Higher Business Management
The course highlights the different ways in which large organisations operate. Candidates learn to understand and make use of business information to interpret and report on overall business performance, in a range of contexts. Using current business theory and practice, the course reflects the integrated nature of large organisations, their functions and decision making processes. Candidates develop understanding of the ways in which society relies on organisations and how external influences can affect them a range of methods that businesses and other organisations use to meet customer needs enterprising skills and attributes how to analyse and interpret business information and communicate it in a clear and concise way.
The Course consists of five areas of study
Understanding Business
Learners develop their understanding of how large organisations in the private, public and third sectors operate, make decisions and pursue their strategic goals. They analyse the impact that internal and external environments have on an organisation’s activity, and consider the implications of these factors.
Management of Marketing
Learners develop their understanding of the importance of effective marketing systems to large organisations. They learn about the relevant theories, concepts and procedures used by organisations to improve competitiveness and customer satisfaction.
Management of Operations
Learners develop their understanding of the importance of effective operations systems to large organisations. They learn about the relevant theories, concepts and procedures used by organisations to improve and/or maintain quality, and the importance of satisfying both internal and external customers’ needs.
Management of People
Learners develop their understanding of the issues that large organisations face when managing people. They learn about the relevant theories, concepts and procedures used by organisations when dealing with staff, including retention, training, leadership and motivation.
Management of Finance
Learners develop their understanding of the issues that large organisations face when managing finance. They learn about the relevant theories, concepts and procedures used by organisations in financial situations.
Course Assessment Structure
The question paper gives candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to:
- apply and integrate knowledge and understanding of business concepts from all aspects of the course
- use data handling techniques to interpret and analyse business information
- draw valid conclusions and suggest resolutions to business-related issues
The question paper has a total mark allocation of 90 marks. This is 75% of the overall marks for the course assessment.
Assignment
The assignment is designed to be completed over a notional period of 8 hours. This includes time for research and producing the final business report. Candidates can complete their research and write-up simultaneously.
The assignment gives candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to:
- select an appropriate business and topic
- collect information/evidence relating to the context of the assignment, from a range of sources
- apply relevant business concepts and theories to the context of the assignment
- analyse and evaluate the business data/information
- solve problems by applying relatively complex business ideas and concepts relevant to the context of the assignment
- communicate valid, justified conclusions and/or recommendations
- produce a business report relating to the context of the assignment
Candidates research and analyse information, and produce a business report using given headings. The report is based on an analysis of the research findings and details appropriate conclusions and/or recommendations.
The assignment has a total mark allocation of 30 marks. This is 25% of the overall marks for the course assessment.