Define 'business organisations' and explain why they are formed.

Describe common features of business organisations.

Describe how business organisations differ.

List the sectors in which business organisations operate.

Identify the different types of business organisation and their main characteristics.

Define stakeholders and explain the agency relationship.

Define internal, connected and external stakeholders.

Identify the main stakeholder groups and their objectives.

Explain how stakeholder groups interact and conflict.

Compare power and interest using the Mendelow matrix.

Explain how the political system and government policy affect the organisation.

Describe the sources of legal authority.

Identify the principles of data protection and security.

Describe the legal responsibility in relation to data protection.

Define macroeconomic policy and explain its objectives.

Explain the main determinants of the level of business activity.

Explain the impact of economic issues: Inflation, Unemployment, Economic growth, International payments.

Describe the main types of economic policy (fiscal and monetary).

Describe the impact of fiscal and monetary policy measures.

Define the concept of demand and supply for goods and services.

Explain elasticity of demand and the impact of substitute and complementary goods.

Explain the economic behaviour of costs in the short and long-term.

Describe perfect competition, oligopoly, monopolistic competition and monopoly.

Explain the medium and long-term effects of social and demographic trends on business outcomes and the economy.

Identify and explain the measures that governments may take in response to demographic change.

Explain the potential effects of technological change on organisational structure and strategy.

Describe the impact of IT on business processes and the changing role of the accountant.

List ways in which the business can affect or be affected by its physical environment.

Describe ways in which businesses can operate more sustainably.

Identify the benefits of economic sustainability to stakeholders.

Identify a business's SWOT and the main sources of competitive advantage.

Identify the main elements within Porter's value chain and explain a value network.

Explain the factors that influence competitiveness using Porter's five forces model.

Describe the key activities of an organisation that affect its competitiveness.

Test your knowledge across all Section A topics

Identify gaps before moving to the next section

Explain the informal organisation and its relationship with the formal organisation.

Describe the impact of the informal organisation on the business.

Explain the different ways in which formal organisations may be structured: Entrepreneurial, Functional, Matrix, Divisional, Boundaryless.

Explain basic organisational structure concepts: Separation of ownership/management, Span of control, Tall/flat organisations, Outsourcing/offshoring, Shared services.

Explain the characteristics of the strategic, tactical and operational levels in the organisation in the context of Anthony's hierarchy.

Explain centralisation and decentralisation and list their advantages and disadvantages.

Describe the roles and functions of the main departments in a business organisation: R&D, Purchasing, Production, Service, Marketing, Admin, Finance.

Explain the role of marketing in an organisation: Definition, Marketing mix, Relationship to strategic plan.

Define organisational culture.

Describe the factors that shape the culture of the organisation.

Explain the contribution made by writers on culture (Schein, Handy and Hofstede).

Explain the purposes of business committees.

Describe the types of committee used by business organisations.

List the advantages and disadvantages of committees.

Explain the roles of the Chair and Secretary of a committee.

Explain the agency concept in relation to corporate governance.

Briefly explain the main recommendations of best practice in effective corporate governance: Executive/NEDs, Remuneration committees, Audit committees, Public oversight.

Define social responsibility and explain its importance in contemporary organisations.

Explain the responsibility of organisations to maintain appropriate standards of corporate social responsibility.

Explain how organisations take account of their social responsibility objectives through analysis of the needs of internal, connected and external stakeholders.

Identify the social and environmental responsibilities of business organisations to internal, connected and external stakeholders.

Test your knowledge across all Section B topics

Identify gaps before moving to the next section

Explain the relationship between accounting and key functions like procurement, production, and marketing

Explain financial considerations in production and production planning

Identify the financial issues associated with marketing

Identify the financial costs and benefits of effective service provision

Explain the contribution of the accounting function to policy formulation, implementation, and control

Describe the main financial accounting functions

Describe the main management accounting functions

Describe the main finance and treasury functions

Describe the main audit and assurance roles in business

Explain legal requirements for records and audits, and consequences of non-compliance

Explain how the accountancy profession regulates itself

Explain circumstances, types, and implications of fraud, and managers' roles in prevention

Explain policies for handling clients' money

Define money laundering, recognise offences, and identify methods for detection and reporting

Explain the business purposes of the P&L, Financial position, Cash flows, and Sustainability reports

Describe the main purposes of Cost schedules, Budgets, and Variance reports

Identify system requirements in relation to organizational objectives

Describe the main financial systems: Purchases, Sales, Payroll, Credit control, Cash

Identify weaknesses, potential for error, and inefficiencies in accounting systems

Identify business uses of Spreadsheets, Databases, and Accounting packages

Explain internal control and internal checks

Explain the importance of internal financial controls

Describe the responsibilities of management for internal financial control

Describe the features of effective internal financial control procedures

Describe general and application systems controls in business

Describe cloud computing benefits in accountancy

Explain how automation and AI affect the role of accountants

Describe how big data and data analytics improve accountancy and audit

Describe features and applications of Blockchain in accountancy

Define cyber security and identify key risks

Identify features for protecting IT systems security

Test your knowledge across all Section C topics

Identify gaps before moving to the next section

Define leadership, management and supervision and explain the distinction between these terms.

Explain the nature of management using classical theories and functions.

Explain the areas of managerial authority and responsibility.

Explain approaches to leadership with reference to Adair, Fiedler and Bennis.

Describe leadership styles using the models of Ashridge, and Blake and Mouton.

Describe the main characteristics of individual and group behaviour.

Explain the contributions of individuals and groups to organisational success.

Identify individual and group approaches to work.

Explain the differences between a group and a team.

Explain the purposes of a team.

Explain the role of the manager in building the team with reference to Belbin and Tuckman.

List the characteristics of effective and ineffective teams.

Describe tools and techniques that can be used to build the team and improve team effectiveness.

Define motivation and explain its importance to the organisation, teams and individuals.

Explain theories of motivation: Maslow, Herzberg and McGregor.

Explain how reward systems can be designed and implemented to motivate teams and individuals.

Explain the importance and benefits of learning and development in the workplace.

Describe the learning process with reference to Honey and Mumford, and Kolb.

Describe the training and development process: identifying needs, setting objectives, programme design, delivery and validation.

Explain the terms 'training', 'development' and 'education' and the characteristics of each.

Define performance appraisal and describe its purpose.

Describe the performance appraisal process.

Explain the benefits of and barriers to effective appraisal.

Test your knowledge across all Section D topics

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Explain the importance of effective time management.

Describe the barriers to effective time management and how they may be overcome.

Describe the role of technology in improving personal effectiveness.

Identify the main ways in which people and teams can be ineffective at work.

Explain how individual or team ineffectiveness can affect organisational performance.

Explain how a competence framework underpins professional development needs.

Explain how personal and continuous professional development can increase personal effectiveness at work.

Explain the purpose and benefits of coaching, mentoring and counselling in promoting employee effectiveness.

Describe how a personal development plan should be formulated, implemented, monitored and reviewed by the individual.

Identify situations where conflict at work can arise.

Describe how conflict can affect personal and organisational performance.

Identify ways in which conflict can be managed.

Describe the methods and patterns of communication used in the organisation.

Explain how the type of information differs and the purposes for which it is applied at different levels of the organisation: strategic, tactical and operational.

Identify the consequences of ineffective communication.

Describe the attributes of good quality information and effective communication.

Describe the barriers to effective communication and identify practical steps that may be taken to overcome them.

Test your knowledge across all Section E topics

Identify gaps before moving to the next section

Define business ethics and explain the importance of ethics to the organisation and to the individual.

Describe and demonstrate the principles from the IFAC (IESBA) code of ethics.

Describe organisational values which promote ethical behaviour.

Explain the concept of acting in the public interest.

Explain the purpose of international and organisational codes of ethics.

Describe how professional bodies promote ethical awareness and punish unethical behaviour.

Identify the factors that distinguish a profession from other types of occupation.

Explain the role of the accountant in promoting ethical behaviour.

Explain when and to whom illegal or unethical conduct should be reported.

Define corporate codes of ethics.

Describe the typical contents of a corporate code of ethics.

Explain the benefits of a corporate code of ethics to the organisation and its employees.

Describe situations where ethical conflicts can arise.

Identify the main threats to ethical behaviour.

Describe situations at work where ethical dilemmas may be faced.

List the main safeguards against ethical threats and dilemmas.

Test your knowledge across all Section F topics

Identify gaps before moving to the next section