bm Flashcards
What is the IB Business Management SL Internal Assessment (IA)?
An individual research project based on a real business. Counts for 25% of the final IB BM SL grade. Requires students to apply business theories and tools to analyze a business issue. Focuses on a research question related to a specific business.
What is the structure and word limit of the Business Management SL IA?
Cover Page (title, word count, candidate details), Research Question (clearly stated), Introduction (context, purpose, scope), Methodology (data collection methods, sources, ethical considerations), Main Findings & Analysis (business tools, data interpretation), Conclusion & Recommendations, References & Appendices.
💡 Word Limit: 1,500 words (excluding appendices, calculations, and references).
What makes a strong research question for the IA?
✅ Focused on a real business (specific and not too broad). ✅ Uses action words like ‘analyze,’ ‘evaluate,’ or ‘assess’. ✅ Allows application of business tools and theories. ✅ Data can be collected from primary and secondary sources.
Example: ‘To what extent will XYZ Company benefit from expanding its product line into the premium segment?’
What types of data should be used in the IA?
Primary Data: Surveys, Interviews with managers/employees, Observations, Company financial reports. Secondary Data: Annual reports, Industry trends, Market research, News articles. Data should be reliable, relevant, and ethically collected.
What business tools and theories should be used in the IA?
✅ SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats). ✅ PEST Analysis (Political, Economic, Social, Technological factors). ✅ Porter’s Five Forces (Competition, Supplier & Buyer power, Substitutes, New entrants). ✅ Boston Matrix (Product classification: Star, Cash Cow, Question Mark, Dog). ✅ Ansoff Matrix (Market Penetration, Market Development, Product Development, Diversification). ✅ Financial Ratio Analysis (Profitability, Liquidity, Efficiency).
💡 Choose 2-3 relevant tools for a focused analysis!
What does Criterion A assess?
Clarity and focus of Research Question, Justification of business tools and theories used, Explanation of data collection methods (primary and secondary), Consideration of ethical issues in data collection.
What does Criterion B assess?
Application of appropriate business theories and tools, Logical, structured analysis of the business issue, Use of qualitative and quantitative data, Interpretation and evaluation of results.
💡 Analysis should be balanced and not just descriptive!
What does Criterion C assess?
Critical analysis of findings, Clear link between data and research question, Use of charts, graphs, and tables to support arguments, Evidence-based discussion with business logic.
💡 Avoid biased conclusions—consider multiple perspectives!
What does Criterion D assess?
Well-supported conclusion linked to research findings, Clear, practical recommendations based on evidence, Identification of limitations in methodology and analysis, Suggestions for further research.
What are common mistakes students make in the BM IA?
❌ Overly broad research question (must be specific!). ❌ Too much theory, not enough application. ❌ Descriptive analysis instead of evaluation. ❌ Poorly justified recommendations. ❌ Lack of real business data.
💡 Keep it focused, analytical, and well-supported by data!
