0450_s16_qp_11
A paper of Business Studies, 0450
Questions:
4
Year:
2016
Paper:
1
Variant:
1
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1
EDGE makes mobile phones. It operates in a competitive market. The Marketing manager believes that because EDGE is good at maintaining customer loyalty demand for its phones is price inelastic. Its best selling product, Z, is near the end of its product life cycle. The Marketing manager has to decide whether to spend money on developing new products or use extension strategies for product Z. X 20% Y 25% Z 40% T 15% Total quantity sold: 800 000 Fig. 1: EDGE – quantity sold by product type in 2015 What is meant by ‘customer loyalty’? Calculate the quantity of product Z sold in 2015. Explain the possible effect on EDGE if the prices of its products are reduced. 1 24 Identify and explain two advantages to EDGE of developing new products. Advantage 1: Explanation: Advantage 2: Explanation: Explain two extension strategies that EDGE could use for product Z. Recommend which one of the two strategies it should choose. Justify your answer. [Turn over 1 24
3. Marketing  →  3.3. Marketing mix
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2
Bushall is a farm. This primary sector business grows award-winning fruits such as pineapples and bananas. Bushall has 10 full-time and 50 part-time employees. All part-time job vacancies are advertised on its website. The Government has introduced legal controls for employment including a minimum wage of $8.50 per hour and a limit on the number of hours an employee can work each week. The farm manager has said to Bushall’s owners: ‘Taylor’s theory of motivation might not work. Our team of employees enjoy what they do. These laws are not good for our employees or our business!’ Identify two examples (other than farming) of business activity in the primary sector. Example 1: Example 2: Identify two ways (other than its website) that Bushall could use to advertise job vacancies. Way 1: Way 2: Identify and explain two possible reasons why ‘Taylor’s theory of motivation might not work’ at Bushall. Reason 1: Explanation: Reason 2: Explanation: 1 24 Identify and explain two advantages to Bushall of having part-time employees. Advantage 1: Explanation: Advantage 2: Explanation: Do you think that the new legal controls for employment will benefit Bushall’s employees? Justify your answer. [Turn over 1 24
2. People in business  →  2.3. Recruitment, selection and training of employees
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3
Rafiq is the Operations manager at a small factory. The business makes a range of soft drinks using batch production. Last year Rafiq successfully introduced just-in-time inventory control, based on an idea from one of the 40 employees. As the business is planning to expand, Rafiq thinks it would be a good idea to change to flow production. Table 1: Income statement for 2015 ($000) X Revenue Cost of sales Gross profit Y Expenses Profit Retained profit What is meant by ‘cost of sales’? Refer to Table 1. Calculate: X Y Identify and explain two possible reasons why profit is important for this business. Reason 1: Explanation: Reason 2: Explanation: 1 24 Identify and explain two advantages to this business of using just-in-time inventory control. Advantage 1: Explanation: Advantage 2: Explanation: Do you think this business should change to flow production? Justify your answer. [Turn over 1 24
4. Operations management  →  4.1. Production of goods and services
4. Operations management  →  4.2. Costs, scale of production and break-even analysis
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4
Nuwan is a sole trader. He has a specialist sports shop selling a wide range of cricket and tennis products. His 3 employees are trained to provide good customer service. Nuwan is pleased the economy is growing but he is worried that interest rates might be increased. He believes his small business has advantages compared to large retailers. Nuwan would like to improve profit margins and thinks the best way to do this is to reduce costs. What is meant by a ‘sole trader’? Identify two possible features which show that the economy is growing. Feature 1: Feature 2: Identify and explain two ways in which an increase in interest rates might affect Nuwan’s business. Way 1: Explanation: Way 2: Explanation: 1 24 Identify and explain two advantages that Nuwan’s business might have compared to large retailers. Advantage 1: Explanation: Advantage 2: Explanation: Do you think that the best way for Nuwan to improve profit margins is to reduce costs? Justify your answer. 1 24
1. Understanding business activity  →  1.3. Enterprise, business growth and size
6. External influences on business activity  →  6.1. Economic issues
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