← Business & Communication Systems syllabus

Northern IrelandBusiness & Communication Systems

Unit 2 The Business Environment

9 dot points across 9 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How does a business communicate its message, and how does it choose the right method for each situation?

Business communication: internal and external communication, written, verbal and electronic methods and business documents, choosing a suitable method, the features of effective communication and barriers to it.
A CCEA GCSE Business and Communication Systems answer on business communication. Covers internal and external communication, written, verbal and electronic methods and documents, how to choose a suitable method, the features of effective communication and the barriers that cause it to break down.
12 min answer →

How do businesses trade online, and what are the benefits and drawbacks of digital trading for the business and its customers?

Digital trading: e-commerce and m-commerce, online payment and shopping, the benefits and drawbacks of trading online for the business and the customer, and the effect on traditional shops.
A CCEA GCSE Business and Communication Systems answer on digital trading. Covers e-commerce and m-commerce, online shopping and payment, the benefits and drawbacks of trading online for both the business and the customer, and the impact of online trading on traditional high-street shops.
12 min answer →

What are the implications of digital technology for businesses and their customers, including security and the law?

Implications of digital technology for business and customers: effects on ways of working and jobs, data security threats and protection, and the legislation businesses must follow when handling data and trading online.
A CCEA GCSE Business and Communication Systems answer on the implications of digital technology for business and customers. Covers effects on ways of working and jobs, data security threats and protection methods, and the legislation, such as data protection, that businesses must follow when handling personal data and trading online.
12 min answer →

How does a business find out what its customers want before it spends money?

Market research: primary and secondary research, quantitative and qualitative data, the methods used to collect data, the role of sampling, and how research reduces risk.
A CCEA GCSE Business and Communication Systems answer on market research. Covers primary and secondary research, quantitative and qualitative data, the methods of collecting data such as questionnaires and surveys, the role of sampling, and how market research reduces the risk of business decisions.
11 min answer →

How does a business recruit and select the right people to fill a job?

Recruitment and selection: internal and external recruitment, the recruitment documents (job description, person specification, advertisement, application form and CV), and the selection methods used to choose the best candidate.
A CCEA GCSE Business and Communication Systems answer on recruitment and selection. Covers internal and external recruitment, the recruitment documents, job description, person specification, advertisement, application form and CV, and the selection methods (shortlisting, interviews, tests and references) used to choose the best candidate.
12 min answer →

Who are a business's stakeholders, what does each want, and how can their interests conflict?

Stakeholders: the internal and external groups with an interest in a business (owners, employees, customers, suppliers, the local community and the government), what each wants, and how their interests can conflict.
A CCEA GCSE Business and Communication Systems answer on stakeholders. Covers internal and external stakeholders, owners, employees, customers, suppliers, the local community and the government, what each wants from a business, and how stakeholder interests can conflict, with worked exam technique.
11 min answer →

How does a business combine product, price, place and promotion to market a product successfully?

The marketing mix: the four Ps (product, price, place and promotion), the pricing and promotion methods within them, and how the four Ps must work together and suit the target market.
A CCEA GCSE Business and Communication Systems answer on the marketing mix. Covers the four Ps, product, price, place and promotion, the pricing methods (cost-plus, competitive, penetration and skimming) and promotion methods, and how the four Ps must work together and suit the target market.
12 min answer →

Why do businesses train their staff, and what are the main methods of training?

Training: induction, on-the-job and off-the-job training, the benefits of training to the business and the employee, and the costs and drawbacks of training.
A CCEA GCSE Business and Communication Systems answer on training. Covers induction training, on-the-job and off-the-job training, the benefits of training to both the business and the employee, and the costs and drawbacks a business must weigh.
11 min answer →

What are the main types of business ownership and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

Types of business ownership: sole trader, partnership, private limited company (Ltd) and the public sector, including limited and unlimited liability and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
A CCEA GCSE Business and Communication Systems answer on types of business ownership. Covers the sole trader, partnership and private limited company, the meaning of limited and unlimited liability, the public sector, and the advantages and disadvantages of each form of ownership.
12 min answer →