Business Management IB

Internally Assessed Business Management Written Commentary

IA for Business SL is a written commentary that demonstrate the application of business management tools, techniques and theories to a specific business problem.
Duration: 15 hoursclass time
Weighting: 25%

Word Count: 1500. 
Marks: 25 marks
25%

 

IA Business Management Project Requirements

SL BM students are required to:

• select a real business issue for a written commentary that relates to the SL syllabus.

• refer directly to a single business organisation, but may consider industry-wide issues that impact on that organisation.

• base their written commentary on secondary research, selected for its suitability, depth and breadth (primary research may be used as support).

• provide a title for the commentary that, to give focus and direction, must be framed as a question.

• produce a written commentary that does not exceed 1,500 words.

• attach to the commentary three to five supporting documents from which the majority of the information for the commentary has been obtained.

• fully reference all supporting documents and additional sources and include them in a bibliography.

 

HL BM students are required to:

• design and undertake research that either addresses an issue facing a business or analyses a decision to be made by a business.

• select a real business or a range of organisations and a real issue or decision under investigation.

• base their research project on primary research they gather from the organisation investigated (secondary research may be used as support).

• provide a title for the research project that, to give focus and direction, must be framed as a question.

• produce a research proposal (of maximum 500 words), including an action plan, to be used as the primary planning document.

• produce a written report that does not exceed 2,000 words.

• write the report in a style and format of a useful working document for management.

 

Business Management Assessment Criteria for Internal Assessment 

 

Internal assessment SL BM

• produce a written report that does not exceed 2,000 words

• write the report in a style and format of a useful working document for management.

 

Criterion A: Supporting documents
This criterion assesses the extent to which the student selects three to five relevant supporting documents that address the issue or problem selected for commentary in appropriate depth and breadth. The criterion also assesses whether the student’s choice and presentation of the supporting documents meets formal requirements.

 

Criterion B: Choice and application of tools, techniques and theories
This criterion assesses the extent to which the student chooses business management tools, techniques and theories that are relevant to the issue or problem and applies these so that a greater insight into the situation of the organization ensues. For top marks be sure to include an appropriate selection of business management tools, techniques and theories.

 

Criterion C: Choice and analysis of data and integration of ideas
This criterion assesses the extent to which the student uses data from the supporting documents effectively in order to understand and explain the issue or problem and is able to integrate ideas coherently. For top marks be sure to include an appropriate selection of data from the supporting documents with skilful analysis and a coherent integration of ideas. 

 

Criterion D: Conclusions
This criterion assesses the extent to which the student is able to draw relevant conclusions based on the analysis of the supporting documents and answer the commentary question. Conclusions must be consistent with the evidence presented and explicitly answer the
commentary question.

 

Criterion E: Evaluation
This criterion assesses the extent to which the student evaluates his or her arguments and makes judgments that are well substantiated. Be sure to provide thorough evidence of evaluation, and judgments that are well substantiated.

 

Criterion F: Structure
This criterion assesses the extent to which the student organizes his or her ideas into a structured commentary with an argument that is easy to follow.

 

Criterion G: Presentation
This criterion assesses the extent to which the student presents the written commentary well. This involves a title page, an accurate table of contents, appropriate headings and sub-headings, consistent referencing, a complete bibliography and numbered pages. All of the above elements of a well-presented commentary must be included.

Internal assessment HL BM

The HL business management research project is assessed against nine criteria that are related to the assessment objectives for the business management course. When the work to be assessed has been read, the descriptors for each criterion should be studied until a descriptor is reached that most appropriately describes the achievement level.

Criterion A: Research proposal
This criterion assesses the extent to which the student presents a research proposal that gives an effective direction for the project, with all the required elements. The research proposal with all the required elements needs to be appropriate, detailed, clear and focused. 

 

Criterion B: Sources and data
This criterion assesses the extent to which the student selects primary sources and collects data which address an issue or a decision to be made by an organization or a range of organizations in appropriate depth and breadth. Be sure that the primary sources selected and the data collected are appropriate, varied and sufficient.

 

Criterion C: Use of tools, techniques and theories
This criterion assesses the extent to which the student understands and applies relevant business management tools, techniques and theories so that a greater insight into the situation of the organization ensues. You must present a good understanding of relevant business management tools, techniques and theories.

 

Criterion D: Analysis and evaluation
This criterion assesses the extent to which the student uses his or her results and findings effectively in order to explain the issue or decision to be made and is able to integrate his or her ideas coherently. This criterion also assesses the extent to which the student evaluates his or her arguments and makes judgments that are well substantiated. 

 

Criterion E: Conclusions
This criterion assesses the extent to which the student is able to draw relevant conclusions based on the analysis of the report. Conclusions are substantiated and consistent with the evidence presented in the main body of the report.

 

Criterion F: Recommendations
This criterion assesses the extent to which the student is able to make substantiated recommendations that are consistent with the conclusions made and answer the research question. Your recommendations must be substantiated and consistent with the conclusions, and answer the research question.

Criterion G: Structure
This criterion assesses the extent to which the student organizes his or her ideas into a structured report with an argument that is easy to follow.