BTEC Business Studies Level 3, Unit 1 Exploring Business

Learning Aim A and B- Assignment brief

Deadline for submission: Friday, 15th March at 5:00pm

Learning Aim A – Explore the features of different Tick

when
businesses and what makes them successful complete
Assessment Learning Aim B- Investigate how businesses are
Criteria organised
Report Title: Features contributing to the success of contrasting businesses

Using Microsoft Word write a report about the features of two contrasting
Method
businesses
Used
BUSINESS 1 (PLC – For Profit)
BUSINESS 2 (Charity – Not For Profit)

A.P1 Explain the features of two contrasting businesses

Report Title: Features contributing to the success of contrasting businesses

• Introduction: In full sentences introduce your business explaining:-

o Founder and CEO of the business
o When was the business first established (the year)
o Describe what the business does
o Profit from the last 2 years
o No. of employees.

• Ownership and Liability: -

o Describe the type of ownership your chosen business uses? (eg. Is it a
(Private Limited Company / Registered Charity)
o Explain the advantages and disadvantages of the type of ownership to
TASK 1 (a) the business?
o Explain the type of liability your business has and the impact this has
on the business? (example: limited or unlimited liability)

• Purposes of the business

o What is the purpose of the business? (supply of products or provide a
service)
o Explain whether your business is a profit or not-for-profit business.
o Describe the benefits of this type of business.
➢ Sectors
• Describe in detail the business activities for each organisation,
considering whether they are in the primary, secondary, tertiary or
quaternary sector, and give valid reasons for your decision.
• Describe in detail whether each organisation is in the public sector or
private sector, or voluntary.
➢ Size and Scope: -
• Describe the size of the business – is it large, small or medium?
• Describe the scope of the business activities (local, national or
international)
• Explain evidence you have found to back this up e.g no. of countries it
operates in.
• Explain (if local/national) why does the business only operate at a
local/national level?
• Explain the cultural differences operating at an international level e.g.
types of products/ingredients, complying with laws of the land.

➢ Explain HOW the size and scope helps the business to be successful e.g larger
businesses with more employees will have more skills to utilise to improve the
products and services.

➢ Reasons for Business Success

Explain how success is defined/measured for different businesses,

e.g.
▪ Non-profit business like Cancer research UK would measure
success by breakthrough by their scientists in cancer
research
▪ Profit making business measure success in how much sales
they have each year or increased profits.
▪ ASSC have different criteria for success (number of A*-C
grades) to ASDA (Profit, brand awareness).

Explain the reasons for the businesses success and how they differ depending on
the type of business (profit or not for profit)
▪ Employing staff – successful businesses may hire more staff
to expand.
▪ Developing products – Successful businesses can expand the
range of products they sell why?
▪ Increased advertising
▪ Sponsorship

➢ Aims and Objectives :-

• Identify the aims and objectives of the business
• Explain how the aims and objectives of the business relate to the
success of the business. (Would all the stores worldwide have the
same aims? Would store managers have individual targets) What aims
are linked to the purpose of the business which is for Tesco “Serving
Britain’s shoppers a little better every day”.
 A.P2 Explain how two contrasting businesses are influenced by stakeholders

• Explain in detail what is meant by the term stakeholder.

• Explain the difference between internal and external stakeholders
• Identify different stakeholders that have a stake in your 2 businesses.
(example: list 3 internal and 5-7 external stakeholders)
• Explain the following for each stakeholder:-
TASK 1 (b)
o What they want/expect from the business
o What influence/power they have over decisions made within the
business
o How do they contribute to the success of the business?
o How does your business communicate with stakeholders?

B.P3 Explore the organisation structures, aims and objectives of two

contrasting businesses

▪ Define the organisation structure your first business

▪ Describe the organisation structure of your first business, e.g. explain how
the structure works for your business
▪ Include a diagram of the structure
TASK 1 (c)
▪ Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the structure to the business
▪ Define what functional areas are
▪ Describe what happens in each functional area of your first business, e.g.
chilled foods, customer service, bakery etc. (Day-to-day tasks that happen in
each functional area)
▪ Explain/describe how the organisational structure helps the business to
achieve its aims and objectives.

• Explain the different sectors of the aims of the business i.e. mission,
vision, values, ethics.
• Explain how the aims of the business links to Business 1 ie. Making
profit, profit maximisation, break-even, survival, growth, market
leadership.
• Explain what is SMART objectives.
• Explain what makes the objectives of the business SMART.
 BUSINESS 2 (Charity - Not for Profit)

A.P1 Explain the features of two contrasting businesses

REPEAT TASK 1(a) ABOVE

A.P2 Explain how two contrasting businesses are influenced by stakeholders

TASK 1 (b)

• Explain in detail what is meant by the term stakeholder.

• Explain the difference between internal and external stakeholders
• Identify 7 different stakeholders that have a stake in your 2 businesses. (example: list 3 internal and 5-
7 external stakeholders)
• Explain the following for each stakeholder:-
o What they want/expect from the business
o What influence/power they have over decisions made within the business
o How do they contribute to the success of the business?
o How does your business communicate with stakeholders?

B.P3 Explore the organisation structures, aims and objectives of two

contrasting businesses

TASK 1 (c)
▪ Define the organisation structure your second business
▪ Describe the organisation structure of your second business, e.g. explain how the
structure works for your business
▪ Include a diagram of the structure
▪ Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the structure to the business
▪ Define what functional areas are
▪ Describe what happens in each functional area of your second business, e.g. chilled foods,
customer service, bakery etc. (Day-to-day tasks that happen in each functional area)
▪ Explain/describe how the organisational structure helps the business to achieve its aims
and objectives.

• Explain the different sectors of the aims of the business i.e. mission, vision, values, ethics.
• Explain how the aims of the business links to Business 2 ie. Not-for- profit, alleviating poverty,
research and development into the cure for cancer (e.g. what the charity is about)
• Explain what is SMART objectives.
• Explain what makes the objectives of the business SMART.
 A.M1 Assess the relationship and communication with stakeholders of two
contrasting businesses using independent research
(for both businesses)
Business 1

(Assess) Make a judgement on the relationship the business has with its
stakeholders, e.g. discuss the relationship the business has with each stakeholder
and explain if you think it’s a good or bad relationship and explain why.

➢ Comment on the importance of each stakeholder to the business (Which

one do you think is most important and why)
➢ Make a judgement on the communication the business has with its
stakeholders, e.g. discuss the communication methods the business uses
to communicate with each stakeholder and decide if they use the most
effective and suitable methods. (Give reasons for your answers)
➢ E.g. if Tesco are trying to communicate with their older customers (65+
would oral or written communication be the most suitable method for
them to use to communicate with them?)
➢ Explain which type of oral or written communication would be most
appropriate.

Business 2

(Assess) Make a judgement on the relationship the business has with its
stakeholders, e.g. discuss the relationship the business has with each stakeholder
and explain if you think it’s a good or bad relationship and explain why.
TASK 2 (a) ➢ Comment on the importance of each stakeholder to the business (Which
one do you think is most important and why)
➢ Make a judgement on the communication the business has with its
stakeholders, e.g. discuss the communication methods the business uses
to communicate with each stakeholder and decide if they use the most
effective and suitable methods. (Give reasons for your answers)
➢ E.g. if the Charity is trying to communicate with their customers (65+
would oral or written communication most suitable method for them to
use to communicate with them?)
➢ Explain which type of oral or written communication would be most
appropriate.

Final paragraph: Consider how using the correct method of communication when
communicating with stakeholders can lead to success
B.M2 Analyse how the structures of two contrasting businesses allow each to
achieve its aims and objectives
(for both businesses)
Analyse – identify the factors that apply, and state how these are linked and how
each of them relates to the topic

Business 1

➢ Identify the factors/elements of the business’s organisation structure that

allows the business to achieve its aims and objectives, (Focus on
advantages of the structure)
e.g. the hierarchy structure helps the business achieve its aims and
objectives because all staff know who to report to and they know who to
go to if they have a question. The manager of each layer in the structure
can communicate the aims and objectives of the business to the staff in
their departments.
➢ For each factor/element you have identified explain how it helps the
business achieve its aims and objectives.
➢ Are the aims and objectives decided on because of the organisational
structure the business uses?

Business 2

➢ Identify the factors/elements of the business’s organisation structure that

allows the business to achieve its aims and objectives, (Focus on
advantages of the structure)
TASK 2 (b) e.g. the hierarchy structure helps the business achieve its aims and
objectives because all staff know who to report to and they know who to
go to if they have a question. The manager of each layer in the structure
can communicate the aims and objectives of the business to the staff in
their departments.
➢ For each factor/element you have identified explain how it helps the
business achieve its aims and objectives.
➢ Are the aims and objectives decided on because of the organisational
structure the business uses?

Complete a final paragraph discussing the difference between the 2 organisation

structures the businesses use. Are there any similarities in their structures? IF so,
what are they? Are there any obvious differences in their structures? If so, what
are they?
 AB. D1 Evaluate the reasons for the success of two contrasting
businesses, reflecting on evidence gathered
(for both businesses)
➢ Reasons for Business Success

Discuss how success is defined/measured for different businesses,

Example:
o Non-profit businesses like Cancer research UK would measure success by
breakthrough by their scientists in cancer research
o Profit making business measure success in how much sales they have each
year or increased profits.
o ASSC have different criteria for success (number of A*-C grades) to ASDA
(Profit, brand awareness).

➢ Explain the benefits of the business operating at national or international

level.

➢ Explain the cultural differences operating at an international level e.g.

types of products/ingredients, complying with laws of the land.

➢ Explain HOW the size and scope helps the business to be successful e.g
larger businesses with more employees will have more skills to utilise to
improve the products and services.

➢ Discuss the reasons for both your businesses success and how they differ
depending on the type of business (profit or not for profit)
TASK 3
Example
o Criteria for success –Consider the organisational structure and functional
areas – do they contribute to the success of the business? Why/why not?
o Organsation structure – do they have the correct organisation structure in
place to help them be successful? How does it help them be successful?
o Functional areas – how does having functional areas help the business be
successful?
o Provide evidence of their success

Discuss how the aims and objectives help the businesses to become successful e.g
by having an aim of increasing profit and objectives to do this by increasing the
product range the business will become more successful as they will expand
financially and with their products.

Evaluation
Include a paragraph evaluating the reasons for the success of your 2 contrasting
businesses - look at the positives and negatives of each reason for success.

Discuss which reason/factor is the most important to each business to help them
be successful, e.g. organisation structure is the most important factor leading to
success for Tesco because……

e.g. Tesco expanding their product range may help gain them more customers
but the negative of this would be the cost of developing the product range and
they may not get enough customers to cover these costs.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

NOTE: You must include a Bibliography table at the end of your report. Include
links to websites used, textbooks, YouTube videos. Visit the LRC for a Guide to
Referencing.
Websites
Sources of information to www.bized.co.uk
support you with this
Assignment Business education resources with case studies, simulations and
worksheets
www.businesscasestudies.co.uk
The Times 100 has economics and business case studies. The site also has
a selection of theory notes aimed at learners
www.gov.uk
The government portal for government departments and policies
www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/WritingSkills.htm
Tips on how to develop good communication skills.
www.tutor2U.com
This site provides resources and revision materials. There are also links
to other sources of information.

www.bbcbitesize.co.uk

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/z4br87h/revision

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/z4br87h/revision

Above are examples of websites. Further useful resources may be

found at www.edexcel.com/resources/Pages/default.aspx.