BUSINESS REPORT STRUCTURE

Introduction to the Topic

The focus of this report is the Spur restaurant group. While Spur is a broad brand, you should focus specifically on their sit-down dinner restaurants. Each student is expected to earn at least two marks through their specific topic discussion.

Business Terminology

Using the correct technical language is vital for a high score.

  • Clarity is Key: Start by using clear business terms to ensure you don't lose simple marks.

  • Scoring: You can earn up to 33 marks for outstanding use of terminology. However, if you use terms incorrectly—such as confusing the "purchasing function" with "production"—marks will be deducted.

Mark Allocation

Section C of the report is worth a total of 5050 marks out of the overall 300300-mark project. It is divided into two main areas:

  1. Substantiation (2020 marks): Explaining why and how.

  2. Application (3030 marks): Applying facts to the specific business.

Substantiation (Justifying Your Points)

To substantiate means to justify your reasoning. You must always answer "why" or "how" in your writing.

  • Mastery: To get 44 out of 44 marks in a section, you need strong justifications.

  • Avoid Repetition: Simply repeating what is in the textbook will likely result in zero marks for this section.

Application (Case Study Research)

While the current theme is Spur, you may choose another restaurant as long as you research it thoroughly. You must include:

  • The company name and the location of its head office.

  • A list of their products and services.

  • Financial data, such as revenue statistics from last year (e.g., 20252025 data).

  • Delivery options (does the restaurant use Uber Eats or their own drivers?).

  • The quality of their website and online shopping experience.

  • Their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs (community projects).

Creative Problem Solving

Many students struggle to get the full 66 marks in this category. To succeed, you must:

  • Identify specific challenges the business faces.

  • Provide more than two clear strategies or solutions for each challenge identified.

Report Structure and Synthesis

Your report must be organized professionally:

  • Introduction: Include a specific statistic or fact about Spur that you will not repeat later. Provide a brief overview of what the body of the report will discuss.

  • Conclusion: Summarize the report and suggest the next steps for the business. Do not simply repeat information you already wrote.

  • Formatting: Include the title, date, and your name (or a pseudonym). Address the report to the CEO using their full name.

  • Headings: Use clear headings and subheadings. For example, if doing a SWOT analysis, create a main heading for "SWOT" and then subheadings for "Strengths," "Weaknesses," etc.

Flow and Integration

  • Transitions: Ensure your thoughts flow logically. Do not jump between unrelated topics without a transition sentence.

  • Connections: Try to link different chapters of your syllabus. For example, you could discuss how staffing challenges (Human Resources) relate to changes in Spur's business environment.

Using Extra Knowledge

You can earn bonus marks for including insightful outside knowledge. This means going beyond basic facts to explain how external events—like global shipping issues—impact the business.

Errors to Avoid

  • Do Not Copy: Never take information directly from the case study or the question prompt. Rephrase it and provide your own reasoning.

  • Avoid Vague Terms: Do not make assumptions or use vague language when describing a company's performance.

Analytical Tools

Use the PESTLE framework to analyze the external environment. This helps you understand the factors that impact business strategy and decision-making.