← Business Studies syllabus

SingaporeBusiness Studies

People in Business

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

What do managers actually do, and how do different leadership styles change the way a team is run?

Explain the functions of management (planning, organising, coordinating, commanding and controlling) and compare the main leadership styles and when each is appropriate
A focused answer to the O-Level Business Studies outcome on management. The functions of management - planning, organising, coordinating, commanding and controlling - the main leadership styles (autocratic, democratic, laissez-faire), and when each suits a situation.
8 min answer →

How does information move around and out of a business, and what happens when communication breaks down?

Explain the importance of good communication, the difference between internal and external communication, one-way and two-way communication, the main methods, and barriers to communication
A focused answer to the O-Level Business Studies outcome on communication. Why communication matters, internal versus external and one-way versus two-way communication, the main methods, the effects of poor communication, and the barriers to it.
7 min answer →

Why does motivation matter to a business, and what financial and non-financial methods can a firm use to motivate its staff?

Explain why people work and the importance of a motivated workforce, summarise key motivation theory, and compare financial and non-financial methods of motivation
A focused answer to the O-Level Business Studies outcome on motivation. Why people work, the importance of a motivated workforce, key ideas from Taylor, Maslow and Herzberg, and the financial and non-financial methods firms use to motivate staff.
9 min answer →

How does a business find and choose the right people, and when should it recruit from inside rather than outside?

Describe the recruitment and selection process, the difference between internal and external recruitment, the main selection methods, and the role of legal controls over employment
A focused answer to the O-Level Business Studies outcome on recruitment. The recruitment and selection process, internal versus external recruitment, job descriptions and person specifications, selection methods, and the role of employment law.
8 min answer →

Why do businesses spend money training staff, and what is the difference between training someone and letting them go?

Explain the importance and methods of training (induction, on-the-job and off-the-job), the benefits of a trained workforce, and the reasons for and ways of reducing the workforce
A focused answer to the O-Level Business Studies outcome on training. The importance of training, induction, on-the-job and off-the-job methods, the benefits of a trained workforce, and the reasons for and methods of reducing the workforce.
8 min answer →