B&CS

Introduction

This course will introduce you to various aspects of the world of business and encourage you to consider the impact of the business environment, workplace organisation, human resources management and effective communication on the running of businesses.

The recent rapid advances in the use of ICT have given businesses access to a wealth of information, enabled more efficient communication and reduced the time and effort required for many administrative tasks. You will be encouraged to reflect on these benefits, as well as issues such as the need for safe use of ICT equipment and the importance of the security of data.

You will acquire useful practical skills in a wide range of computer applications in business contexts, which will be of practical use and personal value in building a foundation of knowledge, understanding and skills, which could form a basis for further study and assist in future employment.

Full course specification

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Computer Applications

Candidates should be able to demonstrate knowledge, understanding and skills in relation to applications of a computer in a business environment, with particular reference to word processing and/or desk top publishing packages, spreadsheets, databases, charts and graphics.

Candidates should be encouraged to use their judgement to assess the effectiveness and appropriateness of processes and outcomes.

Candidates will be expected to select and use appropriate business software to capture and store data, taking into account the need for retrieval and ease of analysis, design appropriate means of presenting data, using a variety of diagrams, graphs and text, which will meet the specific requirements of a given task and use appropriate business software to carry out a given range of tasks and evaluate the outcomes.

File Management

Candidates should be able to:

• create, save, retrieve, edit and delete files for all applications;
• print hard copy;
• import and export data between applications;

Word Processing

Candidates should be able to:

• operate the computer to produce accurate copy;
• identify and correct unmarked errors, including errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar as well as in the conventions of layout
  and display;
• display text in an appropriate manner, including blocked or indented styles, line spacing, centring, justification, enumeration, bullet points;
• make effective use of display features including closed capitals, spaced capitals, emboldening, italics, a variety of fonts and different font point sizes;
• correctly carry out given amendments, to printed or handwritten material, in the form of balloons, arrows, deletions, insertions, etc;
• rearrange material in alphabetical, numerical and chronological sequence;
• use search and replace facilities;
• move text, using cut, copy and paste functions;
• understand how mail merge can be used in conjunction with a database file;
• use appropriate page layouts, including headers, footers, page numbers, columns;
• show a knowledge of, and act upon, the common conventional correction symbols used in word processing and printing;
• add borders around sections of text.

Spreadsheets

Candidates should be able to:

• design and create a spreadsheet to fulfil a specified task;
• make appropriate use of rows and columns to meet the demands of a given task, including inserting, deleting and re-sizing;
• insert, amend and delete labels, values and formulae within a spreadsheet;
• replicate values and formulae where necessary;
• format cell entries appropriately, eg alignment, number of decimal places, currency, style;
• display and print formulae;
• Sort rows in numerical, alphabetical or chronological order.

Charts

Candidates should be able to:

• import data series from spreadsheets to create charts;
• use a variety of chart formats to meet the needs of a given situation, eg line diagram, bar or pie chart;
• insert title and data legends.

Databases

Candidates should be able to:

• design and create an appropriate data capture sheet for use with a database;
• design and create a database with appropriate fields and records to meet a specified need;
• identify appropriate data types, eg alphabetic, numeric, alphanumeric;
• add and edit fields, eg headings, widths and data types;
• insert, edit and delete records;
• search, sort and select records based on specified criteria to meet a given need;
• modify layouts for specific purposes, eg list, form, mailing labels.

Graphics & Clipart

Candidates should be able to:

• create simple freehand shapes and/or draw geometrical shapes for a given need;
• make effective use of shading and patterns;
• make effective use of a range of line styles, eg broken;
• combine text and graphics, where appropriate;
• edit graphics, using cut, copy and paste facilities, align shapes and text appropriately;
• re-size and move graphics and/or clipart.

Composition

Candidates should be able to:

• design/compose a response to given source material, in the form of, for example, a letter, memorandum, notice, advertisement or note, using information from one or more sources within the question paper taking account of the purpose and audience/recipient of the document.

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Workplace Organisation

Candidates should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• different kinds of working environment, eg open plan and cellular offices, and how the type of office layout is influenced by the nature and needs of the organisation and the demands of the task;
• modern developments in working practice, eg “hot-desking”, teleworking, flexible working; ergonomics: how design may influence physical comfort and working conditions and may maximise efficiency;
• the importance of health and safety in the workplace and its impact on the working environment; an awareness of the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations and the responsibilities of employers and employees in that context;
• the importance of accuracy in the preparation, storage and retrieval of information within the workplace, including computer files;
• the importance of the security of data (including personal and financial) within the workplace and the need to be mindful of hazards, both physical and in relation to data such as viruses; methods of protecting data; current data protection legislation;
• the effective use of human resources, the effective use of other resources, eg issues of wastage and recycling.

With regard to all of the above topic areas, you should be able to demonstrate the ability to apply this knowledge and understanding. You should be encouraged to analyse and evaluate situations, to investigate advantages and drawbacks and to suggest improvements and solutions.

ICT Hub

Health & Safety

IT@SS

Becta

Teach-ICT

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Human Resources

During this unit you should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

methods of internal and external recruitment of staff, eg notice boards, careers services, job centres, agencies, advertisements, eg in newspapers, periodicals and the internet;

• methods of selection: evaluation of application forms and curricula vitae (“CVs”), short listing;
• interviews: the importance of preparation and the setting, interview techniques;
• contracts of employment; job descriptions/person specifications;
• training: induction; staff development; in-house, external, on-the-job and off-the-job training;
• forms of remuneration: wages and salaries; time rates, piece rates, overtime, bonus, commission, performance-related pay, fringe benefits, gross and net pay; (Candidates should be able to carry out simple calculations.)
• employment rights and responsibilities and equal opportunities: outline knowledge of current legislation relating to Equal Pay, Sex Discrimination, Race Relations and Disability Discrimination, and the significance of European Union legislation;
• termination of employment: dismissal, redundancy, resignation and retirement.

With regard to all of the above topic areas, you should be able to demonstrate the ability to apply this knowledge and understanding. You will be encouraged to analyse and evaluate situations, to investigate advantages and drawbacks and to suggest improvements and solutions.

Homework booklet

Business Studies Online

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ICT in the business environment

During this unit you should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the purposes of the main data input devices, eg keyboard, scanner, OMR, pointing devices;
• the purposes of the main data storage devices, eg hard drive, floppy disk drive, CD/DVD drive, zip drive and other high capacity storage devices;
• the purposes of the main data output devices, eg printer (dot matrix, ink jet, laser), communication hardware;
• the characteristics and uses of application software, eg word processing, presentation software, spreadsheets, database, graphics and DTP and their value for particular tasks;
• the use of local and wide area networks including intranet and the internet.

With regard to all of the above topic areas, you should be able to demonstrate the ability to apply this knowledge and understanding. You need to be able to analyse and evaluate situations, to investigate advantages and drawbacks and to suggest improvements and solutions.

Homework booklet

BBC Webwise – Internet Connections

ICT GCSE – Network Topologies

Keyring Dimensions