Business Studies - Fast Track A Level

The course has been designed to provide students with an understanding of the following: how businesses work; how the world around them affects decision-making within a business; what leads to change and how businesses respond to these issues; and the range of perspectives that can be taken on business activities.

It also helps develop a range of important and transferable skills: data skills; presenting arguments and making recommendations on the basis of the available evidence; and problem solving.

Syllabus

Unit 1- Planning and Financing a Business

Starting 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

Financial Planning

Calculating costs
Using Break-even analysis to make decisions
Using cash flow forecasting
Setting budgets
Assessing business start- ups

Unit 2 - Managing a Business

Finance

Using budgets
Improving cash flow
Measuring and increasing profit

People in Business

Organisational structures
Measuring the effectiveness of the workforce
Developing an effective workforce
Motivating employees

Operations Management

Making operational decisions
Developing quality
Customer service
Working with suppliers
Using technology in operations

Marketing and the Competitive Environment

Effective marketing
Designing the marketing mix
Marketing mix: product
Marketing mix: promotion
Marketing mix: pricing
Marketing mix: place
Marketing and competitiveness

Unit 3 - Strategies for Success

Functional Objectives and Strategies

Using objectives and strategies

Financial Strategies and Accounts

Understanding financial objectives
Using financial data to measure and assess performance
Interpreting accounts
Selecting financial strategies
Making investment decisions

Marketing Strategies

Understanding marketing objectives
Analysing markets
Selecting marketing strategies
Developing marketing plans

Operational Strategies

Understanding operational objectives
Operational strategies: scale and resource
Operational strategies: innovation
Operational strategies: location
Operational strategies: lean production

Human Resource Strategies

HR objectives and strategies
Developing and implementing workforce plans
Competitive organisational structures
Effective employee/employer relations

Unit 4 - The Business Environment and Managing Change

Corporate aims and objectives

Mission, Aims and Objectives

Changes in the Business Environment

Businesses and economics
Businesses and the political and legal environment
Businesses and the social environment
Businesses and the technological environment
Businesses and the competitive environment

Managing Change

Internal causes of change
Planning for change
Key influences on change
Making strategic decisions
Implementing and managing change

Although the course material provides explanations of the whole syllabus you are strongly advised to purchase a copy of the following AS level textbook:

Hall, Jones and others, Business Studies, AS (AQA) 4th edition, (2008), Causeway Press. ISBN 978-1-4058-9220-9

Sections of the book will be set out as recommended reading in places within the course material.

The full syllabus can be found on the AQA exam board website at www.aqa.org.uk, together with other useful material such as example exam papers. (The syllabus used is the one that is new in 2008 – please make sure you look at this rather than the previous syllabus).

Qualifications

Qualification: AS/A2 - A level in Business Studies

Both AS and A2 level courses and examinations must be successfully completed to gain a full A level. Specification: AQA (Full A Level) 2130, AQA (AS) 1131 and AQA (A2) 2131

Requirements for Entry

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.

Study Options

If you do not have Internet access, or would prefer to study this course via the traditional paper/postal based study method, you can find more information on the course by clicking on the link below.

Study Hours

This is only an approximate figure and is dependant upon how much time you can dedicate to your studies and how well you grasp the learning concepts in the course material. Furthermore, at the end of each lesson there is a question paper that needs to be completed and returned to your tutor. You should allow at least 1 - 2 hours of study to complete each question paper.

The approximate amount of time required to complete the course is: 300.02 hrs.