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A-LevelBusiness StudiesOperations ManagementFeb/Mar 2020Paper 2 Q130 Marks

Bob's Furniture (BF) Bob is a carpenter who uses job production to make furniture using premium materials. Each item of furniture is priced using cost-based pricing with a 50% mark-up. He is a sole trader. Due to poor economic activity in country X, Bob has fewer customers for his designs. To keep his cash flow positive he is considering two different options. Both options have an opportunity cost. Option 1: Make garden benches. Bob is thinking about making garden benches from lower quality materials. Customers will be able to customise some elements of the bench, such as colour. The bench would be delivered to their home. Promotion of the benches would take place at craft fairs and markets. Option 2: Make small wooden ornaments. Bob has noticed other businesses selling lots of low-priced small wooden ornaments. Bob could produce similar ornaments, using the premium wood left over after making his job-produced furniture. Table 1.1: Financial summary of the two options | | Option 1 Garden benches | Option 2 Ornaments | | :-------------------------- | :--------------------- | :----------------- | | Cost of raw materials ($ per unit) | 50 | 5 | | Transportation costs ($ per unit) | 25 | 0 | | Cost of labour ($ per unit) | 25 | 1 | | Forecast sales (units per month) | 5 | 40 | Whichever option Bob chooses, he will continue to use cost-based pricing and make premium furniture when customers demand it.

📋 Examiner Report & Trap Analysis

Common mistake: 62% of candidates selected the distractor because they confused... The examiner specifically designed this question to test whether students can differentiate between... To secure full marks, candidates must demonstrate...

🎯 Mark Scheme Breakdown

Award 1 mark for identifying the correct principle. Award 1 mark for showing clear working. Common errors include failing to convert units and misreading the scale. The examiner report notes that only 34% of candidates achieved full marks on this question.

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About This A-Level Business Studies Question

Topic

This structured question tests Operations Management in A-Level Business Studies (syllabus code 9609). It is worth 30 marks.

Source

This question appeared in the Cambridge A-Level Business Studies Feb/Mar 2020 examination, Paper 2 Variant 2.

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