BUSINESS STUDIES A LEVEL

‘ All that matters in business is that you get it right once. Then everyone can tell you how lucky you are’.

Mark Cuban, internet entrepreneur.

Business Studies At A Level

Through this course students will develop a critical understanding of organisations, the markets they serve and the process of adding value. This will involve consideration of the internal workings and management of organisations and, in particular, the process of decision-making in a dynamic external environment. Students will examine the role of businesses from a variety of perspectives including those of customers, managers, creditors,
owners/shareholders and employees. In addition, students will explore the economic, environmental, ethical, governmental, legal, social and technological issues associated with business activity. Students will be encouraged to acquire a range of skills, including decision-making, problem-solving and the quantification and management of information; Students will also examine different types of business organisation including large and small, manufacturing and service, local, regional, national and multinational and profit-making and non profit-making enterprises.

Ashbourne’s Accounts, Business & Economics Department

Ashbourne’s Accounts, Business Studies and Economics Department is headed by Brendan Casey who is an honours graduate (BSc. Econ) of the London School of Economics. He also holds a PGCE from the University of Greenwich. Brendan has vast experience and has been with Ashbourne for 10 years. Prior to this he worked in the city. Also making an outstanding contribution to the department is Mae Lynne McDougall, who has recently completed a bachelor’s law degree as well as already holding a BSc, an MA and a PGCE. Mae has extensive teaching experience and has taught in such far flung places as Moldova and Mexico.  Jeremy Evans, who also worked in the city, contributes to Business Studies teaching within the department. Jerry has a Bsc Hons from Aberystwyth and is also a Fellow of the Securities Institute. 

Examination Board

Ashbourne follows the AQA specification for Business Studies.

Units

A-level Business Studies Unit 1: Planning and Financing a Business

Enterprise
Generating and Protecting Business Ideas
Transforming Resources into Goods and Services
Developing Business Plans
Conducting Start-up Market Research
Understanding Markets
Choosing the Right Legal Structure for the Business
Raising Finance
Locating the Business
Employing People
Calculating Costs, Revenues and Profits
Using Cash Flow Forecasting
Setting Budgets
Assessing Business Start-ups

A-level Business Studies Unit 2: Managing a Business

Using Budgets
Improving Cash Flow
Measuring and Increasing Profit
Improving Organisational Structures
Measuring the Effectiveness of the Workforce
Developing an Effective Workforce: Recruitment, Selection, Training
Developing and Retaining an Effective Workforce: Motivating Employees
Making Operational Decisions
Developing Effective Operations: Quality
Developing Effective Operations: Customer Service
Working with Suppliers
Using Technology in Operations
Effective Marketing
Designing an Effective Marketing Mix
Using the Marketing Mix: Product
Using the Marketing Mix: Promotion
Using the Marketing Mix: Pricing
Using the Marketing Mix: Place

A-level Business Studies Unit 3: Strategies for Success

Using Objectives and Strategies
Understanding Financial Objectives
Using Financial Data to Measure and Assess Performance
Interpreting Published Accounts
Selecting Financial Strategies
Making Investment Decisions
Understanding Marketing Objectives
Analysing Markets and Marketing
Selecting Marketing Strategies
Developing and Implementing Marketing Plans
Understanding Operational Objectives
Operational Strategies: Scale and Resource Mix
Operational Strategies: Innovation
Operational Strategies: Location
Operational Strategies: Lean Production
Understanding HR Objectives and Strategies
Competitive Organisational Structures
Effective Employer/Employee Relations

A-level Business Studies Unit 4: The Business Environment and Managing Change

Understanding Mission, Aims and Objectives
The Relationship between Businesses and the Economic Environment
The Relationship between Businesses and the Political and Legal Environment
The Relationship between Businesses and the Social Environment
The Relationship between Businesses and the Technological Environment
The Relationship between Businesses and the Competitive Environment
Internal Causes of Change
Planning for Change
Key Influences on the Change Process: Leadership
Key Influences on the Change Process: Culture
Making Strategic Decisions

Possible University Degree Programmes Suited to A-level Business Studies

Students who wish to pursue careers in any aspect of business, including finance, marketing, customer relations or business strategies will find this course provides an invaluable foundation. Equally anyone with an interest in how businesses actually work or who wishes to study Business, Management, Finance, Accounts, Marketing, Economics individually or in combination at degree level will find this course extremely useful. The material studied would be useful for candidates intending to pursue careers in any area of business.