Aqa 2130-w-trb-swa2

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Teacher Resource Bank

GCE Business Studies
Scheme of Work (A2)

Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
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charity (registered charity number 1073334). Registered address: AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.
Dr Michael Cresswell, Director General.

Teacher Resource Bank / GCE Business Studies / A2 Scheme of Work / Version 1.0

INTRODUCTION

This scheme of work can be followed whether centres enter candidates for
examinations in January and June or just opt for June entry.

The purpose of this scheme of work is to provide advice and guidance to teachers
and lecturers, not to prescribe and restrict approaches to the delivery of the
specification. Please bear in mind that there is no requirement to use this scheme of
work. All items included are suggestions and intended to provide guidance.

ALLOCATION OF TEACHING HOURS

The A2 scheme of work is based on five hours’ contact time each week and a
32 week teaching year. This time has been subdivided as follows:

Unit Three:
Strategies for Success 75 hours

This allows 10 hours (or two weeks’ teaching) for revision and examination
preparation.

Unit Four:
The Business Environment and Managing Change 75 hours

klm Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
1


A2 BUSINESS STUDIES (UNIT THREE: STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS)
This module is divided into four elements. In the study of this unit candidates should examine the topic areas below in relation to the core
themes of setting objectives, measuring performance and devising strategy. The assessment for this unit will draw upon AS material which
candidates should use to respond to A2 questions. The material below sets out a possible scheme of work for a single teacher delivering the
specification. A later version shows how the material might be allocated between two teachers delivering the specification between them.

UNIT THREE, ELEMENT ONE: FUNCTIONAL OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES (TOTAL TIME ALLOCATION: 1 HOUR)
APPROX
CONTENT RESOURCES AND OTHER GUIDANCE
HOURS
3.1 Functional Objectives and • Business Review:
Strategies o Volume 10, Number 2, November 2004 – ‘Thinking Strategically’
An overview of a range of o Volume 14, Number 2, November 2007 – ‘Guitars4You: Satisfying a niche market’
functional objectives and how o Volume 14, Number 3, February 2008 – ‘Money from Nails’. 1
these contribute to the
achievement of corporate
objectives.

UNIT 3, ELEMENT TWO FINANCIAL STRATEGIES AND ACCOUNTS (TOTAL TIME ALLOCATION: 20 HOURS)

3.2 Understanding Financial • www.times100.co.uk Edition 13 – ‘CIMA: Financial information in decision making’
Objectives
• Business Review, Volume 10, Number 3, February 2004 – ‘Strategic Finance’
Cash flow targets, cost
minimisation, ROCE targets • www.tutor2u.net ‘Business Café’: ‘Cutting costs keeps profits in good shape’ 1
and shareholders’ returns. • www.tvchoice.uk.com TV Choice dvd: ‘Are we making a profit?’
Internal and external
influences on these targets.

2


APPROX
HOURS
3.3 Using Financial data to • Business Review Volume 9 Number 1 Sept 2002 – ‘Analysing Company Accounts’
Measure and Assess
Performance • www.reportgallery.com Annual report gallery – useful for obtaining actual company
accounts
Analysis of balance sheets and
income statements. Working • www.classroomvideo.co.uk: 5
capital, depreciation, profit o Classroom Video: ‘Financial reporting for Business’
utilisation and profit quality. o Classroom Video: ‘The Bottom Line’
• www.bized.co.uk/learn/business/accounting/busaccounts/index.htm Bized provide
some useful powerpoints on business accounts.

3.4 Interpreting Published • Business Review:
Accounts o Volume 9 Number 2 Nov 2002 – ‘Profitability Ratios’
Conducting ratio analysis to o Volume 9 Number 3 Feb 2003 – ‘Finance: Just a Game?’ (Working capital ratios)
measure financial o Volume 13 Number 1 Sep 2006 – ‘Ratio analysis’. 5
performance, assessing the • http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/working_lunch/7141959.stm Working Lunch
value and limitations of ratio dvd Series 9 Lesson 7 – ‘Deciphering Company Accounts’.
analysis.

3.5 Selecting Financial • Business Review:
Strategies o Volume 9 Number 1 Sep 2002 – ‘Back to Basics: Profit Centres’
Raising finance, profit centres, o Volume 11 Number 3 Feb 2005 – ‘Profit Centres: A means of increasing profits?’
cost minimisation, allocating • http://tutor2u.net/ ‘Business Café’ – Case studies on Raising finance:
capital expenditure. o ‘Venture capital bags the greener grocer’
4
o ‘Survival strategies – Youth hostels look at property disposals’
o ‘The business of dying – Dignity goes public’
o Case study on Cost minimisation: ‘Lloyds cut costs to get profits back on track’.
• www.tvchoice.uk.com TV Choice dvd on Raising finance: ‘Finance in Business II
(The established business/The PLC).

3


APPROX
HOURS
3.6 Making Investment • Business Review Volume 10 Number 4 April 2004 – ‘Investment Appraisal’
Decisions
• http://www.bized.co.uk/timeweb/reference/using_experiments.htm Bized investment
Investment appraisal methods, appraisal activity.
investment criteria, risks and 5
uncertainties of investment
decisions, quantitative and
qualitative influences.

UNIT 3, ELEMENT THREE MARKETING STRATEGIES (TOTAL TIME ALLOCATION: 15 HOURS)

3.7 Understanding Marketing • Business Review Volume 10 Number 3 Feb 2004 –‘Responding to Market changes’
Objectives
• www.tutor2u.net ‘Business Café’ – ‘Iphone seeks to shake up the mobile phone
Marketing objectives, market’ Useful for discussion on marketing objectives and influences. 1
assessing internal and
external influences on
marketing objectives.

3.8 Analysing Markets and • Business Review:
Marketing o Volume 12 Number 2 Nov 2005 – ‘The UK Jeans Market’
Market analysis, analysing o Volume 12 Number 3 Feb 2006 – ‘The UK Footwear Market’
sales trends, the use of o Volume 13 Number 1 Sep 2006 – ‘The Breakfast Cereals Market’
information technology, o Volume 13 Number 2 Nov 2006 – ‘Pre recorded music in the UK’ 4
difficulties in analysing • www.tutor2u.net ‘Business Café’ – ‘Brits become a nation of smoothie operators’
marketing data.
• www.bized.co.uk/educators/16-19/business/marketing/activity/analysis.htm Bized
market analysis activity.

4


APPROX
HOURS
3.9 Selecting Marketing • Business Review:
Strategies o Volume 10 Number 2 Nov 2003 – ‘Strategic Marketing’
Low cost verses o Volume 11 Number 4 April 2005 – ‘Michael Porter’s Big Ideas’ ‘Coffee culture:
differentiation, Ansoff’s Behind the froth of expansion’
matrix, assessing o Volume 12 Number 1 Sep 2005 – ‘Cobra Beer’
effectiveness of marketing o Volume 12 Number 2 Nov 2005 – ‘Five Forces Analysis’
strategies. o Volume 12 Number 4 April 2006 – ‘Strategic thinking in Marketing’.
• www.tutor2u.net ‘Business Café’ 6
o ‘Special guests and seasonal smoothies make Innocent sparkle’
o ‘Cobra beer – Brewing up a global brand’ (useful for international markets).
• www.times100.co.uk Edition 13 – ‘Wilkinson: Marketing strategy for growth’
• www.classroomvideo.co.uk Classroom video: ‘MMMarketing’
• http://www.bized.co.uk/current/pbl/2005_06/031005.htm Bized problem based
learning activity: ‘Changing markets, changing strategies: The Problem’.

3.10 Developing and • Business Review Volume 13 Number 1 Sep 2006 – ‘Marketing Plans’
Implementing Marketing
Plans • http://www.bized.co.uk/current/mind/2003_4/081203.htm Bized activity: ‘Marketing the
Glastonbury Festival’.
Components of marketing 4
plans, internal and external
influences, issues in
implementing marketing
plans.

5


UNIT 3, ELEMENT FOUR OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES (TOTAL TIME ALLOCATION: 15 HOURS)
APPROX
HOURS
3.11 Understanding Operational • Business Review Volume 10 Number 1 Sep 2003 ‘Strategic Operations’.
Objectives
Operational objectives, 1
assessing internal and
external influences on these
objectives.

3.12 Operational Strategies: • Business Review:
Scale and Resource Mix o Volume 9 Number 3 Feb 2003 – ‘Economies of Scale: Christian Salvesen’
Economies and o Volume 10 Number 2 Nov 2003 – ‘Labour verses Capital Intensity’.
diseconomies of scale, • TV Choice dvds http://www.tvchoice.uk.com/:
labour and capital intensive 4
o ‘Systems in a Factory’
production. o ‘ Inside a Factory III: The Crisp Makers’.
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/working_lunch/7141959.stm Working Lunch dvd
Series 10 Lesson 6 – ‘Economies of Scale’.

Innovation o Volume 9 Number 2 Nov 2002 – ‘The value of Innovation’
Purpose, costs, benefits and o Volume 10 Number 1 Sep 2003 – ‘Why do 5 out of every 6 new products fail?’
risks of innovation. o Volume 11 Number 3 Feb 2005 – ‘The importance of R+D’
o Volume 14 Number 2 Nov 2007 – ‘Innovation’. 2

• www.times100.co.uk:
o Edition 13: - ‘Intel: Using innovation to create competitive advantage’
o Edition 9 – ‘Kelloggs: Using new product development to grow a brand’.

6


APPROX
HOURS
Location o Volume 9 Number 4 April 2003 – ‘Business Location’
Methods of making location o Volume 10 Number 4 April 2004 – ‘The Exodus Abroad’ (international location)
decisions, advantages and o Volume 13 Number 3 Feb 2007 – ‘Re-locating a business’.
disadvantages of multi site • www.tutor2u.net:
locations, international o ‘Business Café’ – ‘Seafood processing outsourced to Thailand’
location. 3
o ‘ Dark days for Blackpool as TVR production goes abroad’.
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/working_lunch/7141959.stm. Working Lunch
dvd Series 12 Lesson 4 – ‘Location’
• www.bized.co.uk/learn/economics/notes/location.htm. Bized notes on location issues
• www.bized.co.uk/learn/business/production/efficiency/location.htm. Plus useful activity.

Lean Production o Volume 9 Number 1 Sep 2002 – ‘Lean Production’
Critical path analysis, lean o Volume 10 Number 1 Sep 2003 – ‘Just-in-time? It depends’
production methods. o Volume 10 Number 2 Nov 2003 – ‘Critical Path Analysis’
o Volume 10 Number 3 Feb 2004 – ‘Zara’ ( Useful article on time based management
in the context of fast fashion)
o Volume 11 Number 3 Feb 2005 – ‘What is Lean Production?’
• www.tutor2u.net: 5
o ‘Business Café’ – useful articles on lean production:
o ‘The car in front is very good… and getting even better’
o ‘ Lean, mean driving machines – how Jaguar changed its production methods’.
• www.bized.co.uk/educators/16-19/business/production/activity/cpa.htm. Bized critical
path analysis activity
• TVChoice dvd – ‘Inside a Factory I – The new Mini’ www.tvchoice.uk.com.

7


UNIT 3, ELEMENT FIVE HUMAN RESOURCE STRATEGIES (TOTAL TIME ALLOCATION: 14 HOURS)
APPROX
HOURS
3.16 Understanding HR • Business Review Volume 10 Number 4 April 2004 – ‘Strategic People Management’.
Objectives and Strategies
HR objectives and 1
strategies, internal and
external influences on HR
objectives.

3.17 Developing and • Business Review Volume 13 Number 1 Sep 2006 – ‘Human Resource Planning’
Implementing Workforce
Plans • www.times100.co.uk Edition 13 – ‘British Gas: Workforce Planning’.

Components of workforce 3
plans, internal and external
influences, issues involved in
implementing workforce
plans.

3.18 Competitive • Business Review:
Organisational Structures o Volume 9 Number 2 Nov 2002 – ‘Decentralisation’
Factors determining o Volume 14 Number 4 April 2008 – ‘Organisational Structure’.
organisational structures, • www.times100.co.uk Edition 13:
adapting organisational o ‘Tarmac: How roles and functions contribute to competitive advantage’
structures to improve o ‘Audit Commission: Flexible working patterns’
competitiveness. o ‘Lloyds TSB: Changing working patterns’. 5
• www.tvchoice.uk.com TV Choice dvd – ‘Business Structures’
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/working_lunch/7141959.stm. Working Lunch
dvd Series 18 Lesson 9 – ‘Working practices’ (job sharing)
• http://www.bized.co.uk/current/mind/2005_6/241005.htm. Bized notes and activity:
‘Changes in the workplace’.

8


APPROX
HOURS
3.19 Effective • Business Review:
Employer/Employee o Volume 10 Number 2 Nov 2003 – ‘Employer – Employee relations in the UK’
Relations o Volume 11 Number 3 Feb 2005 – ‘Trade unions, industrial disputes and ACAS’.
Employee communications, • www.tutor2u.net ‘Business Café’ – The Royal Mail Strike’ 5
employee representation,
methods of avoiding and • http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/working_lunch/7141959.stm. Working Lunch
resolving industrial disputes. dvd Series 7 Lesson 9 – ‘Industrial relations’.

9


A2 BUSINESS STUDIES (UNIT FOUR: THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND MANAGING CHANGE)
The scheme of work laid out below is based on the assumption of 5 hours class time per week over a 15 week period.
This will need to be adjusted in accordance with examination timetables and the teaching time allocated by individual centres. The time
allocations shown in the scheme of work below suggest that 66 hours of teaching time is allocated to Unit 4. The remaining 9 hours have been
set aside for supporting students in their investigation of the pre-released firm which will be announced by AQA towards the end of January.
The pre-released theme will provide the foundation for the first (40 mark) question in the BUSS4 examination. However, the question (a choice
of 1 from 2) may draw upon any or all aspects of the specification. Consequently, centres are advised to encourage and support students in
considering the potential links between the pre-released theme and the specification as they study Unit 4. In this way additional time will be
applied to the pre-released theme through the learning process for this unit.

UNIT FOUR, ELEMENT ONE: CORPORATE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES (TOTAL TIME ALLOCATION: 4 HOURS)

APPROX
HOURS

4.1 Understanding • Build on the work done in Unit 3 on the functional aims and objectives of a business.
Mission, Aims and
Objectives • Use the Internet to find mission statements of leading organisations. A good topic for
discussion.
Mission statements,
corporate aims and • Business Review:
objectives, corporate o Volume 14, Number 4, April 2008, pages 30-32. Article by Mike Mitchell on Cobra Beer. The
strategies, differing main focus is on the entrepreneurial skills of its founder - Karan Bilimoria – but it refers to the
stakeholder mission statement and its influences.
perspectives. o Volume 12, Number 4, April 2006, pages 16-18. Article on corporate strategy in the UK
cigarette industry. 4
o Volume 12, Number 4, April 2006, pages 26-28. Article by Robert Nutter on the corporate
strategy of the EasyGroup.
• http://www.thetimes100.co.uk/case-study--using-aims-objectives-to-create-business-strategy--6-
267-1.php: Case study on Kellogg’s - translating aims and objectives into strategy
• http://www.thetimes100.co.uk/support/download--30.php: Case study on Amway’s stakeholders.
• http://www.realbusiness.co.uk/news/how-to/4788721/27-waysyou-can-learn-from-tesco.thtml.
Article on Tesco’s strategy and its approach to stakeholders (the Tesco wheel)

10


UNIT FOUR, ELEMENT TWO: ASSESSING CHANGES IN THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT (TOTAL TIME ALLOCATION: 36 HOURS)

APPROX
HOURS

4.2 The Relationship • Use ONS (Office of National Statistics), the BBC website, the Telegraph website and the
between Businesses Economist to keep up-to-date with economic variables.
and the Economic
Environment • http://www.statistics.gov.uk OR http://www.statistics.gov.uk/instantfigures.asp

Assessing the effects • http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/economy/default.stm
of the following factors • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/
on business
organisations: impact • The focus must be on ‘how economic variables affect businesses’, rather than the causes and
of economic factors; theories. Be wary of sources that are based on pure economic theory (some Economist articles
trends in key economic will fit into this category).
variables; globalisation • Article on a business succeeding during recession:
of markets;
http://www.businesseye.co.uk/stories/?issueid=54&storyid=256:
developments in
emerging markets. • Business Review:
Evaluating strategies o Volume 15, Number 2, November 2008, pages 24-26. Article by Nancy Wall on the UK 13
businesses might economy.
deploy in response to o Volume 15, Number 1, September 2008, pages 12-14. Article by Ian Marcouse on the ‘Credit
these changes. Crunch’.
o Volume 15, Number 3, February 2009, pages 14-15. Article by Mark Burns on the recovery
stage of the trade cycle.
o Volume 15, Number 3, February 2009, pages 34-36. Article by Naomi Birchall on the impact
of unemployment on businesses.
o Volume 11, Number 4, April 2005, pages 8-9. Article by Malcolm Surridge on the impact of
exchange rates on UK businesses.
o Volume 14, Number 4, April 2008, pages 6-8. Article by Paul Hoang – ‘Watch out for India’.
o Volume 14, Number 4, April 2008, page 38. In Focus – The global marketplace.
o Volume 14, Number 1, September 2007, pages 10-13. Article by Ian Marcouse – China vs
India.
o Volume 13, Number 4, April 2007, pages 6-8. Article by Helen Coupland-Smith on
Globalisation – threats and opportunities.

11


APPROX
HOURS

4.2 The Relationship • Business Review:
between Businesses o Volume 12, Number 4, April 2006, pages 19-21. Article by James Messer focusing on some
and the Economic common problems in interpreting economic data.
Environment o Volume 10, Number 3, February 2004, pages 6-7. Article by Malcolm Surridge on analysing
(continued). economic data.
o Volume 10, Number 3, February 2004, pages 4-5. Article by Andrew Gillespie on
‘Globalisation and glocalisation.’
• Background to globalisation and useful links to other sites:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/globalisation:

4.3 The Relationship • Economic policy: http://www.bized.co.uk/learn/economics/govpol/macropolicies/index.htm
between Businesses
and the Political and • For EU background: http://europa.eu/abc/treaties/index_en.htm
Legal Environment • Business Review:
Assessing the effects o Volume 15, Number 3, February 2009, pages 8-10. Debate- “What should the government
of: government do now?” – Article on the recession and is government economic policy.
intervention in the o Volume 13, Number 1, September 2006, pages 30-31. Article by David Rees – ‘Unfair
economy; government competition.’
economic policies; • http://www.thetimes100.co.uk/case-study--meeting-responsibilities-to-stakeholders--103-336- 9
political decisions 1.php: A study of stakeholder needs and the impact of legislation in the nuclear power industry.
affecting trade and
access to markets; the • /http://www.birmingham-chamber.com/Influencing-Government/Key-Business-
impact of legislation Issues/Employment-Legislation.aspx: Background to employment legislation.
relating to businesses.
Evaluating responses
of businesses to a
changing political and
legal environment.

12


APPROX
HOURS

between Businesses o Volume 13, Number 4, April 2007, pages 20-22. Article by Nigel Watson – ‘The business
and the Social implications of immigration.’
Environment o Volume 13, Number 3, February 2007, pages 36-37. Article by Peter Stimpson on the ethics
of marketing to children.
Assessing the effects o Volume 12, Number 4, April 2006, pages 24-25. Article by Andrew Gillespie – ‘Corporate
of: changes in the Social responsibility.’
social environment; the o Volume 11, Number 4, April 2005, pages 8-9. Article by Anthony Emery on ‘Environmental
changing nature of the Accounting.’
ethical environment. o Volume 11, Number 1, September 2004, pages 4-5. Article by Gwen Coates on ‘Business
Evaluating responses 8
ethics and the farming industry.’
of businesses to a o Volume 10, Number 3, February 2004, pages 2-3. Article by Alex Grant on ethical issues.
changing social
environment including • A good source for topical examples on business ethics: http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/
corporate social • Problem-based learning exercise based on business ethics and cigarettes.
responsibility. http://www.bized.co.uk/current/pbl/2006_07/050307
• Introduction to the impact of social and technological change.
http://www.bized.co.uk/educators/16-19/business/external/lesson/technology
• Use company websites for information on corporate social responsibility (CSR).

4.5 The Relationship • Introduction to the impact of social and technological change:
between Businesses http://www.bized.co.uk/educators/16-19/business/external/lesson/technology
and the • Business Review
Technological o Volume 14, Number 2, November 2007, pages 8-10. Article by Paul Hoang – ‘E-commerce’.
Environment o Volume 13, Number 4, April 2007, pages 10-11. Article by Roger Williams on the effect of
Assessing the effects technology on retailing. 2
of technological • A useful template for conducting a PEST analysis. It can be adapted for PESTLE use.
change. Evaluating the http://www.businessballs.com/pestanalysisfreetemplate
response of
businesses to • A case study on the effect of external influences on FirstGroup plc
technological change. o http://www.thetimes100.co.uk/support/download--2.php and
o http://www.thetimes100.co.uk/case-study--managing-external-influences--115-282-1.php

13


APPROX
HOURS

between Businesses o Volume 10, Number 2, November 2003, pages 36-37. Article by Nancy wall on competition
and the Competitive law.
Environment o Volume 13, Number 1, September 2006, pages 16-18. Article by Andrew Gillespie – ‘The
Assessing the effects breakfast cereals market.’
of changes in o Volume 12, Number 2, November 2005, pages 32-34. Article by Paul Rapley on ‘Five forces 4
competitive structure. analysis.’
Evaluating responses o Volume 9, Number 1, September 2002, pages 24-27. Article by Peter Stimpson on markets
of businesses to a and competition.
changing competitive • For up-to-date information on Competition Commission recent investigations:
environment. http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/Inquiries/current/index.htm

14


UNIT 4, ELEMENT THREE: MANAGING CHANGE (TOTAL TIME ALLOCATION: 26 HOURS)

APPROX
HOURS

4.7 Internal Causes of • Background to growth through integration: http://www.bized.co.uk/current/mind/2006_7/041206
Change
• General introduction to theory: http://www.thetimes100.co.uk/theory/theory--growth--268.php
Changing
organisational size; • Useful article on pitfalls of mergers: http://www.thinkingmanagers.com/management/takeovers.php
new owners/leaders; • BBC website will provide recent examples of mergers/takeovers.
poor business
performance. • Business Review 6
o Volume 14, Number 4, April 2008, pages 16-18. Article by Andrew Gillespie on the Tata
group’s growth through integration.
o Volume 13, Number 4, April 2007, page 18. Company profile – Premier Foods.
o Volume 13, Number 1, September 2006, pages 22-23. Article by Ian Marcouse on L’Oreal’s
take-over of Body Shop.
o Volume 11, Number 2, November 2004, page 38. In Focus – data on mergers and take-overs
and the business cycle.

4.8 Planning for Change • Introduction and overview of corporate plans and business strategy.
Purposes of corporate http://www.bized.co.uk/educators/16-19/business/strategy/lesson/strategic1
plans; assessing • Template for SWOT analysis of internal and external factors affecting corporate plans
internal and external http://www.businessballs.com/swotanalysisfreetemplate.htm 4
influences on corporate
plans; assessing the • Business Review, Volume 12, Number 4, April 2006, pages 8-10. Article by Neil Eastcote on
value of corporate ‘Contingency Planning’.
plans. • Background to contingency planning: http://www.ibisassoc.co.uk/contingency-planning.htm

15


APPROX
HOURS

4.9 Key Influences on the • For a PowerPoint and activity on leadership: http://www.bized.co.uk/educators/16-
Change Process: 19/business/hrm/activity/leadertypes.htm
Leadership
• For a BBC radio programme (or transcript) of Handy’s ideas on leadership styles.
The meaning of http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/work/handy/handy.shtml
leadership; the range
of leadership styles; • For background on factors influencing leadership styles.
assessing internal and http://www.businessballs.com/tuckmanformingstormingnormingperforming.htm
external factors 5
• Summary of Tannenbaum and Schmidt’s continuum of leadership:
influencing leadership http://leadershipchamps.wordpress.com/2008/04/27/what-is-tannenbaum-schmidt-continuum-
style; the role of theory-says/
leadership in managing
change; assessing the • Leadership lends itself to role plays. Brief ‘leaders’ to solve a group problem. Each leader is
importance of designated a style – autocratic, democratic, laissez-faire etc. The effectiveness of the group and
leadership. satisfaction of group members can be discussed after the role play. An example is the ‘New Truck
Dilemma’ (although the truck is now over 40 years old).

4.10 Key Influences on the • Follow link below for a brief PowerPoint to introduce culture and a brief quiz:
Change Process: http://www.learnmanagement2.com/culture.htm
Culture
• An introduction and link to articles on culture from BNET.
Types of organisational http://dictionary.bnet.com/definition/culture.html
culture; reasons for
and problems of • Business Review:
5
changing o Volume 13, Number 4, April 2007, pages 32-34. Article by Lisa Walkley – ‘Hofstede’s cultural
organisational culture; dimensions.’
assessing the o Volume 13, Number 2, November 2006, pages 24-26. Case Study on Innocent Drinks by Neil
importance of Eastcote – features the importance of corporate culture.
organisational culture. o Volume 9, Number 3, February 2003, pages 2-3. Article by Simon Harrison on corporate
culture.

16


APPROX
HOURS

4.11 Making Strategic • Use the Marketing Model as an example of an approach to decision-making.
Decisions
• For a more simple but general decision-making approach:
The significance of http://tutor2u.net/business/organisation/decisionmaking.htm
information
management; the value • Business Review:
o Volume 13, Number 4, April 2007, pages 16-17. Article by Helen Coupland-Smith on Decision 4
of different approaches
to decision-making; Trees.
assessing influences o Volume 10, Number 3, February 2004, pages 16-18. Article by Gwen Coates on decision
on corporate decision- trees.
making.

4.12 Implementing and • For an introduction to project management: http://www.businessballs.com/project.htm
Managing Change
• For project champions and their role:
Techniques to http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2004/08/10/25038/champion-how-to-be-a-project-
implement and manage champion.html 2
change successfully;
assessing the factors • Business Review, Volume 13, Number 4, April 2007, pages 26-27. Article by Paul Hoang –
that promote and resist ‘Change management and force field analysis.’
change.

Useful link for topical business news: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/need_to_know/
The pre-released firm can be supported by newspaper and magazine articles, Business review case studies and internet sources.

Essay writing skills:
• Business Review, Volume 12, Number 3, February 2006, pages 34-35. Article by Andrew Gillespie on ‘Writing an essay.’

• Business Review, Volume 11, Number 4, April 2005, pages 10-11. Article by Andrew Gillespie on essay writing.’

17


A2 BUSINESS STUDIES (UNIT THREE: STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS)
This scheme of work shows how the material can be allocated between two teachers delivering the specification. For resources and other
guidance, please refer back to the scheme of work for a single teacher.

TEACHER ONE TEACHER TWO
Teaches mainly the marketing and people aspects of the Teaches mainly the finance and operations aspects of the course.
A2 specification.

CONTENT APPROX CONTENT APPROX
HOURS HOURS

3.1 Functional Objectives and Strategies 1 (1) 3.2 Understanding Financial Objectives 1 (1)

3.7 Using Financial data to Measure and Assess
Understanding Marketing Objectives 1 (2) 3.3 5 (6)
Performance

3.8 Analysing Markets and Marketing 4 (6) 3.4 Interpreting Published Accounts 5 (11)

3.9 Selecting Marketing Strategies 6 (12) 3.5 Selecting Financial Strategies 4 (15)

3.10 Developing and Implementing Marketing Plans 4 (16) 3.6 Making Investment Decisions 5 (20)

3.16 Understanding HR Objectives and Strategies 1 (17) 3.11 Understanding Operational Objectives 1 (21)

3.17 Developing and Implementing Workforce Plans 3 (20) 3.12 Operational Strategies: Scale and Resource mix 4 (25)

3.18 Competitive Organisational Structures 5 (25) 3.13 Operational Strategies: Innovation 2 (27)

3.19 Effective Employer/Employee Relations 5 (30) 3.14 Operational Strategies: Location 3 (30)

3.15 Operational Strategies: Lean Production 5 (35)

TOTAL UNIT THREE HOURS 30 TOTAL UNIT THREE HOURS 35

There will be a further 10 hours for mock exams and revision, resulting in a total teaching time of 75 hours.

18


A2 BUSINESS STUDIES (UNIT FOUR: THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND MANAGING CHANGE)
In this option, Teacher Two takes responsibility for supporting students working on the pre-released theme.
An alternative approach is to transfer ‘Planning for Change’ from Teacher One to Teacher Two to provide an even balance of teaching. The
pre-released theme support could then feature as a joint responsibility.
Flexibility should be introduced into this breakdown as the theme may cover an area for which one specific teacher is responsible, in which case
that teacher could take overall responsibility for the theme. Adjustments to responsibility for other content in the scheme of work could then be
made.

TEACHER ONE TEACHER TWO
CONTENT APPROX CONTENT APPROX
HOURS HOURS
4.1 The Relationship between Businesses and the Economic
Understanding Mission, Aims and Objectives 4 (4) 4.2 13 (13)
Environment

4.4 The Relationship between Businesses and the The Relationship between Businesses and the Political
8 (12) 4.3 9 (22)
Social Environment and Legal Environment

4.5 The Relationship between Businesses and the
2 (14) 4.10 Key Influences on the Change Process: Culture 5 (27)
Technological Environment

4.6 The Relationship between Businesses and the
4 (18) 4.12 Implementing and managing change 2 (29)
Competitive Environment

4.7 Internal Causes of Change 6 (24) Supporting learning for the pre-released theme (Ongoing) 9 (38)

4.8 Planning for Change 4 (28)

4.9 Key Influences on the Change Process:
5 (33)
Leadership

4.11 Making strategic decisions 4 (37)

TOTAL UNIT FOUR HOURS 37 TOTAL UNIT FOUR HOURS 38

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Aqa 2130-w-trb-swa2

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