AQA GCSE Business Studies Paper 1: Influences of Operations and HRM on Business Activity June 2025 question paper 8132/1

Which of the following is an advantage of job production?

Which of the following pairs of legal structures both benefit from limited liability?

Which of the following is an economic influence on businesses?

Which of the following is a method of digital communication?

Which of the following is the formula for average unit costs?

Which of the following describes the lean production technique of just-in-time (JIT)?

Identify two factors a business may consider when choosing a supplier.

Explain one reason why a person might want to become an entrepreneur.

Explain one reason why the training of current employees may be needed.

Explain one disadvantage to a business of decentralisation.

Explain what is meant by opportunity cost for a business.

State and describe two documents which may be produced during the recruitment and selection process of employees.

Item A: D@SO Ltd

D@SO Ltd receives a discount from suppliers for buying in bulk. It holds a buffer stock which helps during busy times such as Christmas when demand is unpredictable.

A local supplier can deliver raw materials within 24 hours. If D@SO Ltd switches to this supplier, it would be able to order small quantities when customer orders are received. The current stock storage room could then be used to expand the production area. However, prices from the new local supplier are higher than those from the current supplier in China.

Figure 1 Exchange rate of Chinese yuan to British pound 2025

Explain one benefit for a business of using a lean production approach.

A business is exporting products to China.

Explain how the change in the value of the British pound (£) against the Chinese yuan from January to October would affect the price of its products in China.

Use the data in Figure 1 in your answer.

Using the data in Figure 2, on page 7, explain the change in the import costs and how a business could respond to this change.

D@SO Ltd has set an aim of increasing profits.

Recommend whether D@SO Ltd should introduce just-in-time (JIT) stock control. Give reasons for your recommendation.

Item B: D@SO Ltd

Explain one reason why a business may need to recruit a new employee.

Gwen managed 5 experienced production employees before D@SO Ltd expanded and increased production staff to 12.

Analyse how the organisational structure of the production department will change with the expansion.

The two employees who have applied to job share have worked for the business for 5 years and know the other employees well.

Recommend whether D@SO Ltd should allow the two employees to job share the supervisor’s role. Give reasons for your recommendation.

Item C: Charlie Paul

State one method of good customer service.

Using Item C, explain one way in which CP focuses on sustainability.

The shopping centres that CP operates in are very busy. CP offers customers free services, such as gift wrapping and beauty demonstrations.

Analyse how CP might benefit from good customer service.

Item D: Charlie Paul

Employees receive 15% commission on the sale of extras.

Using Table 1, calculate the average daily commission paid by CP on key rings.

Show your workings.

Using Item D, calculate the daily wage costs of operating the Santa’s Grotto.

Show your workings.

The commission on extras is shared between all employees of the Grotto.

Explain one benefit of using commission to pay the Grotto employees at each CP store.

CP uses a range of technologies to communicate with customers.

Analyse how CP will benefit from the use of digital technology.

Item E: Charlie Paul

Increasing competition from online retailers is reducing CP’s sales. A large amount of cash is needed to develop its website. CP is considering two options.

1. Converting to a Plc.

2. Reducing the cost of supplies.

Analyse the effect of each of these two options for CP.

Evaluate which of these two options will have the biggest impact on CP’s ability to maintain its current objectives.