Syllabus: OCR - A and AS Level Business
Module: Business Objectives and Strategy
Lesson: Business Plan
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Introduction
This article supports the OCR A and AS Level Business specification (H031/H431), focusing on the “Business objectives and strategy” theme, specifically the section on “Business plans”. This topic builds foundational understanding of how businesses plan for success and adapt to change—crucial knowledge for any student aiming to pursue business studies or entrepreneurial pathways.
OCR places strong emphasis on the strategic decision-making process and how business objectives are linked to planning, performance and risk management. By exploring business plans, students sharpen their analytical and evaluative thinking, as well as their ability to contextualise content across a range of enterprise scenarios.
Key Concepts
The OCR specification outlines key knowledge in this area:
Purpose of business plans: Clarifying objectives, guiding strategy, and securing finance.
Components of a business plan: Executive summary, marketing plan, operations, HR planning, financial forecasts.
Benefits of planning: Helps set objectives, reduces risk, and supports decision-making.
Limitations of business plans: Based on assumptions, may be inflexible, or poorly executed.
Uses for internal and external stakeholders: E.g. internal direction vs. external investment.
Review and adaptation: The importance of regular updates in response to changing environments.
Students are expected to evaluate how business planning contributes to performance and survival, including links to wider themes such as corporate objectives and strategy.
Real-World Relevance
Whether you’re Dragon’s Den or your local corner café, business planning matters. Recent startups like Oddbox and Dash Water used detailed plans not just to pitch to investors, but to iterate their value proposition. Post-COVID recovery also brought renewed focus to strategic planning—with many SMEs pivoting or reforecasting in response to supply chain issues, inflation and digital disruption.
Students might analyse how Gymshark’s early business plan evolved from a bedroom operation to a global e-commerce brand. Or explore how failed ventures like Quibi had business plans that lacked audience insight or overestimated demand. These examples bring the abstract concept of planning into vivid focus.
How It’s Assessed
OCR assesses this topic through both AS and A Level papers via:
Short answer and extended response questions
Data response and case study application
Command words such as:
Explain: e.g. “Explain two reasons a new business might produce a business plan.”
Analyse: e.g. “Analyse the potential risks if a business plan is not followed.”
Evaluate: e.g. “Evaluate whether business plans are more useful for start-ups than for established firms.”
To succeed, students must:
Apply content to realistic business scenarios.
Justify recommendations with balanced reasoning.
Demonstrate understanding of both benefits and drawbacks.
Enterprise Skills Integration
Business planning isn’t just about writing documents—it’s about thinking ahead. Lessons on this topic naturally embed:
Problem-solving: How do you anticipate market risks or operational bottlenecks?
Decision-making: What’s the right marketing mix, staffing plan or pricing strategy?
Numeracy and financial reasoning: Forecasting revenue, understanding break-even analysis.
Communication: Pitching a plan, writing for different audiences.
Enterprise Skills’ Business Simulations reinforce these competencies by letting students “run” a business. They draft plans, make strategic decisions and see real-time outcomes—all in a risk-free, curriculum-aligned environment.
Careers Links
This topic links directly to:
Entrepreneurship: Start-up planning, pitching, funding.
Management and consultancy: Strategic planning roles.
Finance and accounting: Budgeting, forecasting and analysis.
Marketing and HR: Departments that feed into the plan.
Mapped to Gatsby Benchmarks:
Benchmark 4: Curriculum learning linked to careers.
Benchmark 5 & 6: Via Enterprise Skills simulations and employer-engagement activities.
Job roles that align:
Business analyst, start-up founder, finance officer, marketing executive, operations manager.
Teaching Notes
Common pitfalls:
Students treat plans as static documents. Emphasise adaptability.
Over-focus on templates rather than purpose. Anchor each section to strategic thinking.
Lack of real-world application. Use current or local examples—what would a business plan for a new coffee shop in your town include?
Classroom tips:
Use mini-case studies or real business plans (Companies House has useful examples).
Task students with critiquing a poor plan—what’s missing or unrealistic?
Pair with Enterprise Skills simulations to allow students to build and test their own business plans under time constraints.
Extension activities:
Create an investment pitch based on a business plan.
Compare a startup’s initial business plan to their evolved model.
Invite a local entrepreneur to discuss how their plan helped or hindered growth.
