An aspiration of the DP business management course is to help students build a holistic and integrated understanding of how the business world operates. For this, three building blocks are needed: concepts, contexts and content. The intention is that students and teachers discuss issues businesses face through the lens of change, creativity, ethics and sustainability as a natural part of learning. Conceptual questions emerge from, are motivated by, and can be responded to, through rigorous and in-depth work with business management tools, techniques and theories applied to case studies and examples.

Business management studies business functions, management process and decision-making in contemporary contexts of strategic uncertainty. It examines how business decisions are influenced by internal and external factors to an organisation, and how these decisions impact upon its stakeholders, both internally and externally. Business management also explores how individuals and groups interact within an organisation, how they may be successfully managed and how they can ethically optimise the use of resources in a world with increasing scarcity and concern for sustainability. 

The course is designed to develop students' knowledge and understanding of business management theories, as well as their ability to apply a range of tools and techniques. Students learn to analyse, discuss and evaluate business activities at local, national and international levels. The course covers a range of organisations from all sectors, as well as the socio-cultural and economic contexts in which those organisations operate.

Aims of the Course

The aims of the Business Management course at HL and SL are to:-

• Encourage a holistic view of the world of business.
• Empower students to think critically and strategically about individual and organisational behaviour.
• Promote the importance of exploring business issues from different cultural perspectives.
• Enable the students to appreciate the nature and significance of change in a local, regional and global context.
• Promote awareness of the importance of ethical factors in the actions of individuals and organisations.
• Consider the long term sustainability of businesses from social, economic and environmental perspectives.
• Develop an understanding of the importance of creativity in a business environment.

Syllabus Outline

The curriculum model for DP Business Management is a core curriculum for HL and SL consisting of five obligatory units with common content and learning outcomes. In addition to the core, HL students are expected to complete extension areas of study in all five units, adding depth and breadth to the course:

Unit 1: Introduction to business management

Unit 2: Human resource management

Unit 3: Finance and accounts

Unit 4: Marketing

Unit 5: Operations management

Standard Level (SL) 

Higher Level (HL)

Student Perspective

“Have you ever looked at a business and asked yourself how are they so successful? Why is it that Apple is worth 3 trillion dollars and how are they able to continue to sell more and more phones every year? In truth, Business Management is a subject that can give a multifaceted perspective on how businesses function. In Business Management I have learned everything from how businesses motivate their employees, the marketing strategies used to increase sales, how to increase profitability and even understanding the basic process in starting a business. These are important skills that I have used in my everyday life; as part of my IA I was able to help a business increase their employee motivation and efficiency through using new motivational tactics, and I use the finance chapter of the course to understand the stock market better, reading and creating certain documents such as balance sheets, profit and loss accounts or cash flow forecasts.

“I specifically enjoyed learning about marketing tactics like guerilla marketing that use creativity and unconventional means to advertise a product or service, such as T-mobile having a flash mob in Liverpool.

Ultimately, we will all either work for or run a business. Whether you will be an entrepreneur, an employee, a manager, a CEO or even an investor, IB business management equips you with the knowledge and expertise to achieve your goals.”

Mahmoud Z