Issued July 2012 (Updated January 2013)

Set Assignments

Issued July 2012 (updated January 2013)

OCR Level 2 Award in Understanding Business Enterprise

Scheme Code 10316

OCR QUALIFICATION CODE: 600/5582/0

Please note:Updated information is displayed in blue text

We recommend these OCR assignments are used to provide evidence for the qualification above. The assignments contained within this booklet allow for completion of all of the required assessment criteria for the qualification. It is the centre’s responsibility to ensure that assignments are complete before the candidate work is dispatched to the OCR-appointed examiner-moderator.

UnitTitleCredit value

Unit 9 / Understand the personal qualities and abilities for business / 1
Unit 10 / Understand the opportunities and risks in running a business / 1
Unit 11 / Understand how to market a business / 2
Unit 12 / Understand how to negotiate in business / 1
Unit 13 / Understand business planning / 1
Unit 14 / Understand business resource and legal issues / 1
Unit 15 / Understand how to get help and support in business / 1
Unit 16 / Understand how to manage money in a business / 1
Unit 17 / Understand enterprise and enterprising skills / 2

In order to achieve the OCR Level 2 Award in Understanding Business Enterprise candidates must achieve units totalling a minimum of four credits.

Candidates must achieve a minimum of three credits from the Level 2 units contained within this booklet.

Candidates may achieve the final credit from the Level 2 units contained within the booklet, or from the Level 1 or 3 units which can be found in the relevant corresponding assignment booklets.

These OCR assignments remain live for the life of this qualification and must not be used as candidate practice material.

ALL THESE MATERIALS MAY BE PHOTOCOPIED. Any photocopying must be done under the terms of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 solely for the purpose of these assessments.

Candidates may complete these assignments electronically.

QCA accreditation number: 600/5582/0

OCR Assignments – Issued July 20121

Contents

Page Number(s)
TUTOR INFORMATION
Guidance for tutors
This section provides general guidance and support to centre staff. It is not intended for use by candidates. / 3–6
Notes for tutors
This section provides guidance on specific areas of the assignment that may need further clarification. It is not intended for use by candidates. / 6 – 12
CANDIDATE INFORMATION
(This section must be photocopied for each candidate)
General information for candidates
This section provides candidates with general information on completion of the assignment in a question and answer format. / 13–14
Tasks
This section contains all the tasks candidates must complete before submission for assessment. / 15– 76
Unit 9Understand the personal qualities and abilities for business / 15 – 21
Unit 10Understand the opportunities and risks in running a business / 22 – 26
Unit 11Understand how to market a business / 27 – 35
Unit 12Understand how to negotiate in business / 36 – 40
Unit 13Understand business planning / 41 – 46
Unit 14Understand business resource and legal issues / 47 – 53
Unit 15Understand how to get help and support in business / 54 – 61
Unit 16Understand how to manage money in a business / 62 – 66
Unit 17Understand enterprise and enterprising skills / 67 – 76

OCR Assignments – Issued January 20131

OCR Level 2 Awardin Understanding Business Enterprise

Set Assignments: Tutor Information

OCR Level 2 Award in Understanding Business Enterprise

OCR Assignments – Issued January 20131

OCR Level 2 Awardin Understanding Business Enterprise

Guidance For Tutors

1General

1.1OCR assignments are available to download from the OCR website.

1.2OCR recommends that centres use these OCR assignments for formal assessment of their candidates. OCR assignments must NOT be used as practice material.

1.3The assignments in this booklet form the assessment for the relevant unit. Units, including suggested teaching content,are available for download from the OCR website. Centres must ensure that the knowledge and understanding for each criterion is fully covered before candidates attempt the assessment.

1.4Tutor guidance is provided later in this document and provides guidance on specific areas of the assignment that may need further clarification.

1.5Where Centres choose not to use the OCR assignments, it is the responsibility of the Centre to ensure that all assessment criteria are sufficiently covered and referenced.

1.6These assignments have been designed to meet the full assessment requirements of this qualification. Candidates will need to take part in a planned learning programme that covers the underpinning knowledge and understanding of the unit.

2Before carrying out the assignments

2.1Candidates should be provided with a copy of the Candidate Information section of this bookletwhich now includes the ‘Glossary of terms’.

2.2Candidates may carry out preparations prior to undertaking the tasks; there is no time limit for this.

2.3Many of the tasks could initially be discussed either as a full group, if the numbers are small enough to allow everyone to actively participate, or in small groups with feedback to the whole group. This could generate a wide range of ideas, stimulating further group discussion and individual thought. This will prepare candidates for individual assessment which must be their own work.

2.4 Candidates may benefit from talking to business people, including Small Business Advisers and specialists, to find out how otherbusinesses have performed. This could be done by visits to businesses or by having business people come in to the centre. Ideally, candidates would have the opportunity to talk to someone who has started their own business. Information could also be obtained from the internet.

3When completing the assignments

3.1Candidates should be allowed sufficient time to complete all of the tasks. The recommended guided learning hours (glh) for each unit are provided in the Centre Handbook. However, this may vary depending on the nature of the tasks and the ability of individual candidates. It is suggested that evidence is produced in several sessions.

3.2Each candidate must produce individual and authentic evidence for each task within the unit assignments.

3.3Centre staff may give support and guidance to candidates. This support and guidance should focus on checking that candidates understand what is expected of them. It is not acceptable for tutors to provide model answers or to work through answers in detail.

3.4Candidates may use information from any relevant source to help them with producing evidence for the tasks.

3.5The assignments have been provided in Word format so that candidates can complete them electronically. Where this is the case, centres should provide each candidate with an electronic copy of the assignments. This can be on disk, CD or on a secure networked system. OCR requires only the hard copy prints of the work as evidence.

Candidates/centres must not alter the wording of the tasks in any way.

3.6Each assessment criteria detailed within the unit has a corresponding task for completion. Suitable teaching content and examples are also provided within the unit. Tutors must teach to the unit and not to the assignment.

3.7Unless the Assessment Criteria specifically states the method by which a task must be completed (eg in writing), candidates may provide evidence by another suitable method eg a presentation. Where this is the case, the candidate is required to provide suitable evidence for the moderator eg presenter notes/slides etc, accompanied by a witness statement

3.8A tolerance of +/-20% will be accepted on all tasks specifying approximate word counts

3.9The requirements of the tasks must be met by candidates. Where a task specifies ‘explain’ it is not sufficient for a candidate to merely ‘identify’ and work of this standard would be rejected at moderation. A ‘Glossary of terms’ has been added to the ‘Candidate Information’ to assist in ensuring candidates and centres understand the requirements.

3.10Some of the units are frequently answered with a specific business in mind. In order to reliably assess these responses, context is required. Therefore candidates are now requested to give brief details if they are considering a particular business idea when completing tasks on certain units.

4After completing the tasks

4.1Candidates’ evidence is assessed by the centre’s assessor against the qualification specification contained in the units and tutor notes. For further information about assessment please refer to the section on Assessment and Moderation in the Centre Handbook.

4.2Assessors’ decisions should be quality assured across the centre through internal moderation. For further information about internal moderation please refer to the Centre Handbook.

5Presentation of work

The candidates’ completed tasks should be submitted to the named OCR-appointed examiner-moderator with the relevant unit or full Submission Cover Sheet (downloadable from the OCR website). Further information regarding submission of work can be found in the Centre Handbook and the Administrative Guide to Vocational Qualifications (A850).

6Reworking the assignment

6.1If candidates do not meet the minimum PASS requirements for the assessment objectives, further work will be required before the work can be submitted.

Tutors should not submit work that they have not assessed as PASS standard.

6.2Tutors may give feedback to candidates to support and guide them in producing evidence to the required standard.

6.3OCR does not return copies of candidate work. As such, it is recommended that centres keep copies of all work until results are received.

OCR Assignments – Issued January 20131

OCR Level 2 Awardin Understanding Business Enterprise

Notes For Tutors

Unit 9 – Understand the personal qualities and abilities for business

This unit will develop a candidate’s understanding of whether they would like to run their own business, the knowledge and skills required and how these could be developed.

Task 3Evaluate own strengths and weaknesses in undertaking the activities needed in setting up and running a business

Assessment criterion 1.3is assessed in this task.

Candidates must identify and evaluate. Their responses and assessment should relate specifically to the running of a business.

Task 5Analyse own key skills and knowledge needed for setting up and running a business and explain the ways in which these could be developed

Assessment criteria 2.2 and 3.1 are assessed in this task.

The last part of this task requires candidates to EXPLAIN how they could improve their own skills and knowledge. The responses need to explain or demonstrate how they could improve them. ‘By going to college’ is not a sufficient answer on its own. Candidates should be learning about different ways in which they could develop their skills and should be able to provide a variation in responses to the explanations.

Task 7Explain how to develop a plan for improving own knowledge and skills needed to set up and run a business

Assessment criterion3.3is assessed in this task.

Candidates shouldunderstand that everything cannot be developed at the same time. They need to take into account factors such as the order of priority and the timescale. Their explanation should make use of your answers in the previous tasks but they are not required to develop a plan for formal assessment.

Unit 10 –Understand the opportunities and risks in running a business

This unit aims to develop a candidate’s understanding of identifying opportunities and the benefits of innovation. The candidate will also consider the risks that may be faced by a business and how these could be managed.

Task 2Explain the steps in identifying opportunities for new products or services when running a business

Assessment criterion 1.2is assessed in this task.

Candidates are required to explain the steps briefly. Just identifying the steps is insufficient for this task.

Task 4Explain what is meant by innovation in running a business

Assessment criterion 2.1 is assessed in this task.

To complete this task, candidates should understand what is meant by innovation and how this differs from an invention.

Unit 11 – Understand how to market a business

This unit aims to develop a candidate’s understanding of the market for a business by reviewing the potential customers and what they might want from the business. Candidates will then consider different methods by which to reach the customer and how businesses satisfy their customers.

Task 1Explain the factors that would make a business appealing to its customers

Assessment criterion 1.1 is assessed in this task.

Centres are specifically reminded that the requirement of this task is for candidates to identify the factors and then explain each. A full explanation is required for each factor.

Task 2Assess potential customers for a business

Assessment criterion 1.2is assessed in this task.

In order to complete this task you must understand that it is important to know the types of customers, not named people, who you are trying to attract.In identifying potential customers, you must be specific and not general e.g. ‘people living in Plumpton Village’ is too general, whereas ‘walkers who park their cars near my shop’ is more specific.

To complete this task you must:

• IDENTIFY at least FOUR potential types of customer for a business
• EXPLAIN key characteristics of each of these types of customers

Task 4Describe the different methods which could be used to promote a product or service to customersand assess the advantages and disadvantages of different methods which can be used by a business to reach customers

Assessment criteria 2.1and 2.2 are assessed in this task.

Candidates must understand that there are many different ways in which a business could promote a product or service, but that not all of them would necessarily be suitable for a particular business. Candidates need to understand that effective promotion often focuses on the idea of adding value. Candidates also need to demonstrate some variation in the advantages and disadvantages given for this task.

Task 6Explain ways of measuring the level of customer satisfaction with the products or services of a business

Assessment criterion 3.1 is assessed in this task.

In order to complete this task candidates must understand that a business needs to retain its present customers and the subtle differences between some of the ways of measuring consumer satisfaction. Candidates must identify four different ways.

Task 8Explain the different ways in which businesses deal with customer complaints

Assessment criterion 3.3is assessed in this task.

Candidates should understand different methods of dealing with customer complaints and the effect it may have on the business. Giving a full refund may seem like a good solution but other methods can provide a benefit to the business eg an exchange.

Unit 12 – Understand how to negotiate in business

This unit aims to develop the candidate’s understanding of successfully negotiating deals for a business. This includes the recognised steps within the negotiation process and how they can approach business negotiations in a professional manner.

Task 4Explain the stages in the process of negotiating successful deals when running a business

Assessment criterion 2.2is assessed in this task.

To complete this task, candidates must understand what is meant by the negotiation process in general, not a specific negotiation. This task is regarding the stages in the process.

Candidates need to realise that negotiation is about: all sides stating their position; exploring differences; seeking solutions; coming to an agreement; and ratifying it. This is an outline and candidates are expected to be able to expand on these. They may find it helpful to try role playing negotiations, perhaps using something that has/could come up in a business environment.

Unit 13 – Understand Business Planning

This unit aims to develop the candidate’s understanding of the specific goals that various business may have and how this will affect how the business operates. They will consider the value of planning in business and how progress towards the goals can be tracked.

Task 4Describe the ways of checking if the business has achieved its goals

Assessment criterion 2.1 is assessed in this task.

To complete this task, candidates need to be aware of how to check whether a goal has been achieved. Candidates will identify suitable goals in task one and their responses to this task should relate to the answers provided for in task 1.

Unit 14 – Understand Business Resource and Legal Issues

This unit aims to develop the candidate’s understanding of the resources required to set up the business and how the work can be structured for efficiency. Candidates will also review the legal issues that will impact on them when starting and running a business and the various legal statuses they can consider for the business.

Task 2Explain how organising work in different ways can help make best use of time and resources

Assessment criterion 1.3 is assessed in this task.

In order to complete this task, candidates must understand that there are many ways of organising work and that different ways may be appropriate in different situations or for different people. The aim is to make best use of time and resources. The teaching content within the OCR unit (available on the qualification pages of the OCR website) contains further information that may be useful for tutors.

Task 3Explainthe main legal requirements with which a business has to comply when starting up

Assessment criterion 2.1 is assessed in this task.

Candidates must understand that any new business has many legal requirements that they must fulfil before starting to trade. They should understand the difference between legal requirements and regulations and should choose laws that would be particularly appropriate for their business. The candidate responses should clearly state the Act.

The list below is not is not a comprehensive list.

• health and safety
• trade descriptions
• sale of goods
• consumer protection
• employment law
• contract law
• data protection
• equality

Task 4Explainthe main regulatory requirements with which a business has to comply when starting up

Assessment criterion 2.2 is assessed in this task.

Candidates must understand that any new business has many regulatory requirements that they must fulfil before starting to trade. They should understand the difference between legal requirements, compliance with the law as enshrined in an Act of Parliament, and regulation, rules designed to interpret applications of the law. The candidate responses should clearly state the Regulation.