Business Management IA SL

8/10/2019 Business Management IA SL

1/29

The HL Business &

Management IA


2/29

How important is this IA?

The Extended Essay is worth:

1.5 points

The Business IA is worth:

2.5 points


3/29

Your Task:

You have to write a report on a

current problem facing a real

business. Your report must include a

recommendation to solve the

problem.


4/29


5/29

What do they mean?

The Research Proposal- is a document

that states what and why you are writing

your report.

There is a maximum limit of 500words.

The Reportitself

states how you areproposing to solve the problem identified.

There is a maximum limit of 2,000words.


6/29

How will you do this?

Stage 1 Produce the Research Proposal

May June

Stage 2

Collect the data and produce a1stdraft

June August

Stage 3

Write up final draft of the Report

September - October


7/29

An Example question

Should company x

improve its marketingstrategy in order to

make more profits?


8/29

An Example question

Should company x

improve its marketingstrategy?


9/29

An Example question

Should company x

improve its pricingstrategy?


10/29

An Example question

Should company x

introduce adestroyerpricing

strategy to producty?


11/29

Stage 1 -

The Research Proposal:


12/29

The Format:

Research Question -what are you going to do?

Theoretical Framework -

why are you going to do it?

Methodology -

how are you going to do it?

Anticipated difficulties

what can go wrong & how will you sort it out? Action Plan -

when will you do it?


13/29

Stage 2 -

Producing The Data

Collecting the data

Collating the data

Writing the first Draft


14/29

The data

You must collect both primary andsecondarydata.

There are two factors that areimportant when deciding what type ofdata to collect:

1. How is it to be used?

2. How reliable is the data?


15/29

Collecting data

Examples of single source & unreliabledata are when the source for yourinformation is only:

a survey

an interview

a textbook

a website (the company) one person(the manager)

only the business itself


16/29

An example A Product

Positioning Map


17/29

High Price

Low Price

Apple

Oregon

Creativeiriver


18/29

Source:

I did a survey of 20 randomlyselected

students from my school as they are the

ones who use MP3 players the most.


19/29

High Price

Low Price

Apple Nano

MPman

Oregon

Rio

SharpCreative (Muvo)

Beosound

Archos

iriver

Ministry of

Sound

Apple Shuffle

Apple Photo


20/29

Source:

What Hi Fi? Sound & Vision Awards 2005

Survey criterion

System: MP3, AAC orWMA; Radio, Microphone, Storage capacity,

USB, FireWire, Battery life, Dimensions &

Weight


21/29

The Techniques to use

We recommend two general points

1. Use 3 or 4 techniques.

2. Use at least 1 qualitative and 1

quantitative technique.


22/29

Some techniques used well

Decision MakingModel

Ratio Analysis Forecasting DecisionTrees

Statistics Networking TQM SWOTAnalysis

Marketing Models Budgeting FFA PESTAnalysis

InvestmentAppraisal

MotivationalTheory

IshikawaFishbone

BCG Matrix

CPA GANTT Charts Surveying & SamplingTechniques

Benchmarking Ansoff Matrix Channels of Distribution

Leadership

Theory

Communication

Theory

Organisational Charts


23/29

Stage 3 -

The final write-up

There are four elements in this stage:

1.

Reworking the first draft2. Writing the analysis & evaluation

3.Writing a conclusion & recommendation

4.

Producing the completed project


24/29

Writing the analysis & evaluation

You need to consider: Link the analysis to your research data

Be succinct and ordered

Integrate your data, analysis and evaluationAvoid relying too heavily on a single source

(the business)

Use independent sources

Avoid unsupported generalisations

Be critical dont take everything for granted


25/29

Assessment criterion A:

The Research Proposal:

Has to be in the format required

Has to have an

adequate

action plan

Has to include anticipated difficulties

Has to be in the word limit

Has to be a working document


26/29

Assessment criterion B:

The Report:

Has to include primary & secondary

research

Has to include qualitative & quantitative

data

Has to be multi sourced

Has to only include appropriate data

Has to be used effectively


27/29

Assessment criterion C:

The Report:

Has to be probingnot descriptive

Has to be objective

Has to be realistic

Has to be critically reflective

Has to be informative


28/29

Assessment criterion D:

The Report:

Has to have a succinct set of

conclusions

Has to have a yes/no recommendation

Has to include unanswered questions

Has to suggest ways of resolving these

Has to have no obvious omissions


29/29

Assessment criterion E:

The report:

Has to have an Executive Summary

Has to have accurate & consistentreferencing

Has to include relevant appendices

Has to be in the word limit

Business Management IA SL

Documents

Transcript of Business Management IA SL