Business 9609/22 May/June 2020: question paper and mark scheme
Cambridge AS & A Level Business (9609), Paper 2 Data Response, May/June 2020. Read both free below, or download them. Done the paper? Get it marked by AI against this mark scheme.
The Shop (TS)
Thomas worked for 30 years as a manager of a factory. Although he was very good at his job he was recently made redundant.
Thomas always wanted to open a shop. He thinks he has the qualities an entrepreneur is likely to need for success. He has undertaken some primary market research to identify possible opportunities in city X where he lives (see Fig. 1.1). 5
coffee shop
15% sandwich shop
25% clothes shop
5%
grocery shop
15% electronics shop
10%
butcher shop
10% bakery shop
20%
Question: What type of shop do you think would be most successful on Main Street?
Percentage of respondents for each type of shop, based on a sample of 160 shoppers on Main Street in city X between 12:00 and 14:00 on Friday 20 December 2019.
Fig. 1.1: Market research
Thomas now needs to make a decision about which type of shop to open. He has used the 10 data in Fig. 1.1 and some secondary market research to identify two options.
Option 1: Coffee shop
The coffee shop would provide hot drinks that customers could take away and drink elsewhere. It would also sell some bakery items, such as biscuits and doughnuts. There are four other shops selling takeaway hot drinks and bakery items in the city, as well as five 15 cafés. Thomas thinks that the profit margin would be 6% to 8%.
Option 2: Sandwich shop
The sandwich shop would make sandwiches using job production. Customers can choose from a range of sandwich fillings, as well as cold drinks and snacks. There is only one competitor in the city. It is a well-known international franchise that spends a lot of money 20 on promotion. Thomas thinks that the profit margin would be 10% to 15%.
(a) (i) Define the term ‘redundant’ (line 2). [2]
(ii) Explain the term ‘primary market research’ (line 4). [3]
(b) (i) Refer to Fig. 1.1. Calculate the number of respondents who think a coffee shop would be most successful on Main Street. [2]
(ii) Explain two limitations of the sampling used by Thomas. [4]
(c) Analyse two qualities that Thomas will need to be a successful entrepreneur. [8]
(d) Recommend which of the two options Thomas should choose for his new shop. Justify your recommendation. [11]
Mark scheme
1(a)(i) Define the term ‘redundant’ (line 2). 2
Knowledge Marks
A correct definition 2
A partial, vague or unfocused definition 1
No creditable content 0
Content:
Redundancy is where an employee is made to leave an organisation because
their job role is no longer required.
1(a)(ii) Explain the term ‘primary market research’ (line 4). 3
Award one mark for each point of explanation:
Knowledge Marks
A Example or some other way of showing good 1
understanding
B An understanding of primary 1
C An understanding of market research 1
Content:
• Market research is when a business investigates the needs of consumers
to assess who may be interested in purchasing its product/service.
• Primary involves the business conducting the research themselves, first-
hand.
• Examples include questionnaires, surveys etc.
• Can be more specific than secondary, more expensive than secondary etc.
ARA
1(b)(i) Refer to Fig. 1.1. Calculate the number of respondents who think a coffee 2
shop would be most successful on Main Street.
Rationale Marks
Correct answer with or without correct working 2
Correct identification of figures 1
No creditable content 0
Answer = 24
Correct figures
160 shoppers in total
Coffee shop = 15%
Formula
160 X 15 / 100 = 24 respondents
1(b)(ii) Explain two limitations of the sampling used by Thomas. 4
Level Knowledge and Application Marks
2b (APP Explanation of two limitations of the sampling 4
+APP) methods used by Thomas
2a Explanation of one limitation of the sampling 3
(APP) methods used by Thomas
1b (K+K) Identification of two limitations of sampling 2
1a (K) Identification of one limitation of sampling 1
0 No creditable content 0
Content:
• Random – is everyone likely to be in the target population for his shop?
• Only 160 shoppers – is this enough on which to base such an important
decision for Thomas?
• At lunchtime – is this likely to have weighted the answers towards shops
that sell food?
• Friday 20 December – is one day likely to be representative of the whole
year?
• Friday 20 December – just before Christmas/holiday – is this a peak time
for shoppers and would this give a representative sample?
ARA
1(c) Analyse two qualities that Thomas will need to be a successful 8
entrepreneur.
Knowledge and
Level Marks Analysis (4 marks) Marks
Application (4 marks)
Shows understanding of Good analysis of two (or
two (or more) qualities more) qualities needed
2b needed to be a 4 to be a successful 4
successful entrepreneur entrepreneur in context
in context
Shows understanding of Good analysis of one
one quality needed to quality needed to be a
2a 3 3
be a successful successful entrepreneur
entrepreneur in context in context
Shows knowledge of Limited analysis of two
qualities needed to be a (or more) qualities
1b 2 2
successful entrepreneur needed to be a
successful entrepreneur
Shows knowledge of Limited analysis of one
1a entrepreneurship 1 quality needed to be a 1
successful entrepreneur
0 No creditable content
Note: Any relevant quality that an entrepreneur might need can be valid
Content:
• Risk-taking – Thomas will be taking risks in setting up his own business.
• Confidence – Thomas needs to have confidence that he will make good
decisions when setting up his new shop.
• Ability to make decisions – about the opening of his business, i.e. the
options.
• Self-starter – Thomas will not have a boss in his new business so needs to
motivate himself.
• Creative – to gain a USP in his new business.
• Determined – Thomas is likely to have to overcome setbacks in his new
shop venture.
ARA
1(d) Recommend which of the two options Thomas should choose for his new 11
shop. Justify your recommendation.
Knowledge and Analysis and Evaluation
Marks Marks
Application (4 marks) (7 marks)
Justified recommendation
based on arguments in 7
context
Developed recommendation
based on arguments in 6
context
An evaluative
statement/recommendation
5
based on arguments in
context
Shows understanding of the Arguments based on the two
two options for Thomas’s 3–4 options for Thomas’s new 3–4
new shop shop
Shows knowledge of Limited analysis of business
1–2 1–2
business decision making decision making
No creditable content
Content:
Option 1: A coffee shop
• Hits two of the segments form the research, so could potentially sell to
35% of the market.
• Synergy between coffee shop and bakery – similar customers etc.
• Other shops in local area suggest that there are potential customers.
• Lower profit margin than Option 2.
• Higher competition than Option 2 – four takeaway shops and five cafes –
will Thomas have a USP?
Option 2: A sandwich shop
• Job production – will it be able to keep up with demand – however may
give shop a USP over the international franchise.
• Low competition compared to Option 1 – however competitor spends
heavily on promotion, so may be a barrier to entry.
• Higher profit margin compared to Option 1.
• Hits less of a market than Option 1 (25%) but it is the biggest single
segment of the market.
ARA
Market Solution (MS)
MS is a public limited company in the tertiary sector. MS advises businesses on elements of the marketing mix. Most of its customers are small businesses who cannot afford their own marketing department. MS designs marketing materials for these businesses to use.
Although MS uses computer aided design (CAD), the business is labour intensive. MS employs specialist marketing workers as well as administrative support workers. Table 2.1 5 shows some data about employees of MS.
Table 2.1: MS employee data
Specialist marketing Administrative support workers workers
Average number of workers 40 88 10 in 2019
Payment method Salary plus bonus Performance related pay plus bonus
Number of workers who left 2 11 in 2019 15
Average pay (compared to High Low national average)
Main need of the workers Achievement Affiliation
Main hygiene factors • Pay • Staff restaurant
• Flexible hours of work • Holidays 20
Is a bonus expected in 2020? Yes No
MS has recently employed Hetti as the new Human Resources Manager. Hetti thinks that the ideas of the motivational theorists are important when managing employees. She is particularly worried about the labour turnover of the administrative support workers.
MS has recently taken on a new customer, named Books Outlet (BO). BO has an objective 25 to increase its revenue by targeting a younger market segment. BO has provided MS with the following information about its current marketing mix (see Table 2.2).
Table 2.2: Current marketing mix for BO
Product Price
• Books aimed at customers who are 30 years • Price skimming 30 and older
• Specialist books on many topics – BO is often the only seller in the area
Promotion Place
• Window display • A retail shop on the main street 35
• Local newspaper advertising • Postal sales from a brochure
(a) (i) Define the term ‘tertiary sector’ (line 1). [2]
(ii) Explain the term ‘performance related pay’ (lines 12–13). [3]
(b) (i) Refer to Table 2.1. Calculate the difference between the labour turnover of the specialist marketing workers and the labour turnover of the administrative support workers. [4]
(ii) Analyse how Hetti could use the ideas of two motivational theorists to reduce the labour turnover of the administrative support workers. [8]
(c) Explain one possible advantage to MS of being labour intensive. [2]
(d) BO has an objective to increase its revenue by targeting a younger market segment
(lines 25–26).
Recommend how BO should change its marketing mix to achieve this objective. Justify your recommendation. [11]
Mark scheme
2(a)(i) Define the term ‘tertiary sector’ (line 1). 2
Knowledge Marks
A correct definition 2
A partial, vague or unfocused definition 1
No creditable content 0
Content
Businesses that sell services (intangible goods) instead of end products.
2(a)(ii) Explain the term ‘performance related pay’ (lines 12–13). 3
Award one mark for each point of explanation:
Knowledge Marks
Example or some other way of showing good 1
understanding
Understanding of performance related 1
Understanding of a pay 1
Content:
• Pay is the reward given to workers for their labour.
• Performance related means that this is linked to the output that the worker
produces, or by meeting a required target.
ARA
2(b)(i) Refer to Table 2.1. Calculate the difference between the labour turnover 4
of the specialist marketing workers and the labour turnover of the
administrative support workers.
Rationale Marks
Correct answer with or without correct working or % 4
Correct calculation of LT for both groups 3
Correct calculation of LT for one group 2
Formula 1
No creditable content 0
Answer = 7.5%
Marketing specialists
2
× 100 = 5%
40
Administrative workers
11
× 100 = 12.5%
88
Difference
12.5% – 5% = 7.5%
Number of workers who left
Formula: × 100
Average number of workers
OFR
2(b)(ii) Analyse how Hetti could use the ideas of two motivational theorists to 8
reduce the labour turnover of the administrative support workers.
Knowledge and
Level Marks Analysis (4 marks) Marks
Application (4 marks)
Shows understanding of Good analysis of two
two motivation theories motivation theories to
context improve the labour
2b 4 4
turnover for the
administrative support
workers
Shows understanding Good analysis of one
one motivation theory in motivation theory to
context improve the labour
2a 3 3
turnover for the
administrative support
workers
Shows knowledge of Limited analysis of two
1b 2 2
two motivation theories motivation theories
Shows knowledge of Limited analysis of
1a 1 1
one motivation theory one motivation theory
0 No creditable content
Content:
• McClelland (Three Needs Theory) – Workers have a need for affiliation so
may be motivated by social events, opportunities to work with colleagues
etc.
• Herzberg (Two Factor Theory) – The factors in the table are unlikely to
motivate (i.e. hygiene factors). Do workers have enough holidays and, for
example, a staff restaurant? Otherwise this could be a reason for their
demotivation and labour turnover.
• Vroom (Expectancy Theory) – although the bonus is part of the payment
system for the admin workers it is not expected so is unlikely to motivate
them and keep them in the business – are targets too high? Should the
bonus be paid more often to reduce labour turnover?
• Taylor (Scientific Management) – is the pay high enough to motivate – low
compared to national average.
• Mayo (Hawthorne Effect) – is there enough supervision – PRP suggests
monitoring but is it effective?
• Maslow (Hierarchy of Needs) – Table suggests that social needs are most
important for the workers – are these needs being met?
ARA
2(c) Explain one possible advantage to MS of being labour intensive 2
Level Knowledge and Application Marks
2 Explanation of an advantage to MS of being
2
(APP) labour intensive
Explanation of an advantage of being labour
1 (K) 1
intensive
0 No creditable content 0
Content:
• Can be more flexible – particularly important for MS as each business is
unique)
• Workforce can be flexible and respond to times of high peak need
• No maintenance issues (compared to being capital intensive)
• May be perceived as being better quality – some businesses may feel that
the customer service is better
• Can employ experts who can adapt to each customer’s needs
ARA
2(d) BO has an objective to increase its revenue by targeting a younger 11
market segment (lines 25–26).
Recommend how BO should change its marketing mix to achieve this
objective. Justify your recommendation.
Knowledge and Analysis and Evaluation
Marks Marks
Application (4 marks) (7 marks)
Justified recommendation
7
based on argument in context
Developed recommendation
6
based on argument in context
An evaluative/recommendation
statement based on argument in 5
context
Shows understanding of Argument based on changing
changing the marketing 3–4 BO’s marketing mix to achieve 3–4
mix in context their objectives
Shows knowledge of the Limited analysis of changes to
1–2 1–2
marketing mix the marketing mix
No creditable content
Note: There are many possible changes that could be made and context is
likely to come from the combination of the elements of the mix to meet the
needs of the new target market.
Content:
• Product – need to stock books aimed at a younger audience (under 30
years) – perhaps books that are not so targeted on specific areas, or make
the topics more suitable for younger readers.
Could start to sell e-books.
• Price – younger target market are unlikely to have such high incomes, so
skimming is unlikely to be successful. May need to be more competitive in
their pricing strategy or use it to penetrate the market as they will be new
to this target market.
• Promotion – the current below the line promotion may still be suitable.
However they may need to target social media and methods more suitable
for a younger audience.
• Place – the retail shop may still be appropriate but it may be necessary to
develop an online presence or to have distribution that suits the younger
audience – postal sales are unlikely to be suitable.
ARA
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On this page, free: the mark scheme for AS & A Level Business 9609/22, May/June 2020 (9609_s20_ms_22), and the question paper (9609_s20_qp_22), to read or download, with each question's marking points written out underneath.
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Business 9609/22 for May/June 2020 is out of 60 marks, with 1 hour 30 minutes to answer it.
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