Business Studies IB
Previous experience of Business Studies or Economics is not essential. It is anticipated that those entering the course will have achieved at least grade Bs for Maths and English at GCSE.
Business and Management is the rigorous and critical study of the ways in which individuals and groups interact in a dynamic business environment. It is an academic discipline that examines how business decisions are made and how these decisions make an impact on internal and external environments. The ideals of international cooperation and responsible citizenship are at the heart of business and management.
Business and Management lies on the boundaries of the arts and sciences. Clearly, the subject uses the scientific method of analysing problems. Indeed, this point is strongly emphasised in the syllabus. However, students also need to be able to articulate their ideas in a clear and concise form. Hence there is also considerable emphasis on writing skills. This means that the type of student who will feel comfortable with the subject could come from either a preference for sciences or arts.
The Department strongly believes in translating ideas and concepts learnt in the classroom into real world situations. We organise annual field trips to Europe, and also shorter visits to local businesses. However, as for any subject, the student contemplating Business and Management must have an interest in the subject, and a desire to know what makes business tick.
The aims of the Business and Management programme at Higher Level and Standard Level are to:
• promote the importance of exploring business issues from different cultural perspectives
• encourage a holistic view of the world of business
• enable the student to develop the capacity to think critically
• enhance a student’s ability to make decisions
• enable a student to appreciate the pace, nature and significance of change.
The Higher Level course includes six modules and a research project. The modules are examined in two written papers and the project, based on the decisions facing a business organisation, will be completed by the end of the Autumn Term of the final year of study. For the Standard Level course there will be four modules and a written assignment. The modules will be examined in two written papers and the assignment, based on the application of business tools and theories to solve a business problem, will be completed at the same time as the research project for the Higher level students.
