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‘B’ Paper 2 Question Guide

Overview

Timing🎓 Assessment% Final Grade
12 mins3 x Level 2 Discussion
Evaluation 4 marks
30%

Example ‘B’ Question

Rapid Eats is a small start-up business delivering food to customers’ homes.
The owner Robbie is a sole trader.   Robbie employs two part-time employees and his objective is to increase market share and find more regular customers.

2 (b) Consider the three main styles of leadership Robbie could use in his business. Which leadership style do you think he should use? Justify your answer

Leadership Style 1:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Leadership Style 2:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Leadership Style 3:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Recommendation
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….[12]

For each leadership style you must complete a detailed discussion in context. A useful structure to use is knowledge, application, analysis and further analysis.

KnowledgeLeadership Style 1:Autocratic leadership is where Robbie makes all decisions without consultation.
ApplicationRobbie decides all delivery schedules and routes,
Analysisand communication is one-way with employees as they have no opportunity to comment or take part in any decisions about the delivery services which can be demotivating.
Further AnalysisThis means that the employees may not work as hard, less food is delivered and Robbie’ s profits will be reduced.

We repeat this process for the other leadership styles:

Leadership Style 2: In democratic leadership communication is two way, allowing the experience and ideas of both part-time employees to be considered by the owner.

This means that the employees can tell Robbie what kind of food delivery service his customers want and give him advice on promoting his products.

This will lead Robbie to get better information about his customers and make better decisions.


Leadership Style 3: Lassiez faire leadership is where the main objectives of the new business are shared with employees. But employees are left to organise their own delivery schedules and take decisions with no interference from Robbie, which can motivate as the two part-time employees will feel trusted.

However, it means that it will be very difficult for Robbie to control the employees and make sure his customers all have the same consistent service.

Recommendation ‘B’ Question

The recommendation or conclusion of 12 mark questions can be the most challenging. A structure you can use to secure all the marks is the 3 ‘R’s:

  • Reasoned           (why your choice will have the greatest positive impact)
  • Recommendation in context    (make your decision based on the information in the case study)
  • Reject the alternatives   (why your choice is more suitable than the other options)

One useful method of evaluation is to select the option that will enable the business to achieve its objectives.  Rapid Eats aim is to increase market share. This exemplar answer makes a reasoned, recommendation in context by justifying how democratic leadership will improve Rapid Eats’ reputation and increase their customer base.

Democratic is best as it suits Robbie’s business objective of gaining new business by building his customer base by finding out what customers want from asking his employees, and building a positive reputation for a quality delivery service from motivated employees.

Then they reject the alternative options by explaining how they are not as suitable as democratic leadership:

“Lassiez Faire will mean Robbie has less control over his employees and service so it might damage his reputation. Autocratic means he won’t get valuable information from his employees on customer preferences.”

Example ‘B’ Question Complete

The completed ‘B’ answer will look like this:

2 (b) Consider the three main styles of leadership Robbie could use in his business. Which leadership style do you think he should use? Justify your answer

Leadership Style 1: Autocratic leadership is where Robbie makes all decisions without consultation. about delivery schedules and routes. and communication is one-way with employees having no opportunity to comment or take part in any decisions about the delivery services which can be demotivating. This means that the employees may not work as hard, less food is delivered and Robbie’ s profits will be reduced.

Leadership Style 2: In democratic leadership communication is two way, allowing the experience and ideas of both part-time employees to be considered by the owner.
This means that the employees can tell Robbie what kind of food delivery service his customers want and give him advice on promoting his products.
This will lead to Robbie getting better information about his customers and making better decisions.

Leadership Style 3: Lassiez faire leadership is where the main objectives of the new business shared with employees but then they are left to organise their own delivery schedules and take decisions without any interference from Robbie, which can be motivating as the two part-time employees will feel trusted.
However, it means that it will be very difficult for Robbie to control the employees and make sure his customers all have the same consistent service.


Recommendation:
Democratic is best as it suits Robbie’s business objective of gaining new business by building his customer base, by finding out what they want from asking his employees, and building a positive reputation for good delivery service from motivated employees. Lassiez Faire will mean he has less control over his employees and service so it might damage his reputation. Autocratic means he won’t get valuable information from his employees on customer preferences.

Top Tip

⭐⭐⭐Top Tip Paper 2 ⭐⭐⭐
‘B’ 12 Mark Questions

Many students complete the recommendation by repeating the information from the earlier parts of the answer in a summary form.
Examiners will not award evaluation marks for simply repeating information in your recommendation.

You must make a reasoned recommendation, based on the evidence in your answer to secure high marks in a part ‘B’ question.
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