Regarding all questions, the introduction allows you to briefly introduce the main points that you will be discussing in your response, as well as the business examples that you will be referring to to support each of the main points. In terms of each individual question:
Explain how operations strategy can help a business sustain its competitive advantage:
In answering this question, you need to choose a number of syllabus dot points that fall under the operations strategies subtopic (for example, three) and analyse each dot point thoroughly. Your analysis will be followed by the supporting case study material. Depending on the available case study material, you may wish to discuss more than one business where the case study information addresses each syllabus dot point. You will also need to establish links to the question, i.e. not just explain the strategies that you choose but also clarify their relevance to helping a business sustain its competitive advantage. A sample structure can look like this:
- Introduction (introducing main points and specific businesses to be mentioned)
- Performance objectives (analysis + case study + link)
- Technology (analysis + case study + link)
- Global factors (analysis + case study + link)
- Conclusion (brief summary of your response)
Examine the impact of technology on operations processes:
To answer this question, you can refer to the technology influence under the influences subtopic and discuss it in terms of the operations processes subtopic. You will need to choose the specific syllabus dot points under operations processes to cover in your response and identify relevant case study material that you can use to support each of your main points. Links will then need to be established to clarify the relevance of your points to the impact of technology on operations processes. A sample structure can look like this:
- Introduction (introducing main points and specific businesses to be mentioned)
- Transforming resources (analysis + case study + link)
- Monitoring, control and improvement (analysis + case study + link)
- Warranties (analysis + case study + link)
- Conclusion (brief summary of your response)
To what extent do influences on marketing affect business success?
I recognised this as Question 26 from the 2023 Business Studies HSC exam. NESA provides the following suggestions:
- Factors influencing customer choice
- psychological, sociocultural, economic, government
- Consumer laws
- deceptive and misleading advertising
- price discrimination
- implied conditions
- warranties
- Ethical
- truth, accuracy in good taste in advertising, products that may damage health, engaging in fair competition, sugging.
Of course, you do not need to cover every single one of these points. You simply need to select a reasonable number to discuss and ensure that you have relevant business case study material to support your analysis across your different points. Linking back to the question will allow you to clarify the extent to which business success is affected by influences on marketing.
I hope this helps!
