Theme 2 Flashcards
What is internal growth and some examples of this?
Internal growth is when a business grows by expanding on its own without merges/takeovers from other businesses.
- new products (research, innovation)
- new markets (taking advantage of technology, changing marketing mix)
What is external growth and some examples of this?
When a business combines with another to grow
- takeover (one business joins another)
- merger (two or more businesses join together)
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a business going through organic growth?
Advantages:
- business that grows from within can retain their own company culture
- higher production -> business can benefit from economies of scale/ lower average costs
- more business allows more market share
Disadvantages:
- high risk strategy to be opening lots of stores/taking on new staff
- long period between investment and return of investment
- growth can be limited and dependant on reliability of sales forecasts
Describe how economies of scale work
When costs decrease due to larger levels of production.
- more products produced -> more materials ordered regularly
- bulk orders reduce price
- variable cost per unit reduced
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a business mergers?
Advantages:
- economies of scale, better deals
- increased revenue and market share
- buying technology
- international expansion, buying a business in another country helps with culture issues
Disadvantages:
- clash of cultures
- communication problems
- unreliable merger partners
- diseconomies of sale, costs will go up, problems with motivation and co-ordination
What is an internal source of finance and what are some examples of this?
Capital gained within a business
- retained profit
- selling assets
- personal savings
What is an external source of finance and what are some examples of this?
Capital gained outside a business
- loan capital
- share capital
- stock market floatation
What are the pros and cons of loan capital?
Pros:
- improves cash flow
- financial advice
Cons:
- time for approval
- interest
- expensive
What are the pros and cons of share capital?
Pros:
- large amounts of capital
- no interest
- doesn’t need to be repaid
Cons:
- loss of control
What is a public limited company?
When a private limited company makes shares available to the public to purchase.
What are the pros and cons of stock market floatation?
Pros:
- large amounts of capital
- no interest
- does not need to be repaid
Cons
- loss of control, shareholders vote on decisions
What might business aims and objectives change in response to?
- market conditions
- technology
- legislation
- growth
- consumer taste
As a business evolves, how would its focus on survival or growth alter?
Less focused on survival as it passes the break even point. When it starts to make profit, growth will be preferred choice.
As a business evolves, how would its focus on entering or exiting markets alter?
Will change the market it’s in. Could enter new markets so the business is growing by venturing new ideas. Could exit markets if they aren’t making enough sales in that area.
As a business evolves, would it be growing or reducing the workforce?
Could grow the workforce so the business has a higher production rate. Could reduce the workforce of business becomes reliant on technology.
As a business evolves, would it be increasing or decreasing its product range?
May increase product range so business is growing by venturing new areas. Could decrease product range if they aren’t making enough sales in that area.
How would market conditions effect business objectives?
Could be a lot of new competitors so the business would need to change its aims.
How would growth effect business objectives?
Business could change their aims and objectives in response to its performance. If a business has a bad year they could reduce staff.
How would legislation effect business objectives?
As there is a minimum wage law, business may have to change its aims and growth may be slower to pay higher wages.
What is Globalisation?
Increasing integration of the worlds economies into one international market.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of globalisation?
Advantages:
- impact of productivity and competition
- specialisation
- impact on growth rates/inflation and unemployment
- economies of scale
Disadvantages:
- impact on unemployment
- impact on balance of payments
What are imports and exports?
- import is the purchase of a good/service from a foreign business which leads to a flow of money outside UK, will have to change pounds to sellers currency to make transaction
- export is the purchase of a good/service to a foreign business which leads to a flow of money inside UK, will have to change their currency to pounds
What is a multinational company?
Companies that own production/service facilities outside the country they are based
What are tariffs?
Tax placed on an import to increase its price and decrease its demand. Can persuade consumers to switch to buy UK made goods
Why are tariffs important for the UK’s economy in terms of exports and imports?
Encourage less imports so there’s more exports. Decrease in imports means UK will make more money.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of tariffs?
Advantages:
- UK produced goods don’t need to pay the tariff, price advantage
- can protect new businesses from being swamped by international competition
- raise tax revenue for government to be spent on infrastructure
Disadvantages:
- tariffs may increase prices for consumers
- High import prices won’t put many customers off
What are the Trade Blocs and some common examples?
Group of countries who make a trade agreement not to place tariffs on imports from each other
- EU
- NAFTA
- ASEAN
How many businesses compete internationally through the internet, e-commerce, and changing their marketing mix?
- place: selling online means business can reach more places internationally
- promotion: social media is a good way to promote as it is an international range and low costs
- price: lowering prices incase any tariffs are placed on them they still have competitive pricing
- product: more adaptable for foreign countries
What are the advantages and disadvantages of trade blocs?
Advantages:
- larger target market
- cheaper imports from EU countries
- economies of scale
- easier to recruit labour
Disadvantages:
- more competition for UK businesses
- imports can be more expensive from non-EU members
- tariffs on UK exports from non-EU members
What are the ethics in terms of business?
Understanding of morals and right and wrong, paying fair wage.
What is a trade-off?
A compromise between one thing and another. Has to be a trade-off between making a profit and being ethical so everyone is happy.
What is a pressure group and what actions do they take?
Organisations set up to influence what consumers think about a business
- write letters to MPS
- write letters to press
- organise marches
- run campaigns
Why is it important for a business to be ethical?
So they produce an ethical brand image. Unethical brand image will lead to bad publicity, boycotting and decrease in revenue.
How may businesses create sustainable products?
Manufacturing products in ways that don’t harm the environment, using renewable energy/ not wasting raw materials.
What is the design mix?
Three aspects that make up design of a product
- aesthetic
- function
- price
What is the first stage of the product life cycle?
Introduction:
- high costs in research and development
- products may have been test marketed before launching, negative profits
- low sales, customers aren’t aware of product
- no cash flow
What is the second stage of the product life cycle?
Growth:
- rapid growth in sales/ profits
- demand is high as customers are aware of product
- high cash flow
What is the third stage of the product life cycle?
Maturity:
- intense competition as all producers joined market
- sales high, falling profits
- discounts to keep sales high
- highest cash flow
What is the fourth stage of the product life cycle?
Decline:
- limit in production
- profit and sales fallen
- product withdrawn from sale
- low cash flow
What are examples of extension strategies and why may they be used?
To extend life of a product
- advertising
- new packaging
- explore new markets
- price reduction
- add new value