Business (9609) - Improving Analysis - Answer writing - AS/A Level

Summary

This video lesson focuses on helping students improve their analysis skills for the Business A-level 9609 exam. The instructor explains the difference between analysis and explanation, providing tips on identifying and constructing analytical responses. Key concepts include recognizing cause-and-effect relationships, using analysis-specific language like 'therefore' and 'as a result,' and maintaining a clear focus on the correct stakeholders. Practical exercises are offered to help students structure their answers in a logical 'chain of analysis,' ensuring they cover all relevant consequences and reactions, and ultimately enhancing their ability to score higher marks in exams.

Takeaways

• 😀 **Analysis is about cause and effect**: It involves linking actions or decisions to their consequences or reactions, such as how peace rates might affect worker motivation.
• 😀 **Analysis is not the same as explanation**: An explanation details a concept, while analysis shows the impact of that concept on stakeholders (e.g., how a decision affects business or employees).
• 😀 **Use linking words to guide analysis**: Words like 'therefore', 'as a result', and 'leads to' are essential for making connections between causes and their effects.
• 😀 **Focus on the stakeholder in your analysis**: Be mindful of the stakeholder (business, employee, shareholder, etc.) when analyzing impacts, as this will guide the direction of your analysis.
• 😀 **A complete chain of analysis is necessary for high marks**: Don't stop at the first effect; keep linking causes to their subsequent effects until you reach a final consequence, ideally linked to the business's performance or objectives.
• 😀 **Identifying analysis in examples**: In provided scenarios, analysis is shown through connecting actions (e.g., introducing new training programs) to their broader consequences (e.g., improved profits or increased productivity).
• 😀 **Avoid vague statements**: Avoid statements that lack a clear cause-effect link. For example, 'promotion affects sales' should be developed further to explain how promotion leads to more sales.
• 😀 **Practice building chains of analysis**: Practice creating a logical flow of analysis by connecting each step of a business decision to its final outcome (e.g., loan for machinery leading to higher debt and potentially lower shareholder returns).
• 😀 **The focus of analysis should be deliberate**: The focus (whether it's on the business, employees, or shareholders) should be consistent throughout your response to ensure clarity and relevance.
• 😀 **Avoid unnecessary explanations**: Ensure your answer is focused on analysis and not just explanations of business concepts. Make sure to demonstrate how the concepts have real-world consequences for the business or stakeholders.

Q & A

What is the difference between explanation and analysis in the context of business studies?

Explanation involves providing a detailed description or example of a concept, whereas analysis links the cause (an action) to its effect (the consequence or reaction). In analysis, you should focus on the impact and reactions of a business decision on stakeholders.

How can the statement 'the business has three warehouses' be developed into an analytical response?

The statement 'the business has three warehouses' can be developed analytically by linking it to the consequences. For example, 'the business has three warehouses, which leads to high storage costs, potentially reducing profits, which may impact the ability to pay dividends to shareholders.' This shows a clear cause-and-effect relationship.

What are some connecting words or phrases that can help indicate analysis in an answer?

Words like 'therefore,' 'as a result,' 'leads to,' 'so,' and 'because' are common connectors that show cause-and-effect relationships, signaling analysis in your answer.

Why is it important to focus on the specific stakeholder when performing an analysis?

Focusing on a specific stakeholder, such as the business, workers, shareholders, or local community, is crucial because it helps ensure your analysis is relevant and directly tied to the intended effect of the business decision, which is essential for high marks.

What does a 'chain of analysis' mean, and how is it structured?

A chain of analysis involves linking different stages of cause and effect in a logical progression. You start with an action or decision, follow it through with the intermediate effects, and end with the final impact. This shows a deep level of understanding and higher-order thinking.

How can the concept of 'training programs' be analyzed using a chain of analysis?

If a business introduces training programs, you would follow the chain of analysis: first, training leads to improved employee skills; then, this increased productivity leads to better performance; finally, this results in improved profits for the business.

What would be a correct chain of analysis for a business obtaining a large loan to purchase new machinery?

The chain of analysis would look like: obtaining a large loan increases the business's debt; higher debt may lead to greater financial risk; this could reduce investor confidence; and, eventually, it may lead to a lower share price, negatively impacting shareholders.

What is the role of 'focus of analysis' in developing a high-quality answer?

The focus of analysis ensures that you are analyzing the right impact on the correct stakeholder. For example, if analyzing a decision's impact on workers, you should link the effects directly to worker motivation, not the business's financial performance.

Why is it not enough to just identify the cause in an analysis?

Identifying just the cause does not demonstrate a full understanding. A comprehensive analysis must also describe the effects and reactions, ultimately showing the final impact, which is necessary to demonstrate higher-order thinking and earn top marks.

Can you give an example of how to analyze the impact of continuing a mining operation on the local community?

If a mining operation continues, the local community might face negative impacts such as noise pollution, displacement, environmental degradation, and loss of habitat. This could lower the standard of living and cause health issues, which directly affects the community.