AQA A2 Business (BUSS4) - Specification Resource Map
Our Business Studies blog contains the most comprehensive collection available of teacher and student materials to support the wide-ranging content in AQA BUSS4 (The Business Environment & Managing Change) with over 1,400 resources on the blog which are directly relevant to the BUSS4 specification. So, what is the best way of quickly spotting a blog resource that you can use as part of your scheme of work?
We’ve produced “specification resource map” which maps the AQA BUSS4 spec against relevant tagged content on the Business Studies blog. This is provided using a hyper-linked pdf file which is automatically updated every time we add a new resource. All you need to keep is the pdf resource map and click on a relevant link.
Download the AQA BUSS4 Specification Resource Map here:
Triumph - A Classic Case of Niche Export Success
Many thanks to Allan Todd for spotting this superb article from the Independent which makes perfect reading for all our AQA BUSS2 & BUSS4 students in particular as they prepare for exams this summer. The article is about the boom in British motorbikes such as the Triumph and Royal Enfield Bullet who’s sales have defied the recession and growth in an ever decreasing market. BUSS2 students will latch on to the niche marketing and product range aspects with BUSS4 pupils being able to analyse the emerging market angle and the globalisation focus that is indicated in the article. A sample essay that Allan will practice with his pupils will be:
To what extent can successful marketing practices that Triumph, and any company that you have studied, defy a global recession or are other factors to be considered?
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/features/triumph-drives-brit-bike-boom-2269173.html
Leadership - a triumph of youth over experience?
Leaders, like policemen, seem to be getting younger. Don’t take my word for it. There is some useful evidence and examples here which make the point, in this Independent article on the age profile of the UK’s leading CEOs.
read more...»Recession? Hair today, gone tomorrow
As we enter a period dominated by “cuts”, here is a profile of an industry which thrives on cuts. Some great business lesson material here on market segmentation, adding value and the nature of demand for a product.
read more...»HMV to become a more ‘compact’ disc retailer
I’ve been covering Internal Change with BUSS4 students this week, and in particular the theme of retrenchment. So whilst it’s not good news for employees, senior management and shareholders of HMV, this news story couldn’t be better timed for students looking for real life examples of retrenchment.
read more...»AQA unit 4 - some really good evidence here
Wake up to Money, which is broadcast every morning at 5.30 on Radio 5, is often a good source of stories and anecdotes. It was particularly good today - and the excellent news is that you don’t have to set the alarm for that unearthly hour to hear it as you can download the Podcast. It will be well worthwhile for all AQA unit 4 students spending 20 minutes taking notes from today’s programme - they will start with a useful preview of the release of the updated GDP figure for quarter 4 of 2010, giving some good background data.
The interview that follows, with the CEO of Pret a Manger is gold dust - he talks about the figures that Pret have just released which show a big rise in sales and profits, despite rising commodity prices and a tough climate on the high street. His description of the relations with suppliers and marketing mix strategies that Pret have followed to allow them to achieve this through the recession should be noted and quoted as evidence in BUSS4 essays.
Finally, figures out this morning from the Internet Advertising Bureau show online advertising grew nearly 13% last year and now accounts for 25% of all advertising spending in the UK, and some more background is given for that data. Here is another little nugget that could be useful to prove to the examiner that candidates really know what they are talking about when it comes to strategic management - so please do use the links below!
Wake up to Money 29th March on i-player - available for 6 days from now
Wake up to Money podcast
Brief TV interview with Clive Schlee of Pret a Manger (...but the radio interview covers more ground)
Report about the study by the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB)
Leadership Resource - Every Little Helps
Here is a link to a great video and some resource material on Sir Terry Leahy. This makes a great introduction to leadership. The video is from the London Business Forum and Sir Terry is in fine form.
At around 8 minutes, it is perfect for the classroom.
Enjoy…
AQA BUSS4 Toolkit on CSR now available
Our teacher support toolkit for AQA BUSS4 2011 (CSR) began shipping first thing yesterday (Monday)...
read more...»Howard Schultz - A Changed Starbucks. A Changed C.E.O
Perfect timing for all A2 Business students (and an essential addition to any self-respecting scheme of work) - this New York Times article takes an in-depth look at the roll CEO Howard Schultz has played in the business strategy at Starbucks.
read more...»BUSS4 - Research Theme for 2011 - CSR
The research theme for Section A of the BUSS4 exams in June 2011 and January 2012 is now available. Details below.
read more...»Stunning Video - CSR, Ethics and Milton Friedman
Jim put a Milton Friedman video on a few weeks ago. I found these two clips of Milton Friedman being questioned by a University Student on Profit and Self interest (its the same video but split into two). Its so good that I showed it to my form class.
In the first clip the student questions him on a case whereby an old man couldnt afford to pay his electric bill. Subsequently he was cut off and dies as a result. In the second clip, he discusses the Ford Pinto scandal. My form class were spellbound.
Amazing, amazing stuff.
The first clip can be found here and the second one here.
Strategic decision-making: hunch, science, tankers and speedboats
A fantastic discussion on BBCR4 Bottom Line last week (22 Feb) on the nature of decision-making in business. The superb Stephanie Flanders was joined in the studio by Dominic Taylor, chief executive of payment services company PayPoint; Rita Clifton, chairman of branding consultancy Interbrand; Sir Michael Rake, chairman of BT Group. They talked about the role of intuition in making important decisions. Is there still room in modern business for the good old-fashioned hunch, or do decisions these days always need to be backed up by solid analysis?
My notes from the discussion are provided below. The programme’s discussion is highly recommended for all advanced business students…
read more...»BUSS4 Section A Research Briefing Days - 2011 Research Task
Book places for this essential BUSS4 CPD Day
Less than a week to go until the first of our CPD days that help teachers set up and manage an effective research process for their AQA BUSS4 students as they prepare for the exam on Monday 20 June 2011. The Research Theme for June 2011 and Jan 2012 is Corporate Social Responsibility - details of the precise student requirements are here
Based on the AQA BUSS4 Section A Research Task on Corporate Social Responsibility, the tutor2u BUSS4 Research Briefing days will include:
- Detailed updates on the key specification content that students must know and understand in order to write authoritative Section A essays
- Recommended research sources for the Research Task bullets
- Detailed research insights into firms/industries/case studies matched against the research bullets
- Example essay titles and writing frames which students can use to develop their essay-writing confidence
- Advice on how students can structure their research and essay technique to reach level 5 (for application and analysis) and level 3 (evaluation) under the new AQA mark scheme.
- Practical suggestions for how the independent research process can be set up and managed in the period up to 20 June 2011
- A network licence of the best-selling tutor2u BUSS4 2011 Research Toolkit (retail value £50) which is published in the first week of March 2011
There are now six dates/venues available:
London: 28 February 2011 - THIS DATE IS NOW FULL - PLEASE USE OVERFLOW
London: 8 March 2011
Birmingham: 1 March 2011
Leeds: 2 March 2011
Manchester: 3 March 2011
Newcastle: 7 March 2011
This course is likely to prove highly popular (we’ve had over 250 bookings) - there are still a few places. Please use the form below to grab a last-minute place.
Bookings may be made using this online form
Alternatively, please download and print this booking form (pdf)
BUSS4 Research - “Beyond e.g.”
Back in October 2010 I gave a presentation to several colleagues teaching AQA BUSS4 which reported back on a survey of AQA GCE centres we conducted at the start of the academic year. The survey asked colleagues about their experiences of preparing students for the June 2010 BUSS4 exam (on the UK recession). I have streamed a copy of the presentation below and also provided a pdf handout of the slides - I hope these might be of some use to other colleagues.
The focus of the presentation and resulting discussion was how we encourage our students to go “beyond e.g.”. In other words, how do we structure and guide their BUSS4 research to provide data and insights that enable them to write well-informed essays that go to a suitable depth.
This is easier said than done. But we highlighted some ways in which smart choice of research firms and industries can make the process more effective and efficient. We’re big fans of the “kill two birds with one stone” approach to BUSS4 research where the Section A and Section B requirements can be covered at the same time. I’ll shortly be writing with some suggestions for research firms/industries which you might consider for your preparation ahead of June 2011/Jan 2012.
Here is the streamed presentation: Beyond E.G. Strategies of BUSS4 Research
Nestle - using branding & productivity to overcome commodity price increases
A huge amount of lesson material for both business & economics lessons here. The background to the video clip is the rapid increase in the global price of commodities such as cocoa & sugar together with energy costs. However, despite the soaring costs of raw materials, Nestle has so far been able to avoid passing on the cost to its customers. Why is this? Could it be the economies of scale that Nestle enjoys from being one of the world’s biggest food producers? Might the popularity of its brands mean that customers are less likely to switch to alternatives if Nestle attempts to increase its selling prices?
Michael Porter - Shared Value and the Limitations of CSR
A narrow view about how to create profit has created a disconnect between businesses and society and this needs to change according to Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter. In a revealing interview with Peter Day as part of the In Business series on Radio 4 last month. It is a superb programme and one that ought to be hugely useful for teachers and students looking at the limitations of corporate social responsibility as an approach to the conduct of business activity.
“A growing number of companies known for their hard-nosed approach to business—such as GE, Google, IBM, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, Nestlé, Unilever, and Wal-Mart—have already embarked on important efforts to create shared value by reconceiving the intersection between society and corporate performance.”
read more...»CSR - Michael Porter speaks on Creating Shared Value
Geoff recently pointed us to a terrific BBC programme where Professor Michael Porter was interviewed by Peter Day about. In this brief video presentation, Porter outlines what he means by Creating Shared Value.
read more...»CSR - Avoiding the child labour hotspots
Several prominent businesses have been caught out when investigations have highlighted the exploitation of child labour in their supply chains. Primark and Apple are great examples that are likely to popular research examples for students preparing for AQA BUSS4 in June 2011. So the latest Child Labour Index will probably be required reading for businesses keen to avoid the reputational damage that can arise from being seen to profit from extremely low pay. As this Guardian article explains, the worst-offending countries include many of the emerging markets which have provided the source of low-cost supply for many multinational brands. India performs particularly badly. A good quote in the article from risk management specialists Maplecroft who produce the index makes an important point: [my emphases in bold]
“These large emerging economies are essential to the strategic interests of multinational business. Not only is child labour wrong but the existence of child labour within a company’s value chain can have significant impacts on reputation and profits and it is critical that companies undertake stringent monitoring of all suppliers.”
Nokia CEO - Standing on a Burning Platform
If your A2 business students aren’t studying Nokia as part of their final few months - they should be. And this terrific article in the Guardian provides the perfect starting point for students to begin their analysis and evaluation of the strategic challenges facing Nokia.
Nokia’s new CEO Stephen Elop likens the strategic position of Nokia as akin to the dilemma faced by an oil worker standing on North Sea oil platform facing a raging fire on multiple fronts. The worker rationalises that he has no choice but to jump into the unknown - to dive into the freezing water to survive. It was the burning platform which made the choice so stark. A memo from Elop is reproduced in the article together with some background on the competitiveness issues faced by Nokia. I suspect the memo will become a classic on MBA courses for years to come. Highly recommended.
CSR - Branson, Paphitis and Meaden Turn into Eco Warriors
If Theo Paphitis, Deborah Meaden, Richard Branson, Sainsbury’s CEO Justin King, outgoing M&S CEO Stuart Rose and Pepsico’s CEO Indra Nooyi are prepared to appear in a video like this, then you know that the issue of CSR (and specifically sustainability) has truly risen to the top of the hierarchy of corporate objectives!
The new ‘Eco warriors or business leaders’ video is all part of Prince Charles’ Accounting for Sustainability initiative, which is ‘bringing organisations together to develop practical tools to enable environmental and social performance to be better connected with strategy and financial performance, and thereby embedded into day-to-day operations and decision making’.
Ok - so the video is a bit cheesy. But it’s a perfect stimulus video to show students as an introduction for their AQA BUSS4 research project too...
read more...»CSR - keeping a CCTV eye on suppliers
Another good resource for CSR here, but one which some students may not want to watch due to the gruesome nature of the topic.
The Guardian reports that leading supermarket chains are demanding that CCTV systems be fitted in the stunning and killing areas of all abattoirs that supply them with meat, as they move to reassure consumers that animals are not being cruelly treated. Morrisons, M&S, Waitrose, Co-op and Sainsbury’s have also promised that CCTV images will be independently monitored - as called for by the charity Animal Aid, which ran a campaign last year involving undercover filming of alleged brutality.
Its a good example of how retailers need to take great care with all aspects of their supply chain, and how pressure groups are becoming increasingly influential stakeholders in key retail sectors.
CSR and Fairtrade Fortnight
A quick ‘heads up’ for those looking for resources around the new AQA BUSS4 theme of CSR – Fairtrade Fortnight starts on 28th February. TES has a number of resources and links to associated activities – although most are targeted for younger pupils, they may still appeal to sophisticated Year 13’s!
The link to the ‘Get Involved’ page of the Fairtrade Foundation is here. Jim’s blog on Monday gave links to the CSR pages of a number of major companies – no doubt many of them will be running promotions to coincide with Fairtrade Fortnight as well.
The Year of Corporate Philanthropy
This new government initiative is very well timed for AQA BUSS4 students!
Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt is aiming to kick start a culture of corporate philanthropy this year to fill the gap left by public spending cuts. In this radio report, lasting just under 4 minutes, Will Gompertz reports on the aim to bring together the need for sponsorship of the arts or sport, with a corporate desire to be seen to get involved in the Big Society and provide that support.
Mr Hunt suggests that banks, which have suffered such a downturn in their public image, might find this a good way to rehabilitate themselves. But with an 18% drop in business donations, this is going to be an uphill task for the minister. What would their other stakeholders think?
This brief report could provide a good bridge from teaching the introductory topic of Stakeholders, to two of the new research themes on CSR for BUSS4 students:
(1) The potential benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility relative to the costs for businesses and stakeholders
(6) The extent to which governments should influence Corporate Social Responsibility
Government and the Economy lesson plan
This lesson plan and associated resources, which are produced by the Citizenship Foundation, explain the credit crunch and also the Chancellor’s annual Budget. They are a great way to introduce students starting on AQA unit 4 to the thankless task that a Chancellor of the Exchequer has in trying to decide the best way to raise tax revenue and cut spending.
read more...»Emerging Markets Video - The perfect plenary
Here is another ‘perfect plenary’ video for the topic of emerging markets.
At under 4 minutes it provides an excellent summary and looks at how emerging markets are proving profitable for YUM brands as some of the YUM brands experience slow growth in the States.
It also covers issues such as first mover advantage and inflation in emerging markets.
Wonderful….
Globalisation Video - The perfect plenary
Discovered this fantastic short video on Globalisation.
Perfect for a plenary. It can be accessed here.
Leadership - can Apple really be a one-man band?
Steve Jobs has come to define Apple. He leads and fronts the big product launches. He is rumoured to be intimately involved in the new product development process. So what happens when, again, Jobs has to take time away from the business to concentrate on his well-reported health challenges. This BBC Magazine article asks whether a business like Apple can really be a one-man band? How important is the leadership of an iconic CEO? Great for BUSS4 leadership studies.
The Strategy Battle of 2011 - David’s kid brother versus Goliath
A terrific article about Will King and his business King of Shaves in the Telegraph which I highly recommend to all business teachers.
Will King is trying to compete in what is effectively an monopoly market. One global brand dominates the worldwide shaving habits of men and women - Gillette. How can King of Shaves possibly compete against the might of such a business. To put things in perspective, Gillette is launching a new razor in the UK in late January 2011 and is expected to spend almost £50m on launch promotion alone. King of Shaves also has a new razor launching on the same day - but the firm has had just £4m of external investment since it was formed. Gillette has over 80% of the UK market.
The article is rich in business studies material. Lots of good data on market share (note how the use of volume data is mainly used). The shareholding structure of King of Shaves is described, as is King’s growth strategy into the huge US market (perfect Ansoff Matrix material). The references to pricing strategy are also really useful - lots of scope here to ask students to conduct some basic market research on pricing by the main brands in the UK shaving market.
You can follow Will King on Twitter here - something I also recommend
Lessons in leadership
Are leaders born or made? Is there a list of ingredients for the perfect leader? And can you train people to improve their leadership skills? This is the topic in a great 2-part radio investigation on Radio 4, called Follow the Leader.
Lots of contributions from business,politics and sport as well as examples from all aspects of history, and there is an accompanying article to introduce the programmes as well. This could be worth bookmarking and using to introduce the topic to A2 students after they have dealt with the January exams.
Dominos Pizza - Growth & Strategy (Part 1) - Driving Competitive Advantage
Despite or perhaps because of difficult economic times, the pizza delivery company Dominos UK & Ireland has enjoyed rapid growth over the last couple of years. The company, which owns the Master Franchise to the Domino’s brand in the UK and Ireland, now operates through over 130 franchisees with an average of 4.5 stores each. And their long-term strategy contains the target of rolling out at least one new Dominos store per week in each of the next ten years, growing the business into a billion pound brand in the UK – almost double the current size.
read more...»
