BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Business

BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Business

Year 12

Unit 1- The Business Environment

Assignment title

The purpose of this assignment is to: 1. Know the range of different businesses and their ownership2. Understand how businesses are organised to achieve their purposes3. Know the impact of the economic environment on businesses4. Know how political, legal and social factors impact on business.

ScenarioYou work for the Chamber of Commerce as a Business Adviser and have been asked to visit businesses in the local area to outline to them the variety of businesses which exist and to explain to them the factors which can impact businesses.

Sources of information

Websites www.bized.co.ukbusinesscasestudies.co.ukwww.businessstudiesonline.co.ukwww.s-cool.co.ukwww.tutor2u.net

BTEC Level 3 TextbookNotes & Handouts from Tutor

Student name Assessor name

Date issued Completion date Submitted on

5th September 2013 29th November 2013 2nd December 2013

Qualification Unit number and title (Credit Value)

BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Business

BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Business Unit 1- The Business Environment Credit Value- 10

Assignment title

The aim of this unit is to give learners the fundamental knowledge of a range of business organisations, and the many factors that shape the nature of organisations operating in an increasingly complex business world.

Criteria reference

To achieve the criteria the evidence must show that the student is able to:

Task no.

Expected Evidence in

folder

Feedback Criteria met Y/N

P1 Describe the type of business, purpose and ownership of two contrasting businesses 1 Leaflet

P2 Describe the different stakeholders who influence the purpose of two contrasting businesses 2 Report

P3 Describe how two businesses are organised 5 Report

P4 Explain how their style of organisation helps them to fulfil their purposes 6 Report

P5Describe the influence of two contrasting economic environments on business activities within a selected organisation

7 Presentation

P6Describe how political, legal and social factors are impacting upon the business activities of the selected organisations and their stakeholders

9 Presentation

M1 Explain the points of view of different stakeholders seeking to influence the aims and objectives of two contrasting organisations

3 Report

M2Compare the challenges to selected business activities within a selected organisation, in two different economic environments

8 Report

M3 Analyse how political, legal and social factors have impacted on the two contrasting organisations 10 Presentation

D1 Evaluate the influence different stakeholders exert in one organisation 4 Report

D2

Evaluate how future changes in economic, political, legal and social factors, may impact on the strategy of a specified organisation 11 Report

Learner declaration

I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own and research sources are fully acknowledged.

Learner signature: Date:

This brief has been verified as being fit for purpose

Assessor

Signature Date

Internal verifier

Signature Date

ACTION Y/N To be resubmitted 16th December 2013

Assessment form for re-submitted work

Criteria reference

To achieve the criteria the evidence must show that the student is able to:

Task no.

Expected Evidence in

folder

Feedback Criteria met Y/N

P1 Describe the type of business, purpose and ownership of two contrasting businesses 1 Leaflet

P2 Describe the different stakeholders who influence the purpose of two contrasting businesses 2 Report

P3 Describe how two businesses are organised 5 Report

P4 Explain how their style of organisation helps them to fulfil their purposes 6 Report

P5Describe the influence of two contrasting economic environments on business activities within a selected organisation

7 Presentation

P6Describe how political, legal and social factors are impacting upon the business activities of the selected organisations and their stakeholders

9 Presentation

M1 Explain the points of view of different stakeholders seeking to influence the aims and objectives of two contrasting organisations

3 Report

M2Compare the challenges to selected business activities within a selected organisation, in two different economic environments

8 Report

M3 Analyse how political, legal and social factors have impacted on the two contrasting organisations 10 Presentation

D1 Evaluate the influence different stakeholders exert in one organisation 4 Report

D2

Evaluate how future changes in economic, political, legal and social factors, may impact on the strategy of a specified organisation 11 Report

Learner declaration

I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own and research sources are fully acknowledged.

Learner signature: Date:

Learner’s Comments ( How did you find this assignment, Clarity, level of difficulty, problems encountered)

Final Grade Points

For each of your two businesses in P1, identify and describe how a minimum of 6 stakeholders influence the business, using real life examples of their influence where possible. This can be completed in the table below and amendments can be made to the table where necessary

Task 3– This addresses M1 (Explain the points of view of different stakeholders seeking to influence the aims and objectives of two contrasting organisations) Deadline: 20/09/201 3

Now that you have identified the key stakeholders that influence the business, some of the new entrepreneurs have asked you to provide more detail about stakeholders. They want you to explain the view point of the different stakeholder groups, identifying how they aim to influence the aims and objectives of both businesses you studied in Task 1 and 2. You must add this to your report.

You are required to complete the following for M1:

a. Research and identify the aims and objectives of the 2 businesses selected in P1 and P2b. For each of the stakeholder groups identified in P2, explain in detail the view point of the key stakeholdersc. For each stakeholder group, ensure you describe how they seek to influence the aims and objectives of the two

contrasting organisations and how they might be affected by the aims and objectives set by the organisation.

Task 1 – This addresses P1 (Describe the type of business, purpose and ownership of two contrasting businesses) Deadline: 9/09/201 3

As a Business Adviser for the Chamber of Commerce you have been asked to produce a leaflet which will be sent to all businesses in Ealing which describes the activities, purpose, size, scale and ownership of two businesses for use by new entrepreneurs who are interested in setting up a business in Ealing

You are required to complete the following for P1:

a. Select two businesses, one privately owned and one either public or voluntary owned (you must choose organisations you can access a lot of information on) and provide an introduction to each business

b. Explain the sector of ownership (Public, Private or Voluntary) and what this means for the companyc. Identify and describe the type of ownership (Sole Trader, Partnership, PLC, LTD, Franchise or Cooperative), and

the advantages and disadvantages of this type of ownership on the business referring to liabilityd. Outline and explain the purpose of the two organisations and the activities they undertake including the

economic sector it operates in (primary, secondary or tertiary?- remember a business can operate in more than one sector)

e. State and describe whether the business is local, national, regional or global.

Task 2 – This addresses P2 (Describe the different stakeholders who influence the purpose of two contrasting businesses) Deadline: 16/09/201 3

The next task you must undertake as part of your role as Business Adviser for the Chamber of Commerce is to visit local businesses to explain to them the concept of stakeholder and to identify stakeholders that can impact a business. This should be completed in the form of a word document (Report) in which you identify what a stakeholder is, provide examples of stakeholders and describe using your 2 business examples from P1 how stakeholders can impact businesses

You are required to complete the following for P2:

a. Define the term stakeholderb. Identify possible stakeholders which can impact a business

Task 4– This addresses D1 (Evaluate the influence different stakeholders exert in one organisation) Deadline: 27/9/201 3

Provide an overall conclusion, identifying, based on your discussion, the stakeholders with the greatest and least influence, justifying the conclusions you have formed.

Task 5– This addresses P3 (Describe how two businesses are organised) Deadline: 30/9/201 3

You are required to complete the following for P3:

a. Define the term business organisation and explain the purpose of a business having an organisational structure.

b. Identify and illustrate in an organisational chart, the type of structure adopted by the two organisations you have selected in P1

c. Define the term functional area and briefly outline the purpose of functional areas.

d. Using the identified functional areas, for each organisation selected for P1, describe the role of the area focusing on marketing; production; customer service; sales; human resources, and other researched areas.

The entrepreneurs are keen to understand which stakeholders can influence a business the most. You understand that this wholly depends on the individual organisation. Nevertheless, using one of the organisations studied in M1, you should demonstrate to the entrepreneurs which stakeholders are most influential in this organisation and explain the reasoning of your judgement. You must add this to your report.

You are required to complete the following for D1:

a. Identify the organisation you have chosen and the organisations key stakeholders

b. Taking each stakeholder individually, discuss the extent of influence they have. You should argue why they do have some influence but also how their influence may be reduced.

The organisation of a business is very important and can influence the success of a business. It is important that you explain to a new group of entrepreneurs what an organisation structure is, the purpose of one, the various types of structures as well as the role of the different functional areas. This should then conclude with how the business makes strategic decisions. To fully explain this area to the new entrepreneurs you should demonstrate your understanding of this topic through two organisations and in the form of a report.

Task 7– This addresses P5 (Describe the influence of two contrasting economic environments on business activities within a selected organisation) Deadline:

In recent years, the economic climate has had a severe impact on many businesses in the Ealing district. Due to this the Chamber of Commerce believe it imperative that new entrepreneurs are aware of how their business will be influenced by the economic climate they operate in. To ensure they understand this task you must create a presentation on one of your chosen organisations, identifying how their business activities have been influenced by two contrasting economic environments.

You are required to complete the following for P5:

a. Identify the selected organisation you will create the leaflet on (choose an organisation in which you will be able to research a lot of material on).

b. Identify the two contrasting economic environments you will describe (e.g. growth and a recession)

c. Describe how the first economic climate influenced the business (e.g. growth) including evidence of research to support your description

d. Describe how the second economic climate influenced the business (e.g. recession) including evidence of research to support your description

Task 6– This addresses P4 (Explain how their style of organisation helps them to fulfil their purposes) Deadline: 07/10/201 3

The strategic planning process is very important in a business, and this process and the organisational structure play an important role in helping a business to achieve their objectives. The new entrepreneurs need to understand how businesses organise their strategic planning and how this, along with the organisation structure selected by the organisation, help them to achieve their aims and objectives. This should be completed in the form of a Report which will be forwarded to all hopeful entrepreneurs.

You are required to complete the following for P4:

a. Define the term strategic planning process, aims and objectives (SMART) and briefly identify the role of this process in a business

b. Identify the planning process for one of your organisations and explain how it, and the structure of the organisation help ensure the business meets its aims and objectives

c. Identify the planning process for the second of your organisations and explain how it, and the structure of the organisation help ensure the business meets its aims and objectives

Task 8– This addresses M2 (Compare the challenges to selected business activities within a selected organisation, in two different economic environments) Deadline:

The new entrepreneurs now understand whether the businesses have faced the same level of problems, or whether they have been influenced by a greater or lesser extent by the climates. In this task, you should produce a report, outlining how the organisations were influenced by the two contrasting economic conditions, and secondly how the challenges the two organisations faced were similar and different.

You are required to complete the following for M2:

a. Identify and describe, based on research how the organisations were impacted by the two economic climates.

b. Compare the problems faced by the organisations, explaining to what extent the problems were different and to what extent they were similar

Task 9– This addresses P6 (Describe how political, legal and social factors are impacting upon the business activities of the selected organisations and their stakeholders) Deadline: 11/11/201 3

The last aspect the Chamber of Commerce would like you to explain to the new entrepreneurs is the impact that Political, Legal and Social factors have on the two selected businesses. You should also refer to how these factors impact the stakeholders of the respective organisations. This task should be completed in the form of a Presentation, including speaker notes.

You are required to complete the following for P6:

a. For each of the two organisations explain how political factors impact the selected businesses (including the following where applicable; political stability; government support for different types of organisations; fiscal policy; direct support, providing infrastructure; enhancing skills of the working

b. For each of the two organisations explain how legal factors impact the selected businesses (including where applicable; company law, protecting consumers & employees, and ensuring honest & fair trading). Refer to the impact of this on relevant stakeholders.

c. For each of the two organisations explain how social factors impact the selected businesses (including where applicable; demographic issues, changes in structure, education, attitude to work, religion, attitudes to male and female roles and ethics). Refer to the impact of this on relevant stakeholders.

Task 10– This addresses M3 (Analyse how political, legal and social factors have impacted on the two contrasting organisations) Deadline: 18/11/201 3

The detail you have provided the entrepreneurs with in the previous section was adequate for most of the new entrepreneurs and they are content that they understand the impact of political, social and legal factors on the two businesses. Some however, have asked the Chamber of Commerce for a more detailed analysis of the impact the three factors have on the two businesses and how they have forced the businesses to modify their activities. This task should be completed in the form of a Presentation, including speaker notes.

You are required to complete the following for M3:

a. Build on the information from P6 to provide a detailed account of how political, legal and social factors impact the two selected businesses

b. Explain at least three ways in which the selected businesses have modified or changed their business activities in response to changes in legal, political and social factors

Task 11– This addresses D2 (Evaluate how future changes in Economic, Political, Legal and Social factors, may impact on the strategy of a specified organisation) Deadline: 28/11/201 3

Finally, the new entrepreneurs want to know how the two businesses should have reacted and changed their activities in light of the changes to the Economic, Political, Legal and Social factors in their business environments. You should in a word Report recommend three changes the business could make to help them respond to the changes, and explain how the changes will impact the business.

You are required to complete the following for D2:

a. For a selected businesses selected, identify 3 recommendations the businesses could each adopt to help them cope with changing economic, political, legal and social factors which impact them

b. For each recommendation explain how the business will be impacted and what the consequences of the recommendation will be for the business.