This topic introduces the fundamental economic problem faced by individuals, businesses and governments. It explains why scarcity exists, how unlimited wants contrast with limited resources, and how this leads to choice and opportunity cost. Understanding this concept forms the foundation of Business Studies because all business decisions are influenced by scarcity and trade-offs.

This topic examines the different ways in which countries organise their economies. It explains how resources are allocated in planned, free market and mixed economic systems. It also evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of each system. Understanding economic systems helps explain government involvement in business and decision-making in Botswana.

This topic examines why business activity is necessary in any economy. It explains the objectives of business, the role businesses play in economic development, and the difference between direct and indirect production. It also analyses the various groups involved in business activity and how conflicts may arise between their objectives.

This topic explains how goods and services move through different stages before reaching the final consumer. It identifies the three stages of production  primary, secondary and tertiary  and explains how value is added at each stage. Understanding this process helps explain how businesses contribute to economic development and employment creation.

This topic examines how the size of a business can be measured and why size matters in a competitive economy. It explains the advantages of growth, methods of internal and external growth, and types of mergers. It also evaluates why some businesses choose to remain small. Understanding business size is essential for analysing competitiveness, efficiency and strategic decision-making.

This topic examines the different sizes of business activities in Botswana small, medium and large scale enterprises. It explains their characteristics, roles in economic development, challenges they face, and possible solutions. Understanding this topic is essential for analysing economic diversification, employment creation and entrepreneurship in Botswana.

This topic examines the different types of private sector business units operating in Botswana. It explains incorporated and unincorporated businesses, their features, advantages and disadvantages, and the legal requirements for establishment. It also analyses modern business forms such as co-operatives, joint ventures and franchising. Understanding business ownership is essential for evaluating risk, liability, control and growth potential.

This topic explains the meaning of multinational corporations (MNCs), identifies examples operating in Botswana, and evaluates their importance to host countries. It also examines the challenges developing countries face when dealing with large international corporations. Understanding MNCs is important in analysing globalisation, foreign direct investment (FDI) and economic development.

This topic explains why governments intervene in business activity and outlines the main economic and social objectives of government. It examines how government policies aim to correct market failures, promote economic stability and improve the welfare of citizens. Understanding government objectives is essential in analysing mixed economies such as Botswana.

This topic explains how the government influences business activity through fiscal and monetary policies. It examines different types of taxes, government expenditure and interest rates as tools used to control inflation, unemployment and economic growth. Understanding these policies is essential for analysing how the economy is managed in Botswana.

This topic examines the role of government in production and ownership of businesses. It explains why governments own certain industries and explores the concepts of privatisation, commercialisation and nationalisation. The topic also evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of these policies in a mixed economy such as Botswana.

This topic examines why and how the government regulates business activity. It explains the mechanisms used to control production, protect consumers and safeguard employees. It also explores workplace protection, including measures for people living with HIV/AIDS in Botswana. Government regulation is essential in ensuring fairness, safety and economic stability in a mixed economy.

This topic examines how the Government of Botswana supports small, medium and large businesses. It explains the forms of assistance available, the reasons government promotes export businesses, and the specific mechanisms used to support exporters. Government assistance is important for economic diversification, employment creation and global competitiveness.

This topic examines the relationship between business activity and the environment. It explains how businesses and individuals affect the physical environment, the impact of tourism and industrial pollution, and measures used to minimise environmental degradation. Sustainable business practices are essential for long-term economic development, particularly in environmentally sensitive countries such as Botswana.

This topic examines the importance of location decisions in business operations. It explains why choosing the right location is critical for entrepreneurs at local, national and international levels. It also analyses the factors affecting the location of manufacturing and retail businesses, and the reasons why firms may relocate. Location decisions influence costs, profitability, competitiveness and long-term survival.

This topic examines why the Government of Botswana influences where businesses locate and the methods it uses to guide industrial distribution. Location policy is an important tool for promoting balanced regional development, reducing unemployment and supporting economic diversification. Government intervention helps prevent over-concentration of industries in major cities and encourages development in rural and less developed areas.

This topic explains the importance of understanding customer needs in business. It differentiates between product-led and market-led businesses and examines why identifying and satisfying customer needs is essential for business survival and growth. In competitive markets, businesses that ignore customer preferences risk failure.

This topic explains the different methods of production used by businesses to produce goods and services. It examines job, batch, project, line and flow production, including their advantages and disadvantages. It also explains the role of automation and how businesses decide which production method is most suitable for a particular product.

This topic explains the Five Ps of Production: Product, Plant, Process, Programme and People. It examines how each element influences production decisions and shows how they are interrelated in ensuring efficient and competitive production.

This topic explains the importance of cost in production. It examines the elements of cost and different types of costs, including fixed, variable, direct, indirect, total, marginal and average costs. Understanding costs helps businesses set prices, calculate profit and make production decisions.

This topic explains revenue, contribution and break-even analysis. It shows how to calculate fixed, variable and average costs, determine the break-even point, draw and interpret break-even charts, and evaluate the importance of break-even analysis in business decision-making.

This topic explains the meaning of productivity, how it is measured, and how it can be improved in a business. It also examines the effects of HIV/AIDS on productivity, particularly in developing economies such as Botswana.

This topic explains economies and diseconomies of scale. It examines how large-scale production can reduce costs and how excessive growth can increase costs. It also explains how these concepts affect business efficiency, pricing and profitability.

This topic explains the meaning of innovation and differentiates it from invention. It examines the importance of innovation and change in modern business, the role of research and development (R&D), and the factors that hinder innovation in Botswana.

This topic explains the meaning of technology and high-tech industries. It examines the impact of technology on production, productivity, jobs and skills. It also discusses how technology affects communication, information processing, management information systems (MIS) and commerce. Finally, it evaluates the factors that impede and facilitate technological change in Botswana.

This topic explains the meaning of organisational structure and organisational charts. It examines why organisational structures change as businesses grow, illustrates structures for manufacturing and non-manufacturing organisations, and explains line and staff relationships within an organisation.

This topic explains the meaning of management and the main functions of management: planning, organising, coordinating, leading and controlling. It also examines the qualities of a good manager, differences between management in small and large businesses, and discusses management problems in Botswana together with possible solutions.

This topic examines the different job roles within a business organisation, including managers, supervisors, foremen and workers. It also explains the responsibilities of management within various departments of a business organisation.

This topic explains the meaning of communication in business, differentiates between formal and informal communication, and analyses the importance of effective communication in an organisation. It also distinguishes between one-way and two-way communication and explains their relevance in management.

This topic explains the three main types of internal communication in a business: verbal, written and visual. It describes the advantages and disadvantages of each type and explains the direction of communication within an organisation (vertical and horizontal).

This topic explains the purpose and types of external communication in business. It differentiates between internal and external communication, outlines the structure of a business letter, and examines barriers to effective communication and how they can be overcome.

This topic explains the meaning of motivation and examines Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. It identifies key motivating factors including monetary rewards, non-monetary rewards and job satisfaction. It also analyses payment systems, methods of increasing job satisfaction, and factors that may demotivate workers in Botswana.

This topic explains the meaning of leadership and describes different leadership styles: autocratic, democratic, laissez-faire and charismatic. It also applies each leadership style to suitable business situations.

This topic examines the role of the Human Resource (HR) department and explains the recruitment and selection process. It covers job analysis, job description, job specification, internal and external recruitment, advertising vacancies, interviews, performance appraisal, and termination of employment.

This topic explains the objectives of training in a business and examines the different types and methods of training available. It distinguishes between on-the-job and off-the-job training and evaluates their importance in improving workforce performance.

This topic explains the different types of groups that exist within a workplace and differentiates between formal and informal groups. It examines their importance and impact on business performance.

This topic explains the meaning of a trade union, outlines its objectives and benefits to employees, and describes the types of trade unions in Botswana. It also examines factors that affect trade union activities.

This topic explains the meaning of collective bargaining and examines why it is necessary at both local and national levels. It also discusses productivity agreements and their role in improving industrial relations and economic performance.

This topic introduces the meaning of accounting and explains why businesses keep financial records. It identifies the main documents used in buying and selling in home trade and examines the financial records and books kept by businesses.

This topic explains the composition of final accounts, including the income statement and balance sheet. It covers the purpose of preparing a trading account and profit and loss account, calculation of gross and net profit, and understanding of assets, liabilities and different types of capital.

This topic explains the importance of accounting ratios in analysing business performance. It focuses on profitability ratios, liquidity ratios and activity ratios, including how they are calculated and interpreted.

This topic explains the meaning of budgeting and forecasting in business. It examines the relationship between budgeting and forecasting, the purpose of budgets, and the various methods used in forecasting business performance.

This topic explains the meaning of a cash flow forecast and identifies the sources of cash inflows and outflows in a business. It demonstrates how to prepare a cash flow forecast and discusses its importance in managing business finances and solving cash flow problems.

This topic explains the meaning of finance and examines why businesses require funds at different stages of operation. It discusses start-up capital, the need for finance in existing businesses, and the challenges businesses face when raising funds.

This topic explains the different sources of finance available to businesses. It differentiates between internal and external sources of finance, describes each type, and outlines the steps a firm must follow when seeking external funding.

This topic explains the classification of finance according to time period: short-term, medium-term and long-term finance. It examines different types of finance, explains shares and debentures, outlines the role of the stock exchange, and analyses factors affecting the choice and approval of finance.

This topic explains how to design and use a questionnaire in market research. It outlines the steps involved in writing a questionnaire, selecting a sample, preparing a questionnaire, and using it effectively to collect reliable information.

This topic introduces the concept of a market and explains the meaning of marketing. It examines the structure of a marketing department, the role of market research, types of market research, methods of primary research, sources of secondary research, and the importance of market research to business success.

This topic explains how market research data can be presented in different formats such as tables, charts and graphs. It examines how to draw bar charts, pie charts and line graphs, interpret them correctly, and write a structured market research report.

This topic introduces the concept of the marketing mix and identifies the four Ps: Product, Price, Place and Promotion. It focuses on the product element, types of products, how to create an effective marketing mix, and factors that determine product success.

This topic explains branding and packaging and introduces the concept of the product life cycle (PLC). It describes the stages a product passes through, illustrates the PLC diagram, and examines strategies used to extend the life cycle of a product.

This topic explains the role of price in the marketing mix and examines how price is determined in a free market economy through the interaction of demand and supply. It also analyses factors affecting demand and supply using graphical explanation.

This topic explains why businesses adopt pricing strategies and examines different pricing methods including cost-plus, penetration, price skimming, competitive and promotional pricing. It also discusses when each strategy is most appropriate.

This topic explains the meaning of promotion and its importance in the marketing mix. It identifies the main types of promotion and examines the aims of different promotional methods used by businesses.

This topic explains the meaning and purpose of advertising, the importance of the AIDA model, types of advertising, and the various appeals used to influence consumer behaviour.

This topic examines additional promotional methods used by businesses apart from advertising. It explains the importance of sales promotion techniques, personal selling and public relations, and how to plan a promotional campaign.

This topic explains the meaning of place in the marketing mix, defines channels of distribution, describes different types of distribution channels, and examines factors that influence the choice of a suitable channel.

This topic examines how businesses are affected by international factors. It explains exchange rates, barriers to trade, free trade associations, and the concept of globalisation. It also evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of globalisation.

This topic explains the meaning and functions of an entrepreneur, identifies the characteristics of a successful entrepreneur, and examines how individuals can assess their own entrepreneurial potential and improve areas of weakness.

This topic explains how entrepreneurs identify business opportunities, develop business ideas, and evaluate them to select the most feasible option. It emphasises the importance of screening ideas before starting a business.

This topic explains market segmentation and niche marketing, outlines the factors considered when segmenting a market, and examines how entrepreneurs conduct market research to determine market size, competition, customer preferences and acceptable prices.

This topic explains the meaning and importance of a business plan, identifies the key components, and outlines how to prepare a business plan in a structured format suitable for a new venture.

This topic explains how to develop and refine a start-up plan, prepare a production plan for implementation, select appropriate selling methods, and examine the relationship between business and family life.

This topic explains how entrepreneurs evaluate and monitor business performance in a changing environment and how they identify and manage risks that may affect business operations.