External influences (SBL) Flashcards
06/09/16
What is a competitive market?
A market in which there are a large number of sellers. Competition is mainly based on price
06/09/16
What is a mark up?
The difference between the cost of producing an item and the price at which it is sold
06/09/16
What is a market price?
Although there is no such thing as a ‘market price’, in the sense of a single price for a product, there is a price range in a market at which consumers are prepared to pay
06/09/16
Why do physical markets continue to exist?
The personalisation they offer
06/09/16
Why have non physical markets grown rapidly?
The convenience they offer
06/09/16
Markets can be what?
Physical or non physical
06/09/16
What is a market?
Any situation where buyers and sellers are in contact in order to establish price
06/09/16
What is competition?
Rivalry amongst sellers
02/09/16
How do you work out profit?
Revenue - costs
02/09/16
How do you work out revenue?
Selling price x quantity
06/09/16
What is a monopoly?
A market dominated by one seller
16/09/16
How many firms, what are their prices and give an example of a monopoly shop?
1 firm
Sometimes higher prices
Example is tesco as it dominates 29% of the market so it is considered to be in the monopoly
16/09/16
How many firms are in a competitive market compared to a monopolistic market?
They both have lots
16/09/16
What are the prices of competitive market and monopolistic market?
Competitive prices are lower and monopolistic markets are where price doesn’t apply
16/09/16
Give examples of competitive and monopolistic competition
Competitive - morrisons, Aldi, waitrose, lidl, ocado
Monopolistic - taxis
16/09/16
What do monopolistic competition offer
Non price differences: (Example of a taxi Late pick up times Disabled access Luxury cars Good customer reviews Personal drivers
16/09/16
What does economies of scales mean
Economies of scales arise when unit cost falls as output rises
16/09/16
What is a business considered if it has 25% or over market share
Monopoly
16/09/16
Why don’t governments allow monopolies
The price will be too high. No business is at either end of the spectrum, they’re more in the middle
16/09/16
What is an oligopoly and give an example
An oligopoly exists where a market is dominated by a few firms. The mobile phone market is an example of an oligopoly
16/09/16
How do oligopolies compete
The products and prices are similar.
If one store cuts prices, another will too
16/09/16
Give monopolistic competition examples
Shoe repairs and key makers Taxi and minibus companies Sandwich bars and coffee stores Hairdressing salons Dry cleaners and laundrettes Bars and nightclubs
16/09/16
What is a monopolistic competition
Where you have a lot of firms using non pricing strategies to bring customers in
16/09/16
What is meant by market size
The number of individuals in a market who are potential buyers of a product/service
16/09/16
What is meant by market growth
This refers to an increase in the demand for a businesses product. It is measured over a specific time and is expressed as a %
16/09/16
Why is it important for businesses to know the size of the market they are operating in
So they don’t overproduce or overprice their products. If they have a small market, they are more likely to be nearer the monopoly side rather than the competitive side
16/09/16
What is meant by market share
This is the share of the total market that is owned by a particular business, product or brand
16/09/16
What are 6 strategies to increase market share
Be aware of customer needs and meet them
Sell more to existing customers
Have a clear marketing plan
Merge with a competitor
Find out why old customers no longer use your products
Use a variety of marketing techniques (pricing, advertising and promotion)
20/09/16
What does market dominance mean
The measure of strength of a business and its product(s) relative to the competition
20/09/16
What does barriers to entry mean
Factors that could prevent a firm from entering and competing in a market
20/09/16
What are 5 barriers of entry
Large start up costs (these will mainly be capital costs such as premise and machinery)
Having the marketing budget to break customer loyalties
The inability to gain economies of scales
The possibility that existing businesses will start a price war
Legal restrictions such as patents
21/09/16
Which market structures are likely to have high barriers to entry?
Competitive markets because there are a lot of firms and competitive prices
21/09/16
What do we mean by barriers to exit
The factors that could prevent a firm from leaving the market, even if they wanted to
21/09/16
What are the 3 barriers to exit
Difficulty of selling off capital
High redundancy costs
Contracts with suppliers (company will face legal challenge if these are not honoured)
21/09/16
What is a stakeholder
Any person interested in the business or organisation
04/10/16
What does CMA stand for
Competition and markets authority
04/10/16
What are the main roles for the CMA
Investigate mergers which could restrict competition
Investigate monopolies abusing the market
Bring criminal proceedings against individuals who commit the cartel offence
04/10/16
What are the main 2 sanctions the CMA can do
The business involved can be fined to 10% of their global turnover
Individuals can be disqualified from being a company director
03/10/16
What is price
The amount customers pay for a product
03/10/16
What is cost
The amount spent by a business making the product
03/10/16
What is merging
Where two companies join together to form a new larger business
03/10/16
What is acquisition
Where control of another company is achieved by buying a majority of its shares
03/10/16
What is an acquisition usually known as
Takeover
05/10/16
What is demand
The amount of a good/service that customers are willing and able to buy at any given price
05/10/16
What is supply
The amount of a good/service that sellers are willing and able to sell at any given price
05/10/16
What is meant by the equilibrium
The situation in a market where demand is equal to supply
10/10/16
What are the 8 factors that determine demand
Price Income Wealth Advertising promotional offers and public relations Taste and fashion Demographic changes Government action The price of other products (substitutes, complements)
10/10/16
What happens to the demand curve when price is a factor
There is no new demand curve
Customers simply move along an existing demand curve
10/10/16
What happens to the demand curve when income is a factor
High income - curve shifts to the right
Low income - curve shifts to the left
A new equilibrium is made too
10/10/16
What is wealth, give and example and state how will it affect the demand curve
This is the combined value of savings, shares owned and your house
Eg/ house prices increase from £310,000 to £355,000. Negative impact on demand meaning the curve will shift to the left
10/10/16
What is advertising, promotional offers and public relations and give and example and state how it will impact demand and the curve
TV ads (BOGOF) and sponsorship of sports teams Eg/ when firms spend a lot of money on this, it has a positive impact and will shift the curve to the right
10/10/16
What is taste and fashion
Fashionable products like clothing and technology
10/10/16
Give an example and state how demand and the curve is impacted in taste and fashion
Eg/ an increase in these being sold and advertised has a positive impact on demand and will shift the curve to the right
10/10/16
What is demographic changes, give an example and state how this will affect demand and the curve
This is how the population affects spending
Eg/ decrease in population from 50,000 to 42,000 will have a negative impact on demand and will shift the curve to the left
10/10/16
What is government action, give an example and state how it affects demand and the curve
This is campaigning by the government
Eg/ to encourage a healthier lifestyle, the government has a keep fit campaign. The curve will shift to the right as this has had a positive impact of fitness products
10/10/16
What is the difference between substitutes and complements
Substitutes - a product that can be used instead of another one because it performs the same sort of function
Complement - products that are in joint demand. When one product is bought so is another
10/10/16
Give an example of substitutes and state whether this will negative or positively impact demand and where the curve will shift to
Apples and pears. Price of apples go down, people want apples not pears
Positive influence and shift the curve to the right
10/10/16
Give and example of a complement and state the impact and where the curve will shift to
DVDs and DVD players. Price of DVD player falls, increase for DVD players and DVDs
Positive impact and curve will shift to the right
14/10/16
What are the factors that determine supply
Price Costs Taxes Subsides Price of other products
14/10/16
How will supply be affect if price goes up, where will the customers move and give an example
Supply will increase if price goes up
Customers will move up the supply curve
Eg/ price goes from £1-£1.30 supply will go from 1,000 to 1,500 customers will move up the curve with a positive impact
14/10/16
Give an example of how supply will be affected with cost decreases
Costs go from £25-£20. Supply decreases and curve moves to the left with a negative impact as it’s less profitable to keep selling these
14/10/16
How will supply be affected if tax rises on a specific car
Less of that car around. Curve will move to the left and have a negative impact for that specific car
14/10/16
What is a subsidy, and give an example
This is a payment from the government for every unit supplied. Eg/ solar panels. £1 per unit and the company sells 1000 units a week this means annual income of £52,000
14/10/16.
Give an example of how the price of other products affect supply
Fall in the price of fizzy drinks means it’s less profitable to supply them. (Low supply, curve moves left, negative impact)
If the price of fruit juice remains the same its more profitable to supply these instead
17/10/16
What is elasticity of demand
Measures how sensitive quantity demanded is to a change in price
17/10/16
What is meant by inelastic demand
Quantity is insensitive to a change in price
17/10/16
What makes products elastic
Many substitutes
Luxuries
17/10/16
Why is petrol a product of inelastic demand
Necessity (you have to go to work in a car no matter what the price of petrol)
No substitutes
17/10/16
What is meant by elastic demand
Quantity is sensitive to a change in price
04/11/16
What is globalisation
The process of growth in the worlds markets thorough a process of integration where it’s possible to trade in a global market in the same way as one would in a domestic market
(Businesses trading in other countries markets)
04/11/16
Why is there so many imports into the U.K.
Cost of production is cheaper Cheap labour Reduced trade restrictions Cheaper resources Better infrastructure Internet
04/11/16
Other factors that facilitate globalisation
Technology (smartphones)
Online banking
Increase in the movement of people
Rise of multinationals
04/11/16
What is a multinational
A company that is based in one country but manufacturers and sells products in a variety of other countries
04/11/16
Why are so many countries keen to be multinationals?
Economies of scales can be obtained
Ability to take advantage of lack of legal constraints
New markets with less competition
Ability to take advantage of lower wages
04/11/16
Positives and negatives of being a multinational company to LEDCs
Positives:
Employment opportunities for people in LEDCs
Lessens poverty and develops local skills
Investment in areas (infrastructure)
Utilisation of resources
Negatives:
Unskilled jobs so not much improvement
Low wages
Workers face difficult and unsafe conditions
Use of child labour
Income goes back to domestic market (USA)
People lose jobs in domestic market for people to have jobs in LEDCs
Not every company helps the economy and this could push local businesses out of the market
08/11/16
Why are some businesses more affected than others by globalisation
Services based businesses like a hairdressers is less likely to be effected because it’s a unique shop, whereas, m and s can get their products through technology to your door within hours
08/11/16
What is an emerging market
This refers to developing countries that are achieving rapid growth and industrialisation and are quickly achieving the status of developed markets
08/11/16
What do we mean by infrastructure
Road, rail and air links that allow people and output to move speedily around a country to help trade
08/11/16
Opportunities to an emerging market and threats to a domestic market
Opportunities: new markets, possibly with high disposable incomes
Opportunity to move production into other markets
Investment opportunities in infrastructure and production
Threats: lower labour costs
Reduced exports as the developing countries being to product for themselves
Greater independence from emerging economies
09/11/16
What does the HRM do
Workforce planning Recruitment & selection Training & development Rewarding and motivating staff Communication Roles and responsibilities (organisational structures)
09/11/16
What is the Human Resource Management
This is about how people are managed by a business in order to meet the strategic objectives of the business
09/11/16
What is an organisational chart
This is a diagram that shows the hierarchy in a business, usually from top to bottom
09/11/16
What do we mean by span of control
The number of employees from whom a manager is responsible
14/11/16
What are the benefits of having a narrow span of control as a supervisor?
You know your employees better so you can create a more positive working environment
14/11/16
There is no correct number for having an effective span of control. The effectiveness will depend upon what?
The personality of the manager
The skills of the subordinates
The size of the business
18/11/16
What is meant by the chain of command
This is concerned with the way in which responsibility for employees is organised within a business
(Who you’re in control of)
18/11/16
What do we mean by levels of hierarchy
This refers to the number of levels or layers in a business organisation
18/11/16
What is delayering
A process of reducing the number of levels or layers in an organisation
18/11/16
Advantages of delayering
Reduces costs
More employee responsibility
Quicker decision making progress
18/11/16
Disadvantages of delayering
Span of control will increase
Redundancy payments
Damage to staff morale
18/11/16
What is meant by delegation and empowerment
Delegation:
Where responsibility for carrying out a task or role is passed onto someone else in the business
Empowerment:
This is giving employees the power to do their job. E.g./ the authority make the decisions, plan their own work and solve their own problems
21/11/16
What are tall and flat structures also know as
Mechanistic (tall)
Organistic (flat)
21/11/16
What type of span of control do tall and flat structures have
Tall - narrow span of control
Flat - wide span of control
21/11/16
Advantages and disadvantages of tall structures
Advantages
- Promotion opportunities
- More direct contact with manager
Disadvantages
- Less motivated so employees don’t feel as though they’re trusted as much
- More layers of communication
21/11/16
Advantages and disadvantages of flat structures
Advantages
- Less layers of communication
- More delegation so employees feel more motivated
Disadvantages
- Less promotion opportunities
- Less of a relationship with your manager
21/11/16
What is a system structure
Arranging the business according to what each department does
21/11/16
What is a product structure
Organising according to the different products made
21/11/16
What does a clear structure make it easer to see
Which part of the business does what
21/11/16
Explain the ‘by system’ structure
The business is split into specialist areas. This means that each part of the ‘system’ has some input into the output of the businesses product(s)/service(s)
E.g. production, finance, purchasing, HR
22/11/16
Advantages and disadvantages of a by system structure
Advantages - specialists can concentrate on what they do best
Disadvantages - each part may act as a separate entity, concerned with its own agenda
- it can be difficult to accredit success and/or blame
- departments may not be able to clearly see their success
22/11/16
What is meant by organisation by product system
Each product becomes a ‘mini company’ with its own finance, HR, marketing departments etc
22/11/16
Advantages of an organisation by product system
You’ll be able to see the success or blame in each department
Managers can focus energies on one product
Each centre has a lot of autonomy (independence)
Teams can see the direct result of their work
Specialist departments
22/11/16
Disadvantages of an organisation by product system
Different products compete for resources (i.e. Finance). This can cause conflict
Duplication of departments (i.e. HR) can waste resources
22/11/16
What is a matrix structure
This is where individuals work across teams and projects as well as within their own department or function
22/11/16
Advantages of a matrix structure
Can help to break down traditional barriers improving communication across the entire organisation
Can allow individuals to use particular skills within a variety of contexts
Avoid the need for several departments to meet regularly, so reducing costs and improving coordination
Likely to result in greater motivation amongst the team members
Encourages cross-fertilisation of ideas across departments - e.g. Helping to share good practice and ideas
22/11/16
Disadvantages of the matrix structure
Members of project teams may have divided loyalties as they report to 2 line managers. Equally, this scenario can put project team members under a heavy pressure of work
There may not be a clear line of accountability for project teams given the complex nature of matrix structures
Difficult to co-ordinate
It takes time for matrix team members to get used to working in this kind of structure
Team members may neglect their functional responsibilities
28/11/16
How can a centralised structure be defined and who makes the decisions in a centralised structure
A centralised structure is a business that keeps decision making firmly at the top of the hierarchy
The board make the decisions
28/11/16
Advantages of centralisation
Easier to implement common policies and practices for the whole business
Prevents other parts of the business from becoming too independent
Easier to co-ordinate and control from the centre (e.g. With budgets)
Economies of scales and overhead savings easier to achieve
Quicker decision-making (usually) which is easier to show strong leadership
28/11/16
Disadvantages of centralisation
More bureaucratic - often extra layers in the hierarchy
Local/junior managers are likely to be much closer to customer needs
Lack of authority down the hierarchy may reduce manager motivation
Customer service : lost flexibility and speed of local decision-making