Classification of firms in terms of primary/secondary/tertiary sectors and private/public sector, and the relative size of firms. The advantages and disadvantages of small firms, the challenges facing small firms and reasons for their existence. Internal growth, for example increased market share. External growth, for example mergers. Examples, advantages and disadvantages of different types of mergers: horizontal, vertical, and conglomerate. How internal and external economies and diseconomies of scale can affect a firm/industry as the scale of production changes. Note: detailed knowledge of different types of structure of a firm is not required.
Influences to include demand for the product, the price of different factors of production, their availability and their productivity. The reasons for adopting the different forms of production and their advantages and disadvantages. The difference between, and influences on, production and productivity.