The difference between the cost to produce and the selling price as a product moves through chain
of production a product is changed and thereby the price of the product increases
Scarcity and Choice
All things are scarce (except the air). There is a limit to how much we can have. As a result people,
businesses and consumers must make choices. In business these choices based on scarcity are called
Opportunity Costs.
Opportunity Costs
All people and businesses have wants and needs.
A need is something that is considered essential and a want is something that would be beneficial but
we could do without.
However all goods and services are scarce – i.e. There is not an unlimited supply of everything and as
such everyone has to make choices. Making a good choice will however mean that you will give up one
thing in favour of getting another. This is known as an opportunity cost.
Production
Production is all activities that help to provide goods and services that people want
or need.
Factors of Production
Land
This can be rented or bought. It also includes natural resources such as oil,
forests, and rivers.
Labour
This includes all the people who are paid for their services and also people who offer their services for
free
Capital
These are the physical equipment, tools and machinery needed to run the business. Capital also includes
money that is used to set the business up.
Entrepreneurial Skills:
This is the person who develops the business idea and runs the business. An entrepreneur takes the
risks, has the ideas and reaps the rewards through profit
All of the factors of production work together to
allow the business functions to happen. Business
functions include o Production o Research &
Development o Finance o Marketing o
Administration o Human Resources. When these
come together the business is able to produce the
goods or services that it set out to achieve.
Goods And Services
Consumer Goods:
These are goods that are provided for the general public. Consumer goods fall into two categories:
Durable goods and non-durable goods.
Durable Goods:
Goods that are used repeatedly over a period of time. Although they will eventually need replacing
through wear and tear they are not used up.
Non-Durable Goods:
Goods that are used up and need replacing. In the shops these are known as “fast moving consumer
goods”
Capital Goods.
These are goods purchased by businesses to produce the goods or services that they will eventually
sell. Capital goods are one of the factors of production.
Many goods fall into different categories depending on where they are in the production chain.
Services
includes all businesses providing services to industry such as selling (a restaurant will buy meat form
a butcher), to transport (a manufacturer needs to get its products to their customers either at home
or abroad), banking and insurance and tourism.
Sectors of Production
Primary production means work that gets natural resources from the land or
sea.
Primary industry is sometimes known as the extractive industry
Secondary Production means work that turns natural resources into
finished goods
Secondary industry is sometimes called manufacturing and construction industry
Tertiary production means work that provides services rather than
goods.
The tertiary industry can also provide a service to the other twos sectors of production.
Industrialisation and De-Industrialisation
Industrialisation is when a country experiences an increase in
secondary production.
De-industrialisation is
when a country
experiences a decline in
secondary production.
Sectors of Industry
The Private Sector
includes goods and services provided by businesses that
are aimed mainly at making a profit.
The business owners are either individuals (sole traders), small
groups of business people (partners) or business people who
join together to form a joint stock company
The Public Sector
includes goods and services provided
by the government
These goods and services may be supplied either for a profit or not for a
profit
Not for profit public sector goods:
Some goods are provided by
the government because they
are considered general needs
that will benefit everyone but
if left to the private sector
they either would not be
provided or would be too
expensive for many people to
buy.
For profit public sector goods:
For profit businesses that are owned by the
government will either be useful to the
government because it employs lots of people
and so keeps unemployment down Usually the
government will out such a business that looks
like it could go bust and will then sell it back to
the private sector when the business is
considered to be a “going concern”
The Voluntary Sector
Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) or
charitable sector
These organisations exist to raise money for good causes or draw attention to the needs of
disadvantaged groups in society. Examples include AIDS charities, The Red Cross and Oxfam. The aim
of this sector is to run with minimal costs and to pour as much of the funding into helping the charity.
Many staff will therefore work for free, although larger organisations will employ administrators or
many pay survival wages to some staff. In some countries Non Government Organisations (NGOs) will
exist to ensure that funding that is donated goes to the intended cause.
Business growth and measurement of size
Growth and Measurement of Size
The growth of a business is when it expands in size.
The size of a business can be measured by the following means: · Sales turnover (or sales revenue) ·
Number of employees · Market share · Number of outlets (e.g. shops) · Profit
Businesses either grow organically or externally
Organic growth
the business grows by expanding its sales or their operations and is
financed through its own profits.
Acquisitions and mergers
when the business joins or buys other businesses, not necessary
of the same type.
Businesses may wish to expand for the following reasons: 1. Economies of scale 2. Increased market
share 3. To survive a very competitive market.
A business can grow organically in the following ways: a) Lower price b) Increase advertising c) Sell in
different location d) Sell on credit
Mergers and Acquisitions
The role of Business
a business aims to meet the needs and wants of individuals or organisations through:
producing or extracting raw materials from the earth
creating a product providing a service
Chapter 1
Barter
to exchange and get what you want
Supply and demand
demand is when you have to have it
the price goes up where there is a limited amount
the supply will meet the demand at one point
or the demand will go down and meet the supply
Scarcity
when there are limited resources, therefore people must make choices
Luxury
When you want something but do not need it.
Producer
anyone who makes a good or service
Consumer
someone that has to consider how they will spend money
Opportunity cost
consider how you will spend an amount of money
Business Functions and role of business departments
functions carried out by departments that work together to achieve the objectives of the business
internal and external factors determines the ability of the business to reach their goals and objectives
Sectors of business activity
Holding companies
A company that owns and controls a number of separate businesses yet does not unite them into one
company.
Different market with diversified interests.
Possibility of centralized control from the directors of the holding company.
Legal formalities in setting up a company
Name of a company Address of the head office Maximum shared capital for which the company seeks
authorization. Articles of association concerns with the internal working and control of the business. PLC
providing evidence that they have share capital of at least $50