← Business Studies syllabus

SingaporeBusiness Studies

External Influences on Business

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

Should a business worry about more than profit, and what does it cost - or gain - to behave responsibly toward the planet and people?

Explain the environmental and ethical issues a business faces, the meaning of corporate social responsibility, and the costs and benefits of acting responsibly
A focused answer to the O-Level Business Studies outcome on environmental and ethical issues. Pollution and sustainability, ethical behaviour, corporate social responsibility, and the costs and benefits of acting responsibly.
9 min answer →

When a currency rises or falls, who wins - the exporter or the importer - and why must firms that trade abroad watch the exchange rate so closely?

Explain what an exchange rate is and how a rise (appreciation) or fall (depreciation) in the currency affects exporters and importers
A focused answer to the O-Level Business Studies outcome on exchange rates. What an exchange rate is, appreciation versus depreciation, and how currency changes affect the prices and profits of exporters and importers.
8 min answer →

How does the growth of world trade open up opportunities and threats for a business, and why does it matter so much for a small, open economy?

Explain globalisation and international trade, the opportunities and threats they bring to businesses, and the role of multinational companies and trade barriers
A focused answer to the O-Level Business Studies outcome on globalisation. International trade, imports and exports, opportunities and threats, multinational companies, and the effect of tariffs and trade barriers.
9 min answer →

What is the government trying to achieve in the economy, and how do taxes, spending and interest rates affect a business?

Explain the main government economic objectives and how fiscal and monetary policy, and legislation, affect business activity
A focused answer to the O-Level Business Studies outcome on government and the economy. The main economic objectives, fiscal and monetary policy, the effect of legislation, and how all three influence a business.
9 min answer →

Why do economies move through booms and slumps, and how should a business respond as conditions rise and fall?

Explain the stages of the business cycle and how a boom, recession, slump and recovery affect businesses, and how firms can respond
A focused answer to the O-Level Business Studies outcome on the business cycle. The stages of boom, recession, slump and recovery, how each affects demand, costs and employment, and how businesses can respond.
8 min answer →