National 5 Business Management course helps candidates develop an understanding of the economic and financial environment in which businesses operate. This enables them to
make an effective contribution to society as consumers, employees, employers or self-employed people.

The course enables students to develop:-

• knowledge and understanding of the ways in which society relies on business to satisfy needs and wants
• an insight into the systems organisations use to ensure customers’ needs are met
• enterprising skills and attributes
• financial awareness, in a business context
• an insight into how organisations organise their resources for maximum efficiency and to improve their overall performance
• an awareness of how external influences impact on organisations

Students at Clydeview Academy will gain skills in personal financial awareness through improving knowledge of financial management in a business context. The course introduces candidates to the
dynamic, changing, competitive, and economic environment of industry and commerce. It develops skills in communicating and presenting business-related information, in a variety of formats, to the various stakeholders of an organisation.

By studying this course, students will also develop an appreciation of customer focus, enterprise, and decision-making.

National 5 Business Management Course Specification

The course comprises five areas of study:-

Understanding business
Students are introduced to the business environment while  developing skills, knowledge and understanding of enterprise, and the role of different types of business organisations in society. They also learn about the internal and external environments in which organisations operate, and the role of stakeholders in business.

Management of marketing
Students  develop skills, knowledge and understanding of the importance to organisations of having effective marketing systems. They learn about the processes and procedures organisations use to maintain competitiveness, and how marketing can be used to communicate effectively with consumers, maximising customer  satisfaction.

Management of operations
Students develop skills, knowledge and understanding of the importance to organisations of having effective operations systems. They learn about the processes and procedures used to maintain quality through the effective management of suppliers, inventory, and methods of production in an ethical manner.

Management of people
Students develop skills, knowledge and understanding of the issues facing organisations when managing people. They learn about the theories, concepts and processes relating to human resource management, and how employees contribute to the success of organisations.

Management of finance
Students develop skills, knowledge and understanding of the issues facing organisations when managing finance. They learn about the basic theories, concepts and processes relating to financial aspects of business, when preparing and interpreting information to solve financial problems facing organisations.

The course is assessed by:-

A two hour written question paper in the normal SQA exam diet worth 90 marks.

Assignment/report into a real business of choice worth 30 marks submitted to the SQA in March of each year.

National 4 Business Course Specification

The National 4 Business course is assessed through a series of Units and by completing a Added Value Unit within normal class time.

Students will undertake a class based assessment in September/October to help determine the most appropriate level of study in this course. Letters will be sent home to inform parents and carers of the results and the recommendation for presentation level. Previous attainment in tracking levels from  S2 and S3 will also provide evidence of which level of presentation is most suitable.