Business Management SL Subject Brief 2024

International Baccalaureate
Diploma Programme Subject Brief

IIndividuals and societies: Business
management—standard level
First assessments 2024
The Diploma Programme (DP) is a rigorous pre-university course of study designed for students in the
16 to 19 age range. It is a broad-based two-year course that aims to encourage students to be
knowledgeable and inquiring, but also caring and compassionate. There is a strong emphasis
on encouraging students to develop intercultural understanding, open-mindedness, and
the attitudes necessary for them to respect and evaluate a range of points of view.
The course is presented as six academic areas enclosing a central core. Students
study two modern languages (or a modern language and a classical language),
ah umanities or social science subject, an experimental science, mathematics
and one of the creative arts. Instead of an arts subject, students can choose two
subjects from another area. It is this comprehensive range of subjects that makes
the Diploma Programme a demanding course of study designed to prepare
students effectively for university entrance. In each of the academic areas students
have flexibility in making their choices, which means they can choose subjects
that particularly interest them and that they may wish to study further at university.
Normally, three subjects (and not more than four) are taken at higher level (HL), and
the others are taken at standard level (SL). The IB recommends 240 teaching hours for HL
subjects and 150 hours for SL. Subjects at HL are studied in greater depth and breadth than
at SL. In addition, three core elements—the extended essay, theory of knowledge and creativity,
activity, service—are compulsory and central to the philosophy of the programme.
I. Course description and aims

The business management course is designed to meet the current and future needs of students who
want to develop their knowledge of business content, concepts and tools to assist with business decision-
making. Future employees, business leaders, entrepreneurs or social entrepreneurs need to be confident,
creative and compassionate as change agents for business in an increasingly interconnected global
marketplace. The business management course is designed to encourage the development of these
attributes.
Through the exploration of four interdisciplinary concepts: creativity, change, ethics and
sustainability, this course empowers students to explore these concepts from a business perspective.
Business management focuses on business functions, management processes and decision-making in
contemporary contexts of strategic uncertainty.
Students examine how business decisions are influenced by factors that are internal and external to
an organization and how these decisions impact upon a range of internal and external stakeholders.
Emphasis is placed on strategic decision-making and the operational business functions of human
resource management, finance and accounts, marketing, and operations management.
Business management is a challenging and dynamic discipline that more than meets the needs of our
students growing and developing in a complex business environment. This course prepares students to be
global citizens ready to face up to the challenges and opportunities awaiting them in our ever-changing
world.
© International Baccalaureate Organization, 2021

International Baccalaureate® | Baccalauréat International® | Bachillerato Internacional®
The aims of the DP business management course are to enable students to:
1. develop as confident, creative and compassionate business leaders, entrepreneurs, social
entrepreneurs and as change agents
2. foster an informed understanding of ethical and sustainable business practices
3. explore the connections between individuals, businesses and society
4. engage with decision-making as a process and a skill.
II. Curriculum model overview

Recommended
Component teaching hours
Unit 1: Introduction to business management 20
1.1 What is a business?
1.2 Types of business entities
1.3 Business objectives
1.4 Stakeholders
1.5 Growth and evolution
1.6 Multinational companies (MNCs)
Unit 2: Human resource management 20
2.1 Introduction to human resource management
2.2 Organizational structure
2.3 Leadership and management
2.4 Motivation and demotivation
2.5 Organizational (corporate) culture (HL only)
2.6 Communication
2.7 Industrial/employee relations (HL only)
Unit 3: Finance and accounts 30
3.1 Introduction to finance
3.2 Sources of finance
3.3 Costs and revenues
3.4 Final accounts
3.5 Profitability and liquidity ratio analysis
3.6 Debt/equity ratio analysis (HL only)
3.7 Cash flow
3.8. Investment appraisal
3.9 Budgets (HL only)
Unit 4: Marketing 30
4.1 Introduction to marketing
4.2 Marketing planning
4.3 Sales forecasting (HL only)
4.4 Market research
4.5 The seven Ps of the marketing mix
4.6 International marketing (HL only)

Unit 5: Operations management 15
5.1 Introduction to operations management
5.2 Operations methods
5.3 Lean production and quality management (HL only)
5.4 Location
5.5 Break-even analysis
5.6 Production planning (HL only)
5.7 Crisis management and contingency planning (HL only)
5.8 Research and development (HL only)
5.9 Management information systems (HL only)
Business management toolkit 10
Research time allocated for the pre-released statement in paper 1 5
Internal assessment 20
III. Assessment model

By the end of the business management course, students are expected to achieve the following
assessment objectives.
AO1: Knowledge and understanding
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
• business management tools and theories
• course topics and concepts
• business problems, issues and decisions
• HL extension topics (HL only).
AO2: Application and analysis
Apply and analyse:
• business decisions and issues through the selection and use of appropriate data
AO3: Synthesis and evaluation
Synthesize and evaluate:
• stakeholder interests to reach informed business decisions
• recommendations for competing future strategic options (HL only)
AO4: Use and application of appropriate skills
• Select and apply relevant business management tools, theories and concepts to support
research into a business issue or problem.
• Select, interpret and analyse business materials from a range of primary and secondary
sources.
• Create well-structured materials using business management terminology.

• Communicate analysis, evaluation and conclusions of research effectively.
Assessment at a glance
Type of Weighting of
assessment Format of assessment Time final grade (%)
External 3 hours 70
Paper 1 Based on a pre-released statement that 1 hour 30 minutes 35
specifies the context and background for the
unseen case study
Paper 2 Based on unseen stimulus material with a 1 hour 30 minutes 35
quantitative focus
Internal
Business Students produce a research project about 20 hours 30
research a real business issue or problem facing a
project particular organization using a conceptual lens
IV. Sample questions

Paper 1
• Explain one advantage and one disadvantage for MT of being a small business. [4]
• Discuss whether Jackie should accept or reject KC’s offer to buy MT. [10]
Paper 2
• Using the information in the stimulus, evaluate WM’s decision to shift from mass production
to mass customization. [10]
About the IB: For over 50 years, the IB has built a reputation for high-quality, challenging programmes of education
that develop internationally minded young people who are well prepared for the challenges of life in the 21st
century and are able to contribute to creating a better, more peaceful world.
For further information on the IB Diploma Programme, visit: www.ibo.org/en/dp.

Complete subject guides can be accessed through the programme resource centre or purchased through the
IB store: http://store.ibo.org.
For more on how the DP prepares students for success at university, visit: www.ibo.org/en/university-admission.

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International Baccalaureate

Diploma Programme Subject Brief

I. Course description and aims

© International Baccalaureate Organization, 2021

II. Curriculum model overview

© International Baccalaureate Organization, 2021

III. Assessment model

© International Baccalaureate Organization, 2021

IV. Sample questions

For further information on the IB Diploma Programme, visit: www.ibo.org/en/dp.

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