IGCSE BUSINESS STUDIES
Unit 1 – Business Activity
Chapter 1: The Purpose of Business Activity
In this unit you will learn…….
The economic problem of unlimited wants and
limited resources
The factors of production
The development of economic activity and the use
of specialization
What is meant by a business
The most common aims of business
The different groups involved in business activity.
Classify these.
Needs Wants
Needs and Wants
Needs
›Essential goods or
services necessary for
living.
›Satisfy the basic things
for life.
Wants
›Non-essential goods
and services that
people would like to
have.
›Interests & Tastes
Make your list
Needs Wants
Limit your wants to no more than 25 items please!
The Economic Problem
The shortage of goods & services
TOO FEW FACTORS OF PRODUCTION!
Land Labour
Capital
Enterprise
Factors of Production
Land
All of the natural resources provided by nature
Labour
All people’s efforts to make products
Capital
All finance, machinery & equipment in manufacturing products
Enterprise
All people that have skills & have risk-taking ability factors of production produce
good or service
Economic Problem
Limited in Supply
Land Labour
Capital
Enterprise
Factors of Production
Real Economic Problem
Unlimited
Wants
Limited
Resources
Scarcity+ =
Limited Resources: Choice
Individual Business Government
Summary – Economic Problem
Limited Resources
Production 200 years ago
Joe cuts
the wood
He
assembles
the table
Joe polishes
the table
Joe delivers the table on a
horse and cart
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Limited Resources
Modern Day Production
The wood for 20 tables is cut
with a specialist machine
Carpenters assemble the
tables
The tables are finished in the
polishing department
A transport company collects the tables to
deliver them to furniture retailers
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Making the best use of limited resources
Specialization / Division of Labour
Production Process
Different tasks split up
Workers performs a task
Specialization
Division of Labour
Advantages
Specialised task training
Increases efficiency
Increases output
Save time
Disadvantages
Bored workers
Possible drops in efficiency
Production stopped due to absence
Why business activity is needed?
Unlimited wants
4 factors of production
Resources in limited supply to make goods and services
Scarcity
Limited resources – unlimited wants
Choice
Opportunity Cost
Specialisation
Improves efficient use of resources
Business Activity
Combines s_____ f_____of p_______ in order to
produce g_____ and s_______.
Produces those goods and services which are
needed to s______ the n______ and w_____ of
the p___________
E_______ people as worker and pays them w____
/ s______ to allow them to consume p_______
made by other p________.
Aim of Businesses
Combine factors of production
Produce products
satisfy peoples wants
Classification of Products
Goods
Physical items
Tangible
Touch and see
Services
Intangible
Business Objectives
Aim / Target to work towards
Make a Profit
To increase added value
To expand the business
To achieve business survival
To provide a service
Profit
Value Added
Selling
Price
Cost of
materials/
Components
Value
Added
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