Unit 1 The Business Environment Issue 2
Unit 1 The Business Environment Issue 2
Unit 1 The Business Environment Issue 2
Unit introduction
Learners new to the studying of business will already be familiar with organisations through having dealt with them as customers or employees. One of the aims of this unit is to help learners to build on these experiences and learn to walk in the shoes of owners, stakeholders and managers of organisations. The unit introduces learners to a range of business activities. They will consider the purposes of different organisations and the influence of stakeholders and how businesses organise themselves through strategic planning and organisational structures. Learners will then explore the dynamic nature of organisations through studying the impact of external (political, legal and social) influences on business operations. Next, they will study the fundamental economic principles that impact on businesses. By studying two different business environments learners will gain some insight into how businesses operate in different parts of the world and how the development of a global marketplace impacts on all businesses.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this unit a learner should:
1 2 3 4
Know the range of different businesses and their ownership Understand how businesses are organised to achieve their purposes Know the impact of the economic environment on businesses Know how political, legal and social factors impact on business.
Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Business Issue 2 June 2010 Edexcel Limited 2010
Unit content
1 Know the range of different businesses and their ownership
Range of different businesses: local; national; international; global; public; private; not-for-profit/voluntary; sectors of business activity (primary, secondary and tertiary) Business purposes: supply of products or services; difference between profit and not-for profit organisations Ownership: public, private and voluntary sectors; types of ownership (sole trader, partnerships, private and public limited companies, government departments, government agencies, worker cooperatives, charitable trusts); main implications of different types of ownership on businesses (extent of liability, limitations to operation for public and charitable organisations) Key stakeholders: customers; employees; suppliers; owners; trade unions; employer associations; local and national communities; governments; influence of stakeholders on organisations
Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Business Issue 2 June 2010 Edexcel Limited 2010
Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Business Issue 2 June 2010 Edexcel Limited 2010
P1
describe the type of business, purpose and ownership of two contrasting businesses [RL] describe the different stakeholders who influence the purpose of two contrasting businesses [CT] describe how two businesses are organised [IE] explain how their style of organisation helps them to fulfil their purposes describe the influence of two contrasting economic environments on business activities within a selected organisation describe how political, legal and social factors are impacting upon the business activities of the selected organisations and their stakeholders. M2 compare the challenges to selected business activities within a selected organisation, in two different economic environments [IE] M3 analyse how political, legal and social factors have impacted on the two contrasting organisations. M1 explain the points of view of different stakeholders seeking to influence the aims and objectives of two contrasting organisations
P2
P3
P4
P5
P6
D2
evaluate how future changes in economic political, legal and social factors, may impact on the strategy of a specified organisation.
PLTS: This summary references where applicable, in the square brackets, the elements of the personal, learning and thinking skills applicable in the pass criteria. It identifies opportunities for learners to demonstrate effective application of the referenced elements of the skills.
Key
Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Business Issue 2 June 2010 Edexcel Limited 2010
Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Business Issue 2 June 2010 Edexcel Limited 2010
selected by a group, the other an individual choice) Strategic planning case study or business game
Organisational structures whole group charts drawn for familiar organisation Political issues study of topical political issues and their potential impact on business operations through a visitor, visit, video materials or case study Group exercise to identify current issues and to assess their potential impact Legal issues whole group outline of business related law Case studies of legal cases small group exercises Social issues whole group outline of social issues Social issues small group exercise. Each group to research one social issue such as demographics, education, gender etc and to report back to the whole class Pair exercises on impact of social issues on different businesses (drawing on information gathered during previous exercise) Economic issues whole group Supply demand business game Small-group exercises on impact of economic changes on selected businesses (some research) Pair exercise in following through global interdependencies for one business
Assignment 2: Similar Businesses in Different Worlds (feasibility study of two different markets for a business)
Tutorial support and feedback Supervised assignment work Non-supervised study time and completion of assignments
Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Business Issue 2 June 2010 Edexcel Limited 2010
Assessment
This is an introductory unit and most groups of learners would benefit from a staged approach to assessment, with several small assignments rather than one large one. It is important that suitable organisations are chosen for investigation, so that learners can acquire the information they need to achieve the assessment criteria. For the first two learning outcomes the selected business organisations should include both profit and not-for-profit sectors and some variation in size. Learners responses to P1 should include an accurate, but not necessarily detailed statement, as to the extent of owners liability for debts. For P2 learners should describe each of the different types of stakeholders listed in the unit content for their selected organisations. For P3, learners should describe both the organisational structure with functional areas, and how the organisation makes strategic plans. For P4, learners should explain how the organisational structure and strategic planning help the businesses to achieve their purpose and aims. For M1 learners explain the points of view of the different stakeholders and link the points of view with the aims and objectives of each organisations. For D1 learners should evaluate the influence exerted by the different types of stakeholders for one organisation. As an evaluation this should go beyond stating an opinion and include higher level skills such as using evidence from different sources and assessing the validity of the evidence. For learning outcome 3, the selected organisation(s) need to encompass different economic environments. This could be through using one organisation and two different phases in the economic cycle or using two organisations operating in different economic environments, perhaps in different parts of the world. For P5, learners should include descriptions of at least two economic topics. In M2, P5 is developed further to compare the challenges to selected business activities in two different economic environments. For D2, learners should build on M2 and evaluate the responsiveness of an organisation to different economic environments. The advice given for D1 on the assessment of evaluate applies equally to this criterion. For learning outcome 4, there are two options. The first is to select one business that has operations in two different business environments such as a UK-based business that has a call centre in the Indian sub-continent. Alternatively, one business can be selected from each of two different business environments. Greater differences in political and social environments are likely to be more interesting for learners. However it could be possible to use different countries in Europe and for some industries the differences between different countries in the UK could be explored, so long as the differences are sufficient to create different business environments. For P6, learners could describe the influence of two different political environments which should include aspects, selected for their relevance, from the topics listed under both political and legal sub-headings in the Unit content. Business activities can be read as any activities carried out by the organisation to achieve its purposes. Examples include recruitment of staff, product design, transport of goods, promotion of products etc. Learners need to explain the influence of two different social environments on the business activities of the organisation(s). Learners could select at least three of the most influential social features from each environment rather than attempting to explain the impact of a large range of social features. To achieve M3, learners should build on P6 to explain how the organisation (s) has adapted their activities to suit different business environments. Learners are not required to explain all activities comprehensively but should select at least three activities that have been adapted because of the political, legal and social aspects of the business environment. For D2, learners should develop their work from M3 and make justified recommendations for the development of business activities in the two different business environments.
Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Business Issue 2 June 2010 Edexcel Limited 2010
Programme of suggested assignments The table below shows a programme of suggested assignments that cover the pass, merit and distinction criteria in the assessment and grading grid. This is for guidance and it is recommended that centres either write their own assignments or adapt any Edexcel assignments to meet local needs and resources. Criteria covered Assignment title Scenario
You work as a junior journalist for the local newspaper which is planning to run a feature article on local businesses. The first article was well received and you have been asked to carry out research for another article featuring two businesses one local and one in your towns twinned town in China.
Assessment method
Produce an article on two local, contrasting businesses covering purpose, ownership, organisational structure and strategic planning. Select one business in your local town and another in a town or city in China. Produce an article describing how the political, legal, social and economic business environments affect each of the selected businesses.
Links to National Occupational Standards, other BTEC units, other BTEC qualications and other relevant units and qualications
This unit forms part of the BTEC Business sector suite. This unit has particular links with the following unit titles in the Business suite: Level 2
Business Purposes Business Organisations
Level 3
Business Resources Introduction to Marketing Business Communication Business and the Economic Environment International Business Business Markets and the Economy
Essential resources
For this unit learners should have access to a suitable business teaching environment with access to the internet to carry out research. Tutors may consider building a bank of resource materials to ensure there is a sufficient supply of relevant information across a range of business types and sectors. Learners can generate evidence from a work placement or work experience. Other learners may have access to information from family owned and run businesses.
Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Business Issue 2 June 2010 Edexcel Limited 2010
Bevan J, Dransfield R, Coupland-Smith H, Goymer J and Richards C BTEC Level 3 National Business Student Book 1 (Pearson, 2009) ISBN 9781846906343 Bevan J, Goymer J, Richards C and Richards N BTEC Level 3 National Business Student Book 2 (Pearson, 2009) ISBN 9781846906350 Coupland-Smith H and Mencattelli C BTEC Level 3 National Business Teaching Resource Pack (Pearson, 2009) ISBN 9781846906367 Dransfield and Needham GCE AS level Business ISBN 0435401149 Jewell B An Integrated Approach to Business Studies (Longman, 2000) ISBN 0582405424 Letts Revise AS Business Studies (Letts Educational Ltd, 2004) ISBN 1843154242 Marcouse, Surridge, Watson and Swift Business Studies for A level (Hodder, 2008) ISBN 0340966904 Marcouse I and Lines D Business Case Studies, AS and A Level, 3rd Edition (Longman, 2002) ISBN 0582406366 Palmer and Hartley The Business Environment (McGraw-Hill, 2006) ISBN 0077109902 Worthington and Britton The Business Environment (Financial Times/Prentice Hall, 2006) ISBN 0273704249
Journals
Business Review Magazine (Phillip Allan Publishers see www.phillipallan.co.uk) The Economist (The Economist Newspaper Group Inc)
Newspapers
Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Business Issue 2 June 2010 Edexcel Limited 2010
Websites
www.bbc.co.uk/business www.bbc.co.uk/news www.becta.org.uk www.bized.ac.uk www.careers-in-business.com www.carol.co.uk www.direct.gov.uk www.fenc.org.uk www.eubusiness.com www.examstutor.com/business www.jisc.org.uk www.lsda.org.uk www.learnthings.co.uk www.nln.ac.uk www.projectalevel.co.uk www.rdn.ac.uk/news/headlines www.s-cool.co.uk www.statistics.gov.uk www.thetimes100.co.uk
Broadcasts
BBC News website BBC Business website British Educational Communications and Technology Agency Business education website including learning materials and quizzes Information on a variety of business careers Online company annual reports Gateway to public services Products and services for organisations involved in education Online business information service about the European Union Support for teachers and students Joint Information Systems Committee (guidance and advice for further and higher education) Learning and Skills Development Agency Learnthings providers of interactive digital resources National Learning Network Project A Level revision resources for learners Resource Discovery Network a gateway to internet resources for learning, teaching and research A-level and GCSE revision material Official UK statistics Free materials and case studies
The following programmes often include business items: The Money Programme BBC2 (weekly) Working Lunch BBC2 (daily)
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Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Business Issue 2 June 2010 Edexcel Limited 2010
Reflective learners
Although PLTS are identified within this unit as an inherent part of the assessment criteria, there are further opportunities to develop a range of PLTS through various approaches to teaching and learning. Skill
Independent enquirers Creative thinkers
Reflective learners
Team workers
working in a group to discuss ideas about functional areas and prepare materials for presentations taking responsibility for their own role managing activities to reach agreements and achieve results
Self-managers
seeking out challenges or new responsibilities and showing flexibility when priorities change dealing with competing pressures, including personal and work-related demands responding positively to change, seeking advice and support when needed
Effective participators
taking part in group activities, working with colleagues, supervisors and managers.
Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Business Issue 2 June 2010 Edexcel Limited 2010
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ICT Find and select information Select and use a variety of sources of information independently for a complex task
finding illustrative materials for presentations and tabulations about organisations creating diagrams, presentations and tabulations about the functional areas in businesses
Access, search for, select and use ICT-based information and evaluate its fitness for purpose
exploring, extracting and assessing the relevance of information from websites about business organisations
bringing together a variety of materials gathered through research preparing information to present to others about business organisations
Bring together information to suit content and purpose Present information in ways that are fit for purpose and audience Evaluate the selection and use of ICT tools and facilities used to present information Select and use ICT to communicate and exchange information safely, responsibly and effectively including storage of messages and contact lists communicating with other members of a group
Mathematics Understand routine and non-routine problems in a wide using numerical data in relation to business objectives range of familiar and unfamiliar contexts and situations that are in SMART terms Identify the situation or problem and the mathematical methods needed to tackle it
Select and apply a range of skills to find solutions Use appropriate checking procedures and evaluate their effectiveness at each stage Interpret and communicate solutions to practical problems in familiar and unfamiliar routine contexts and situations Draw conclusions and provide mathematical justifications
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Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Business Issue 2 June 2010 Edexcel Limited 2010
Skill English Speaking and listening make a range of contributions to discussions and make effective presentations in a wide range of contexts
Reading compare, select, read and understand texts and use them to gather information, ideas, arguments and opinions
reading about organisations, their purposes and structures reading about organisations to obtain data to facilitate comparing businesses
Writing write documents, including extended writing writing materials to provide information about pieces, communicating information, ideas and opinions, organisations effectively and persuasively producing labelled charts and diagrams showing the structure of organisations and the links between sections within organisations.
Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Business Issue 2 June 2010 Edexcel Limited 2010
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