BWCBS-26
International Business Business, Economics & Management (General)
Business Studies is a broad, multidisciplinary field that examines how organizations operate, compete, and grow. Topics of interest for submission include any topics on:
This area focuses on the "big picture"—how a business interacts with the world and plans for the future.
External Environment Analysis:
PESTLE Analysis: Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental factors.
Porter’s Five Forces: Analyzing industry competition and market attractiveness.
Business Ownership Structures:
Sole Traders, Partnerships, and Private vs. Public Limited Companies.
Franchising, Cooperatives, and Social Enterprises.
Strategic Planning:
Setting Mission, Vision, and Corporate Objectives.
SWOT Analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
Ansoff’s Matrix: Market penetration, product development, and diversification.
Marketing is about identifying and satisfying customer needs profitably.
Market Research:
Primary vs. Secondary research methods.
Qualitative vs. Quantitative data analysis.
The Marketing Mix (4Ps & 7Ps):
Product: Life cycle (PLC), branding, and packaging.
Price: Skimming, penetration, and psychological pricing.
Place: Distribution channels and e-commerce logistics.
Promotion: Advertising, PR, and digital marketing strategies.
Consumer Behavior:
Segmentation, Targeting, and Positioning (STP).
The buyer decision-making process.
This focuses on the most valuable asset of any business: its people.
Workforce Planning:
Recruitment, selection, and induction processes.
Training and development (On-the-job vs. Off-the-job).
Motivation Theories:
Taylor’s Scientific Management.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory.
Organizational Structure:
Span of control, chain of command, and delegation.
Centralization vs. Decentralization.
Employment Relations:
Trade unions, collective bargaining, and redundancy.
Operations involves the production of goods and services efficiently.
Production Methods:
Job, Batch, Flow, and Cell production.
Lean Production: Just-in-Time (JIT) and Kaizen (continuous improvement).
Quality Management:
Quality Control vs. Quality Assurance.
Total Quality Management (TQM).
Supply Chain & Logistics:
Managing suppliers, stock control (EOQ), and lead times.
The "language of business" used to measure performance and manage resources.
Sources of Finance:
Internal (retained profit) vs. External (loans, venture capital, share capital).
Financial Statements:
Income Statement: Calculating gross and operating profit.
Statement of Financial Position (Balance Sheet): Assets, liabilities, and equity.
Cash Flow Forecasts: Managing liquidity and working capital.
Investment Appraisal:
Payback Period and Net Present Value (NPV).
Ratio Analysis:
Profitability ratios (ROCE, GPM) and Liquidity ratios (Current ratio).
Modern business studies must account for global impact and morality.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):
The "Triple Bottom Line": People, Planet, Profit.
International Business:
Multinational Corporations (MNCs) and Offshoring.
The impact of exchange rates and trade barriers (Tariffs/Quotas).