Syllabus: OCR - A and AS Level Business
Module: Business Objectives and Strategy
Lesson: Strategy and Implementation

Introduction

In the OCR A and AS Level Business specification, the “Strategy and Implementation” element of the “Business Objectives and Strategy” unit offers students a structured approach to understanding how businesses move from broad intentions to actionable plans. This topic links directly to themes around competitiveness, long-term planning, and commercial viability. It supports deeper understanding of decision-making processes and aligns with core OCR objectives to develop critical and evaluative thinking in real-world business contexts.

For teachers and SLT, this topic presents a key opportunity to move learners from theoretical understanding to applied strategy – a vital bridge in business education that also supports students’ transition into employment or further study.

Key Concepts

Students studying this topic should be able to:

• Define and explain corporate and functional strategies, and distinguish between strategic and tactical decisions.

• Evaluate different strategic directions, including growth strategies (e.g., Ansoff’s Matrix), retrenchment, and diversification.

• Apply strategic analysis tools such as SWOT, PESTLE, Porter’s Five Forces and Boston Matrix to real or simulated business contexts.

• Assess the value of planning tools including critical path analysis, decision trees and contingency planning.

• Understand the importance of successful strategy implementation, including the role of leadership, communication, and managing resistance to change.

• Critically evaluate success and failure of strategy, using both qualitative and quantitative metrics.

These concepts are core to OCR’s aim to ensure students are prepared not only for assessment but also for navigating uncertainty and change in modern enterprises.

Real-World Relevance

Strategic decision-making is what separates survival from stagnation in modern business. Take, for instance, Tesco’s turnaround strategy under Dave Lewis, who reduced international exposure, simplified the brand architecture, and reprioritised customer service – a real-world example of strategic retrenchment.

Similarly, Netflix’s evolution from DVD rentals to global streaming and content production exemplifies bold strategic implementation and the use of tools like SWOT analysis and product portfolio planning (akin to the Boston Matrix).

In class, you might introduce case materials like the collapse of Debenhams or Amazon’s diversification into cloud computing (AWS) to analyse why some strategies fail or succeed based on implementation.

How It’s Assessed

OCR exams emphasise the application of theory to real or hypothetical scenarios. The following command words are especially relevant here:

• Explain – Students must define strategic concepts and justify how they operate.

• Analyse – Students develop chains of reasoning, often around tools like Ansoff’s Matrix or Porter’s Five Forces.

• Evaluate – The most common high-mark command word. Students must weigh pros and cons of a strategy, often with reference to case studies.

• Calculate – Where financial data is given (e.g., break-even analysis, investment appraisal), expect calculation plus contextual interpretation.

Assessment questions typically combine qualitative analysis with quantitative application, often in multi-part data-response formats.

Enterprise Skills Integration

This topic naturally lends itself to active learning. Using tools from Enterprise Skills like the Business Simulations platform, students can:

• Engage in scenario-based decision making, applying strategy models under time and budget constraints.

• Experience the impact of leadership and resistance to change in a risk-free environment.

• Build team-based problem-solving and real-time evaluation skills – especially when working through resource allocation and competitive analysis.

These experiences link directly to skills such as commercial awareness, decision-making under pressure, and analytical evaluation, preparing students for both assessments and the workplace.

Careers Links

Understanding strategy and implementation equips students with transferable skills across sectors. This content connects strongly to Gatsby Benchmarks 4, 5, and 6:

• Benchmark 4: Strategy content links classroom learning to roles such as:

  • Management consultant

  • Business analyst

  • Project manager

  • Marketing strategist

• Benchmark 5 & 6: Through simulations or guest talks from local entrepreneurs, students encounter real business strategy in action.

These discussions can be reinforced with activities exploring corporate annual reports or mock strategy meetings using local case studies.

Teaching Notes

Time-saving tips:

• Use plug-and-play scenarios from the Skills Hub to reinforce concepts like critical path or SWOT.

• Encourage peer-led exploration of case studies, assigning different strategy models for groups to evaluate.

• Introduce strategy maps or printable model templates to reduce planning time and keep sessions interactive.

Common pitfalls:

• Students often struggle to differentiate between strategic and tactical decisions.

• Overuse of frameworks without contextual explanation is a common assessment weakness.

Extension ideas:

• Hold a “Dragons’ Den”-style pitch session where students justify a business strategy using multiple analysis tools.

• Create “What went wrong?” workshops using famous business failures for post-mortem analysis.

This approach makes abstract models tangible and drives confident, critical thinking – all without adding to your workload.