South Africa Grade 11 Business Studies Syllabus

This syllabus outlines the curriculum for Business Studies in Grade 11, focusing on the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values necessary for productive participation in economic sectors. It emphasizes business principles, theory, and practice to foster entrepreneurial initiatives, sustainable enterprises, and economic growth.

Term 1

• Influences on Business Environments: Examines control factors within the micro, market, and macro environments. Students learn how businesses can influence the macro environment when beneficial.
• Challenges of Business Environments: Identifies challenges within the micro, market, and macro environments. Examples include difficulties with employees, lack of vision, competition, supply shortages, changes in consumer behavior, income fluctuations, political changes, and legislation.
• Adapting to Challenges: Discusses how businesses adapt to challenges in the various environments. Strategies include information management, strategic responses, mergers, takeovers, acquisitions, alliances, organizational design, flexibility, direct influence, social responsibility, lobbying, networking, and power relations.
• Contemporary Socio-Economic Issues: Analyzes the impact and challenges of contemporary socio-economic issues on business operations and decision-making. Issues include income, inflation, social and cultural factors, economic crime, ethical misconduct, population growth, illiteracy, lack of skills, resource availability, and environmental concerns.
• Business Sectors: Investigates the links between primary, secondary, and tertiary enterprises.
• Benefits of a Company: Discusses the benefits and challenges of establishing a company versus other forms of ownership, including taxation issues. Covers the characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of various ownership structures.
• Avenues of Acquiring a Business: Investigates avenues for acquiring businesses, such as franchising, outsourcing, and leasing. Discusses their advantages, disadvantages, and contractual implications.

Term 2

• Creative Thinking and Problem-Solving: Applies creative thinking to address business problems and improve practices. Covers problem-solving skills, routine vs. creative thinking, mental blocks, idea generation, and complex problem-solving techniques.
• Stress and Crisis Management: Explains and applies concepts related to stress, crisis, and change management. Includes stress management techniques, crisis management strategies, and theories of change management.
• Transforming a Business Plan into an Action Plan: Focuses on transforming a business plan into an actionable plan, using tools like Gantt charts and timelines.
• Setting Up/Starting a Business: Guides students through initiating and setting up business ventures based on an action plan, including acquiring funding.
• Professionalism and Ethics: Discusses theories and principles of professionalism and ethics in the business environment. Applies these principles to business practices.
• Presentation of Business Information: Covers accurate and succinct presentation of business information, including responding to questions and feedback.

Term 3

• Entrepreneurial Qualities and Success Factors: Analyzes and evaluates how businesses embrace entrepreneurial qualities. Reflects on business ventures, identifying success factors and areas for improvement.
• Citizenship Roles and Responsibilities: Analyzes the roles and responsibilities of business practitioners within the business environment, including contributions to social and economic development.
• Marketing Function: Analyzes aspects of the marketing function, including marketing activities, product policy, pricing policy, distribution, marketing communication, and foreign marketing.
• Production Function: Analyzes aspects of the production function, including systems, production planning, safety management, quality control, and production costs.

Term 4

• Team Dynamics: Describes team dynamics theories and applies them to business case studies. Covers stages of team development, team dynamics theories, conflict management, and problem-solving.
• Introduction to Human Resources: Analyzes human resource activities such as recruitment, selection, contracts, induction, salaries, and benefits. Discusses relevant labor legislation.

This syllabus aims to equip learners with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the business world. It encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and ethical business practices.