Analyse two benefits to PAIR of contingency planning.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2025). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] Contingency planning is a plan for preparing an organisation's resources for unlikely events.
2. [1] Minimises the negative impact on the business of a major disaster or event.
3. [1] May reassure stakeholders that concerns for safety are a priority.
4. [1] Public relations response to a disaster is more likely to be quick and effective.
5. [1] Contingency planning process can help reduce the chances of disasters happening.
6. Application is making use of relevant case information not just repeating it.
7. Limited application, APP applies knowledge to PAIR once.
8. Developed application, APP + APP applies knowledge to PAIR twice.
9. Max one APP for application of the first benefit and max one APP for application of the second benefit.
10. Pandemic impact on business. (Rapid increase in sales following end of pandemic).
11. The battery fire – potential impact on reputation of PAIR.
12. Delayed response of Kaarina to the battery fire.
13. Inappropriate response of PAIR by just blaming the supplier.
14. Linking fire to quality assurance.
15. Disruption to global trade such as imposition of tariffs. (KB1 is a successful export for PAIR).
16. Contingency planning could have reduced chances of fire by including cut-off device in the robot.
17. Chains of reasoning highlighting likely benefits of contingency planning
18. A contingency plan would have enabled a more effective response from PAIR to the battery fire thus reducing the risk of lost sales from hotels AN and therefore result in a less serious effect on profits. L2 AN
19. Knowledge that PAIR carries out contingency planning would reassure customers making them more likely to lease robots from PAIR AN thus increasing profits. L2 AN
20. The lack of a contingency plan resulted in a delayed response from PAIR to the battery fire this could harm their reputation for quality AN and result in a loss of sales. L2 AN
21. A contingency plan would reassure investors and make it more likely that a public flotation of shares would be successful AN therefore helping Kaarina with her future growth plans. L2 AN