Business Activity Fundamentals
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Questions and Answers

Define scarcity and explain its significance in economics.

Scarcity refers to the lack of sufficient products to fulfill the total wants of the population. It is significant because it necessitates choices and prioritization in the allocation of limited resources.

What is opportunity cost and how does it impact decision-making?

Opportunity cost is the next best alternative given up when choosing one option over another. It impacts decision-making by highlighting the potential benefits that are sacrificed to pursue a chosen action.

Describe the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors of industry.

The primary sector extracts natural resources, the secondary sector manufactures goods from these resources, and the tertiary sector provides services. Together, they comprise the major divisions of economic activity.

Explain the concept of specialization in business.

<p>Specialization occurs when individuals or businesses focus on their best strengths or resources to increase efficiency and productivity. It often leads to greater expertise and higher quality outputs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is internal growth and how does it differ from external growth?

<p>Internal growth is the expansion of a business's existing operations, while external growth occurs through mergers or takeovers of other businesses. Both strategies aim to increase a company's size and market presence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the four factors of production and why are they important?

<p>The four factors of production are land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurship. They are important because they are the essential resources needed to produce goods and services.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is added value and how do businesses achieve it?

<p>Added value is the difference between the selling price and the cost of bought-in materials and components. Businesses achieve it by enhancing products through branding, features, and improved services.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does de-industrialisation affect a nation's economy?

<p>De-industrialisation occurs when the secondary manufacturing sector declines, which can lead to job losses and a shift towards a service-oriented economy. It can impact economic stability and growth negatively.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between a merger and an acquisition?

<p>A merger involves two businesses agreeing to join together, while an acquisition occurs when one business buys out another.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is horizontal integration?

<p>Horizontal integration is when one business merges with or takes over another in the same industry at the same stage of production.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does vertical integration differ from horizontal integration?

<p>Vertical integration involves merging with or acquiring a business at a different stage of production, whereas horizontal integration is at the same stage.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Define limited liability.

<p>Limited liability means that shareholders' responsibility for a company's debts is limited to the amount they invested.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of shareholders in a company?

<p>Shareholders own the company by purchasing shares, representing part-ownership and participation in profits.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are dividends?

<p>Dividends are payments made to shareholders from a company's profits after tax.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a public limited company?

<p>A public limited company can sell shares to the public and its shares are traded on the Stock Exchange.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes current liabilities from non-current liabilities?

<p>Current liabilities are short-term debts repaid in less than one year, while non-current liabilities are long-term debts repaid over more than one year.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does liquidity relate to a business's short-term debts?

<p>Liquidity refers to a business's ability to pay back its short-term debts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a franchise?

<p>A franchise is a business that operates under the brand name and business model of an existing successful business.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of job rotation.

<p>Job rotation involves employees switching tasks regularly to enhance variety and reduce monotony.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Define economic growth in terms of GDP.

<p>Economic growth occurs when a country's GDP increases, indicating more goods and services produced than in the previous year.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of inflation on real income?

<p>Real income falls when prices rise faster than money income.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does organisational structure refer to?

<p>Organisational structure denotes the arrangement of management levels and responsibilities within an organisation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Differentiate between autocratic and democratic leadership styles.

<p>Autocratic leadership involves making decisions unilaterally, while democratic leadership encourages employee participation in decision-making.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the effects of exchange rate depreciation on a country's economy?

<p>Exchange rate depreciation decreases the value of a currency, making imports more expensive and exports cheaper.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the role of fiscal policy in managing the economy.

<p>Fiscal policy involves government changes in tax rates or public sector spending to influence economic activity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a joint venture?

<p>A joint venture allows two or more businesses to collaborate on a project, sharing resources, risks, and profits.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines a multinational business?

<p>A multinational business operates factories, production, or service facilities in more than one country.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'stakeholder' mean?

<p>A stakeholder is any individual or group with a direct interest in a business's performance and activities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the significance of chain of command.

<p>The chain of command is the structure that allows instructions to flow from senior management to lower levels of management.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Differentiate between private costs and external costs.

<p>Private costs are incurred by a business or consumer, while external costs are borne by society due to business activities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of an import tariff?

<p>An import tariff is a tax placed on imported goods to protect domestic industries.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does sustainable development relate to future generations?

<p>Sustainable development meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of job analysis?

<p>To identify and record the responsibilities and tasks related to a job.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe the difference between internal and external recruitment.

<p>Internal recruitment fills a vacancy with an existing employee, while external recruitment hires someone new to the business.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is induction training, and why is it important?

<p>Induction training introduces new employees to the business's activities and customs, helping them integrate smoothly.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes on-the-job training from off-the-job training?

<p>On-the-job training involves learning in the workplace by observing experienced workers, while off-the-job training occurs away from the workplace.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is workforce planning?

<p>Workforce planning involves determining the number and skills of employees needed for the future.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Differentiate between dismissal and redundancy.

<p>Dismissal is ending employment due to unsatisfactory work, while redundancy is when the employee is no longer needed, regardless of performance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does feedback contribute to effective communication?

<p>Feedback indicates whether a message has been understood and can prompt necessary actions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a marketing budget?

<p>A marketing budget is a financial plan detailing the amount available for marketing activities over a specific period.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Define primary research and provide an example.

<p>Primary research is the collection of original data through direct contact with customers, such as surveys or interviews.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the four Ps of the marketing mix?

<p>The four Ps are product, price, place, and promotion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of market segmentation.

<p>Market segmentation involves dividing a market into identifiable sub-groups with similar characteristics or preferences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of a unique selling proposition (USP)?

<p>A USP differentiates a product from competitors by highlighting its distinct features.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does brand loyalty affect consumer purchasing behavior?

<p>Brand loyalty leads consumers to repeatedly buy the same brand instead of switching to competitors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does packaging play in marketing?

<p>Packaging serves as a physical container for a product and promotes its appeal to customers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between internal and external finance?

<p>Internal finance is obtained from within the business, while external finance comes from outside sources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Define micro-finance and its target demographic.

<p>Micro-finance provides financial services, including small loans, to poor individuals who are typically not served by traditional banks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of crowdfunding.

<p>Crowdfunding involves raising money for a project or venture from a large number of people, each contributing a small amount, often via the internet.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is net cash flow, and how is it calculated?

<p>Net cash flow is the difference between cash inflows and cash outflows for a given period.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does retained profit refer to in a business context?

<p>Retained profit is the net profit reinvested back into the company after paying taxes and dividends to owners.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Discuss the purpose of an income statement.

<p>An income statement records a business's income and all costs incurred to earn that income over a specific period, indicating profitability.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is gross profit calculated?

<p>Gross profit is calculated by subtracting the cost of sales from revenue.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the statement of financial position?

<p>The statement of financial position shows the value of a business's assets and liabilities at a specific point in time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the stages of the product life cycle?

<p>Introduction, growth, maturity, and decline.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of an extension strategy?

<p>To maintain a product in the maturity stage of its life cycle for a longer period.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does cost-plus pricing work?

<p>It is calculated as the production cost plus a profit margin.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines competitive pricing?

<p>It involves pricing a product in line with or just below competitors to attract more customers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is penetration pricing?

<p>Setting a price lower than competitors to enter a new market.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain price skimming.

<p>It involves setting a high price for a new product to maximize revenue from early adopters.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is promotional pricing?

<p>Selling a product at a very low price for a limited time to boost sales.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe dynamic pricing.

<p>A strategy where prices are adjusted based on real-time demand conditions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between price elastic and price inelastic demand?

<p>Price elastic demand is sensitive to price changes, while price inelastic demand is not.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do distribution channels play?

<p>They are the means by which products are delivered from producers to consumers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Define an agent in the context of sales and distribution.

<p>An independent entity appointed to handle sales and distribution of products.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the aim of promotion in marketing?

<p>To raise awareness of a product, boost sales, and foster brand loyalty.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does social media marketing benefit businesses?

<p>It involves sharing content to engage an audience and achieve marketing goals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What constitutes working capital?

<p>The finance needed for a business's day-to-day operations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Business Activity

  • Needs vs. Wants: Needs are essential for survival (e.g., food, shelter), while wants are non-essential desires. Wants are unlimited.
  • Economic Problem: Unlimited wants clash with limited resources to satisfy them, leading to scarcity.
  • Factors of Production: Natural resources, labor, capital, and enterprise are limited resources needed to produce goods and services.
  • Scarcity: A shortage of goods and services to meet all wants.
  • Opportunity Cost: The value of the next best alternative foregone when making a choice.
  • Specialization: Focusing on specific tasks or products where one excels.
  • Division of Labour: Breaking down production processes into individual tasks for specialized workers.
  • Added Value: The difference between a product's selling price and the cost of its components.
  • Sectors of Industry: Primary (extraction of raw materials), Secondary (manufacturing), and Tertiary (services).
  • De-industrialisation: A decline in the importance of the manufacturing sector in a country.
  • Mixed Economy: A system combining private and public (government) sectors.
  • Capital: Money invested in a business by owners.
  • Entrepreneur: An individual who organizes and manages a business, taking on risk.
  • Capital Employed: The total value of capital used by a business.
  • Internal Growth: Business expansion using existing resources and operations.
  • External Growth: Expansion through mergers, takeovers, or acquisitions with other businesses.
  • Takeover (Acquisition): One business buying another.

Forms of Business Organisation

  • Sole Trader: A business owned and run by one person. Unlimited liability.
  • Partnership: A business owned by two or more people with shared profits and liabilities. Unlimited liability.
  • Limited Company: Separate legal entity from its owners. Limited liability for shareholders.
  • Private Limited Company: Ownership restricted to shareholders, and shares are not publicly traded.
  • Public Limited Company: Shares are publicly traded on stock exchanges.
  • Franchise: A business using an established brand and operating methods.
  • Joint Venture: Multiple businesses cooperating on a shared project.

Business Objectives

  • Profit: Revenue minus total costs.
  • Market Share: The percentage of total market sales held by a particular business.

People in Business

  • Motivation: Reasons for employees' hard work and effectiveness.
  • Wage: Payment for work, usually weekly.
  • Salary: Payment for work, usually monthly.
  • Bonus: Extra payment for good performance.
  • Commission: Payment based on sales.
  • Job Satisfaction: Enjoyment from doing a good job.
  • Job Rotation: Employees switch between tasks.
  • Job Enrichment: Adding extra responsibilities to jobs.
  • Teamworking: Using groups of employees.
  • Training: Improving employee skills.
  • Promotion: Advancement to a higher position.
  • Organizational Structure: Levels of management and responsibilities.
  • Organisational Chart: Diagram outlining the organisational structure.
  • Hierarchy: Levels of management from highest to lowest.
  • Chain of Command: Structure for passing instructions.
  • Span of Control: Number of subordinates reporting to a manager.
  • Line Managers: Direct responsibility for staff below them.
  • Staff Managers: Support and advise line managers.
  • Delegation: Giving authority to subordinates.

Leadership Styles

  • Autocratic: Managers make decisions independently.
  • Democratic: Managers involve employees in decision making.
  • Laissez-faire: Managers provide broad direction, allowing employees autonomy.
  • Recruitment: Identifying needed employees.
  • Job Analysis: Recording job responsibilities.
  • Job Description: Outline of job duties.
  • Job Specification: Required skills and qualifications.
  • Internal Recruitment: Hiring existing employees.
  • External Recruitment: Hiring new employees.
  • Induction Training: Introduction to the company's activities and procedures.
  • On-the-Job Training: Learning from experienced employees.
  • Off-the-Job Training: Training away from the workplace.
  • Workforce Planning: Anticipating future employee needs.

Communication

  • Communication: The transfer of information or instructions from a person or group to another.
  • One-Way Communication: No response expected.
  • Two-Way Communication: Requires a response from the receiver.
  • Formal Communication: Established channels and formal language.
  • Informal Communication: Casual language and channels.
  • Communication Barriers: Factors hindering effective communication.

Marketing

  • Marketing: Satisfying customer needs profitably.
  • Customer Loyalty: Existing customers repeatedly buying products from a business.
  • Mass Market: Selling to a large group of customers.
  • Niche Market: A small, specialised segment of a larger market.
  • Market Research: Gathering and analysing information about a market.
  • Product-Oriented Business: Focus on the product itself.
  • Market-Oriented Business: Focus on consumer needs through research.
  • Marketing Mix (4 Ps): Product, Price, Place, Promotion.
  • Unique Selling Point (USP): Feature differentiating a product from competitors.
  • Brand Name: Unique name of a product.
  • Brand Loyalty: Customers consistently buying the same brand.
  • Brand Image: Identity or personality of a brand.
  • Packaging: Physical container of a product; can improve sales appeal.
  • Product Life Cycle: Stages of a product from introduction to decline.
  • Extension Strategy: Prolonging a product's life cycle (at maturity stage).
  • Pricing Strategies: Cost-plus, Competitive, Penetration, Price Skimming, Promotional, Dynamic.

Operations Management

  • Productivity: Output per unit of input.
  • Lean Production: Reducing waste to increase efficiency.
  • Kaizen: Continuous improvement.
  • Just-in-Time (JIT): Reducing inventory levels.
  • Production Methods: Job, Batch, Flow (Mass).
  • Costs: Fixed, Variable, Total, Average.
  • Economies of Scale: Reduced average costs as business size increases.
  • Diseconomies of Scale: Increased average costs as business size grows too large.
  • Break-Even Point: Sales level where total costs equal total revenue.

Financial Information and Decisions

  • Start-up Capital: Finance needed to begin business operations.
  • Working Capital: Day-to-day operating finance.
  • Capital Expenditure: Spending on long-term assets.
  • Revenue Expenditure: Spending on day-to-day expenses.
  • Internal Finance: Funds from within the business.
  • External Finance: Funds from outside sources.
  • Cash Flow: Cash inflows and outflows during a period.
  • Cash Flow Forecast: Predicted future cash inflows and outflows.
  • Net Cash Flow: Difference between cash inflows and outflows each month.
  • Accounts: Firm's financial records.
  • Final Accounts: Year-end financial reports.
  • Income Statement: Records income and expenses over a period.
  • Revenue: Income from sales.
  • Cost of Sales: Cost of producing or buying goods.
  • Gross Profit: Revenue minus cost of sales.
  • Net Profit: Revenue minus all costs.
  • Depreciation: Decline in asset value over time.
  • Retained Profit: Profits reinvested in the business.
  • Statement of Financial Position: Assets and liabilities at a specific point in time.
  • Assets: Owned items of value.
  • Liabilities: Debts owed.
  • Liquidity: Ability to pay short-term debts.
  • Profitability: Measurement of profit relative to sales or investment.

External Influences on Business Activity

  • GDP: Total value of goods and services produced in a country.
  • Recession: Period of falling GDP.
  • Inflation: Increase in the average price level.
  • Unemployment: Inability of those who want to work to find employment.
  • Economic Growth: Increase in GDP.
  • Balance of Payments: Difference between exports and imports.
  • Real Income: Value of income adjusted for inflation.
  • Exchange Rate: Value of one currency compared to another.
  • Fiscal Policy: Government changes in taxes or public spending.
  • Monetary Policy: Changes in interest rates by a country's central bank.
  • Supply-side Policies: Actions to improve economic efficiency and supply.
  • External Costs/Benefits: Costs and benefits affecting society beyond the business.
  • Globalisation: Increased worldwide trade and movement of capital/people.
  • Sustainable Development: Meeting present needs without harming future generations.
  • Protectionism: Policies to protect domestic businesses.
  • Free Trade Agreements: Eliminating trade barriers between countries.

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Description

This quiz covers essential concepts in business activity, including needs versus wants, opportunity cost, scarcity, and the factors of production. It examines how these elements interact to influence economic decisions and market dynamics. Test your understanding of business principles and their practical implications.

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