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Date May 2019 Marks available 4 Reference code 19M.1.SL.TZ0.3
Level Standard level Paper Paper 1 Time zone Time zone 0
Command term Describe Question number 3 Adapted from N/A

Question

Refer to the Radeki de Dovnic Manufacturing (RDM) case study (SL/HL paper 1 May 2019).

Describe two changes in the external environment that have affected RDM.

[4]
a.

Explain how the methods used to motivate employees could have changed when RDM transformed from traditional mass production to highly automated production.

[6]
b.

Markscheme

PLEASE NOTE: This content is not included in the syllabus for 2024 exams onward. Related parts of this multi-part question may be used.

A number of changes in the external environment are referred to in the stimulus.

Social:

Technological:

Economic:

Ecological:

Political:

Legal:

Ethical:

N.B. No need for candidates to actually mention STEEPLE features by name.
There may be some other external factors that are relevant eg competition, changes in demand which can also be included.

Mark as 2 + 2.

Accept any other relevant change in the external environment.

Award [1] for each change in external environment identified, up to [2], and award [1] additional per external factor identified for appropriate description and application to the stimulus.

Maximum award: [4].

a.

Refer to Paper 1 markbands for May 2016 forward, available under the "Your tests" tab > supplemental materials.

Historically:

After change (to highly automated):

In the case of RDM:

Accept any other relevant explanation.

Marks should be allocated according to the paper 1 markbands for May 2016 forward section A.

Award a maximum of [3] for a theoretical answer or for limiting answer to only the traditional situation or to only the highly automated situation.

Award a maximum of [5] if the answer is mainly descriptive but in context.

Award a maximum of [6].

 

b.

Examiners report

Candidates were asked to describe two changes to the external environment that affected RDM. Most candidates were able to answer these in context but many answers were limited in describing the effects. Changes often included: the ageing population suggesting to RDM that they enter the market for health products; the political changes (communism and the velvet revolution affecting the ownership and management of RDM); technological changes allowing innovation at RDM; the Czech economy and role in Europe; and changes to the Czech IT infrastructure, affecting how RDM operated and developed. The best answers identified the changes and described how they affected RDM.

a.

It is clear that candidates understand issues to do with motivation and how these may relate to leadership styles. Some candidates gave very general answers or limited their answers to the situation currently prevailing at RDM. The best answers explored how motivation may have been achieved when the workforce was fairly large, unskilled and doing repetitive jobs to the current situation which has a smaller workforce, skilled labour and responsible jobs.

In Paper 1, for all these questions, theoretical answers are not enough: candidates are expected to provide a balance of “theory” and “practice” – such is the nature of Business Management, an applied subject.

b.

Syllabus sections

Last exams 2023 » Unit 1: Business organization and environment » 1.5 External environment » STEEPLE analysis of a given organization
Last exams 2023 » Unit 1: Business organization and environment » 1.5 External environment
Last exams 2023 » Unit 1: Business organization and environment
Last exams 2023

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