Corus get no government help!

This sucks...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8394871.stm

History...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/tees/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8374000/8374944.stm

Primark - Still Bovvered?

Remember the sweat shops? Let this BBC video remind you... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7824291.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7824787.stm

Or the profits?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jan/14/primark-abf-clothing-sales

Ethics for evaluation
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/nov/05/primark-ethical-pledges-sweatshops

So in 2008 and early 2009 the press was castigating Primark for the way it its suppliers treated their workers. By late 2009 and early 2010, it seems that these issues are less important, or is it that Primark customers were never that bothered.

It's a recession, can we afford to be bothered?

Selfridges - Great performance in 2008 and 2009

2008
http://www.drapersonline.com/news/selfridges-profits-rise-but-xmas-sales-soften/1937529.article

http://www.retail-week.com/selfridges-profits-to-climb-after-christmas-sales-rise/1968496.article

2009
http://www.retail-week.com/multichannel/online-retail/selfridges-ready-for-online-debut-as-centenary-profits-to-hit-100m/5008544.article

Car Firm Bail Out

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/4863079/UK-given-approval-for-2.3bn-auto-bail-out.html

Shell consolidating, closing forecourts and refocusing

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/epic/rdsb/7455835/Shell-to-boost-oil-output-as-it-closes-petrol-stations-cuts-2000-jobs.html

Government intervention

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/government-financial-support-the-requests-come-flooding-in/

Investment in the recession

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/data-watch-what-happened-to-business-investment-in-the-uk-recession/#extended

13-2 BS AQA Unit 4

Homework

Produce a mark scheme for one of the following questions:

Either: To what extent do you think the bail out of the banks was unfair on manufacturing firms such as Corus? (40)

or: How could government financial support best prevent firms such as Corus closing? (40)

• I have included a PDF link below to show what I want.
• This task must be brought with you to next Tuesday's lesson
• You should focus on the elements included in page 4 and 5 rather than the generic material as on pages 3 and 6.

http://store.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/pdf/AQA-BUSS4-W-SMS.PDF

BA has bad HR in the recession

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8563728.stm

Success in a recession

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/8564814.stm

Big increase in demand for Merchant Bankers

Hat Tip to Ben Maylor http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8551036.stm

Developing Your Ability to Write Essays

Over the next few weeks look at the following link:

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/buss4-exam-technique-big-mac-or-hamburger-fries/#extended

The links at the bottom of the page will be to specimen essays

British Chamber of Commerce

Check this out: "GDP growth will be slower than forecast"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8552522.stm

Your evaluation could challenge the data, but how would you do this?

This should work better

http://www.slideshare.net/toejamatic/story-of-the-recession

See the story of the recession

Hyperlinks to videos are on page 2!!!

http://www.slideshare.net/toejamatic/story-of-the-recession-links

A few more businesses that have thrived in the recession...

http://money.uk.msn.com/markets/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=151943986&page=9

Third Piece of Work

This is a difficult article to read but the executive summary is useful background knowledge on how company's will approach the future

http://www.cbi.org.uk/pdf/20091123-cbi-shape-of-business.pdf

Second Piece of Work

The following articles have been produced by Tutor2U. Please read them and follow the links

Article One: CORUS STEEL and TEESIDE
http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/buss4-research-a-corus-of-disapproval/

Article Two: BRITISH AIRWAYS
http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/buss4-and-british-airways-a-marriage-made-in-heaven/

The following articles explain strategies that a business could follow in a recession:
http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/strategy-in-a-recession-cost-optimisation-not-cost-minimisation/

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/recession-strategy-what-happens-when-a-market-dives-by-30-per-cent/


And a success story in a recession:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1252954/Cath-Kidston-pocket-30m-sale-brand-20-years-shop-assistant-created-famous-nostalgic-designs.html

It is important that read all of these articles and make notes

First Piece of Work

Read the following articles

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8445696.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8537611.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8507608.stm

What does it suggest about the car industry and the strategies they are following in a recession?

And what does this article suggest about GMs strategy in a recession? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8448370.stm

Higher marks will be gained by quoting relevant theory: Michael Porter was in London last week, details here:

http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/michael-porter-on-the-importance-of-long-term-strategic-thinking-in-a-reces/

Buss4 Pre-Released Material can be found at http://store.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/pdf/AQA-BUSS4-PM-W-PM-JUN10.PDF

However, the theme material is:

Research Theme – The Recent Recession in the UK

In your research on the recent recession in the UK you should consider:

- how the recession can create opportunities and threats for businesses and industries
- the long-term strategies and short-term plans adopted by businesses in the recession
- factors influencing the strategies businesses adopt in the recession
- strategies that businesses could have adopted to prepare for the recession
- the possible impact of the recession on stakeholders and on relationships between businesses and their stakeholders
- the case for and against different businesses and industries receiving government financial support during a recession.

Your research should consider the effects of and reaction to the recent recession in the UK in relation to different businesses and industries.
You should make reference to your research in your responses to Section A in the examination.

Advice on Essay Writing for Buss4

The following advice has been produced from material from Tutor2U. Please read it carefully:

BUSS4 Essay Technique - PEEing throughout the Paper by Jim Riley

In this part of our guide to BUSS4 essay technique, I’ll suggest an acronym (PEE) which students may find effective in helping them build a well-constructed and argued essay.

An effective essay builds an argument based around a series of coherent and linked paragraphs. But what should go into a good paragraph? How long should an effective paragraph be? That’s where the acronym PEE comes in handy.

PEE stands for:
· P = PARAGRAPH MAKES A POINT
· E = EXPLANATION, EVIDENCE AND EXAMPLES
· E = EVALUATION

Lets develop this a little further.

PARAGRAPH MAKES A POINT
Well written paragraphs that focus only on the essay question set are the foundation of a good essay. The golden rule for an effective paragraph is that it should seek to make one relevant point, to an appropriate depth. And what do effective points make? Prizes!
Remember that. A paragraph should not contain two or more main points. If you find yourself tempted to move onto another point mid-way through a paragraph you should resist. First, ask yourself whether you have achieved the right depth on your original point. If you haven’t - then develop that point further (finish the PEE). If you have, then leave three lines of space on the paper and then move onto the next point.
Why leave three lines of space between paragraphs? Here’s why
(1) It provides enough space to add further explanation or evaluation to the point, if needed and if time permits towards the end of the exam (2) It gives a clear signal to the examiner that you have moved onto the next major point (paragraph) (3) It is easier for an examiner to read an exam script if there is a little white space between paragraphs.

EXPLANATION, EVIDENCE AND EXAMPLES

The meat of your paragraph is the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the business topic in the question. It is the chance to move onto strong application and analysis with some well written and logical sentences.
- A sentence that explains the importance of the topic or which reveals the issues raised is a great way to lead into further sentences where you can demonstrate your BUSS4 research, evidence of wider reading or understanding of how business works in real-life (application). Ideally, every paragraph you write in BUSS4 essays should include some element of your own research - it builds credability with the examiner.
- A suitably brief explanation linking the point or issue to relevant business studies theory or model (keep it short) shows how you can apply theory to real-world business contexts. Don’t go overboard here - you mustn’t repeat great chunks of your notes or textbook. Use theories and models to help frame the discussion.
- Use your sentences in the middle of the paragraph to illustrate, where relevant, the processes of cause and effect. This demonstrates really good analysis. But remember to keep thinking about, and referring back to the essay question. Every word you write should be about answering the question.

EVALUATION

- Evaluation is the holy grail of business studies exams - and this has never been more true than in BUSS4. But don’t leave it until the last or concluding paragraph before you try to evaluate. Try to add some evaluation to each of your pararaphs.
- How important is the point or the side of the argument that you have made? What does it depend on? Do the preceding paragraphs help build the strength of the argument? To what extent is the argument based on facts (e.g. relevant data) or opinion / unreliable data.
In later blog posts, we’ll provide some examples of the PEE acronym at work, and also consider how long an essay paragraph needs to be in order to reach the required depth.