What is a Business? (DP IB Business Management: HL)

Exam Questions

46 mins15 questions
12 marks

Case Study

Global Fresh Solutions operates in multiple sectors. Their primary operation involves farming vegetables in vertical gardens in urban areas. These raw materials are then transformed through their food processing facilities before being sold to high-end restaurants. Their transformation process is highly efficient.

Define the term 'transformation process'.

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22 marks

Case Study

Tech Support Plus is a growing IT services company established in 2025. The company has recently expanded and now has separate functions for different business activities. The CEO wants to ensure all functions work together effectively to achieve the company's objectives.

State two business functions that need to work interdependently.

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32 marks

Case Study

Blue Ocean Manufacturing has traditionally been a labour-intensive business, employing over 200 workers in their textile factory. However, in 2025, they are transitioning to become more capital intensive, investing in automated machinery and reducing their workforce.

Define the term 'capital intensive'.

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42 marks

Case Study

 Global Resources Corporation operates across multiple sectors in 2025. The company started with mining operations in Australia but has now expanded into processing minerals and providing consulting services to other mining companies. The CEO is considering further expansion into technology services.

State two business sectors in which companies can operate.

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52 marks

Case Study

Maria Chen is a successful entrepreneur who started TechFin Solutions in 2025. Her company has revolutionised mobile banking apps for small businesses. As an entrepreneur, Maria had to demonstrate several key characteristics to succeed in the competitive fintech market.

State two typical characteristics of an entrepreneur.

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62 marks

Case Study

Global Tech Corp encourages intrapreneurship among its employees. In 2025, a team of software developers used their allocated innovation time to create a new cloud storage solution, which has become one of the company's most successful products.

Define the term 'intrapreneurship'.

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72 marks

Case Study

Alex Rivera is planning to launch EcoDelivery in 2025, an electric vehicle delivery service for urban areas. While developing his business plan, Alex has identified several key reasons for starting his own business rather than working for an existing delivery company.

State two non-financial reasons for starting a business.

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82 marks

Case Study

Maya Singh started her online tutoring platform TutorConnect in 2025. During the first six months of operation, she encountered several challenges that are common to new businesses.

State two problems that new businesses may face.

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92 marks

Case Study

Before launching Mountain Gear Co. in 2025, James conducted extensive market research to understand customer preferences and competitor offerings. This research was crucial for his business plan, which he needed to secure funding from investors.

Define the term 'business plan'.

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14 marks

Case Study

EcoDelight Cafés Ltd, a fast-growing chain of eco-friendly coffee shops, prides itself on sustainability and innovation. The company sources all its coffee beans from fair-trade certified farms and uses biodegradable packaging. EcoDelight’s founder, Sarah Patel, started the business after noticing a gap in the market for environmentally conscious cafés. By positioning EcoDelight as a brand aligned with green values, Sarah has built a loyal customer base, especially among environmentally aware millennials.

Despite its early success, the company faces challenges. As it expands, maintaining consistent quality across new locations has proven difficult. Additionally, competitors are beginning to adopt similar sustainability practices, potentially diluting EcoDelight’s unique selling proposition. Sarah is now considering introducing a range of organic snacks to complement the coffee offerings, but she is uncertain if the additional costs will outweigh the benefits.

Explain one advantage and one disadvantage for EcoDelight of introducing organic snacks to its product range.

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26 marks

Case Study

EcoDelight Cafés Ltd, a fast-growing chain of eco-friendly coffee shops, prides itself on sustainability and innovation. The company sources all its coffee beans from fair-trade certified farms and uses biodegradable packaging. EcoDelight’s founder, Sarah Patel, started the business after noticing a gap in the market for environmentally conscious cafés. By positioning EcoDelight as a brand aligned with green values, Sarah has built a loyal customer base, especially among environmentally aware millennials.

Despite its early success, the company faces challenges. As it expands, maintaining consistent quality across new locations has proven difficult. Additionally, competitors are beginning to adopt similar sustainability practices, potentially diluting EcoDelight’s unique selling proposition. Sarah is now considering introducing a range of organic snacks to complement the coffee offerings, but she is uncertain if the additional costs will outweigh the benefits.

Analyse two benefits and one drawback of EcoDelight’s focus on sustainability as a competitive strategy.

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34 marks

Case Study

Berry Bliss Ltd is a new business in the secondary sector, transforming locally sourced organic fruits into premium smoothies. The founders are committed to adding value through high-quality ingredients and eco-friendly packaging. These strategies have helped them differentiate their products in a crowded market and attract environmentally conscious customers. Currently, Berry Bliss sells its products through small retail outlets and farmers' markets, but the founders are planning an ambitious expansion into the tertiary sector by launching a subscription-based delivery service.

To fund this expansion, Berry Bliss is considering a bank loan. The loan would finance not only the creation of an online platform but also an extensive marketing campaign to promote the new service. However, this expansion poses challenges. Developing a reliable delivery system and ensuring the packaging remains sustainable while scaling up could increase operational complexity and costs. Additionally, the company must compete against well-established subscription services, which may require substantial investment in branding to build customer loyalty.

Berry Bliss must balance these challenges against the opportunity to grow its customer base and enter a more profitable market segment.

Describe two challenges Berry Bliss Ltd might face when entering the tertiary sector with a subscription delivery service.

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46 marks

Case Study

Berry Bliss Ltd is a new business in the secondary sector, transforming locally sourced organic fruits into premium smoothies. The founders are committed to adding value through high-quality ingredients and eco-friendly packaging. These strategies have helped them differentiate their products in a crowded market and attract environmentally conscious customers. Currently, Berry Bliss sells its products through small retail outlets and farmers' markets, but the founders are planning an ambitious expansion into the tertiary sector by launching a subscription-based delivery service.

To fund this expansion, Berry Bliss is considering a bank loan. The loan would finance not only the creation of an online platform but also an extensive marketing campaign to promote the new service. However, this expansion poses challenges. Developing a reliable delivery system and ensuring the packaging remains sustainable while scaling up could increase operational complexity and costs. Additionally, the company must compete against well-established subscription services, which may require substantial investment in branding to build customer loyalty.

Berry Bliss must balance these challenges against the opportunity to grow its customer base and enter a more profitable market segment.

Analyse two benefits and one drawback of adding value through eco-friendly packaging for Berry Bliss Ltd.

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54 marks

Case Study

Prestige Auto Repairs Ltd is a high-end vehicle repair and maintenance business located in a suburban area. The company was founded by Max Carter, an experienced auto mechanic who wanted to combine his technical expertise with his entrepreneurial spirit. Dissatisfied with working for others, Max identified a gap in the market for a premium service tailored to luxury car owners. Using his savings, he started the business with a small team and a rented workshop.

Prestige Auto Repairs has grown steadily due to Max’s focus on quality, attention to detail, and building long-term relationships with customers. However, with the growing customer base, Max has found it increasingly difficult to manage all aspects of the business. He is considering hiring specialists to oversee key functions such as marketing, finance, and human resources, allowing him to focus on strategic growth.

Max also wants to open a second location to meet the growing demand for Prestige’s services, but he is concerned about the financial and operational challenges involved in expanding while maintaining the company’s reputation for excellence.

Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of hiring specialists to oversee key functions at Prestige Auto Repairs Ltd.

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64 marks

Case Study

Prestige Auto Repairs Ltd is a high-end vehicle repair and maintenance business located in a suburban area. The company was founded by Max Carter, an experienced auto mechanic who wanted to combine his technical expertise with his entrepreneurial spirit. Dissatisfied with working for others, Max identified a gap in the market for a premium service tailored to luxury car owners. Using his savings, he started the business with a small team and a rented workshop.

Prestige Auto Repairs has grown steadily due to Max’s focus on quality, attention to detail, and building long-term relationships with customers. However, with the growing customer base, Max has found it increasingly difficult to manage all aspects of the business. He is considering hiring specialists to oversee key functions such as marketing, finance, and human resources, allowing him to focus on strategic growth.

Max also wants to open a second location to meet the growing demand for Prestige’s services, but he is concerned about the financial and operational challenges involved in expanding while maintaining the company’s reputation for excellence.

Describe two key business functions that are important for the growth of Prestige Auto Repairs Ltd.

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