0450_s10_qp_11
A paper of Business Studies, 0450
Questions:
5
Year:
2010
Paper:
1
Variant:
1
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1
For Examiner’s Use Gabby is the production manager at a factory that manufactures a range of electrical products including televisions. The company uses flow production methods in its factory. Gabby was looking at some data produced by the finance department. This data is shown in Table 1. Table 1: Cost and Output Data Output per week [units] Fixed costs [$000’s] Variable costs [$000’s] Calculate the cost per unit if the output of the factory is 3 000 units per week. Identify two economies of scale that the factory might gain by increasing its weekly output. Economy of scale 1: Economy of scale 2: The factory uses flow production methods. Identify and explain two features of flow production. Feature 1: Feature 2: For Examiner’s Use Rather than making components, Gabby’s company is going to buy them from another manufacturer. Identify and explain three advantages to Gabby’s company of doing this. Advantage 1: Explanation: Advantage 2: Explanation: Advantage 3: Explanation: Recently Gabby’s company has become much larger. Do you think that becoming larger is an advantage for a business? Justify your answer.
4. Operations management  →  4.2. Costs, scale of production and break-even analysis
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2
For Examiner’s Use AB is a large business providing services in country Z. Fig. 1 shows the market distribution of its sales in 2009. Table 2 shows a summary of its financial data in the same year. Fig. 1: Market Distribution of Sales (2009) Table 2: Financial Data (2009) Sales turnover $750m Net Profit $150m Net profit margin 20% Return on capital employed 15% domestic sales export sales What is meant by a return on capital employed [ROCE]? Calculate the value of domestic sales in 2009. AB has borrowed a lot of money from banks in order to expand. Identify and explain two disadvantages to a company of owing a lot of money to banks. Disadvantage 1: Explanation: Disadvantage 2: Explanation: For Examiner’s Use Country Z is in recession. Identify and explain three ways in which a recession might affect AB. Way 1: Explanation: Way 2: Explanation: Way 3: Explanation: The Government of country Z is to take control of AB. Do you think that this will be in the best interests of the stakeholders in AB? Justify your answer.
5. Financial information and decisions  →  5.5. Analysis of accounts
5. Financial information and decisions  →  5.1. Business finance: needs and sources
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3
For Examiner’s Use Deco is an electronics company manufacturing a wide range of products. The company operates in a highly competitive and fast changing market. The management of Deco believe that the company is ‘market orientated’. What is meant by a ‘market orientated’ company? Identify two possible disadvantages to Deco of having a wide range of products. Disadvantage 1: Disadvantage 2: Deco is about to carry out some market research. It intends to use sampling to research the market. Identify and explain two methods of sampling that Deco could use. Method 1: Explanation: Method 2: Explanation: For Examiner’s Use Deco also uses secondary market research. Identify and explain three reasons why the results of secondary market research might not always be useful to a business. Reason 1: Explanation: Reason 2: Explanation: Reason 3: Explanation: Deco wants to spend more on developing new products. In order to do this it will have to spend less on market research. Do you think Deco should do this? Justify your answer.
3. Marketing  →  3.2. Market research
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4
For Examiner’s Use Zola is the general manager of a hotel. He believes that customer service is important if guests are to enjoy their stay at the hotel. Zola manages his staff by a mixture of financial incentives, such as bonuses, and by threats. The staff are paid on a time rate basis. What is meant by a financial bonus? Identify two reasons why customer service is important. Reason 1: Reason 2: Identify and explain one advantage and one disadvantage of paying staff by time rate. Advantage: Explanation: Disadvantage: Explanation: For Examiner’s Use The hotel has a high staff turnover with a large number of employees leaving their job each year. Identify and explain three consequences of a high staff turnover to the business. Consequence 1: Explanation: Consequence 2: Explanation: Consequence 3: Explanation: Do you think that financial incentives are likely to be effective in motivating staff? Justify your answer.
2. People in business  →  2.3. Recruitment, selection and training of employees
2. People in business  →  2.1. Motivating employees
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5
For Examiner’s Use General Auto is a large global business. The management of General Auto are looking for a country where they might open a factory. What is meant by a ‘global business’? Identify two factors that might influence General Auto’s choice of country in which to locate the factory. Factor 1: Factor 2: Multinational companies are not always welcome in a country because they might misuse their power. Explain how pressure groups might try and influence the behaviour of such companies. For Examiner’s Use Movements in exchange rates can cause problems for any business that trades globally. General Auto’ s home country is the United States. Identify and explain three consequences for General Auto of a rise in the exchange rate of the United States dollar. Consequence 1: Explanation: Consequence 2: Explanation: Consequence 3: Explanation: By examining the advantages and disadvantages that multinational companies create, do you think that a Government should seek to attract these companies to their country? Justify your recommendation.
6. External influences on business activity  →  6.3. Business and the international economy
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