Section II
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- showing the link between the type of product and its distribution channel (Q21)
- understanding how specific packaging can attract customers and therefore maximise sales (Q21)
- demonstrating some understanding of how government can affect employment contracts, such as through the National Employment Standards (Q22)
- understanding how technology can affect the transformation process and influence the process layout (Q23)
- interpreting financial statements; in particular balance sheets and their limitations (Q24)
- calculating the gearing ratio and the issues that arise from low gearing (Q24)
- interpreting data (Q25)
- understanding how the data demonstrates the interdependence between human resources management and profitability management (Q25).
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- understanding the logistical issues associated with the distribution of a product requiring specific needs (Q21)
- better understanding of the common law specific to employees and employment contracts in general (Q22)
- engaging with the stimulus in the question as it relates to the stimulus (Q23)
- understanding financial statements and providing relevant points with respect to the calculated gearing ratio (Q24)
- linking the data to human resources and profitability management and following the directive verb in the question (Q25).
Section III
Question 26
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- describing the relevant consumer laws appropriate to the stimulus
- demonstrating knowledge of a variety of human resource strategies
- using the report format and incorporating business terminology throughout the report.
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- recommending appropriate human resources strategies
- applying appropriate strategies to the stimulus
- explaining the interdependence of human resources and marketing, rather than discussing the role of the separate functions.
Section IV
Question 27
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- using relevant business terminology
- demonstrating knowledge of a variety of operations strategies
- understanding performance objectives
- effectively using case studies to support the response
- providing a sustained, logical response with a wide variety of case studies.
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- providing a judgement based on criteria
- detailing how operations strategies lead to a competitive advantage
- providing clear links to competitive advantage
- maintaining focus on operations strategies rather than other aspects of operations, such as influences.
Section IV
Question 28
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- using relevant business terminology with reference to finance
- providing features and characteristics of financial management strategies
- clearly identifying financial strategies and showing links to improved business performance, with reference to financial objectives and case studies
- providing a sound judgement with reference to financial management strategies
- presenting a sustained and logical response and integrating a wide variety of case study examples.
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- correctly identifying financial strategies rather than providing a general description of financial management or tools, without any link to improved business performance
- referencing or integrating case studies rather than providing background information or irrelevant facts about the business.
