Welcome to Business at QE

A level Business suits students who like business! If you enjoy watching the Apprentice or Dragon’s Den or if you like the idea of buying shares or if you want to manage a business then this is the subject for you. You need to want to know more about why people set up in business, what makes them successful and how they can do things even better.

The subject is based around the concept of choice and decision making.

• Should Marks and Spencer move all its operations online?

• Is it better to pay high dividends to shareholders or invest profits?

• What should Tesco do to reposition itself in the market?

• How can Crush Candy ensure its long-term growth?

• Should Amazon pay more tax in the UK?

• Should tobacco companies plan to exit this industry?

• What’s the best way to design a job that motivates?

• How can a construction business ensure its cash flow is healthy?

• Should we relocate to mainland Europe after Brexit?

These are the types of issues you might consider when studying Business at A level. To answer these questions you are expected to analyse the key factors involved such as objectives, risk, costs, returns, constraints and ethics, and recommend the best course of action for a business given its existing position.

Essentially the course is about debating and decision-making in a business context and as such it develops invaluable skills whatever you want to do next. You need to learn and understand the theory and then apply it to a context. The “right” answer will depend on the problem in front of you and you need to be able to think issues through logically, put together well reasoned arguments and make recommendations.