1.

Economies of scale

Scale of operations :​ the maximum output that can be achieved using the available

resources. This scale can only be increased in the long term by employing more of all

inputs.

Economies of scale:​ reduction in a firm's unit costs of production that result from an

increase in scales of operations.

1. Purchasing economies

● They are known as bulk buying economies.

● Suppliers offer substantial discounts for large orders and this is because it

is cheaper for the to process and deliver one large order rather than

several smaller ones.

2. Technical economies

● The latest and most advanced technical equipment is often expensive and can

only be afforded by big firms.

● Such an expense can only be justified by larger firms with high output levels so

that average fixed cost can be reduced.

3. Financial economies

● Banks often show preference for lending to a big business with a proven track

record and diversified range of products.

● Interest rates charged to these firms are often lower than the rate charged to a

small newly formed business.

 ● Raising finance by going public is very expensive so the average cost of raising

the finance will be lower for larger firms selling manu million dollars worth of

shares.

4. Marketing economies

● A small firm will need a sales force to cover the whole of sales area. It may

employ an advertising agency to design adverts and arrange a promotional

campaign.

● These costs can spread over a higher level of sales for a big firm and this offers

a substantial economy of scale.

5. Managerial economies

● Small firms often employ general managers who have a range of management

functions to perform.

● As a firm expands it should be able to afford to attract specialist functional

managers who should operate more efficiently than general managers which

would help reduce average costs.

Diseconomies of scale

Diseconomies of scale:​ factors that cause average costs of production to rise when

the scale of operation is increased.

1. Communication problems

● Large scale operations will lead to poor feedback to workers, excessive use of

non personal communication media, communication overload with the volume of

 messages being sent and distortion of messages caused by long chain of

command.

● Poor feedback reduces workers incentives.

● These problems may lead to poor decisions being made due to inadequate or

delayed information and management inefficiency.

2. Alienation of the workforce

● The bigger the organization the more difficult it is to directly involve every worker

and to give them a sense of purpose and achievement.

● The employees may feel insignificant in the overall business plan and become

demotivated, failing to do their best.

● This can be due to boring and repetitive tasks as well.

3. Poor coordination and slow decision making

● Business expansion can lead to many departments, divisions and products.

● Smaller businesses with much tighter control over operations and much quicker

and more flexible decision making may benefit from lower average production

costs.

Significance of small and micro businesses to the economy

● Many jobs are created by small firms and the small business sector employs a

very big proportion of the working population in most countries.

● Small businesses are often run by dynamic entrepreneurs with new ideas for

consumer goods and services leading to wider consumer choice.

 ● Smaller firms create competition for larger businesses. Without competition

larger firms could exploit consumers with high prices and poor service.

Small vs. large organizations

Advantages

Small business Large business

● Can be managed and controlled by ● Can afford to employ specialist

the owner professional managers
● Offer personal service to ● Benefit from cost reductions
consumers associated with large scale
● Better communication with production
employees and staff ● May be diversified in several
markets and products, so risks are
spread.

Disadvantages

Small business Large business

● May be limited to sources of ● May be difficult to manage

finance especially if geographically spread
● May find that the owner has to ● May have potential cost increases
carry a large burden of associated with large scale
responsibility if unable to afford to production
employ specialist managers ● May suffer from slow decision
● Unlikely to benefit from economies making and poor communication
of scale due to structure of large
organization

What is an operation scale of operation?

Business owners need to weigh up and assess:

● Owners objectives - they may wish to keep the business to keep small and easy

to manage
 ● Capital available - if limited, growth is less likely

● Size of the market the firm operated in - very small markets do not need large

scale production

● Number of competitors - the market share of each firm may be small if there are

many rivals

Business growth

● Increased market share

● Increased profits

● Increased economies of scale

● Increased power and status of the owners and directors

● Reduced risk of being a takeover target

Internal and external growth

Internal growth:​ expansion of a business by means of opening new branches, shops

and factories. Also known as organic growth.

External growth:​ business expansion achieved by means of merging with or taking

over another business from either the same or different industry.

Merger:​ an agreement by shareholders and managers of two businesses to bring both

firms together under a common board of directors with shareholders in both businesses

owning shares in the newly merged business.

Takeover:​ when a company buys over 50% of the shares of another company and

becomes the controlling owner. Often known as acquisition.

Type of integration Advantages Disadvantages Impact on
stakeholders

Horizontal - Eliminates Rationalisation may Consumers have

integration: one bring bad publicity less choice
integration with a competitor
firm in the same - Increased
industry and at the power over
same stage of suppliers
production

Forward Business is able to Consumers may Workers may have

integration: control the suspect greater job security
integration with a promotion and uncompetitive because the
business in the pricing of its own activity and react business hs secure
same industry but a products negatively outlets
customer of the
existing business

Backward Gives control over May lack Possibility of

integration: quality, price and experience of greater career
integration with a delivery times of managing a opportunities for
business in the suppliers supplying company workers
same industry but a
supplier of the
existing business

Conglomerate: - Diversifies Lack of Greater career

merger or takeover the business management opportunities for
of a business in a away from experience in the workers
different industry the original acquired business
industry and sector
markets
- This could
spread risk
and may
take the
business into
a faster
growing
market
Joint ventures

Joint venture:​ when two or more businesses agree to work closely together on a

particular project and create a seperate business division to do so.

● Costs and risks of a business venture are shared which is a major consideration

when the cost of developing new products is rising in a fast pace.

● Different companies might have different countries and they could exploit these

with the new product more effectively than if they both decided to go it alone.

● Styles of management and culture might be so different than the two teams do

not blend well together.

● Errors and mistakes might lead to one blaming one another

● The business failure of one of the partners would put the whole project at risk

Strategic alliances

Strategic alliance:​ agreements between firms in which each agrees to commit

resources to achieve an agreed set of objectives.

Franchising

Franchise:​ a business that uses the name, logo and trading system of an existing

successful business.

● A franchise contract allows the franchisee to use the name, logo and marketing

methods of the franchiser.

● The franchisee decide which form of legal structure to adopt

 ● Franchises are a rapidly expanding form of business operation

● They have allowed certain multinational businesses to expand more rapidly than

they could have ever done.

Benefits Limitations

● Less chance of a new business ● Share of profits and sales revenue

failing as an established brand and has to be paid to the franchisor
product are being used. each year
● Advice and product offered by the ● Initial franchise license fee can be
franchiser expensive
● National advertising paid for by the ● Strict rules over pricing and layout
franchisor of the outlet reduce owners control
● Suppliers obtained from over the business
established and quality checked
suppliers
● Franchiser agrees not to open
another branch in the local area

Globalization

Globalization:​ the growing integration of countries through increased freedom of global

movement of goods, capital and people.

Free trade: no restrictions or trade barriers exist that might prevent or limit trade

between countries.

What are the benefits of globalisation and free trade between nations?

● Buying products from other nations (importing) means consumers are

offered a much wider choice of goods and services.

● Imports of raw materials can allow a developing economy to increase its

rate of industrialisation.
 ● Importing products creates additional competition for domestic industries

and this should encourage them to keep costs and prices down and make

their goods as well designed and of as high quality as possibles

● Countries can begin to specialise in those products they are best at

making if they import those that they are less efficient at as compared to

other countries.This is called comparative advantages

● Specialisation can lead to economies of scale and further cost and price

benefits.

● By trading in this way, the living standards of all consumers of all countries

trading together should increase as they are able to buy products more

cheaply than those that were produced just within their own countries.

● Businesses can more easily recruit workers/managers from other

countries, increasing the pool of skilled labour to draw from.

Protectionism

protectionism: ​using barriers to free trade, such as tariffs and quotas, to protect a

country’s own domestic industries.

Why become a multinational?

Multinational: business organization that has its headquarters in one country but with

operating branches, factories and assembling points in other countries.

Problems of multinationals

● Communication links with headquarters may be weak

 ● language , legal and cultural differences with local workers and government

officials could lead to misunderstandings

● Skill levels of local employees will be low and this will require substantial

investment in training programmes.

Impact of host countries of multinational companies

● The investment will bring in foreign currency and, if output from the plant is

exported, further foreign exchange can be earned.

● Employment opportunities will be created and training programmes will improve

the quality and efficiency of the local workforce.

● Local firms are likely to benefit from supplying services and components to the

new factory and this will generate additional jobs and incomes.