Podcast
Questions and Answers
Define scarcity and explain its significance in economics.
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?
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.
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.
Explain the concept of specialization in business.
Signup and view all the answers
What is internal growth and how does it differ from external growth?
What is internal growth and how does it differ from external growth?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the four factors of production and why are they important?
What are the four factors of production and why are they important?
Signup and view all the answers
What is added value and how do businesses achieve it?
What is added value and how do businesses achieve it?
Signup and view all the answers
How does de-industrialisation affect a nation's economy?
How does de-industrialisation affect a nation's economy?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the difference between a merger and an acquisition?
What is the difference between a merger and an acquisition?
Signup and view all the answers
What is horizontal integration?
What is horizontal integration?
Signup and view all the answers
How does vertical integration differ from horizontal integration?
How does vertical integration differ from horizontal integration?
Signup and view all the answers
Define limited liability.
Define limited liability.
Signup and view all the answers
What is the role of shareholders in a company?
What is the role of shareholders in a company?
Signup and view all the answers
What are dividends?
What are dividends?
Signup and view all the answers
What characterizes a public limited company?
What characterizes a public limited company?
Signup and view all the answers
What distinguishes current liabilities from non-current liabilities?
What distinguishes current liabilities from non-current liabilities?
Signup and view all the answers
How does liquidity relate to a business's short-term debts?
How does liquidity relate to a business's short-term debts?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a franchise?
What is a franchise?
Signup and view all the answers
Explain the concept of job rotation.
Explain the concept of job rotation.
Signup and view all the answers
Define economic growth in terms of GDP.
Define economic growth in terms of GDP.
Signup and view all the answers
What is the impact of inflation on real income?
What is the impact of inflation on real income?
Signup and view all the answers
What does organisational structure refer to?
What does organisational structure refer to?
Signup and view all the answers
Differentiate between autocratic and democratic leadership styles.
Differentiate between autocratic and democratic leadership styles.
Signup and view all the answers
What are the effects of exchange rate depreciation on a country's economy?
What are the effects of exchange rate depreciation on a country's economy?
Signup and view all the answers
Explain the role of fiscal policy in managing the economy.
Explain the role of fiscal policy in managing the economy.
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of a joint venture?
What is the purpose of a joint venture?
Signup and view all the answers
What defines a multinational business?
What defines a multinational business?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the term 'stakeholder' mean?
What does the term 'stakeholder' mean?
Signup and view all the answers
Explain the significance of chain of command.
Explain the significance of chain of command.
Signup and view all the answers
Differentiate between private costs and external costs.
Differentiate between private costs and external costs.
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of an import tariff?
What is the purpose of an import tariff?
Signup and view all the answers
How does sustainable development relate to future generations?
How does sustainable development relate to future generations?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main purpose of job analysis?
What is the main purpose of job analysis?
Signup and view all the answers
Describe the difference between internal and external recruitment.
Describe the difference between internal and external recruitment.
Signup and view all the answers
What is induction training, and why is it important?
What is induction training, and why is it important?
Signup and view all the answers
What distinguishes on-the-job training from off-the-job training?
What distinguishes on-the-job training from off-the-job training?
Signup and view all the answers
What is workforce planning?
What is workforce planning?
Signup and view all the answers
Differentiate between dismissal and redundancy.
Differentiate between dismissal and redundancy.
Signup and view all the answers
How does feedback contribute to effective communication?
How does feedback contribute to effective communication?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a marketing budget?
What is a marketing budget?
Signup and view all the answers
Define primary research and provide an example.
Define primary research and provide an example.
Signup and view all the answers
What are the four Ps of the marketing mix?
What are the four Ps of the marketing mix?
Signup and view all the answers
Explain the concept of market segmentation.
Explain the concept of market segmentation.
Signup and view all the answers
What is the significance of a unique selling proposition (USP)?
What is the significance of a unique selling proposition (USP)?
Signup and view all the answers
How does brand loyalty affect consumer purchasing behavior?
How does brand loyalty affect consumer purchasing behavior?
Signup and view all the answers
What role does packaging play in marketing?
What role does packaging play in marketing?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary difference between internal and external finance?
What is the primary difference between internal and external finance?
Signup and view all the answers
Define micro-finance and its target demographic.
Define micro-finance and its target demographic.
Signup and view all the answers
Explain the concept of crowdfunding.
Explain the concept of crowdfunding.
Signup and view all the answers
What is net cash flow, and how is it calculated?
What is net cash flow, and how is it calculated?
Signup and view all the answers
What does retained profit refer to in a business context?
What does retained profit refer to in a business context?
Signup and view all the answers
Discuss the purpose of an income statement.
Discuss the purpose of an income statement.
Signup and view all the answers
How is gross profit calculated?
How is gross profit calculated?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the significance of the statement of financial position?
What is the significance of the statement of financial position?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the stages of the product life cycle?
What are the stages of the product life cycle?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of an extension strategy?
What is the purpose of an extension strategy?
Signup and view all the answers
How does cost-plus pricing work?
How does cost-plus pricing work?
Signup and view all the answers
What defines competitive pricing?
What defines competitive pricing?
Signup and view all the answers
What is penetration pricing?
What is penetration pricing?
Signup and view all the answers
Explain price skimming.
Explain price skimming.
Signup and view all the answers
What is promotional pricing?
What is promotional pricing?
Signup and view all the answers
Describe dynamic pricing.
Describe dynamic pricing.
Signup and view all the answers
What is the difference between price elastic and price inelastic demand?
What is the difference between price elastic and price inelastic demand?
Signup and view all the answers
What role do distribution channels play?
What role do distribution channels play?
Signup and view all the answers
Define an agent in the context of sales and distribution.
Define an agent in the context of sales and distribution.
Signup and view all the answers
What is the aim of promotion in marketing?
What is the aim of promotion in marketing?
Signup and view all the answers
How does social media marketing benefit businesses?
How does social media marketing benefit businesses?
Signup and view all the answers
What constitutes working capital?
What constitutes working capital?
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.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
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.