements

8.1 Pre Released Statement: 2025

Introduction to the Pre Released Statement

Key Pre-Released Business Terms and Definitions

Pre-Released Business Management Key Themes

Applying the Business Management Toolkit

Industry Insights

Industry Trends

Practice Questions

Exam boards

• DP IB Business Management: SL

Study tools

• DP IB Business Management · Exam Questions
• DP IB Business Management · Flashcards
• DP IB Business Management · Past Papers

Related links

• IB Business · Revision Notes
• IB Business · Exam Questions
• IB Business · Flashcards
• IB Business · Past Papers