Below is a copy of the AQA BUSS4 specification. I have tried to place links to my resources and examples you could use in each of the sections. You need to also be proactive and rather than just treat this as a list to learn, find your own examples that you can maybe better relate to and remember. There is not one set correct answer.
Unit 4 – BUSS4
- The Business Environment and Managing Change
- 25% of A Level
- 1 hour 45 minutes examination
- 80 marks
Pre-release research tasks leading to the first section of a two section examination. Second section will consist of choice of essays. All questions will be essay style and synoptic therefore drawing upon knowledge from all four units.
Manufacturing in the UK Resources (2015)
China Resources (2014):
Exam Technique / Synoptic Resources:
- BUSS4 Synoptic Paper Activity
- BUSS4 Synoptic Linkage of the Economic Environment
- General Exam Skills, Command Words and Example Answer
BUSS4 Specification:
| Specification | Amplication | BeeBusinessBee Resource | Example Organisations |
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Understanding Mission, Aims and Objectives • mission statements |
Candidates should understand the purpose and nature of corporate strategies and their relationship with aims and objectives. They should understand differing stakeholder perspectives and the potential for conflict and the pressure that stakeholders may bring to decision making. |
Royal Mail BP BT |
|
|
The Relationship between Businesses and the Economic Environment
The Relationship between Businesses and the |
Candidates should be familiar with the following economic factors: the business cycle, interest rates, exchange rates, inflation, unemployment and economic growth.
Consideration might be given to the provision of products by the government, government regulation and legislation and other forms of intervention such as tax and subsidy. Monetary, fiscal policy and Political decisions should include issues such as: the enlargement of the European Union and movestowards greater freedom of trade. Legislation affecting businesses should include: employment law, consumer protection, environmental protection and health and safety
|
BeeBusinessBee Economic Cycle Presentation BeeBusinessBee PESTLE Factors Tutorial BeeBusinessBee Inflation Tutorial BeeBusinessBee Exchange Rates Tutorial |
Pondland Waitrose JCB Brighthouse Aldi / Lidi |
|
The Relationship between Businesses and the Social Environment |
Changes in the social environment might include demographic factors and environmental issues. Candidates should be aware of the actions that businesses can take to demonstrate corporate social responsibility and consider whether these reflect genuine values or are just a form of public relations. |
Lush Primark BodyShop / L'oreal HS2 |
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|
The Relationship between Businesses and the Technological Environment • assessing the effects of technological change |
The impact of technological change should be considered in terms of a range of issues including: marketing opportunities, the culture of the business and the processes and systems used within the business. |
Amazon (creating new markets) Tesco (Stock management systems) BT (Outsourcing) |
|
|
The Relationship between Businesses and the Competitive Environment |
Changes in the competitive structure might include: new competitors, dominant businesses (eg through takeover or merger), changes in the buying power of customers and/or changes in the selling power of |
BeeBusinessBee Competitive Environment Tutorial BeeBusinessBee Porters 5 Forces Tutorial |
EE (Tmobile / Orange) Tesco (Supermarkets) BT |
|
Internal Causes of Change
|
Changes in organisation size may come about due to mergers, takeovers, organic growth and retrenchment. |
Co-Op Organisational Change and Retrenchment |
Co-Op / Co-Op Bank / Brittannia HMV Dixons / CPW |
|
Planning for Change
|
Corporate planning should include contingency planning. |
Coke - Dasani Bottled Water Apple Sony (Failure to adapt to market changes) |
|
| Key Influences on the Change Process: Leadership • the meaning of leadership • the range of leadership styles • assessing internal and external factors influencing leadership style • the role of leadership in managing change • assessing the importance of leadership. |
Candidates should consider the difference between the roles of leaders and managers. |
Tesco - Philip Clarke Coke Cola - New Coke Mistake |
|
| Key Influences on the Change Process:
Culture |
Types of organisational culture might include: power, entrepreneurial and task. | BeeBusinessBee Culture Change Presentation |
Co-Op Organisational Change Ikea |
| Types of organisational culture might include: power, entrepreneurial and task. | Influences on corporate decision-making include ethical position (real or perceived), resources available and relative power of stakeholders.
The range of management approaches to decsion making from scientific to hunch. |
Co-Op Organisational Culture / Struture / Stakeholder Power Richard Branson Virgin Group |
|
|
Implementing and Managing Change |
Techniques to implement and manage change might include: project champions, project groups. Factors that promote and resist change might include: clear objectives, resources and training. |
BeeBusinessBee Ansoff Maxtrix Presentation |
Royal Mail Apple |
Note: We share our teaching between two teachers so I don't have resources for all of the sections. I will add them if I get chance to create some, however there are plenty of excellent resources such as on Tutor2U which you can use to help with these sections.
My examples are suggestions and if you wish to use them, ensure you do some research into them so you know some more detail about why the example fits.