business ia research question ideas

IB Business Management IA: 60 Topic Ideas and Tips

Table of contents

• Writing Metier

Selecting the right topic for your IB Business Management IA is a crucial step and a golden opportunity to showcase your understanding and appreciation of the business world. 

As someone immersed in assisting students with their academic writing, I cannot stress enough the significance of aligning your IA topic with both the course objectives and your personal interests.

In this ever-changing business environment , especially with the recent impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous avenues and pressing issues beckon a deeper exploration. 

As I know from the general IB criteria, the IA should reflect your grasp of business concepts and demonstrate a keen eye for real-world applications.

Understanding the IB Business Management IA

Before we dive into the plethora of topic ideas that await your exploration, let’s take a moment to understand the essence of the IB Business Management IA.

In my opinion, the IA serves as a platform where you can marry theoretical knowledge with practical insights. It beckons you to step beyond the confines of a classroom and engage with business concepts more tangibly.

The goal is clear: to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the contemporary world’s business dynamics. And believe me, once you immerse yourself in a topic that resonates with you, you will find the process enjoyable and aim for that coveted level 7 grade with a newfound enthusiasm.

Now, let me guess, you might wonder, “How do I choose a topic that not only piques my interest but also holds substantial relevance in today’s context?” 

Well, fret not, because as someone who is running a company that has guided numerous students in their academic curriculum, my team and I have curated a list of diverse business IA topics that might just spark that perfect idea strictly for you. I’ll share this list of 50+ different topics later in this article.

Working on Business Management Topics

In my experience, working with business management topics offers a rich ground for exploration. For instance, consider exploring the drastic shift in marketing strategies with the advent of technology. 

Real-life examples abound, from the surge in influencer marketing to the use of big data in crafting personalized marketing campaigns. Or perhaps you might find yourself intrigued by the concept of “sustainable development” and its influence on contemporary companies. 

As I know, many companies nowadays are adopting green initiatives, not just as a part of corporate social responsibility but also as a strategic movement to align with the growing consumer choice for eco-friendly brands.

The main goal here is to choose a topic that intrigues you and allows you to showcase an in-depth understanding of business concepts in a real-world context . 

You can always get help with your IB English Internal Assessment whenever you are in need.

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And if at any point you find yourself needing guidance or assistance in choosing a topic or crafting your IA, my business, WritingMetier , is here to assist you with both topic suggestions and internal assessment writing services.

List of Good BM IA Topics

I understand the importance of selecting a topic that not only adheres to the IB criteria but also stands out in terms of uniqueness and depth. 

Here are some unusual yet manageable IB Business Management IA topics, and moreover, I’m sharing with you potential RQs that can be used even today:

1. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Brand Image

How does the implementation of CSR initiatives influence the brand image of tech companies?

2. Psychological Pricing Strategies

What impact do psychological pricing strategies have on consumer purchasing behavior in the fashion industry?

3. Remote Work Culture and Employee Productivity

How has the shift to remote work culture during the COVID-19 pandemic affected employee productivity in IT firms?

4. Green Marketing and Consumer Perception

How does green marketing influence consumer perception and buying decisions in the automobile industry?

5. Gamification as a Marketing Tool

What is the effectiveness of gamification as a marketing tool in enhancing customer engagement for e-commerce platforms?

6. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Customer Service

How has the integration of AI in customer service improved customer satisfaction in the banking sector?

7. Subscription Box Business Model

What factors contribute to the success of the subscription box business model in the beauty and cosmetics industry?

8. Influencer Marketing and Brand Loyalty

How does influencer marketing influence brand loyalty among millennials in the fashion industry?

9. Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Management

How can blockchain technology enhance transparency and efficiency in supply chain management for retail companies?

10. Circular Economy and Sustainable Business Practices

How are companies in the manufacturing sector adopting the principles of the circular economy to promote sustainable business practices?

11. Emotional Intelligence and Leadership

What role does emotional intelligence play in effective leadership within healthcare organizations?

12. Augmented Reality (AR) in Retail

How is augmented reality revolutionizing the customer shopping experience in the retail sector?

13. Ethical Sourcing and Consumer Preference

How does ethical sourcing influence consumer preference in the coffee industry?

14. Crisis Management and Corporate Reputation

How do effective crisis management strategies safeguard corporate reputation during product recalls?

15. Employee Wellness Programs and Organizational Performance

What impact do employee wellness programs have on organizational performance in the corporate sector?

16. Social Media Analytics and Market Research

How are companies utilizing social media analytics for market research and product development?

17. Virtual Reality (VR) in Real Estate Marketing

How is virtual reality transforming marketing strategies in the real estate sector?

18. Ephemeral Content and Brand Engagement

What is the role of ephemeral content in enhancing brand engagement on social media platforms?

19. Crowdfunding as a Financing Option

How effective is crowdfunding as a financing option for startup companies in the technology sector?

20. Gender Diversity in Corporate Boards

What impact does gender diversity in corporate boards have on company performance?

Are you ready for more IB BM IA topic ideas? Of course you are. Let’s continue 😉

More Business IA ideas

Here are more unique yet manageable topics along with research questions for your IB Business Management IA:

21. Corporate Storytelling and Brand Identity

How does corporate storytelling enhance brand identity and customer loyalty in the hospitality industry?

22. The Role of Big Data in Business Decision Making

How is big data influencing business decision-making processes in e-commerce companies?

23. The Impact of Brexit on International Business Strategies

How have international business strategies of UK-based companies evolved in response to Brexit?

24. The Gig Economy and Labor Rights

What are the implications of the gig economy on labor rights and job security in the transportation sector?

25. The Rise of Veganism and Food Industry Adaptations

How is the rise of veganism impacting product development strategies in the food industry?

26. The Role of Behavioral Economics in Marketing

How are doctrines of behavioral economics being utilized to enhance marketing strategies in the retail sector?

27. The Impact of Podcasting on Business Marketing

How is the rise of podcasting affecting content marketing strategies for businesses?

28. The Influence of Cultural Intelligence on International Business

How does cultural intelligence influence the success of international business ventures?

29. The Integration of Internet of Things (IoT) in Supply Chain Management

How is the integration of IoT technologies enhancing efficiency in supply chain management?

30. The Role of Corporate Wellness Programs in Employee Retention

How do corporate wellness programs influence employee retention rates in IT companies?

31. The Impact of Urbanization on Retail Business Strategies

How is urbanization influencing retail business strategies and store locations?

32. The Influence of Music on Consumer Behavior in Retail Environments

How does background music influence consumer behavior and spending patterns in retail environments?

33. The Role of Chatbots in Enhancing Customer Service

How are chatbots revolutionizing customer service in the e-commerce sector?

34. The Impact of Sustainable Packaging on Consumer Buying Decisions

How does sustainable packaging influence consumer buying decisions in the FMCG sector?

35. The Influence of Celebrity Activism on Brand Perceptions

How does celebrity activism influence brand perceptions and consumer loyalty?

36. The Role of Emotional Branding in Building Customer Loyalty

How does emotional branding influence customer loyalty in the luxury fashion industry?

37. The Impact of Virtual Teams on Organizational Productivity

How have virtual teams influenced organizational productivity during the COVID-19 pandemic?

38. The Role of Corporate Social Innovation in Business Sustainability

How is corporate social innovation contributing to business sustainability in the technology sector?

39. The Influence of Experiential Marketing on Brand Engagement

How does experiential marketing enhance brand engagement and customer experiences?

40. The Impact of Language Localization on International Marketing Strategies

How does language localization influence the effectiveness of international marketing strategies?

41. The Role of Neuro-Marketing in Consumer Behavior Analysis

How is neuro-marketing being utilized to analyze and influence consumer behavior in the advertising industry?

42. The Impact of 3D Printing on Manufacturing Businesses

How is the adoption of 3D printing technology influencing production strategies in manufacturing businesses?

43. The Influence of Micro-Moments on Digital Marketing Strategies

How are micro-moments reshaping digital marketing strategies for e-commerce businesses?

44. The Role of Business Analytics in Strategic Planning

How is business analytics aiding in strategic planning and decision-making in financial institutions?

45. The Impact of Augmented Reality (AR) on Online Retail

How is augmented reality enhancing the online shopping experience and influencing consumer buying decisions?

46. The Influence of Employee Engagement on Organizational Performance

How does enhancing employee engagement influence organizational performance and productivity in service industries?

47. The Role of Content Curation in Digital Marketing

How is content curation being utilized as a digital marketing strategy to enhance brand visibility and engagement?

48. The Impact of Social Entrepreneurship on Community Development

How is social entrepreneurship contributing to community development and social change?

49. The Influence of Omni-Channel Retailing on Customer Experience

How is omni-channel retailing enhancing customer experience and loyalty in the fashion industry?

50. The Role of Predictive Analytics in Inventory Management

How is predictive analytics being utilized to enhance inventory management and reduce costs in retail businesses?

51. The Impact of Corporate Transparency on Consumer Trust

How does corporate transparency influence consumer trust and brand loyalty in the food industry?

52. The Influence of Ethical Leadership on Organizational Culture

How does ethical leadership influence organizational culture and employee satisfaction in healthcare organizations?

53. The Role of Mobile Wallets in E-commerce

How are mobile wallets influencing consumer purchasing behavior and payment preferences in e-commerce?

54. The Impact of Social Media Influencers on Brand Image

How do social media influencers influence brand image and consumer purchasing decisions in the beauty industry?

55. The Influence of Eco-Friendly Initiatives on Brand Loyalty

How do eco-friendly initiatives influence brand loyalty and consumer preferences in the automotive industry?

56. The Role of Business Intelligence in Competitive Advantage

How is business intelligence being utilized to gain a competitive advantage in the telecommunications industry?

57. The Impact of Employee Training Programs on Organizational Growth

How do employee training programs influence organizational growth and employee performance in manufacturing industries?

58. The Influence of Consumer Reviews on Online Purchasing Decisions

How do online consumer reviews influence purchasing decisions and brand perceptions in the electronics industry?

59. The Role of Corporate Blogging in Brand Awareness

How is corporate blogging being utilized to enhance brand awareness and engagement in the IT sector?

60. The Impact of Green Supply Chain Management on Environmental Sustainability

How is green supply chain management contributing to environmental sustainability in the logistics industry?

These topics align with what you envision, and hopefully, you now have enough ideas to get inspiration.

Tips for Choosing and Researching Your Topic

Selecting the right topic sometimes feels like a Herculean task. In my opinion, the secret to easing this process lies in aligning your BM IA topic with current trends and your interests. 

Yes, a  topic that resonates with you  can fuel your enthusiasm and drive a more insightful analysis.

Now, let’s talk about  relevance . In the current business landscape, topics revolving around the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, the surge in e-commerce, or the increasing focus on sustainable business practices are timely and rich with information. 

Drawing from real-life examples , consider analyzing the strategies adopted by businesses to pivot during the pandemic or the role of digital marketing in enhancing brand loyalty during these times.

Similarly, opting for a topic  with readily available comprehensive information  is a good choice. Trust me, having many reliable sources can significantly streamline the research process, allowing you to craft a well-rounded and insightful Business IA.

If you are also interested, please check a new article about good business management EE topics for IB students.

Crafting a Successful IA

As you may already understand from the previous parts, the foundation of a successful Business and management IA lies in meticulous planning and a clear and understandable research question. 

Now, let’s focus on the importance of a well-supported conclusion. Drawing from real-life examples, consider analyzing various case studies to substantiate your arguments, thereby adding depth and credibility to your IA.

Moreover, do not forget about the power of brainstorming and mind mapping. These strategies foster creativity and help unearth unique perspectives that might remain overlooked. 

Keep in mind that your IA in BM reflects your understanding and application of business concepts in a real-world context. Therefore, don’t hesitate to seek feedback and refine your topic to align perfectly with the IB objectives.

If you find yourself at a crossroads, remember that assistance is just a click away. At Writing Metier, we specialize in helping students like you with topic suggestions and crafting impeccable IAs, ensuring that your work is both rewarding and successful.

I must emphasize that your topic choice can make or break the whole IB Business Management IA. 

In my opinion, crafting a successful IA is akin to nurturing a seed into a full-fledged tree. It requires patience, diligence, and a deep-rooted knowledge of the business dynamics that govern our world today.

More related articles with IB topic suggestions:

• Global Politics IA Ideas
• Literaturature IA Topics
• Math IA Topic Ideas
• Math AA Topics
• Physics IA Topics and RQs
• Bio IA Ideas
• Biology Research Paper Topic Ideas
• Chemistry IA Topics
• Economics IA Topic Ideas
• ESS IA Topics

From years of experience assisting students, I have observed that those who choose topics aligned with their personal interests and the pressing issues of the modern business world often find themselves more engaged and enthusiastic throughout the writing and researching process. 

Exactly! A well-chosen topic not only facilitates a smoother writing process but also paves the way for a richer and more insightful analysis.

This is why I encourage you to choose a topic that resonates with you and allows you to showcase a deep understanding of business concepts intertwined with real-world applications. 

Always remember, your IA is not just another academic assignment but a golden opportunity to enter the fascinating business world, fostering a lifelong appreciation and understanding of the subject .

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Keep in mind, should you need guidance or help with your IB assignments , WritingMetier is here to support you every step, offering expert advice and assistance in both topic selection and crafting a stellar IA.

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Vasyl Kafidoff is a co-founder and CEO at WritingMetier. He is interested in education and how modern technology makes it more accessible. He wants to bring awareness about new learning possibilities as an educational specialist. When Vasy is not working, he’s found behind a drum kit.

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50+ IB Business Management IA Ideas

Request free trial class, ib business management hl ia ideas.

This list of IB Business HL IA ideas is a helpful resource for students seeking inspiration and guidance in their coursework. The IA questions along with the details is a research project that accounts for 25% of the total grade for Business HL students and is based on primary research obtained from the organization under investigation. The list includes a wide range of topics and ia questions, such as the impact of globalization on small businesses, the role of ethics in business decision making, and the effects of technological advancements on the job market. By selecting a strong topic and conducting thorough research and planning, students can create a standout IA that showcases their understanding of business concepts and theories. Additionally, students can find high-scoring IB Business and Management Internal Assessment examples to further enhance their understanding and improve their own work.

1.) What marketing strategies should D-Mart supermarkets use to increase their sales revenue in Pune?

Research question:.

What marketing strategies should D-Mart supermarkets use to increase their sales revenue in Pune?

Area of Syllabus:

Marketing (The four Ps, Extended Marketing Mix)

Methodology:

Interview with the manager, Survey with customers, Observation at the store

Organizational Tools:

SWOT Analysis, Profit and Loss Account, Ratio Analysis, 7P’s of Marketing mix

Recommendation:

Invest in radio, television advertising, digital marketing and e-commerce. Open stores in shopping malls to attract more customers. Use direct, viral, social media, and guerrilla marketing.

2.) To what extent, and how should the employee motivation at Sonigara Builders be increased in Pune?

To what extent, and how should the employee motivation at Sonigara Builders be increased in Pune?

Human Resource Management (Planning, Motivation, Stakeholders, Leadership, Organizational Culture, Employee and Employer Relations)

Interview with the owner, Company’s Website, Interview employees

Organizational  Tools:

Motivation Theories – Taylor and Maslow, Financial and Non-Financial Rewards, SWOT Analysis

Sonigara Builders should seek to motivate their workforce to maximize job satisfaction, staff morale and labor productivity by financial rewards (salary, wages, commission, performance-related pay, perks) and non-financial rewards (job enrichment, job rotation, encourage teamwork).

3.) Should Sante Spa restaurant set up a new branch in order to maximize their profitability?

Should Sante Spa restaurant set up a new branch in order to maximize their profitability?

Operations Management (Quality Management, Location, Research and Development), Marketing (Market Research, Extended Marketing Mix)

Interview owner, Observations at new branch location

Investment Appraisal (Payback Period), Decision Tree, SWOT Analysis, Force Field Analysis, Ansoff Matrix, Net Present Value

It is recommended that Sante Spa should consider setting up a new branch. It should go digital to leverage growth. Consider franchising, reinvent your product portfolio, focus on customer service, encourage learning and training sessions for employees. Lastly, build partnerships that enable growth.

4.) What are the consequences of Takur Bakery’s decision to restrain from rapid expansion of the company?

What are the consequences of Takur Bakery’s decision to restrain from rapid expansion of the company?

Growth and Evolution (Internal and External growth), Operations Management

Interview with the owner, Observations

SWOT Analysis, Force Field Analysis, STEEPLE Analysis, Balance Sheet

Thakur Bakery should look at advantages of expansion rather than restraining it from expansion. The consequences to restrain from expansion include the company will not grow, it will not secure larger market share, sales and profit will not increase, poor brand awareness. However the reasons for restraining from rapid expansion would be entry into new markets that require extensive market research and compete with well-established rivals.

5.) What expansion strategies should Bajaj use to expand its electric scooters business in the face of increasing demand in Pune?

What expansion strategies should Bajaj use to expand its electric scooters business in the face of increasing demand in Pune?

Growth and Evolution (Internal and External Growth)

Customer Survey, Observations at the showrooms, Interview with manager

Position Map, Investment Appraisal, SWOT Analysis, STEEPLE Analysis

Expansionary fiscal policy should be used to boost bajaj business activity. The government should provide subsidies and reduce taxes on electric vehicles because it’s sustainable for the environment. Businesses tend to require external finance to fund their expansion. Expansion strategies should include product development, increase customer base, diversification, increase brand awareness, recruit more workers, franchise new showrooms, use high-tech machinery.

6.) What promotional strategies should Cake Studio use to target a new market segment which emphasizes their USP?

What promotional strategies should Cake Studio use to target a new market segment which emphasizes their USP?

Marketing (Planning, Four Ps – Promotion: ATL and BTL)

Focus Groups, Observation

Organizational Tools:

4 P’s of Marketing Mix, Ansoff Matrix, Perception Map, BCG Matrix, AIDA Model

Prices could also be changed to attract different market segments. Cake Studio must be able to provide suitable products to cater for each market segment. The size and purchasing power of each market segment must be quantifiable. They should use mass marketing strategy to target market segments. The marketing strategies should focus on the uniqueness and exclusivity of the product. Promotion may need to take place on a large scale through above the line methods to attract a large number of potential customers.

7.) Should Suhana company undertake investment into ready to eat product lines in order to increase their market share and build a larger brand in the Indian Food Industry?

Should Suhana company undertake investment into ready to eat product lines in order to increase their market share and build a larger brand in the Indian Food Industry?

Marketing (Role, The Four Ps, Market Research)

Focus Groups

STEEPLE Analysis, Decision Tree, Investment Appraisal, Force Field

Yes definitely Suhana company should invest in ready-to-eat packets in order to increase their market share and build a larger brand in the Indian Food Industry. It should be segmented by product types (Instant Break, Soup and Snacks), distribution (Supermarkets, retailers) and geography(Asia-Pacific, South America). It should focus on packaging for promotion. It should constantly innovate products to meet and even preempt evolving needs. They should also focus on product development, market penetration and expansion of the sales channel. To increase demand, the firm should consider introducing loss leader pricing strategy in relation to ready-to-eat packets.

8.) How can Hi-Fi Gym improve its brand presence in Pune, India?

How can Hi-Fi Gym improve its brand presence in Pune, India?

Marketing (Branding, Promotion – ATL and BTL, Pricing)

Interview with owner, Customers Survey

SWOT Analysis, Position Map, Fishbone Diagram, BCG Matrix, STEEPLE Analysis Recommendation: Hi-Fi Gym should use branding to improve its brand presence in Pune by using several marketing strategies. It should franchise new branches in different locations. They should use psychological pricing by offering packages in months and years. It should focus on long-term goals and objectives. It should create brand identity, keep branding consistent, they should be authentic, offer value and focus on quality.

9.) How can Big Bazar supermarket increase its staff productivity?

How can Big Bazar supermarket increase its staff productivity?

Human Resource Management (Appraisal, Training, Leadership Style, Employer and employee relations)

Interview with HR Manager, Survey with employees

Taylor’s, Maslow’s, Profit and Loss Account, SWOT Analysis

It should change its leadership style. Since there is a communication problem between staff and managers, they should change their ways of dealing and treating employees. The managers should assign tasks and roles to staff. It should divide the staff and implement division of labour on a rotational basis to build teamwork. Staff should be appreciated for their hard-work through promotion or higher pay. On-site training should be provided to staff.

10.) What methods of motivation should Ranka Jewellers implement to retain staff?

What methods of motivation should Ranka Jewellers implement to retain staff?

Human Resource Management (Planning, Motivation, Leadership, Corporate culture, Employee and Employer relation)

Survey with employees to evaluate their level of satisfaction, Interview with owner of the company.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, Non-Financial Rewards, SWOT Analysis

The work should be appreciated and employees should feel valued. This will encourage them to work harder for praise, keeping them motivated throughout. On-site training should be provided by business executives. Leadership style needs to be changed to situational. The company should reconsider the current employee positions in regards to their abilities and past experiences.

11.) What marketing strategies should Burger King use to expand their reach in the European market?

What marketing strategies should Burger King use to expand their reach in the European market?

Marketing (International marketing, Market segmentation, Targeting and positioning)

Secondary research (industry reports, competitor analysis), survey with potential customers in Europe, analysis of company’s current marketing efforts

SWOT Analysis, PESTEL Analysis, Marketing Mix, Market Research Tools

Focus on developing a strong digital marketing presence, tailor messaging and promotions to different segments of the European market, consider partnering with European retailers or distributors, attend industry trade shows to build awareness and generate leads.

12.) How can Wynn Resorts Ltd. reduce employee turnover in their call center?

How can Wynn Resorts Ltd. reduce employee turnover in their call center?

Human Resource Management (Recruitment and Selection, Training and Development, Motivation and Leadership)

Interviews with current and former employees, analysis of exit surveys, review of company policies and procedures, benchmarking against industry standards

SWOT Analysis, Job Analysis, Performance Appraisal, Employee Training and Development Programs, Leadership Theory

Develop and implement a comprehensive onboarding program for new employees, offer ongoing training and development opportunities, ensure that compensation and benefits packages are competitive with industry standards, establish a culture of open communication and feedback.

13.) What steps can Party City take to improve their supply chain efficiency?

What steps can Party City take to improve their supply chain efficiency?

Operations Management (Supply Chain Management, Quality Management, Process Analysis)

Site visits to suppliers and manufacturers, analysis of current inventory management systems, interviews with supply chain partners, benchmarking against industry standards

SWOT Analysis, Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, Total Quality Management, Inventory Management Systems

Invest in new inventory management systems and technology, streamline processes and eliminate bottlenecks, establish strong relationships with suppliers and manufacturers, conduct regular quality control checks.

14.) What pricing strategy should Yves Saint-Laurent use to increase market share in the luxury goods sector?

What pricing strategy should Yves Saint-Laurent use to increase market share in the luxury goods sector?

Marketing (Pricing Strategies, Market Segmentation)

Secondary research (industry reports, competitor analysis), focus groups with luxury goods consumers, analysis of company’s current pricing strategy

SWOT Analysis, Pricing Models (Cost-Plus, Value-Based, Penetration), Market Research Tools

Consider a penetration pricing strategy to gain market share, offer promotions or discounts to attract new customers, tailor pricing to different segments of the luxury goods market, focus on creating a perception of exclusivity and luxury.

15.) How can Malabar Gold & Diamonds improve their customer service to increase customer loyalty?

How can Malabar Gold & Diamonds improve their customer service to increase customer loyalty?

Marketing (Customer Relationship Management, Service Marketing)

Mystery shopping at company locations, analysis of customer service interactions, customer satisfaction surveys, benchmarking against industry standards

SWOT Analysis, CRM Software, Service Quality Measurement Tools, Complaint Management Systems

Implement a comprehensive training program for customer service employees, empower employees to make decisions and resolve issues on the spot, create a formal complaint management system, establish a loyalty program for repeat customers.

16.) What steps can Maruti Suzuki take to reduce their carbon footprint?

What steps can Maruti Suzuki take to reduce their carbon footprint?

Environmental Management (Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility)

Analysis of company’s energy and resource use, benchmarking against industry standards, consultation with environmental experts, review of government regulations

SWOT Analysis, Life Cycle Assessment, Environmental Management Systems, Carbon Accounting Tools

Develop and implement a sustainability plan with specific goals and targets, invest in renewable energy sources, reduce waste and implement recycling programs, use sustainable materials in products and packaging.

17.) How can TCS improve their team collaboration and communication?

How can TCS improve their team collaboration and communication?

Organizational Behavior (Team Dynamics, Communication, Leadership)

Surveys with employees, analysis of team communication patterns, review of company policies and procedures, benchmarking against industry standards

SWOT Analysis, Team Building Exercises, Communication Strategies, Leadership Development Programs

Implement regular team building exercises and activities, establish clear communication channels and protocols, provide training in effective communication and conflict resolution, develop and promote effective leadership practices.

18.) What marketing strategies should Raymond use to target the Gen Z demographic?

Marketing (Target Marketing, Consumer Behavior)

Focus groups with Gen Z consumers, analysis of social media trends and platforms, review of competitor strategies, benchmarking against industry standards

SWOT Analysis, Market Segmentation Strategies, Social Media Marketing Tools, Customer Relationship Management Software

Develop a strong social media presence and engage with Gen Z influencers, use targeted advertising on social media platforms, create content that speaks to Gen Z values and interests, offer personalized and interactive experiences.

19.) How can Costco improve their online sales and customer experience?

Marketing (E-commerce, Customer Experience Management)

Analysis of website user experience, surveys with online customers, benchmarking against industry standards, consultation with e-commerce experts

SWOT Analysis, Customer Journey Mapping, E-commerce Platform Analysis, Conversion Rate Optimization Tools

Invest in improving website user experience and functionality, optimize the customer journey from browsing to purchase, offer personalized recommendations and promotions, provide clear and transparent information about shipping and returns.

20.) To what extent does employee engagement affect organizational performance in Cognizant?

Organizational Behavior (Motivation, Job Satisfaction, Performance Management)

Surveys with employees and managers, analysis of performance metrics and employee turnover rates, benchmarking against industry standards, review of company policies and procedures

SWOT Analysis, Employee Engagement Surveys, Performance Management Frameworks, Total Rewards Programs

Develop and implement employee engagement initiatives such as recognition programs, career development opportunities, and work-life balance initiatives. Set clear performance goals and provide regular feedback and coaching to employees. Align total rewards programs with employee performance and organizational goals.

21.) How can Kovai Pazhamudir Nilayam improve their procurement process and reduce costs?

Business Management (Procurement Management, Cost Management)

Analysis of procurement processes, cost analysis, benchmarking against industry standards, consultation with procurement experts, review of government regulations

SWOT Analysis, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Procurement Performance Metrics, Contract Management Systems

Implement a strategic sourcing approach to reduce costs and improve supplier relationships. Conduct regular spend analysis to identify areas for cost savings. Use data analytics to optimize procurement processes. Develop and implement effective contract management systems to improve supplier performance and reduce risk.

22.) What factors contribute to customer loyalty in Popeyes and how can they be improved?

Marketing (Customer Relationship Management, Customer Experience Management)

Surveys with customers, analysis of customer feedback and complaints, benchmarking against industry standards, review of company policies and procedures

SWOT Analysis, Customer Journey Mapping, Net Promoter Score, Customer Relationship Management Software

Develop and implement a customer-centric culture within the organization. Provide personalized and engaging customer experiences at all touchpoints. Use customer feedback to continuously improve products and services. Offer loyalty programs and incentives to reward and retain customers.

23.) How can Himalaya diversify their product offerings and enter new markets?

Strategic Management (Diversification, Market Entry Strategies)

Analysis of market trends and opportunities, consultation with industry experts, review of company resources and capabilities, benchmarking against industry standards

SWOT Analysis, Porter’s Five Forces Analysis, Resource-Based View Analysis, Ansoff Matrix

Conduct market research to identify new product offerings and potential markets. Utilize partnerships and collaborations to enter new markets. Develop and acquire resources and capabilities necessary for new product offerings. Use a diversification strategy such as related or unrelated diversification.

24.) How can Zomato effectively manage their international human resources?

Human Resource Management (Global Human Resource Management, Cross-Cultural Management)

Surveys with international employees, analysis of cultural differences and practices, consultation with international HR experts, review of government regulations

Cross-Cultural Training Programs, International Performance Management Frameworks, International Compensation and Benefits Structures

Develop and implement cross-cultural training programs for employees and managers. Use international performance management frameworks to evaluate and develop employee performance. Develop international compensation and benefits structures that align with local practices and regulations.

25.) What steps can Party City take to improve their supply chain efficiency?

Business Ethics (Corporate Social Responsibility, Stakeholder Theory)

Analysis of company financial performance metrics, surveys with stakeholders, benchmarking against industry standards, review of company CSR policies and practices

SWOT Analysis, Stakeholder Mapping, Sustainability Reporting Frameworks, Triple Bottom Line Analysis

Integrate CSR practices into the company’s core business strategy. Develop and implement sustainability reporting frameworks to track and measure CSR impact. Align CSR practices with stakeholder expectations and industry standards. Communicate CSR efforts and impact to stakeholders and the public.

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IB Business Management SL IA Ideas

This is a list IB Business Management SL IA ideas is a valuable resource for students to showcase their understanding of business concepts and theories. The IA is a research project that accounts for a significant portion of the grade, and students can choose from a wide range of topics and IA questions , such as globalisation, ethics, and technological advancements. Additionally, students can find high-scoring IB Business and Management Internal Assessment examples to improve their own work.

1.) What marketing strategies should Burger King use to expand their reach in the European market?

2.) how can wynn resorts ltd. reduce employee turnover in their call center, 3.) what steps can party city take to improve their supply chain efficiency, 4.) what pricing strategy should yves saint-laurent use to increase market share in the luxury goods sector, 5.) how can malabar gold & diamonds improve their customer service to increase customer loyalty, 6.) what steps can maruti suzuki take to reduce their carbon footprint, 7.) how can tcs improve their team collaboration and communication, 8.) what marketing strategies should raymond use to target the gen z demographic.

What marketing strategies should Raymond use to target the Gen Z demographic?

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9.) how can costco improve their online sales and customer experience.

How can Costco improve their online sales and customer experience?

10.) To what extent does employee engagement affect organizational performance in Cognizant?

To what extent does employee engagement affect organizational performance in Cognizant?

11.) How can Kovai Pazhamudir Nilayam improve their procurement process and reduce costs?

How can Kovai Pazhamudir Nilayam improve their procurement process and reduce costs?

12.) What factors contribute to customer loyalty in Popeyes and how can they be improved?

What factors contribute to customer loyalty in Popeyes and how can they be improved?

13.) How can Himalaya diversify their product offerings and enter new markets?

How can Himalaya diversify their product offerings and enter new markets?

14.) How can Zomato effectively manage their international human resources?

How can Zomato effectively manage their international human resources?

15.) What impact does corporate social responsibility have on the financial performance of Bajaj Finance?

What impact does corporate social responsibility have on the financial performance of Bajaj Finance?

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Business IA topics. Guide with examples

Welcome to this comprehensive guide to Business IA topics under the International Baccalaureate program. Business IA involves the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data to make informed business decisions. In this article, we will explore the top Business IA topics, including data analytics, automation, machine learning, and natural language processing, to help you prepare for your exams.

Data Analytics

Data analytics is a crucial component of Business IA. By collecting and analyzing data, businesses can gain valuable insights that inform business decisions. Under the International Baccalaureate program, students must understand the importance of data analytics and the different techniques and tools used in data analytics.

The most common techniques and tools used in data analytics include statistical analysis, data mining, and predictive modeling. Statistical analysis involves using mathematical methods to analyze data, while data mining is the process of discovering patterns and relationships in data. Predictive modeling, on the other hand, uses historical data to make predictions about future events.

Real-world examples of data analytics in Business IA include customer segmentation, marketing campaign analysis, and supply chain optimization. Students under the International Baccalaureate program should understand how to apply data analytics to different business scenarios and be able to analyze data using different techniques.

Sample International Baccalaureate exam questions related to data analytics include: “Explain the role of data analytics in supply chain management” and “Analyze the impact of data analytics on customer segmentation.”

Automation is another crucial Business IA topic under the International Baccalaureate program. Automation involves using technology to automate routine tasks and processes, freeing up valuable time and resources that can be used for more strategic activities.

Students must understand the importance of automation and the different types of automation used in Business IA. Some of the most common types of automation include process automation, robotic process automation (RPA), and cognitive automation. Process automation involves automating routine tasks such as data entry, while RPA involves using software robots to automate more complex tasks such as invoice processing. Cognitive automation uses artificial intelligence (AI) to automate tasks that require decision-making or problem-solving.

The benefits of automation in Business IA include increased efficiency, improved accuracy, and reduced costs. However, there are also challenges to implementing automation, such as the need for skilled personnel to design and implement automation systems and the potential for job loss.

Sample International Baccalaureate exam questions related to automation include: “Discuss the benefits and challenges of implementing robotic process automation in supply chain management” and “Analyze the impact of automation on employee job roles.”

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Machine Learning

Machine learning is another important Business IA topic under the International Baccalaureate program. Machine learning involves teaching machines to learn from data and make predictions or decisions based on that learning.

Students must understand the importance of machine learning and its different applications in Business IA. Some of the most common applications of machine learning include predicting customer behavior, optimizing pricing strategies, and improving supply chain management. Machine learning can also be used to automate fraud detection and improve risk management by identifying potential risks before they occur.

The advantages of machine learning in Business IA include increased accuracy, faster decision-making, and the ability to process large amounts of data quickly. However, there are also limitations to machine learning, such as the need for high-quality data and the potential for bias in machine learning algorithms.

Sample International Baccalaureate exam questions related to machine learning include: “Discuss the role of machine learning in supply chain optimization” and “Analyze the advantages and limitations of machine learning in predicting customer behavior.”

Natural Language Processing

Natural language processing (NLP) is another important Business IA topic under the International Baccalaureate program. NLP involves teaching machines to understand and interpret human language.

Students must understand the importance of NLP and the different techniques and tools used in NLP for Business IA. Some of the most common techniques and tools used in NLP include sentiment analysis, named entity recognition, and machine translation. Sentiment analysis involves analyzing the emotional tone of language, while named entity recognition involves identifying and categorizing entities mentioned in text. Machine translation involves translating text from one language to another.

NLP can be used to automate tasks such as customer service and improve communication between different departments and teams. Students should understand the different use cases of NLP in Business IA and how to apply different NLP techniques and tools to specific business scenarios.

Sample International Baccalaureate exam questions related to NLP include: “Analyze the benefits and challenges of using natural language processing in customer service” and “Explain how named entity recognition can be used in supply chain management.”

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Business topic examples.

• Analyzing the effectiveness of a company’s remote work policy during the pandemic.
• Developing a marketing strategy for a company entering a new international market.
• Assessing the financial feasibility of expanding a business to a new location.
• Evaluating the impact of digital transformation on a company’s operations and profitability.
• Investigating the factors that contribute to employee turnover in a specific industry.
• Analyzing the effectiveness of a company’s customer service and support.
• Examining the impact of social media on a company’s brand reputation and customer engagement.
• Investigating the factors that contribute to successful mergers and acquisitions in a specific industry.
• Assessing the effectiveness of a company’s employee training and development programs.
• Examining the impact of climate change on a company’s supply chain and sustainability practices.
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful product innovation in a specific industry.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of a company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives.
• Investigating the factors that contribute to successful international joint ventures in a specific industry.
• Assessing the impact of e-commerce on a company’s sales and revenue growth.
• Analyzing the effectiveness of a company’s data analytics and business intelligence systems.
• Examining the factors that contribute to successful pricing strategies in a specific industry.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of a company’s diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Investigating the impact of emerging technologies on a specific industry.
• Assessing the impact of geopolitical factors on a company’s operations and profitability.

In conclusion, Business IA is a critical aspect of modern business operations, and students under the International Baccalaureate program must have a comprehensive understanding of the different Business IA topics, including data analytics, automation, machine learning, and natural language processing. Through this article, we have explored the importance of these topics, their different applications, and the techniques and tools used in each.

We have also provided sample International Baccalaureate exam questions to help students better prepare for their exams. To succeed in Business IA, students must have a solid understanding of the different topics, and they must be able to apply this knowledge to real-world business scenarios. With the knowledge and skills gained from studying these Business IA topics, students will be better equipped to navigate the fast-paced and ever-changing world of business.

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IB Business Management IA SL: 60 Examples and Guidance

Charles Whitehouse

The International Baccalaureate (IB) program offers a variety of assessments for students, including Internal Assessments (IAs), which are pieces of coursework marked by students’ teachers. The Business Management SL IA is an assessment designed to test students' understanding of the material they have learned in their business management course and their ability to conduct independent research. The investigation should be a self-directed study that demonstrates the student's ability to understand and analyze a specific, real-world business issue.

Students should note that the Standard Level and Higher Level Internal Assessments for Business Management are quite different. In HL, students are expected to carry out their own investigation to curate primary research, while SL students only need to write a written commentary. Check out our separate article for guidance on the HL IA!

What is the IB Business Management IA?

The SL internal assessment is a written commentary that allows students to demonstrate the application of business management tools, techniques and theories to a business issue or problem.

For their written commentary, SL students must adhere to the following guidelines:

• Choose a genuine business issue or problem that pertains to the SL syllabus.
• Directly reference a single business organization, but may consider industry-wide matters that affect that particular organization.
• Build their written commentary on secondary research that is appropriate in terms of depth and breadth. Primary research may be utilized for support.
• Create a title for the commentary that is framed as a question to provide focus and direction.
• Keep the written commentary within 1,500 words.
• Include three to five supporting documents with the commentary, which should be the primary source of information.
• Thoroughly cite all supporting documents and additional sources, and add them to the bibliography.

What are the supporting documents?

The supporting documents should present a range of ideas and views, which you base your analysis on. They must be written within at least 3 years from the submission of the written commentary. One of the supporting documents may be a transcript of video/audio material, if it is published by a reliable organization.

These sources could include news articles, business accounts, extracts from the company’s website, government statistics, market research surveys, and mission statements.

Remember to fully reference these supporting documents in your IA’s bibliography.

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How should the IA be structured?

To begin, the introduction should provide an overview of the business issue and contextual information about the organization. The subsequent section comprises the body of your work, which should detail the findings drawn from supporting documentation and, crucially, analyze them through the application of relevant business theories, tools, and techniques. This analysis must be conducted in the context of the question posed, and a definitive connection must be established. Lastly, the conclusion should address the question being investigated and discuss any unanswered aspects.

Have a look at our comprehensive set of IB Business Management Study Notes and IB Business Management Questions , developed by expert IB teachers and examiners!

How is the IA assessed?

There are seven assessment criteria for the written commentary:

Criterion A: Supporting documents (4 marks)

The supporting documents should be relevant, sufficiently in-depth and provide a range of

ideas and views.

Criterion B: Choice and application of business tools, techniques and theories (5 marks)

There should be an appropriate selection of business management tools, techniques and theories, and these are skillfully applied.

Criterion C: Choice and analysis of data and integration of ideas (5 marks)

There should be an appropriate selection of data from the supporting documents with skillful

analysis and a coherent integration of ideas.

Criterion D: Conclusions (3 marks)

Conclusions should be consistent with the evidence presented and explicitly answer the commentary question.

Criterion E: Evaluation (4 marks)

There should be thorough evidence of evaluation, and judgments are well substantiated.

Criterion F: Structure (2 marks)

The student should have an appropriate structure to organize their ideas in a manner which is easy to follow.

Criterion G: Presentation (2 marks)

This assesses the extent to which the student presents the written commentary well. The student should include a title page, an accurate table of contents, appropriate headings and subheadings, consistent referencing, a complete bibliography and numbered pages.

How much does the IA contribute to my overall grade?

The IA will make up 30% of your final grade, with the furth 70% being based on Papers 1 and 2 in your final exams.

Check out the IB’s subject brief for a reminder of the rest of the key Business Management facts.

International Baccalaureate Subject Brief : Business Management SL

60 Example Investigation Questions

The IB provides these examples:

“Can airline X successfully target segment Y?” The commentary could then examine business

management topics such as market segmentation, consumer profiling, promotion, and measure of financial success.

“Should company Y outsource its manufacturing?” The commentary could then examine areas within business management such as operations management and human resource management.

You’ll see that you should pick a specific business, and then apply your syllabus knowledge to analyse it. Here are some more examples to inspire your own question, written by our expert IB Business Management tutors :

Sure, here are examples of questions and descriptions based on real businesses:

1. How did the introduction of the Prime membership impact Amazon's customer retention rate?

This study could examine Amazon's customer retention data before and after the introduction of the Prime membership program. The analysis could determine whether there is a significant change in retention rates attributed to this strategy.

2. What impact does Google's workplace culture have on employee satisfaction and productivity?

Using secondary data such as employee reviews and public surveys, you could investigate the relationship between Google's unique workplace culture and its effects on employee satisfaction and productivity.

3. How has the adoption of artificial intelligence in logistics improved efficiency for FedEx?

By reviewing public statements, press releases, and reports on FedEx's use of AI in its logistics operations, a study could be conducted on the efficiency gains made in its supply chain.

4. What role has innovation played in Tesla's market position in the electric vehicle industry?

A study could analyze Tesla's innovation strategies through product development, patents, and technologies, and how these have influenced its competitive advantage in the electric vehicle market.

5. How has McDonald's international marketing strategy adapted to different cultural contexts?

This investigation could examine case studies of McDonald's marketing campaigns in different countries, assessing how the company has adapted its strategy to various cultural contexts.

6. What impact has social media marketing had on Nike's brand visibility and customer engagement?

An analysis of Nike's social media activities (e.g., posts, ads, campaigns) could be conducted, measuring metrics like engagement, reach, and conversion, and assessing their effectiveness in promoting the brand.

7. How have sustainable practices influenced Patagonia's brand image and customer loyalty?

The study could use surveys or interviews to gauge customer perceptions of Patagonia's sustainability initiatives and whether these influence brand loyalty.

8. What role did diversification strategy play in the growth of Virgin Group?

By exploring Virgin Group's expansion into various sectors (e.g., music, airlines, space travel), a study could assess the role and success of diversification in the company's growth strategy.

9. How has digital transformation impacted the sales and operations of Walmart?

This study could analyze the financial and operational data of Walmart before and after its digital transformation initiatives, observing changes in sales, efficiency, and customer experience.

10. How has IKEA's cost leadership strategy contributed to its competitive advantage in the furniture industry?

The study could investigate IKEA's cost leadership strategy, analyzing how it has influenced the company's pricing, market share, and competitive position in the global furniture industry.

11. How does Starbucks' reward program contribute to customer loyalty and increased sales?

This investigation could analyze data on customer participation in Starbucks' reward program and its impact on repeat purchases, average transaction value, and customer loyalty.

12. What impact has Coca-Cola's global branding strategy had on its market position?

The study could review Coca-Cola's branding strategies across different markets, examining how these contribute to its global brand image and market position.

13. How does Apple's product differentiation strategy contribute to its profitability?

An analysis could be made of Apple's product differentiation in terms of design, technology, and branding, and how these factors contribute to its premium pricing and high profit margins.

14. How did Zara's fast-fashion supply chain model revolutionize the retail fashion industry?

The investigation could examine Zara's supply chain and production strategies, assessing how they enable fast fashion turnaround and their impact on the retail industry.

15. How has Disney's acquisition strategy influenced its market expansion and content portfolio?

The study could analyze Disney's acquisitions (e.g., Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm), examining how these have expanded its market reach, diversified its content portfolio, and contributed to financial growth.

16. How has LEGO’s product diversification impacted its market position in the toy industry?

This study could investigate LEGO’s diversification into various product lines (e.g., themed sets, video games, films) and analyze how these strategies have affected its competitiveness and market share.

17. What strategies did Nokia employ to recover its market position in the telecommunications industry?

The study could examine the strategic decisions (e.g., collaborations, product launches, target markets) Nokia made to regain its footing and their effectiveness in improving its market position.

18. How did Netflix's business model disruption contribute to its success in the video streaming industry?

This investigation could analyze Netflix's evolution from DVD rentals to streaming, and how this disruptive model led to its dominance in the video streaming market.

19. How has Spotify's freemium business model influenced its user growth and revenue generation?

The study could evaluate Spotify's freemium model, looking at the correlation between free and premium users, conversion rates, and their impact on revenue growth.

20. How did Toyota's Just-in-Time (JIT) production system affect its operational efficiency?

An analysis could be done on Toyota's JIT system, examining how it reduces inventory costs and improves operational efficiency.

21. What impact did the shift to cloud computing have on Microsoft's business operations and profitability?

This study could examine Microsoft's transition to cloud-based services (like Azure), analyzing how this shift has affected its revenue and business operations.

22. How did Alibaba's platform business model drive its growth in the e-commerce market?

The investigation could assess Alibaba's platform model, examining how it facilitates transactions between sellers and buyers, and its role in Alibaba's market expansion.

23. How has H&M's fast-fashion business model impacted its sustainability initiatives?

An analysis could be made of H&M's fast-fashion model and its conflict or synergy with sustainability practices, based on their sustainability reports and public perception.

24. What role did vertical integration play in Samsung Electronics' success in the smartphone market?

This study could review Samsung's vertical integration strategy in semiconductor production and how it gives them a competitive advantage in the smartphone market.

25. How did Instagram’s monetization strategy impact its user engagement and revenue generation?

An analysis could be done of Instagram's ad model and influencer partnerships, looking at their influence on user engagement and the platform's revenue.

26. What impact has the diversification of services had on the growth of JPMorgan Chase & Co?

The study could investigate how diversifying into various financial services (like asset management, private banking) has contributed to JPMorgan's growth and competitive advantage.

27. How has Costco's membership business model contributed to its competitive position in the retail industry?

The investigation could analyze Costco's membership model, looking at how it drives customer loyalty and recurring revenue, contributing to its competitive positioning.

28. How has Uber's surge pricing model affected its profitability and customer satisfaction?

The study could assess the impact of Uber's dynamic pricing on its earnings during peak times, along with its effect on customer satisfaction and demand.

29. What effect did digital transformation have on General Electric's business operations and performance?

This investigation could analyze General Electric's digital initiatives and their impact on operational efficiency and financial performance.

30. How does Twitter's advertising model contribute to its revenue generation and user experience?

An analysis could be made of Twitter's ad model, examining how it drives revenue and the balance it maintains with user experience.

31. How has Airbnb's peer-to-peer business model disrupted the traditional hospitality industry?

This study could analyze how Airbnb's unique business model has impacted the traditional hotel and lodging industry in terms of competition and market share.

32. What role did strategic acquisitions play in Facebook's market dominance in the social media industry?

The study could investigate how Facebook's acquisitions (e.g., Instagram, WhatsApp) have contributed to its market expansion and dominance in the social media landscape.

33. How does Vodafone's pricing strategy influence its market share in the telecom sector?

An analysis could be made of Vodafone's pricing policies and how they correlate with its competitive positioning and market share in the telecom industry.

34. What impact did the pivot to digital banking have on Barclays' customer engagement and service delivery?

This study could examine the effects of digital transformation on Barclays' customer engagement, service delivery, and overall business operations.

35. How does Johnson & Johnson's diversification strategy contribute to its stability in the pharmaceutical industry?

The investigation could analyze how Johnson & Johnson's diversification into various healthcare sectors contributes to its financial stability and competitive positioning.

36. How has Dell’s direct-to-customer business model influenced its market position in the computer hardware industry?

An analysis could assess the impact of Dell’s direct sales model on its market share, customer relationships, and operational efficiency.

37. What role did innovation play in the growth and market dominance of PayPal in the online payment industry?

This study could examine the role of innovation in PayPal’s products, security measures, and partnerships in its rise to dominance in the digital payments industry.

38. How does Bayer's merger and acquisition strategy contribute to its market expansion in the pharmaceutical industry?

The investigation could analyze Bayer's major acquisitions (like Monsanto) and their impact on the company's market reach and diversification.

39. How has Slack’s freemium model contributed to its user growth and revenue generation?

The study could evaluate Slack’s freemium model, investigating how it balances user growth, conversion rates, and revenue generation.

40. What role does branding play in Rolex's pricing strategy and market position in the luxury watch industry?

An analysis could be made of Rolex's brand image and how it supports the company's premium pricing strategy and its positioning in the luxury watch market.

41. How did the pivot to a subscription model contribute to Adobe's growth and customer retention?

This study could analyze the effects of Adobe's transition from license sales to a subscription model on its revenue growth, customer retention, and profitability.

42. What impact does PepsiCo's product diversification have on its market share in the food and beverage industry?

The investigation could analyze PepsiCo's diversification into various food and beverage categories and its impact on the company's market share and competitiveness.

43. How has Volvo's commitment to safety influenced its brand image and market position in the automobile industry?

An analysis could be made of Volvo's safety initiatives and how these contribute to its brand image and positioning in the global automobile industry.

44. How has IBM's shift to cloud and AI services influenced its market position in the IT industry?

This study could analyze IBM's strategic shift towards more AI and cloud services, examining how it has affected its market positioning and revenue generation.

45. What role did e-commerce play in Alibaba's market expansion in the retail industry?

The investigation could analyze Alibaba's e-commerce strategies and their impact on the company's market expansion and dominance in the retail industry.

46. What impact did McDonald's 'Plan to Win' strategy have on its global market position in the fast-food industry?

The study could evaluate McDonald's strategic initiative focusing on improving existing locations rather than opening new ones, and how this influenced their market position globally.

47. How does Starbucks' customer loyalty program contribute to its customer retention and revenue generation?

An analysis could be made of Starbucks' loyalty program, examining its effectiveness in enhancing customer retention and contributing to revenue.

48. How did Amazon's two-day shipping commitment influence its competitive position in the e-commerce industry?

This investigation could analyze Amazon's two-day shipping strategy as a part of Amazon Prime, examining its role in creating a competitive advantage.

49. What role does Coca-Cola's global branding strategy influence its market position in the beverage industry?

The study could evaluate the effectiveness of Coca-Cola's global branding strategy in enhancing its market position and recognition.

50. What role did diversification play in Disney's growth in the entertainment industry?

The investigation could analyze Disney's diversification into various entertainment sectors (films, TV, parks, streaming services) and its effect on the company's growth.

51. How has Google's organizational culture contributed to its innovative capabilities?

An analysis could be made of Google's unique organizational culture and its impact on the company's capacity for innovation and product development.

52. What impact does IKEA's cost leadership strategy have on its market position in the furniture retail industry?

This study could evaluate IKEA's cost leadership strategy and its effectiveness in securing a competitive market position.

53. How does Tesla's direct sales model contribute to its market position in the electric vehicle industry?

The investigation could analyze Tesla's unique direct sales model, examining how it influences the company's market positioning and customer relationships.

54. How has Zara's fast-fashion supply chain management contributed to its success in the fashion industry?

An analysis could be conducted of Zara's supply chain practices, focusing on their 'fast fashion' model and how it contributes to their competitive advantage.

55. What role did technological innovation play in Apple's market dominance in the smartphone industry?

The study could investigate Apple's history of technological innovations, exploring how these advancements have contributed to its market dominance in the smartphone industry.

56. How does FedEx's hub-and-spoke distribution model contribute to its operational efficiency in the courier industry?

An investigation could be conducted into FedEx's hub-and-spoke distribution model, examining its role in improving operational efficiency and service delivery.

57. How did Huawei's investment in R&D influence its competitiveness in the telecommunications industry?

This study could evaluate Huawei's investment in research and development, focusing on how this strategy has influenced its competitiveness and innovation.

58. How does Unilever's sustainable living plan impact its brand image and customer loyalty?

An analysis could be made of Unilever's commitment to sustainable practices, examining its effects on the company's brand image and customer loyalty.

59. What impact has the move towards online shopping had on Walmart's business operations and market position?

The study could evaluate Walmart's transition towards e-commerce, analyzing how this move has affected its business operations and market position.

60. How does BMW's differentiation strategy contribute to its market position in the luxury automobile industry?

The investigation could analyze BMW's differentiation strategy, focusing on how it supports the company's market position and pricing strategy in the luxury car market.

We have discussed the intricacies of crafting an effective IB Business Management IA at the Standard Level. Emphasizing the importance of choosing a pertinent business issue, conducting comprehensive research, and applying theoretical concepts, we aim to equip students with the tools needed for a successful IA. The addition of IB tutoring can further enhance this process, providing personalized support to ensure that your IA is not only thorough but also reflects a deep understanding of business concepts.

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Charles scored 45/45 on the International Baccalaureate and has six years' experience tutoring IB and IGCSE students and advising them with their university applications. He studied a double integrated Masters at Magdalen College Oxford and has worked as a research scientist and strategy consultant.

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IA Research Questions

Sometimes thinking of the right question is the hardest  part, eh?

The importance of the research question

The most important part of the IA in Business Management is of course the research question.  It is important to first consult the IB guide for this course, but here are some of my own tips on how to settle on a good question. If you are a student, you’ll want to ask your teacher for the sections of the subject guide on the IA, and the annual subject report, if they have not already done so.  The subject published every year is a fantastic resource in which the IB team gives specific guidance on strengths and weaknesses that they tended to see in the last exam session’s IAs.  

Most of my students go through multiple rounds of consultation with me before they settle on a question that is viable.  If your question is problematic in any way, a student will likely end up wasting a lot of time and effort pursuing a path that is fruitless or must be significantly altered.  It is therefore much better to spend more time than you want nailing down a good question rather than having to fix it later.  

Should I do a backward-looking or forward-looking question?

The question can be forward-looking or backward-looking, as long as you remember for backward-looking questions that there is a three-year limit on sources and that the question needs to be evaluative and not simply report and/or analyze what happened.  A student may not use source material that is dated more than three years before their IA submission.  I personally often advise my students that writing a forward-looking IA question is usually easier, giving the question a binary either/or choice for the firm.  However, it is quite possible to do a backward-looking question, and many students evaluate something like how successfully a firm has been able to implement a choice, or to what extent it was the right decision.

Examples of good questions

Should Nintendo stop making Rated M games and focus on kid-friendly games?

Should Alphabet acquire a smart TV manufacturer?

How can Google best adapt their search engine to the emergence of AI chatbots?

To what extent should the Coca-Cola company change its bottling to be more sustainable? 

Should International Paper change its marketing mix to a more sustainable brand image in response to the growing eco-friendly movements?

To what extent should Ferrari produce more cars to increase profits?

Should the Walt Disney company continue to compete in the streaming service market with all of their current platforms?

Most of these questions narrow the firm’s options down to a clear set of options that can be addressed adequately within the word limit.

Types of questions

"Should" questions 

For most students, I often find that “should” questions end up being the easiest for the students to narrow down their focus into a scenario in which they can apply course tools, techniques, and theories.  It tends to lead to a simple binary choice of “yes or no,” or “Option A or Option B.”

"Can" questions 

This is similar to a “should” question in the sense that the answer is clearly going to be yes or no.  For example, “Can Exxon successfully increase revenues by adding electric car charging ports to its gas stations?”

"To what extent" questions 

Another option is to go with “to what extent.” For instance, to what extent is a product line, marketing campaign, strategy, or so on impacting the firm in a positive way (profitability, competitive advantage, productivity, etc.).   While the conclusion could be a bit more fuzzy than in a “should” question, it’s still pretty straightforward to conclude if the answer is to a limited, moderate, or great extent.

"How Effective" questions 

As long as this addresses an issue that is ongoing and not solely in the past, this can be a good way of evaluating the merits of a firm’s objectives, strategies, tactics, and so on.  For example, “How effective is Gold's Gym's use of social media promotional techniques?”  

What makes a BAD question?

There are many things that can lead to a bad research question, but here are a few things I commonly see in students’ first iteration of their questions: 

Considers too many aspects of the business functions

Is about the industry, not the firm

Requires info that you don’t have access to [for this reason, I highly recommend that students do a publicly traded company so that they can get access to financial info]

Has already been answered

Is very likely to be answered/irrelevant long before you submit your draft

Has an obvious answer

Examples of bad questions from prior students

"Should Nike cut back on advertisement/ marketing money and focus it on new tech products?"

This could work, but so often the student doesn't have a really good idea of what "tech products" they envision Nike getting into.  Nike is a company that mostly sells sporting goods and apparel.  What kind of tech products would they do?  Upon questioning, the student was unable to come up with concrete examples other than NFTs, and they were unable to explain Nike's potential creation of NFTs further.  Students need to have a clearer idea of what they're proposing.

"How did the transgender bathroom policy impact Target's profits?"

I doubt you’re going to be able to prove whether or not it had any impact on their profits; teasing out the cause and effect there is likely to be way too difficult, and you will not have firm data to point to in order to justify a conclusion. This essay will thus be highly speculative.  Also, the way the student has phrased this question, it’s entirely in the past and they're running the danger of writing a report on facts and ahve no true evaluation.  If the student wants to investigate whether this will have an ongoing or future impact on the business, then this should be rephrased.  

"What impact will the recent move of Wilson Sporting Goods' headquarters have on the mobility of jobs within the workforce of the company?"

This is a mouthful.  I’m not entirely sure what the student means by mobility of jobs within the workforce of the company, and the student clearly didn’t either when we chatted.

"How can Wendy's revamp the public's outlook on the service and attitude of the staff?"

Firstly, I generally advise against questions beginning with “how.”  Too often, there are far too many possibilities to explore, so a “how” question is too broad to be covered well within the word count limit. Secondly, the student is assuming that Wendy’s has a problem with the public perception of service and staff attitudes.  In this case, the student was never able to come up with reliable data showing that these were even problems to begin with. 

"Should Amazon invest in private label brands?"

They already are, so this question is irrelevant.

"Should Sony expand its electronics sales into new markets?"

Sony is a huge company, and I don't know what market they could potentially get into that they're not currently in.  Also, does the student mean geographic markets, new product markets, etc?  The student was never really able to answer these questions for me.

"What new features can Spotify add to better compete with Apple Music?"

Maybe this could work if it were more specific, but the student wasn't really able to clearly lay out what options he had in mind.  Consequently, without narrowing it down to specific features or at least types of features, the question was too broad and wasted a lot of the student's time before he switch

How do I integrate a key concept?

The important thing is that you are constantly bringing the IA commentary back to your key concept so that it truly revolves around the concept, rather than it being an add-on that doesn't really work together with the rest of the commentary. 

Consider doing the following: 

- Define the key concept in the intro or first body paragraph

- Consider the key concept both from an internal lens, under the firm's control, and an external lens, happening or likely to happen in the market/industry/society around them.

- Think of your IA concept in multiple different ways (see concept charts below). This is particularly important with sustainability, which includes social, financial, and environmental sustainability

- Ask yourself, "Are there areas in which I have  implied  a link to the concept but have not analyzed it directly?"

- Use this chart to describe possible connections between your key concept and the syllabus BEFORE you write your IA. 

Change Creativity Sustainability Ethics

Roadmap to Success:

Ibdp business ia tips.

“Analyze your primary data by applying several business tools you have learnt (using quantitative tools will produce clearer results). Almost everyone uses SWOT – be different!” Written by: Jerry Grzegorzek IBDP Business Management Teacher & IB Examiner & EE Supervisor and Cambridge IGCSE & AS & A2 Business Studies Teacher

Navigate the IB Business IA Tips page easily by clicking the section icons below.

Choosing the business

Choosing the question, type of research, research proposal & action plan, main results and findings, analysis and evaluation, presentation, pay attention to the assessment criteria.

Internal Assessment is compulsory for both SL and HL students enabling you to demonstrate the application of skills and knowledge, and to pursue personal interests in business management. The IA requirements for SL and HL students are different. The SL IA is a written commentary and the HL IA is a research project .

To produce IA, you need to choose, know, and analyze the business.

IAs are marked by school teachers and externally moderated by the IB. Examiners moderate IAs using the best-fit model and spend around 10-15 minutes on marking one IA, usually reading it only once. Different assessment criteria are provided for SL and HL students.

The total number of marks for IA is 25 marks, for both SL and HL, and IAs contribute 25% to the final grade. Therefore, without a good IA, it barely possible to score a 6 or 7 in DP Business Management.

SL students should spend around 15 hours while HL students should spend around 30 hours on their IAs. SL students need around 20-25 marks to get a 7, and around 10-12 marks to get a 4, while HL students need around 18-25 marks to get a 7, and around 10-12 marks to get a 4.

Important: Visit the official IBO page  for the most updated requirements of this curriculum.

Click this page for our IB Business Management Exam Guide .

IB Business IA Tips: Standard Level (SL)

It is a written commentary on a real business issue/problem faced by a real organization in the past . It is based on 3-5 supporting documents which are secondary sources . These must be printed out and attached to the commentary at the end.

• Is Tesla’s decision to increase productive capacity by building a new manufacturing plant in Shanghai a sound financial decision?
• Is including a product line for male customers a profitable decision for Prada?

Supporting documents

Business tools, techniques, theories, use, analysis and evaluation of data.

• identifying the issue or problem
• balanced analysis of strengths and weaknesses
• the final conclusion

SL IA Criteria:

• Criterion A:

3-5 supporting documents must be relevant to the tile, sufficient to answer the question and provide a range of ideas from different stakeholders.

• Criterion B:

See above about business tools.

• Criterion C:

Focus on analysing supporting documents . What is written in other sources should only complement your commentary – IA SL is not a literature review.

• Criterion D:

Conclusions should include recommendations.

• Criterion E:

Evaluation should include limitations.

• Criterion F:

Structure of ideas rather than structure of the document itself – ‘Is your language clear?’, ‘Can the examiner easily understand your ideas?’

• Criterion G:

No elements should be missing! Follow the structure:

(1) Title page

(2) Contents page

(3) Introduction

(4) Findings

(5) Analysis and discussion

(6) Conclusions

IB Business IA Tips: Higher Level (HL)

It is a research project addressing an issue faced by an organization or a decision to be made in the future . It is mainly based on primary research gathered from the organization investigated. Business tools, theories and concepts should be used to analyse and evaluate, leading to recommendations that will help address the research question. This report must be of practical use to management. HL IA must start with a 500-words Research Proposal & Action Plan that serves planning purposes.

• Should Tasty Bites Bakery purchase a new delivery truck to cater for customers in the city center?
• Should Shiny Jewelry stop outsourcing production of gold ornaments in order to increase its profit margins?

Main results & findings

Pay attention to assessment criteria, hl ia criteria:.

Research proposal needs to be appropriate, detailed, clear and focused. No elements should be missing!

Explain reasons for selecting primary sources and primary markets research methods used. Research proposal should say what will be done in the IA.

More than 1 primary research method is required to score 3 marks, ideally have 3 different methods :

(1) Interview

(3) Observation or Focus Group

Company information such as Final Accounts are considered secondary data. The primary sources selected and data collected must be appropriate, varied and sufficient . Interview transcript should be in Appendix.

Use tools, techniques and theories in the main body only to analyse primary data collected. You must show that you understand each tool , e.g. explain selection of forces and weights in Force Field Analysis.

Main Results and Findings should be separated from Analysis and Discussion. In Analysis and Discussion part, explain the business issue/problem, analyse the decision to be made, evaluate arguments for and against this decision, and make judgements.

Conclusions must be consistent with the analysis and evaluation part, and supported by evidence .

Recommendations should be related to the main body and consistent with conclusions. Areas of further study must be in Recommendations , not in Conclusions. Further study must be relevant to the existing investigation.

• Criterion H:

(1) The research proposal consists four components:

– Research question

– Proposed methodology

– Anticipated difficulties, such as limited or biased sources

– Action Plan

(2) Title page

(3) Acknowledgements

(4) Contents page

(5) Executive summary

(6) Introduction

(7) Research question

(8) Methodology employed

(9) Main results and findings

(10) Analysis and Discussion

(11) Conclusions

(12) Recommendations

(13) Bibliography and references

(14) Appendices

• Criterion I:

Reflection on your research process and future improvements – how did you gather primary data? Reflection cannot be generalised .

‘How could my research be improved, if I had more time?’ , ‘What else could I do?’

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IA Business Topics

Embarking on selecting IB IA Business Topics is essential in the Business Management course. This process empowers students to delve into detailed research on a specific topic, showcasing their grasp of business concepts and theories. All these efforts are directed towards assisting with selecting impactful IB IA Business Topics.

If you’re an IB Business Management student and looking for inspiration for your IA, here are some potential business topics to consider:

• The impact of globalization on small businesses
• The role of ethics in business decision making
• The effects of technological advancements on the job market
• The influence of cultural differences on business practices
• The use of social media in branding and marketing
• The sustainability practices of large corporations
• The role of government regulation in the business world
• The impact of currency fluctuations on international trade
• The influence of consumer psychology on purchasing decisions
• The effects of mergers and acquisitions on company performance
• The influence of economic conditions on business expansion strategies
• The impact of government regulation on small businesses
• The role of ethics in supply chain management
• The effects of technological advancements on job market trends
• The influence of consumer psychology on branding and advertising
• The sustainability practices of multinational corporations
• The role of diversity and inclusion in company performance
• The use of artificial intelligence in business decision making
• The effects of mergers and acquisitions on company culture
• The influence of consumer behavior on pricing strategies
• The impact of COVID-19 on the business world and strategies for recovery

Here are some additional potential business topics for Business IA:

• The impact of e-commerce on traditional brick-and-mortar retail stores
• The role of corporate social responsibility in shaping public perception of businesses
• The effects of intellectual property laws on innovation and creativity in the business world
• The influence of leadership styles on company culture and employee performance
• The use of data analytics in business decision making and strategic planning
• The sustainability practices of startups and small businesses
• The role of organizational culture in company performance and success
• The impact of political instability on international business operations
• The influence of brand image and reputation on customer loyalty
• The effects of supply chain disruptions on business operations and profitability
• The role of entrepreneurship in driving economic growth and innovation
• The impact of changing demographics on consumer behavior and business strategies
• The use of virtual and augmented reality in enhancing customer experience and engagement
• The effects of strategic partnerships and alliances on company performance and market share
• The influence of corporate governance and transparency on investor confidence and market performance.

These topics are just a starting point – the sky’s the limit when choosing a topic, also there are some other topics . You can also consider current business issues or trends, such as the rise of e-commerce or the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the business world.

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When choosing a topic, select something that interests you and aligns with the IB Business Management course objectives. The Business IA should demonstrate your understanding of business concepts and ability to apply them in a real-world context.

Once you’ve chosen your topic, it’s important to conduct thorough research and carefully plan and structure your IA. Follow the guidelines provided by the IB and seek feedback from your supervisor to ensure that you’re on the right track.

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Select Business IA topics wisely

The IB IA is a great opportunity to dive deep into a topic that interests you and showcase your understanding of business concepts. With a strong topic and thorough research and planning, you can turn in a standout IA that will impress your supervisor and contribute to your overall success in the IB Business Management course.

Guidelines for Writing a Strong IA with IB IA Business Topics

The IB provides guidelines for writing a strong IA in Business Management. These guidelines outline the structure and content of the IA and should be followed carefully. Some key elements of a strong IA include a clear research question, thorough research and analysis, and a well-supported conclusion.

Examples of Successful Business IA Topics

Looking at examples of successful Business IA topics can be helpful in generating ideas and understanding what makes a strong IA. Here are a few examples of successful Business IA topics:

It’s important to conduct thorough research and carefully plan and structure your IA. Follow the guidelines provided by the IB and seek feedback from your supervisor to ensure that you’re on the right track.

Using Current Events and Trends in Business IA Topics

Another way to generate potential IA Business topics is by considering current events and trends in the business world. For example, you may want to examine how businesses are adapting to remote work in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Or, you may want to explore the rise of sustainability as a major concern for consumers and companies alike. Keeping up with current events and trends can help you stay engaged with the world of business and identify new and interesting topics for your IA.

Brainstorming and Mind Mapping

Brainstorming and mind mapping are other helpful strategies for generating ideas for your IA Business topic. These techniques involve brainstorming a list of related concepts or words and then organizing them into a visual diagram. This can help you identify potential connections between different ideas and generate new insights and directions for your IA. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and consider unconventional or unique angles for your IA Business topic.

Getting Feedback and Refining Your Business IA Topic

Once you’ve generated a list of potential IA Business topics, it’s important to seek feedback from your supervisor and peers. This can help you refine your topic and identify any potential weaknesses or areas that need further development. Be open to feedback and willing to make changes to your topic as needed. Remember, the goal of the IA Business is to demonstrate your understanding of business concepts and your ability to apply them in a real-world context, so make sure your topic is well-aligned with these objectives.

Choosing the right IA Business topic is a critical part of the IB Business Management course. By selecting a topic that interests you and aligns with the course objectives, you can conduct in-depth research and demonstrate your understanding of business concepts and theories. Whether you’re exploring the impact of globalization on small businesses or the use of data analytics in business decision making, there are countless potential topics to consider. Use the strategies outlined above to generate ideas and refine your topic, and you’ll be on your way to creating a standout IA Business that showcases your knowledge and skills.

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Tips for Business Management SL IA

The Business Management SL IA is a written commentary investigating a real-life business issue or problem. Throughout your IA, you’ll need to demonstrate the application of business tools, techniques, and theories. Despite not being the most business-minded person, I enjoyed writing my IA and ultimately achieved a Level 7. These are my best tips to help you succeed! 

Choosing your topic

I would suggest creating a mind map of topics in your course that would be interesting for you to explore, as well as businesses that you are interested in, or that you interact with often. It is a good idea to select a public limited company so that their data would be readily available for you to use to support your analysis. Try to cross-reference those topics and businesses and write out a few potential research questions. Here are some general examples: 

• Will Company X’s decision to acquire Company Y allow it to be more competitive in Z market? 
• How effective is Company A’s marketing strategy of product B?
• To what extent has Company M been profitable in N market?

I knew I wanted to center my Business IA  around marketing and I chose the national bank Absa as my business.  My research question was “ To what extent has Absa’s rebranding strategy been successful in the South African retail banking industry? ” Remember that, if your topic mentions broad terms like ‘competitive’ or ‘successful’, you need to explain how you are evaluating what it means to be ‘competitive’ or ‘successful’ in relation to your business and its market.

Pro Tips: 

• Looking at past IAs can be helpful when formulating your topic.
• This site was helpful for me when I was getting started.
• I would recommend reading through the entirety of the SL internal assessment details in the Business Management syllabus guide .

Synthesizing business tools, techniques and theories 

There are many ways to go about selecting your business tools, techniques and theories and this will be specific to your topic. At SL, the business tools covered in the syllabus include: 

• SWOT analysis
• STEEPLE analysis
• Ansoff’s Matrix
• Motivation theory
• Break-even analysis
• Cash flow forecast
• Ratio analysis and final accounts
• Investment appraisal
• Marketing mix
• Product Life Cycle
• Product Positioning Maps

I would suggest including 3-4 business tools/techniques/theories in your IA to ensure that you discuss each with sufficient depth. I also recommend against using both a SWOT and a STEEPLE analysis, because the external factors of a SWOT analysis (opportunities and threats) can overlap with external factors mentioned in a STEEPLE analysis. For example, I discussed the weak economy as a threat in my SWOT analysis, but it would also be an economic factor in a STEEPLE analysis, thus making the information redundant if I had used both tools.

There is flexibility for you to structure your discussion in your own way! For example I used the following tools/techniques:

• SWOT analysis — To evaluate both internal and external factors influencing my business.
• Analysis of rebranding strategy — To discuss the use of branding as a method of differentiation.
• Brand Value Analysis — To discuss a quantitative measure of my business’s brand value.
• Brand Positioning Map — To assess my business against other businesses in the market using benchmarking data.

As you can see, my tools weren’t necessarily extracted exactly from the textbook but I did reference syllabus theory throughout. Remember that your IA needs to be a coherent flow from paragraph discussions to business tools to figures.

• Make sure you have discussed why you are using a specific tool and that you relate your findings back to your research question.
• Make sure the order that you put your tools in flows well. 
• Refer back to the syllabus topic your IA centers around to ensure you are using the correct terminology.
• Where possible, try to include both qualitative and quantitative tools in your discussion.

Selecting the supporting documents

You will need to select three to five supporting documents, from which you have extracted most of your information. You will be marked on whether your supporting documents present a range of views and ideas, as well as whether you present them correctly in your IA. 

You can demonstrate a range of views and ideas by including supporting documents produced by your business and by others. You can also do this by including supporting documents that present different arguments/perspectives. In order to present your supporting documents correctly in your appendix, they must be titled “Supporting Document 1”, “Supporting Document 2”, and so on. You also need to highlight the information you extracted from them. 

My supporting documents included an article, along with internal and external reports, and publications. Overall, just make sure the sources you select are reliable, relevant and balanced.

Structuring your IA

I structured my business IA as follows:

• Title Page — Includes research question, candidate number, session number, word count and the words ‘IB Business Management SL IA’.
• Table of Contents — An accurate list of each of your subheadings and their page number. 
• Introduction — A brief background of your business and the central issue. Your introduction should give context to how you decided on your research question which should be stated as well.
• Methodology — I included a methodology where I gave a brief overview of how I would be evaluating the success of the strategy and the reason for selecting my business tools.
• Analysis and Evaluation — This included a detailed discussion of my business tools and theories.
• Conclusion — Summarized findings and answered my research question. 
• Bibliography & References — Listed all my sources in the referencing style required by my school. I separated them into the subheadings of ‘Supporting Documents’ and ‘Other’ sources.
• Appendices — This included my images of my five supporting documents with information I extracted highlighted.
• I would recommend having a copy of the  SL Business IA rubric to refer to when writing.
• Remember to be consistent when labelling your tables, figures, headings and subheadings. 
• I used mybib.com for my references, which was really easy to use and could be changed to different referencing styles.

You now have an arsenal of tools to write a solid SL Business IA. Remember that just like any other IA, it is a process. My first draft was almost foreign when comparing it to my final submission, so there’s always room  for improvement. And with that said, GOOD LUCK!

You may also like…

• Elena’s overview for the Business Management HL IA
• Nikki’s overview for Business Management

Share this:

I just wanted to ask did the content in your business tools count as part of your word count.

Hi Abigail, Yes the content of the business tools did count as part the word count. You can refer to the IA details in the syllabus guide for further clarification if you need.

Hi I just wanted to ask if by tools they mean literal tools of analysis like the ones you listed or if this could also include thorough references to the theory (eg. using motivation theories to assess how a firm’s behaviour towards its staff will impact their performance

Theory is also applicable, it does not just have to be tools!

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IB Business Management IA: The Complete Guide (2023)

by  Antony W

February 12, 2023

This is the complete guide to IB Business Management IA. Whether you’re considering to choose an IB subject in business or you’ve done so already, this post gives you the information you need to do well in the subject.

This guide is your key to unlocking a level 7, as it provides useful instructions and suggestions to ensure that your IA is a success.

What is IB Business Management IA?

The IB Business Management course teaches students develop the ability to analyze, discuss, and evaluate business activities on various levels.  

During learning, students develop an understanding of a variety of business management theories, as well as the tools and techniques required to do well in the subject.

Not only does the subject give students a taste of the dynamic business environment by way of real-world examples and case studies, but it also ensures proper learning of subject-specific skills.

What’s the Impact of Learning IB Business Management?

Learners have a better chance of retaining material reasonably quickly in the IB business Internal Assessments since the majority of the study content is applicable to day-to-day lives.

Students who take the IB Business course gain skills in critical thinking, practical application, cognitive analysis, and reasonable enterprise judgment.

In IB Business IA, you will study the essential principles and operations of businesses, in addition to learning about ethics and the responsibilities of corporations to communities. You will understand the process of evaluating, debating, and developing concise facts on local, national, and international business activities.

IB Business IA at HL and SL

During the Internal Assessment, students have the chance to put their knowledge and abilities to work in order to investigate topics that are of particular interest to them.

The IA is required of students taking SL as well as HL. However, there are key difference between the two levels that you must understand before making a choice.

Students in SL must provide a written commentary, whereas students in HL will write a research project. The work of a High Level student must be reliant on primary research whereas the written commentary of SL work should have support from secondary sources.

IB Business IA Standard Level

If you have decided to pursue the IB Business IA at Standard Level, your individual assessment will be a written commentary, and the bulk of your work will be on secondary research. These comments will account for 25% of your overall grade.

The following is a list of all the responsibilities that fall on your shoulders:

• Your topic of discussion needs to be a genuine commercial problem faced by a genuine company, the use of primary research may help with elaboration, and you should phrase the title of your comments in the form of a research question .
• The commentary must to include a summary, appraisal, and examination of the findings, respectively. To address the commentary issue, the conclusion must invariably provide a solution or response to the problem.
• The content of the comments need to have some kind of organization. It begins with an introduction that describes the current business problem and provides background information about the company.
• The body section should convey the conclusions gleaned from the supplementary papers and, more significantly, should analyze these findings with the assistance of various business theories, methods, and procedures.
• The conclusion should provide an answer to the subject you investigated and explain any parts that were not completely answered.
• There should be 3-5 supporting sources with complete citations listed in the bibliography section of the assignment.

It’s important to maintain a word count that does not exceed 1500. IB teachers hardly ever recommend writing more than the stated number of words.

IB Business IA Higher Level

The IB Business IA at Higher Level also accounts for 25% of your final grades. The assignment will take the form of a research project based on primary data.

Here’s how to handle this project:

• Consider addressing a genuine problem or making a real business choice within the framework of a real organization or a number of actual organizations.
• You can use secondary research to support your work.  
• It is important that the title of your project be in the form of a question.
• You will need divide your work into two sections: a Research Proposal and a Written Report.

As for the word count, your IB Business IA HL proposal should be no more than 500 words and the report must not exceed 2,000 words.

Ensure you read our detailed IB Business HL IA structure to understand how to format and write your work.

Tips to Pass Your IB Business IA Assignment 

Getting a 7 in any IB Business IA is such a difficult challenge, but one that you can handle if you have the right lead.

Here are some tips to help you get the work done right:

1. Do In-depth Research

You are need to do an in-depth investigation, acquire an adequate response to the research topic, and provide prompt responses to the highlighted points.

Make sure you make an appropriate relationship between the analytical technique you are using and the topic that you have chosen for the IA report.

When beginning the report, make sure to include a discussion of the reasoning behind the choice of this particular argument, as well as the approach that you will use.

Do an analysis in a manner that is suitable and exhaustive, indicating that you comprehend the purpose of doing so.

You may have a better idea of how to go about the full report and the appropriate approach to convey essential points across by looking at one of the many business IA example that are available online.

After you have completed your analysis, make a remark about what you have learnt about the solution that you have presented.

Remember, the purpose of this exercise is to ensure that when your instructor reaches the general conclusion, they will already have a good idea of the amount of comprehension you possess.

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

IB General , IB Study Tips

November 7, 2023

Mastering the 2024 IB Business Management IA: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

The Internal Assessment (IA) is a vital component of the IB Business Management course, providing students with the opportunity to apply business management tools and theories to a real organizational issue or problem. The 2024 syllabus introduces some key changes, emphasizing the use of a conceptual lens and requiring a maximum word count of 1,800. In this guide, we will walk you through the essential steps to excel in this new format.

Step 1: Understand the IA Requirements

Before diving into your IA, it’s essential to grasp the specific requirements set by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). Under the new syllabus, these requirements are consistent for both SL and HL students:

– The IA should be based on a real business or organization.

– You must choose a research question related to the business management concepts studied in your course

Requirements:

• Selecting a Real Business Issue

Choose a business issue or problem that is relevant to any part of the syllabus. Directly refer to a single business organization, but consider industry-wide issues that impact that organization.

• Formulating a Research Question

Craft a research question that can be either forward-looking or backward-looking. This question will be the cornerstone of your project.

• Conducting Research

Base your research on a combination of primary and/or secondary sources. Ensure that the chosen sources are suitable, deep, and broad in their coverage.

• Supporting Documents

Attach three to five supporting documents that provide the majority of the information for your project. These documents should offer a range of ideas and views, ensuring balance and objectivity.

• Word Limit and Referencing

The project should not exceed 1,800 words. Fully reference all supporting documents and additional sources, including them in a bibliography.

• Key Concept

Choose one of the four key concepts – change, creativity, ethics, or sustainability – as a lens through which to analyze your IA. While the key concept may not necessarily be stated in the research question, make it explicit on the title page which key concept you have selected. This choice will influence the analysis and evaluation of your research.

Step 2: Selecting a Relevant Research Question

Your research question is the cornerstone of your IA. It should address a real business issue or problem and relate directly to the concepts covered in the syllabus. Remember to choose a question that can be either forward-looking or backward-looking. For instance, questions like “Should company Y change its manufacturing to outsourcing?” or “How can company B enter the new market in country X?” are excellent examples.

Step 3: Conducting Research

Both SL and HL students should conduct thorough research to gather relevant data and information for their IA. It’s essential to consult various sources, including academic journals, books, and reliable online resources. Your project should include:

• Provide background information about the business organization.
• Clearly outline the issue or problem under investigation.
• Explain the methodology used for the investigation.
• Present and analyze findings from supporting documents.
• Utilize relevant business management tools and theories.
• Integrate the chosen key concept.
• Explicitly answer the research question.
• Do not introduce new facts or arguments not discussed in previous sections.
• Highlight aspects that may need further investigation.
• Internal Assessment Criteria

The business research project will be assessed against seven criteria related to the course’s assessment objectives. Familiarize yourself with each criterion to ensure that your project meets the highest standards:

Criterion A: Integration of a key concept

Criterion B: Supporting documents

Criterion C: Selection and application of tools and theories

Criterion D: Analysis and evaluation

Criterion E: Conclusions

Criterion F: Structure

Criterion G: Presentation

Step 4: Organizing Your IA

Now, it’s time to structure your IA. The standard structure includes:

• Introduction: Present your research question and provide some context

In the introduction, provide context for your research question. Explain why it’s important and how it relates to the field of business management. For instance, if your research question is, “How does a company’s corporate culture impact employee satisfaction?” you could begin by briefly discussing the significance of corporate culture in the modern workplace.

• Methodology: Explain your research methods and data collection process

Describe the methods you used to gather data. If you conducted surveys or interviews, explain the sample size, data collection tools, and the criteria for selecting participants. For example, “To assess employee satisfaction, we distributed a survey to 200 employees across different departments, using a Likert scale to measure their responses.”

• Analysis: Analyze the data and information you’ve gathered to address your research question 

In the analysis section, delve into your findings and provide a thorough examination of the data. Use business management concepts and tools to support your analysis. For instance, if your data shows that employees in companies with strong corporate cultures tend to report higher job satisfaction, you can link this finding to concepts like organisational culture, employee motivation, and retention strategies. If you are doing research on marketing strategies, the Ansoff or BCG matrix would be good choices.

• Conclusion: Summarize your findings and draw a clear conclusion

Summarize the key findings from your analysis. In the example of corporate culture and employee satisfaction, your conclusion might state, “Based on the survey results and analysis, it is evident that a strong corporate culture positively influences employee satisfaction.”

• Recommendations: Suggest practical recommendations based on your analysis 

Offer practical recommendations based on your analysis. For instance, you could suggest that organizations focus on building and maintaining a positive corporate culture to enhance employee satisfaction. Provide specific strategies and actions that businesses can implement, such as leadership training programs, open communication channels, and recognition initiatives.

• Citation and References: List all the sources you’ve cited in your IA 

List all the sources you used in your IA in a standardized citation format, following the IB’s referencing guidelines. It is important to properly cite all sources you’ve used in your IA. Follow the IB’s citation and referencing guidelines diligently.

Step 5: Proofreading and Editing 

Before final submission, carefully proofread and edit your IA. Ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and free from grammatical errors.

Step 6: Seek Feedback

Ask your teacher or mentor for feedback on your IA draft. They can provide valuable insights to help you refine your work.

Formatting is an often-overlooked but essential aspect of your IB Business Management IA. Proper formatting not only makes your IA visually appealing but also ensures that it’s easy to read and navigate. Consistency in formatting can make your work appear more polished and professional. Here are some formatting tips to enhance the presentation of your IA:

• Consistent Style : Use a consistent formatting style throughout your IA. This includes font size, type, and line spacing. The IB typically recommends a standard font like Times New Roman or Arial, size 12, and double spacing.
• Headings and Subheadings : Organize your IA with clear headings and subheadings for each section. This helps your readers follow the structure of your paper easily. Use a larger font size or bold formatting for headings to make them stand out.
• Page Numbers : Include page numbers in your IA, typically in the header or footer. This helps both you and your readers keep track of where they are in your document.
• Citations and References : Ensure that your citations and references are consistently formatted according to a recognized citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, or Chicago). This demonstrates academic rigor and gives credit to your sources.
• Tables and Figures : If you use tables, charts, or graphs to present data, label them clearly and provide brief explanations. Number them sequentially (e.g., Table 1, Figure 2) and refer to them in your text. Make sure they are visually clear and easy to understand.
• Margins and Page Layout : Check the required margin sizes and page layout for your IA. The IB may specify particular margin sizes for the top, bottom, left, and right sides of your pages.
• Word Count : Keep track of your word count to ensure your IA falls within the required range. Include a word count at the end of your document, excluding references and appendices.
• Appendices : If you have supplementary material, such as detailed survey questionnaires or raw data, include them in an appendix. Ensure that the appendix is well-organized and labeled.

In conclusion, the IB Business Management IA is a challenging but rewarding task for both SL and HL students. By understanding the specific requirements, selecting an appropriate research question, conducting thorough research, and following a structured approach, you can craft a high-quality IA that showcases your knowledge and analytical skills. Remember that while the difference between SL and HL IA is primarily in the complexity of the research question and depth of analysis, both levels require dedication and attention to detail. Best of luck with your IA!

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• Feb 27, 2023
• 11 min read

The EXACT Structure you need for a 7 in your Business Management IA

Updated: Feb 28, 2023

The Business Management IA assesses students' ability to analyze businesses, use business tools, and collect data. However, due to the vague criteria for the IA, many students find it highly challenging. It shocking the number of students that perform poorly in the IA. But we are here to change that!

In this blog, I will outline the IA structure that has been used time and time again by our tutors to achieve high marks in the Business IA. Following this guide as strictly as possible and I am certain you will get a 7.

Before we dive into the IA's structure, let's briefly discuss the IA in general.

Business IA General Overview

For HL students, the IA accounts for 25% of their final grade, making it the most crucial assessment piece.

The primary distinction between the HL and SL IA is that HL students need to analyze a forward-thinking business decision, whereas SL students need to write a commentary on a business's operations.

Most importantly, the HL IA heavily relies on primary data, while SL students have the option to solely collect secondary data. Let's examine examples of SL and HL research questions to further illustrate this distinction.

SL Research Question:

How have Google's changes in organizational structure and leadership style affected its corporate culture, employee productivity, and efficiency?

Please note that SL students can choose large businesses since primary market research is not a priority.

HL Research Question:

Should TNN invest in a laser cutter to decrease costs and gain control over operations in an attempt to increase revenue and overall profitability?

Note that "TNN" is not a massive Fortune 500 company, so it is possible to collect valuable primary data. Additionally, the question is forward-facing, meaning the IA will evaluate the pros and cons of a potential business decision.

The Business IA consists of two separate reports. The first report is the "Research Proposal," where students justify and plan their research. The second document is the actual IA, where students analyze all the data and evaluate their business decision.

How to structure a Level 7 business IA

Research Proposal (Total 500 Words)

The research proposal is the precursor to the IA and should be written in the future tense as the primary research has yet to be conducted.

Research Proposal Title Page

State your Research Questions

The session number, e.g., Nov22

Research Question

The research question is one of the most important parts of your IA; therefore, it is worthwhile to write a good one from the start. Here are a few points to refine your research questions:

Always state the name of the business in the form of an abbreviation.

Always include a list of criteria that you will use to evaluate the business decision.

For example, in the following research question:

“Should TNN invest in a laser cutter to decrease costs and gain control over operations, in an attempt to increase revenue and overall profitability?”

The criteria that will be evaluated are the revenue and profitability increase of this plan.

Other aspects you should avoid are:

Making an IA that is heavily dependent on the industry rather than the company

Being too broad with your research questions

IAs that require information you do not have access to

Choosing to focus on an IA that is not prevalent in the IB syllabus

2. Rationale (~150 Words)

Give a summary of the business

What type of business is it? Private limited? Un-incorporated?

What are its main operations?

What are its values and mission?

What is your justification for choosing this business?

Outline the problem that the business is facing.

What is the potential solution that is looking to be implemented? Why has this not been implemented in the past?

3. Theoretical Framework

Make a table and list the topics that will be covered in your IA.

Make a justification column explaining why this topic is needed in your IA.

TIP: Be selective with the tools that you are using. Using too many means that you will spread your word count too thin and not be able to do in-depth analysis.

4. Methodology

Include all the sources of primary and secondary data, along with why you have included them.

Use multiple sources of primary data. This will help you in Criteria B.

TIP: Include as many primary sources as possible, even if you are only going to refer to them once.

5. Anticipated Difficulties

Talk about difficulties that are industry and business-specific along with potential solutions.

Avoid mentioning obvious problems and those that are within your control.

Eg: “It will be hard to arrange a meeting with the CEO.” This is not a good difficulty as you can rearrange to a more convenient time.

6. Action Plan

Use a Gantt Chart to show the dates of each task.

Create the base model in excel.

Always include modifications as it shows that you actually used the graph.

TIP: For this page only, change the layout to landscape. This is the only way to fit the whole chart on one page.

Business Written Report (Total word count: 2000)

The written report is the main component of your IA. It should be written in the past tense since you have already conducted your research and analysis. As there is no page limit for business IAs, I highly recommend double spacing. This will increase the legibility of your IA.

1. Title Page

Include research questions, session number, executive summary word count, and the main IA word count.

The page number should restart from 1 on this page.

2. Acknowledgment

Write a relatively short paragraph expressing your gratitude. This is not needed in the IA and does not count in the word count.

3. Table of Contents

The table of contents should only include the major headings, i.e., all the numbered points in this list.

The table of contents must start with the executive summary at the top. TIP: It is easier if you complete this page as one of the last parts of your IA.

4. Executive Summary (200 words, excluded from your report's word count)

TIP: This section provides an extremely condensed version of your IA, and the key is to use a high concentration of business terminology. Read through a business paper 1 case-study to get an idea of the level of detail expected.

TIP: Leave this section until last, after finishing your entire IA.

TIP: Divide the summary into three short paragraphs:

Quickly summarize the business and the issue that has arisen.

Briefly state all primary and secondary data that was used, as well as any other business tools employed for analysis.

Briefly summarize the conclusion and main recommendations. Also, mention a brief line about the assumptions and limitations of your findings.

5. Introduction (~150 Words)

TIP: The introduction is very similar to the rationale. It's not a bad idea to rewrite your rationale.

Include the company name and abbreviation.

State and explain the company’s operations.

Outline current strategic goals.

Explain the problem the business is facing and propose a potential solution.

Describe what prevented the company from implementing this solution in the past.

At the end, include your research question and justify how you reached it.

6. Methodology (~150 Words)

TIP: This section is dedicated to giving a brief outline of the research and data you have collected.

State the primary and secondary sources you used, e.g., “Interview with the owner, survey with customers, and observations at competitors.”

Make sure to emphasize the wide range of primary data you are using.

Discuss all the business tools you will be using and briefly justify why you are using them.

Mention any changes that you made to the method throughout the IA.

7. Limitations (~100 Words)

The limitation is aimed to discuss how valid your data is.

Include 2 or 3 points that may affect the reliability of your data. Some examples are:

Subjectivity in qualitative business analysis.

Financial data during times of a recession/boom may not be representative of regular business activity.

Customers of the workplace may be intentionally biased.

8. Main Results and Findings (~300 Words)

In this section, you will state all the data you have collected. Summarize all the qualitative data and calculate all the quantitative data.

Include a brief summary of the interview, with footnotes referring to the answers you are summarizing.

Include 2 or 3 graphs of the survey that you conducted. Only include necessary graphs in the main body of the document. Place all other graphs in the appendix and refer to them through footnotes.

Include all investment appraisal and financial ratio calculations. It is good practice to write the equation for all calculations that you do. In addition, all the financial information needs to be cited using footnotes.

Tip: If you are calculating ARR, I highly recommend using the table method. This is the most visually clear way of presenting calculations, especially if you are dealing with variable annual cash flow.

The main point to keep in mind is that all data, whether financial, quantitative, or qualitative, needs to be cited in the appendix using footnotes.

9. Analysis and Discussion (~1100 Words)

TIP: This criterion accounts for the largest number of marks, so spend the most amount of time dedicated to analyzing and evaluating. Here, analyze the data using business theory and assess if it supports or opposes the proposed research question's change. Analyze all the implications of the data in a sequential and coherent manner. For every different tool and primary research method that is used, you should dedicate a separate analysis section to it.

This section is where many students struggle, so here is a potential structure you can use:

Apply the theory and terminology from the business textbook when analyzing data.

Ensure that all analysis points are linked to the impact on internal and external stakeholders. For the main analysis section, it is recommended to use the 'snowball method', which is used in the mark schemes of business paper 1s. This method will be outlined below.

Conclude each section with a brief analysis of whether the tool supports or opposes the business decision, taking into consideration whether it is for the short or long term.

Add a section at the end of every tool where you discuss the limitations of the tool. For instance, for the Lewin's force field analysis, the ranking for the driving and restricting factors is subjective; this bias needs to be accounted for through the use of quantitative tools.

Always analyze the qualitative tools first then the quantitative tools as the qualitative data provides context to the reader.

10. Conclusion (~100 Words)

In the conclusion, you need to combine all the mini-conclusions together and evaluate if the short-term disadvantages out weight the long-term advantages or vice-versa.

State all the tools that are in support of the business decision and all the tools that are against it. long-term. Imagine a table

Note: Do not include a table. You must explain the same concept in written form

As seen above, most tools support the decision, while some are against it. You must discuss and justify why the change must be implemented despite the disapproving interview and investment appraisal results. This process of weighing up the pros and cons will favorable for the evaluation and critical thinking criteria. ii. Discuss the limitations of your research; components that may have prevented you from reaching an established conclusion

11. Recommendation (~100 Words)

Limit your recommendations to three to ensure that you provide sufficient detail within the word count limits. Furthermore, ensure that your recommendations are coherent with your conclusion.

Provide recommendations for short-term actions (0-1 years) that the business can take to achieve quick results. These could range from contacting suppliers to making new investments.

Provide recommendations for long-term objectives (2-5 years). What can the business do to continue growing and profiting?

Include at least one recommendation for gathering additional information and conducting research. This additional research should be aligned with the limitations outlined earlier in the IA.

12. Bibliography

Alphabetize your sources

The format of the bibliography and citation is not relevant; however, it needs to be consistent throughout the IA.

13. Appendix

Include all primary data sources

Include all graphs and scripts of interviews

All financial data collected directly from the company also needs to be here.

As you write your IA, I highly encourage you to keep this blog open and add the following sections as you go. It is essential to include all these points, especially if you are aiming for a 7.

How to Analyze and Evaluate like a Level 7 Business Student (The Snowball Method)

The snowball method for analysis is something I came up with while I was in grade 12. It consistently allowed me to score in the high 80s in my business papers 1s and 2s. If you read any business paper 2 example answer, you will not find detailed and isolated discussions regarding single topics such as cash flow. Instead, you will find fluid analysis created by a chain of implications.

By a chain of implications, I mean constantly asking yourself the question: "So what? What is impacted by this change? Who will be affected? Why does it matter?" These are all important questions that you need to address in your analysis. The best way to do this is to continuously ask "so what" over and over again, hence why it is called the snowball method. Let's go over an example:

Imagine you are the owner of a school that lacks well-trained teachers. As a result, customer satisfaction has been low. The proposed solution is to increase the training of the teachers.

A low-level and one-dimensional analysis would be:

"Increasing teacher training would improve service quality, hence would improve customer satisfaction."

This analysis lacks sophistication and has a poor spread of business terminology. A high-quality analysis would discuss additional content, which continuously flows. See the example below.

“Implementing teacher training will result in more skilled teachers who are more motivated as suggested by the mastery component of Daniel Pink's theory of motivation. This change will likely have a positive impact on the school's corporate culture and reduce the school's labor turnover . Additionally, having specialized and highly skilled teachers will make it easier for the school to implement on-the-job training in the future, reducing training costs in the long term.”

The analysis represented as a continuous chain:

Implementing teacher training → more skilled teachers → increased motivation (Daniel Pink) → improved corporate culture → low labor turnover → teachers stay for longer at the school, gaining more experience and becoming more specialized → easier to implement on-the-job training → reducing training costs over the long term

As you can see, the second analysis discusses far more implications of the business decision and includes a high density of business terminology. This is the type of analysis you should be looking to replicate. Try to create a chain of events, showing where each business decision leads and how the effects trickle down to stakeholders.

I would highly encourage you to attempt to discuss as many business concepts as possible, at least those that are relevant to the IA. As a general guide, regardless of your proposed change, you must, to some extent, discuss the impact it will have on HR, operations, marketing, and finance.

Another important tip is to add variety to your analysis. Avoid having "an increase in profitability" as the outcome of all your analysis. This will be seen as one-dimensional by the IB markers, and you will be penalized in the analysis and evaluation criteria. Instead, try to discuss the impact your business decision will have on cash flow, revenue, working capital, working capital cycle, fixed and variable costs, short-term and long-term capital expenses, and more. The list goes on. Many low-performing business IAs tend to be hyper-focused on profit. Make your analysis multi-dimensional and discuss other components as well.

How to Layout a Level 7 Business IA

Unlike other IAs, the Business IA is lengthy. Therefore, it is crucial to have a good layout. Moreover, the layout accounts for 4 marks in the IA criteria, which could be the difference between a 7 and a 6.

I highly recommend using footnotes as a citation method. This will not only save you words, but it will also allow you to easily reference all your primary data.

Important note: In your IA, whenever you refer to primary data, it must be cited using footnotes. This includes all financial data used for investment appraisal and driving and restraining forces for Lewin's force field diagrams.

Be specific with your appendix references, particularly for the interview. Do not ambiguously state (Appendix 1: interview), instead say something like (Appendix 1: Interview with the owner - question 7). This layout can be seen in the image below.

2. Double-space your IA. This will help with legibility in your IA.

Make sure to have clean headings with few aesthetic features.

Font size should be 12 or 13 Arial, making sure it is consistent throughout the IA.

Make sure to bold and italicize important concepts that you want the marker to pay attention to.

3. Always caption your diagrams and include table headings. These headings should not be vague and should be as detailed as possible.

Although the business IA is confronting, if done right, it can be one of the most intellectually challenging and fun experiences of your IB journey. As a past IB student who scored 80% overall in their finals, I can confidently say that if you include all these components in your IA, you will perform very well.

There is only so much advice I can provide you over a blog. For personalized feedback on your IA, sign up for our IA feedback service.

Best of luck!

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Explore NIAID Topics for Small Business Innovation Research Contract Solicitation

Funding News Edition: September 4, 2024 See more articles in this edition

NIH's SBIR program accepts Phase I, Phase II, Fast Track, and Direct-to-Phase II research proposals.

Each year, NIH solicits research proposals from small businesses through A Solicitation of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Contract Proposals . The latest version was published on August 2, 2024. The solicitation serves as a vehicle for offerors to propose research projects on a multitude of scientific topics from across NIH.

Proposals are due by October 18, 2024, at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.  

NIH’s Small Business Education and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED) program will host an HHS SBIR Contract RFP Pre-proposal Conference Webinar (PHS-2025-1) to discuss the mechanics of the contract opportunity on September 23, 2024, from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. The presentation materials will be posted on that same event page following the session. 

Note : This SBIR contract solicitation is distinct from the 2024 SBIR and STTR Omnibus/Parent Grant Solicitations for the NIH, CDC, and FDA released in July, which are notices of funding opportunities for grant awards (despite the word “solicitation” appearing in their titles). Learn about those grant opportunities in our August 7, 2024 article “ Small Business Research: Priority Funding Topics for 2025 .” 

To differentiate among the proposal types: 

• Phase I—research to determine the scientific or technical feasibility and commercial merit of the proposed research or research and development (R&D) efforts. 
• Phase II—continuance of Phase I research efforts, dependent on successful Phase I results as well as scientific and technical merit and commercial potential of further work. 
• Fast Track—simultaneous submission of Phase I and Phase II proposals, to facilitate a streamlined transition from Phase I to Phase II if merited by research outcomes. 
• Direct-to-Phase II—allows a small business concern to commence with Phase II research if Phase I stage-type research funded through other, non-SBIR/STTR sources is already complete. 

The table below summarizes NIAID’s research topics of interest for contract proposals. Refer to the attachment posted within the solicitation linked above for full details, including the number of anticipated awards and descriptions of required activities and deliverables. 

Your contract proposal should address only one topic; if you wish to pursue multiple topics, submit a separate proposal for each topic. Submit your proposal(s) through the electronic Contract Proposal Submission . Direct any technical questions about the solicitation and NIAID’s topics to Jonathan Bryan in NIAID’s Office of Acquisitions at [email protected] or 240-669-5180.  

Find general information and advice on our Small Business Programs page and contact NIAID SBIR/STTR Program Coordinator Natalia Kruchinin, Ph.D., at [email protected] for funding questions specific to small businesses.

Email us at [email protected] for help navigating NIAID’s grant and contract policies and procedures.

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The speed of business today requires agility and efficiency that can only be achieved through automation. IDC forecasts that the worldwide economic impact of converged AI-powered automation across all lines of business and IT functions will be close to USD 3 trillion by the end of 2022.

With experts discussing the benefits of two types of digital process automation — intelligent automation and hyperautomation — many others are led to question the difference between the two. Are they simply interchangeable terms or is there a discernable difference between these two concepts and the benefits they bring to businesses?

Intelligent automation (IA) and hyperautomation are both contributors to the explosion of the use of AI-powered automation platforms and automation tools across the business and IT landscape. They both refer to the use of automation to streamline processes using advanced technologies and enhancements. In doing so, these tools help improve the quality of automation results and the quality of customer interactions.

However, there are distinct differences.

In short, intelligent automation is comprised of robotic process automation (RPA), artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Hyperautomation is a business-driven, disciplined approach that organizations use to rapidly identify, vet and automate as many business and IT processes as possible. Therefore, intelligent automation is often used within hyperautomation efforts.

Intelligent automation  involves the use of automation technologies like  robotic process automation (RPA) ,  artificial intelligence (AI) ,  machine learning (ML)  and  business process management (BPM)  to streamline and scale tasks and decision-making across organizations.

Intelligent automation has received a favorable response from the market because it simplifies processes, improves operational efficiencies and frees up employees’ time to focus on what matters most. It can also tackle complex tasks in real time and drastically streamline workflows, unlocking new possibilities to create value and achieve sustained growth.

Intelligent automation (IA) creates optimization and drives business success through streamlining business processes using artificial intelligence and core automation technologies. IA enables businesses to do the following:

• Reduce costs through workforce augmentation and productivity improvements.
• Increase process and data accuracy as well as quality through consistent processes, approaches and Intelligent Business Process Management (IBPM).
• Improve the customer experience by providing faster response times, higher quality products and more accurate answers to inquiries.
• Address compliance and regulations with a consistent approach to security, reporting and many other processes.
• Respond to market and environmental changes. (Fluctuating markets and workforce behaviors, resulting from disruptors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, are a forcing function for change in many areas of business.)

Any environment can benefit from streamlining manual processes and task automation. From healthcare to finance to manufacturing and beyond, the use of intelligent automation can provide benefits that improve the customer experience and impact the bottom line.

One particular example of IA at work is the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Processing claims manually was a tremendous burden that required several hundred people to sort mail and enter data into databases. As with many human-intensive processes, this was error-prone and expensive.

The department adopted IA to automate its business processes using advanced technology like RPA bots. This approach reduced the turnaround time by 90%, saving time and satisfying customers with increased speed and accuracy.

Hyperautomation  is the act of automating everything in an organization that can be automated. The intent of hyperautomation is to streamline processes across an organization using intelligent process automation (IPA), which includes AI, RPA and other technologies to run without human intervention.

Hyperautomation often employs other technologies — such as optical character recognition (OCR),  intelligent document processing (IDP)  and  natural language processing (NLP)  — to provide higher-quality automation using data from various sources. Digital twin or digital twin organization (DTO) are often used for modeling to improve operations and evaluate the impact of automation.

Hyperautomation is considered by Gartner to be one of the top-10 strategic technology trends. According to Gartner, 85% of participants will “either increase or sustain their organization’s hyperautomation investments over the next 12 months, and over 56% already have four or more concurrent hyperautomation initiatives.”

Gartner considers hyperautomation to be a necessity in today’s market. “Hyperautomation is rapidly shifting from an option to a condition of survival,” ranking “outdated work processes as the No. 1 workforce issue.”

Hyperautomation provides many benefits to organizations looking to transform their business. It streamlines business processes by eliminating repetitive tasks and automating manual ones. Hyperautomation also enables an organization to complete tasks with consistency, accuracy and speed, and reduce costs.

Ultimately, hyperautomation fuels digital transformation by streamlining internal business and technology processes. Hyperautomation improves the customer experience through faster response times, more accurate results, faster time to market, and many other positive results that directly impact the customer and user experience.

Take a deeper dive into the benefits and challenges of hyperautomation.

Any organization can benefit from hyperautomation, particularly one that is plagued with inconsistent product quality and inefficient processes or one that is in a competitive environment where getting ahead with higher-quality products and more valuable market interactions equates to gaining market share and improving revenue.

A manufacturing company provides a great example of the breadth and depth of improvements that hyperautomation can afford an organization. Business processes like billing, customer interactions, inventory and payroll can use hyperautomation for Business Process Automation (BPA) to streamline the business on a broad scale.

Using  process mining , an organization can get a better picture of its processes and identify which processes would best benefit from AI and automation. In technology and fabrication processes, for example, the use of RPA to automate physical production and supply chain processes, plus BPA to address manufacturing best practices, can have a tremendous effect on the quality and speed of production. Overall, hyperautomation using BPA and RPA to streamline both back- and front-end operations generate an improvement in quality, speed, accuracy and cost for a significant impact on the future of business performance.

Learn more about how to capture the full value of hyperautomation.

Start your journey with  IBM AI-powered automation  and the  IBM Cloud Paks® for Automation , which can help you  reduce your manual processes by 80% . Built on an open, hybrid platform and embedded with Watson, the new IBM Automation Cloud Paks are the industry’s first integrated suite of domain-specific business and IT software. They include a single, expert system and library of purpose-built automations — pre-trained by experts and drawing on extensive IBM domain knowledge and depth of industry expertise.

AI-powered automation software enables business and IT teams to easily discover how processes run, decide what to automate based on insights from  structured and unstructured data  and automate and continuously improve workflows that run centrally, in networks and all the way to the edge.

• Start your IBM AI-powered automation journey today .
• Dive deeper into the  IBM Cloud Paks for Automation .
• Take control of your productivity levels using self-service automation.  Explore watsonx Orchestrate .

The University of Chicago The Law School

Innovation clinic—significant achievements for 2023-24.

The Innovation Clinic continued its track record of success during the 2023-2024 school year, facing unprecedented demand for our pro bono services as our reputation for providing high caliber transactional and regulatory representation spread. The overwhelming number of assistance requests we received from the University of Chicago, City of Chicago, and even national startup and venture capital communities enabled our students to cherry-pick the most interesting, pedagogically valuable assignments offered to them. Our focus on serving startups, rather than all small- to medium-sized businesses, and our specialization in the needs and considerations that these companies have, which differ substantially from the needs of more traditional small businesses, has proven to be a strong differentiator for the program both in terms of business development and prospective and current student interest, as has our further focus on tackling idiosyncratic, complex regulatory challenges for first-of-their kind startups. We are also beginning to enjoy more long-term relationships with clients who repeatedly engage us for multiple projects over the course of a year or more as their legal needs develop.

This year’s twelve students completed over twenty projects and represented clients in a very broad range of industries: mental health and wellbeing, content creation, medical education, biotech and drug discovery, chemistry, food and beverage, art, personal finance, renewable energy, fintech, consumer products and services, artificial intelligence (“AI”), and others. The matters that the students handled gave them an unparalleled view into the emerging companies and venture capital space, at a level of complexity and agency that most junior lawyers will not experience until several years into their careers.

Representative Engagements

While the Innovation Clinic’s engagements are highly confidential and cannot be described in detail, a high-level description of a representative sample of projects undertaken by the Innovation Clinic this year includes:

Transactional/Commercial Work

• A previous client developing a symptom-tracking wellness app for chronic disease sufferers engaged the Innovation Clinic again, this time to restructure its cap table by moving one founder’s interest in the company to a foreign holding company and subjecting the holding company to appropriate protections in favor of the startup.
• Another client with whom the Innovation Clinic had already worked several times engaged us for several new projects, including (1) restructuring their cap table and issuing equity to an additional, new founder, (2) drafting several different forms of license agreements that the company could use when generating content for the platform, covering situations in which the company would license existing content from other providers, jointly develop new content together with contractors or specialists that would then be jointly owned by all creators, or commission contractors to make content solely owned by the company, (3) drafting simple agreements for future equity (“Safes”) for the company to use in its seed stage fundraising round, and (4) drafting terms of service and a privacy policy for the platform.
• Yet another repeat client, an internet platform that supports independent artists by creating short films featuring the artists to promote their work and facilitates sales of the artists’ art through its platform, retained us this year to draft a form of independent contractor agreement that could be used when the company hires artists to be featured in content that the company’s Fortune 500 brand partners commission from the company, and to create capsule art collections that could be sold by these Fortune 500 brand partners in conjunction with the content promotion.
• We worked with a platform using AI to accelerate the Investigational New Drug (IND) approval and application process to draft a form of license agreement for use with its customers and an NDA for prospective investors.
• A novel personal finance platform for young, high-earning individuals engaged the Innovation Clinic to form an entity for the platform, including helping the founders to negotiate a deal among them with respect to roles and equity, terms that the equity would be subject to, and other post-incorporation matters, as well as to draft terms of service and a privacy policy for the platform.
• Students also formed an entity for a biotech therapeutics company founded by University of Chicago faculty members and an AI-powered legal billing management platform founded by University of Chicago students.
• A founder the Innovation Clinic had represented in connection with one venture engaged us on behalf of his other venture team to draft an equity incentive plan for the company as well as other required implementing documentation. His venture with which we previously worked also engaged us this year to draft Safes to be used with over twenty investors in a seed financing round.

More information regarding other types of transactional projects that we typically take on can be found here .

Regulatory Research and Advice

• A team of Innovation Clinic students invested a substantial portion of our regulatory time this year performing highly detailed and complicated research into public utilities laws of several states to advise a groundbreaking renewable energy technology company as to how its product might be regulated in these states and its clearest path to market. This project involved a review of not only the relevant state statutes but also an analysis of the interplay between state and federal statutes as it relates to public utilities law, the administrative codes of the relevant state executive branch agencies, and binding and non-binding administrative orders, decisions and guidance from such agencies in other contexts that could shed light on how such states would regulate this never-before-seen product that their laws clearly never contemplated could exist. The highly varied approach to utilities regulation in all states examined led to a nuanced set of analysis and recommendations for the client.
• In another significant research project, a separate team of Innovation Clinic students undertook a comprehensive review of all settlement orders and court decisions related to actions brought by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for violations of the prohibition on unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts and practices under the Consumer Financial Protection Act, as well as selected relevant settlement orders, court decisions, and other formal and informal guidance documents related to actions brought by the Federal Trade Commission for violations of the prohibition on unfair or deceptive acts or practices under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, to assemble a playbook for a fintech company regarding compliance. This playbook, which distilled very complicated, voluminous legal decisions and concepts into a series of bullet points with clear, easy-to-follow rules and best practices, designed to be distributed to non-lawyers in many different facets of this business, covered all aspects of operations that could subject a company like this one to liability under the laws examined, including with respect to asset purchase transactions, marketing and consumer onboarding, usage of certain terms of art in advertising, disclosure requirements, fee structures, communications with customers, legal documentation requirements, customer service and support, debt collection practices, arrangements with third parties who act on the company’s behalf, and more.

Miscellaneous

• Last year’s students built upon the Innovation Clinic’s progress in shaping the rules promulgated by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) pursuant to the Corporate Transparency Act to create a client alert summarizing the final rule, its impact on startups, and what startups need to know in order to comply. When FinCEN issued additional guidance with respect to that final rule and changed portions of the final rule including timelines for compliance, this year’s students updated the alert, then distributed it to current and former clients to notify them of the need to comply. The final bulletin is available here .
• In furtherance of that work, additional Innovation Clinic students this year analyzed the impact of the final rule not just on the Innovation Clinic’s clients but also its impact on the Innovation Clinic, and how the Innovation Clinic should change its practices to ensure compliance and minimize risk to the Innovation Clinic. This also involved putting together a comprehensive filing guide for companies that are ready to file their certificates of incorporation to show them procedurally how to do so and explain the choices they must make during the filing process, so that the Innovation Clinic would not be involved in directing or controlling the filings and thus would not be considered a “company applicant” on any client’s Corporate Transparency Act filings with FinCEN.
• The Innovation Clinic also began producing thought leadership pieces regarding AI, leveraging our distinct and uniquely University of Chicago expertise in structuring early-stage companies and analyzing complex regulatory issues with a law and economics lens to add our voice to those speaking on this important topic. One student wrote about whether non-profits are really the most desirable form of entity for mitigating risks associated with AI development, and another team of students prepared an analysis of the EU’s AI Act, comparing it to the Executive Order on AI from President Biden, and recommended a path forward for an AI regulatory environment in the United States. Both pieces can be found here , with more to come!

Innovation Trek

Thanks to another generous gift from Douglas Clark, ’89, and managing partner of Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, we were able to operationalize the second Innovation Trek over Spring Break 2024. The Innovation Trek provides University of Chicago Law School students with a rare opportunity to explore the innovation and venture capital ecosystem in its epicenter, Silicon Valley. The program enables participating students to learn from business and legal experts in a variety of different industries and roles within the ecosystem to see how the law and economics principles that students learn about in the classroom play out in the real world, and facilitates meaningful connections between alumni, students, and other speakers who are leaders in their fields. This year, we took twenty-three students (as opposed to twelve during the first Trek) and expanded the offering to include not just Innovation Clinic students but also interested students from our JD/MBA Program and Doctoroff Business Leadership Program. We also enjoyed four jam-packed days in Silicon Valley, expanding the trip from the two and a half days that we spent in the Bay Area during our 2022 Trek.

The substantive sessions of the Trek were varied and impactful, and enabled in no small part thanks to substantial contributions from numerous alumni of the Law School. Students were fortunate to visit Coinbase’s Mountain View headquarters to learn from legal leaders at the company on all things Coinbase, crypto, and in-house, Plug & Play Tech Center’s Sunnyvale location to learn more about its investment thesis and accelerator programming, and Google’s Moonshot Factory, X, where we heard from lawyers at a number of different Alphabet companies about their lives as in-house counsel and the varied roles that in-house lawyers can have. We were also hosted by Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati and Fenwick & West LLP where we held sessions featuring lawyers from those firms, alumni from within and outside of those firms, and non-lawyer industry experts on topics such as artificial intelligence, climate tech and renewables, intellectual property, biotech, investing in Silicon Valley, and growth stage companies, and general advice on career trajectories and strategies. We further held a young alumni roundtable, where our students got to speak with alumni who graduated in the past five years for intimate, candid discussions about life as junior associates. In total, our students heard from more than forty speakers, including over twenty University of Chicago alumni from various divisions.

The Trek didn’t stop with education, though. Throughout the week students also had the opportunity to network with speakers to learn more from them outside the confines of panel presentations and to grow their networks. We had a networking dinner with Kirkland & Ellis, a closing dinner with all Trek participants, and for the first time hosted an event for admitted students, Trek participants, and alumni to come together to share experiences and recruit the next generation of Law School students. Several speakers and students stayed in touch following the Trek, and this resulted not just in meaningful relationships but also in employment for some students who attended.

More information on the purposes of the Trek is available here , the full itinerary is available here , and one student participant’s story describing her reflections on and descriptions of her experience on the Trek is available here .

The Innovation Clinic is grateful to all of its clients for continuing to provide its students with challenging, high-quality legal work, and to the many alumni who engage with us for providing an irreplaceable client pipeline and for sharing their time and energy with our students. Our clients are breaking the mold and bringing innovations to market that will improve the lives of people around the world in numerous ways. We are glad to aid in their success in any way that we can. We look forward to another productive year in 2024-2025!