Business Studies 2015 HSC exam pack

Questions 21–25

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).

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.

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.

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.