How does technology support the management of people?

HR software stores staff records and tracks performance against objectives. Managers can see appraisal results, training and absence in one place.

How does technology support day-to-day business operations?

Operational systems record sales, manage stock and track contact with customers. Routine processes such as invoicing can be automated.

How does technology support financial management?

Accounting software can record transactions and produce financial statements. Spreadsheets model budgets and forecasts so managers can compare options.

Why do professional business services firms depend so heavily on technology?

A professional services firm sells knowledge and advice held as data and documents. Technology lets the firm store, share and protect that information efficiently.

CCEA A-Level Professional Business Services 3210

The Business Environment

Topic overview Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary production Private, public and voluntary sector objectives Sole traders and partnerships Private and public limited companies Stakeholder interests and conflicts Factors of production

The Professional Business Services Sector

Topic overview The nature of professional business services The range of consultancy services Tangible goods and intangible services Local, national and global firms Why businesses use consultancy services

The Consultancy Process

Topic overview The consultancy process and the entry phase The diagnosis phase The action planning phase Implementation and termination phases

Understanding the Client's Market

Topic overview Market size, market share and market growth Reasons for market research and using its findings Primary market research methods Secondary market research and choosing a method Sampling methods in market research Market segmentation

Client Relationships

Topic overview Why client relationships matter Communication, personal contact and client needs Business culture and professionalism Trust, ethical behaviour, intellect and ideas

Business Ethics

Topic overview Fairness, integrity and freedom from bias Trust, confidentiality, transparency and openness The benefits of an ethical code

Persuading, Negotiating and Influencing

Topic overview Persuasion techniques for consultants Negotiation stages and strategies Influencing clients and stakeholders

Business Planning and Risk Management

Topic overview Strategic planning and cost–benefit analysis SWOT and PESTEL analysis in strategic planning The Ansoff matrix and the Boston matrix Assessing and managing business risk

Government Regulation

Topic overview The purpose of business regulation Regulators and compliance in Northern Ireland Codes of conduct versus external regulation

Organisational Structure and Culture

Topic overview Human resources and effective HR management Tall, flat, centralised and decentralised structures Roles, chain of command, span of control and delayering Changing and comparing organisational structures Culture, Schein's model and the McKinsey 7S framework

Recruitment and Selection

Topic overview Internal and external recruitment methods Job descriptions and person specifications Interviews and psychometric testing Competency profiling, situational judgement tests and EI questionnaires Contracts of employment and effective recruitment

Learning and Development

Topic overview Why learning and development matters to a business Induction, on-the-job, off-the-job training and CPD Outcomes of learning and development

Employee Well-Being and Motivation

Topic overview What employee well-being is and why employers value it Methods of supporting employee well-being Causes of low workplace well-being Maslow and Taylor on motivation Herzberg and Mayo on motivation Financial and non-financial methods of motivation

Managing Conflict

Topic overview Functional and dysfunctional conflict Causes of conflict at work Effects of conflict on performance, motivation and behaviour Improving employer–employee relations

Business Research Methods

Topic overview Research aims, objectives and literature searches Questionnaires, interviews and designing research tools Sampling, reliability, validity and research ethics Presenting, analysing and evaluating research findings

Sources of Finance

Topic overview Financial decision making in a client business Internal sources of finance Loans, overdrafts and share issues Leasing, hire purchase and trade credit Choosing the right source of finance

Cash Flow

Topic overview Types of budget and why firms set them Adverse and favourable variances Cash flow, profit and why firms forecast Constructing and analysing a cash flow forecast

Financial Statements

Topic overview Revenue, cost of sales and gross profit Expenses and net profit Assets on the statement of financial position Equity and liabilities

Ratio Analysis

Topic overview Profit margins and return on capital employed The current ratio, liquidity and gearing Trade receivables and trade payables days Earnings per share and return on equity Using and evaluating ratio analysis

Investment Appraisal and Financial Decisions

Topic overview The payback method Net present value and discounting Average rate of return and choosing a method Appraising an investment for a client Using financial data for growth and staffing decisions

IT Systems and Communication Technology

Topic overview The role of technology in business Management information and performance management systems Choosing and integrating IT systems Email, messaging, telephone and text Websites, document sharing, conferencing and social media

Technology for People and Operations

Topic overview Performance management software HR information systems Customer relationship management software Transaction processing technology Inventory management technology

Technology for Finance and Disaster Recovery

Topic overview Spreadsheets for financial decisions Databases and accounting software Data security principles and cyber threats SSL, HTTPS and two-factor authentication Legislation on data and technology Disaster recovery planning and backup strategies

Big Data and the Ethics of Technology

Topic overview Big data, data analytics and KPIs Data storage systems Automated decisions, censorship and monitoring Personal data, the digital divide and acceptable use

Leadership and Management

Topic overview Leadership, management and emotional intelligence Fayol's functions and Mintzberg's roles The Tannenbaum–Schmidt continuum and leadership styles Transformational and transactional leadership The Blake Mouton grid and Adair's Action-Centred Leadership Performance management and review

Managing Teams

Topic overview Team working and Tuckman's stages Belbin's nine team roles Using and evaluating Belbin's model

Managing Change

Topic overview Reasons for change in the business environment Resistance to change Lewin, Kotter and Galbraith's change models Benefits and challenges of managing change

Project Management and Feasibility

Topic overview What a project is and why project management matters Project roles and responsibilities Project documents, plans and registers Client needs and feasibility research The business case and the project brief

Project Initiation and Planning

Topic overview The initiation stage and the project initiation document Project tolerances for time, cost, quality and risk The planning stage: scope, objectives and deliverables Resources, roles, quality and financial plans Gantt charts, risk plans and the stage review

Project Closure and Evaluation

Topic overview Monitoring and reviewing a project during execution Closing a project Evaluating a project and gathering stakeholder feedback

IT Systems and Communication Technology

5 subtopics
15 things to know
A2 1

What IT Systems and Communication Technology covers

IT Systems and Communication Technology is examined in Unit A2 1, Technology in Business. It covers the role of technology in business, management information and performance management systems, choosing and integrating IT systems, email, messaging, telephone and text and websites, document sharing, conferencing and social media.

Where it is assessed

A2 1

Technology in Business — a written examination.

Check the CCEA specification ↗

The 5 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Evaluation

Evaluate the case for a small Newry accountancy practice moving all its systems to the cloud.

Evaluation

Evaluate whether a small Lisburn consultancy with eight staff needs a dedicated PMS.

Evaluation

Evaluate off-the-shelf and bespoke IT systems for a client business.

Evaluation

Evaluate a single integrated system for a growing Omagh manufacturing client.

Evaluation

Evaluate voicemail for handling calls from a busy law firm's clients.

Evaluation

A Belfast accountancy practice wants to remind 400 clients of a tax deadline. Evaluate email and text messaging for this.

Key term

Distinguish between voice, video and web conference calls.

Evaluation

Evaluate web conferencing for weekly team meetings in a law firm with offices in Belfast and Newry.

Evaluation

Evaluate social media as a way for a new Coleraine accountancy practice to win clients.

Key term

Name the four main areas of a business in which technology is used.

Key term

What is a management information system (MIS)?

Key term

How does technology support communications in a professional services firm?

Key term

Where does an MIS get its data?

Process

What is a transaction processing system (TPS)?

Evaluation

What are the main advantages of email for a professional services firm?

Take IT Systems and Communication Technology further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

Management information system vs Transaction processing system
Management information system: software turning operational data into summary reports for planning and control. Transaction processing system: software recording each routine sale, payment or booking as it occurs.
Synchronous communication vs Asynchronous communication
Synchronous communication: an exchange where all parties take part at the same moment. Asynchronous communication: an exchange where replies can be sent later at the receiver's convenience.
Voice conference call vs Web conference
Voice conference call: a meeting of several people linked by audio only. Web conference: an online meeting with screen sharing and shared documents.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
Name the four main areas of a business in which technology is used.
Model answer
Technology is used for communications and for managing people. Technology also supports business operations and financial management.
2
How does technology support communications in a professional services firm?
Model answer
Email, messaging and video calls let staff and clients exchange information quickly wherever they are. Shared online documents let several people work on one file.
3
How does technology support the management of people?
Model answer
HR software stores staff records and tracks performance against objectives. Managers can see appraisal results, training and absence in one place.
4
How does technology support day-to-day business operations?
Model answer
Operational systems record sales, manage stock and track contact with customers. Routine processes such as invoicing can be automated.
5
How does technology support financial management?
Model answer
Accounting software can record transactions and produce financial statements. Spreadsheets model budgets and forecasts so managers can compare options.
6
Why do professional business services firms depend so heavily on technology?
Model answer
A professional services firm sells knowledge and advice held as data and documents. Technology lets the firm store, share and protect that information efficiently.

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The Business Environment

The Professional Business Services Sector

The Consultancy Process

Understanding the Client's Market

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A payback is usually preferred.

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AA firm might move its staff to a new office.

BA firm might install a new client database.

CA firm might run a graduate recruitment campaign.

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Assemble a full-mark answer from its marking points, in the order an examiner wants them.

Equity means the owner's investment in the business.

TrueFalse

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Spot the fault in a statement. The traps are the mistakes students actually make.

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IT Systems and Communication Technology revision questions

What does IT Systems and Communication Technology cover in CCEA A-Level Professional Business Services?: 5 subtopics: the role of technology in business, management information and performance management systems, choosing and integrating it systems, email, messaging, telephone and text and websites, document sharing, conferencing and social media. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
How is IT Systems and Communication Technology organised?: By the CCEA 3210 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.

Every question in IT Systems and Communication Technology, on a schedule.

Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.

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