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2014 Notes from the Marking Centre – Business Studies

Introduction

This document has been produced for the teachers and candidates of the Stage 6 Business Studies course. It contains comments on candidate responses to the 2014 Higher School Certificate examination, highlighting their strengths in particular parts of the examination and indicating where candidates need to improve.

This document should be read along with:

• the Business Studies Stage 6 Syllabus
• the 2014 Higher School Certificate Business Studies examination
• the marking guidelines
• Advice for HSC students about examinations
• other support documents developed by the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW to assist in the teaching and learning of Business Studies in Stage 6.

Section II

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• understanding the reasons for resistance to change (Q.21)
• describing the features and characteristics of sequencing and scheduling (Q.21)
• understanding SWOT and marketing strategies relevant to the scenario (Q.22)
• understanding the role of employer associations (Q.23)
• making clear the relationship between maintenance (as a human resource management strategy) and improved business outcomes (Q.23)
• interpreting and calculating cash flow statements (Q.24)
• explaining how government influences financial management (Q.24).

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• linking the use of sequencing and scheduling to improved business operations (Q.21)
• understanding the role of government in influencing financial management and cash flow management (Q.24).

Section III

Question 25

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• using the stimulus provided
• explaining an appropriate financial option which might be available to the business
• comparing a variety of issues associated with both outsourcing and the factory expansion
• showing the relationship between global factors and outsourcing
• structuring the response using appropriate report features.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• explaining global factors
• making reference to the stimulus throughout each part of the question
• relating global factors to business operations.

Section IV

Question 26

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• demonstrating understanding of both resolution strategies and preventative strategies to address workplace disputes
• supporting responses with relevant case studies
• communicating using relevant business terminology and concepts.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• analysing rather than outlining or describing the causes and strategies.

Question 27

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

• displaying knowledge of a range of promotional strategies such as advertising, personal selling, sales promotion and relationship marketing
• making a judgement about the importance of individual promotional strategies in the marketing of goods and services
• understanding communications processes such as opinion leaders and word-of-mouth
• integrating the case study throughout
• using relevant business terminology and concepts.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

• knowing the difference between the promotional mix and the marketing mix
• making judgements about the importance of having a mix of promotional strategies rather than the importance of individual promotional strategies.
• using one or more relevant case studies.