Business Management

Business Management

Rationale

In contemporary Australian society there is a range of businesses managed by people who establish systems and processes to achieve a variety of business objectives. These systems and processes are often drawn from both historical experience and management theories that are designed to optimise the likelihood of achieving success.

In studying VCE Business Management, students develop knowledge and skills that enhance their confidence and ability to participate effectively as ethical and socially responsible members of society, managers and leaders of the business community, and as informed citizens, consumers and investors.

The study of VCE Business Management leads to opportunities across all facets of the business and management field such as small business owner, project manager, human resource manager, operations manager or executive manager. Further study can lead to specialisation in areas such as marketing, public relations and event management.

Structure

The study is made up of four units.

· Unit 1: Planning a business

· Unit 2: Establishing a business

· Unit 3: Managing a business

· Unit 4: Transforming a business

Each unit deals with specific content contained in areas of study and is designed to enable students to achieve a set of outcomes for that unit. Each outcome is described in terms of key knowledge and key skills.

Entry

There are no prerequisites for entry to Units 1, 2 and 3. Students must undertake Unit 3 and Unit 4 as a sequence. Units 1–4 are designed to a standard equivalent to the final two years of secondary education.

All VCE studies are benchmarked against comparable national and international curriculum.

Assessment

• Satisfactory completion

• The award of satisfactory completion for a unit is based on the teacher’s decision that the student has demonstrated achievement of the set of outcomes specified for the unit. Demonstration of achievement of outcomes and satisfactory completion of a unit are determined by evidence gained through the assessment of a range of learning activities and tasks.

• Teachers must develop courses that provide appropriate opportunities for students to demonstrate satisfactory achievement of outcomes.

• The decision about satisfactory completion of a unit is distinct from the assessment of levels of achievement. Schools will report a student’s result for each unit to VCAA as S (satisfactory) or N (not satisfactory).

• Levels of achievement

• Units 1 and 2

• Procedures for the assessment of levels of achievement in Units 1 and 2 are a matter for school decision. Assessment of levels of achievement for these units will not be reported to VCAA. Schools may choose to report levels of achievement using grades, descriptive statements or other indicators.

• Units 3 and 4

• VCAA specifies the assessment procedures for students undertaking scored assessment in Units 3

and 4. Designated assessment tasks are provided in the details for each unit in VCE study designs.

• The student’s level of achievement in Units 3 and 4 will be determined by School-assessed Coursework (SACs), as specified in the VCE study design, and external assessment.

• VCAA will report the student’s level of achievement on each assessment component as a grade from A+ to E or UG (ungraded). To receive a study score the student must achieve two or more graded assessments in the study and receive an S for both Units 3 and 4. The study score is reported on a scale of 0–50; it is a measure of how well the student performed in relation to all others who took the study. Percentage contributions to the study score in VCE Business Management are as follows:

• Unit 3 School-assessed Coursework: 25 per cent

• Unit 4 School-assessed Coursework: 25 per cent

• End-of-year examination: 50 per cent.