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IB Business and Management IA examples

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Starting from the May 2024 session, the Business IA requirements have changed. We created a couple of exemplars to show you how the new IA should look like. It's OK to refer to the old Business IA exemplars (especially the SL ones since the new IA is similar) for inspiration/ideas, but make sure to follow the new requirements.

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IB Business Management IA: 60 Topic Ideas and Tips

Table of contents

• Writing Metier

Selecting the right topic for your IB Business Management IA is a crucial step and a golden opportunity to showcase your understanding and appreciation of the business world. 

As someone immersed in assisting students with their academic writing, I cannot stress enough the significance of aligning your IA topic with both the course objectives and your personal interests.

In this ever-changing business environment , especially with the recent impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous avenues and pressing issues beckon a deeper exploration. 

As I know from the general IB criteria, the IA should reflect your grasp of business concepts and demonstrate a keen eye for real-world applications.

Understanding the IB Business Management IA

Before we dive into the plethora of topic ideas that await your exploration, let’s take a moment to understand the essence of the IB Business Management IA.

In my opinion, the IA serves as a platform where you can marry theoretical knowledge with practical insights. It beckons you to step beyond the confines of a classroom and engage with business concepts more tangibly.

The goal is clear: to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the contemporary world’s business dynamics. And believe me, once you immerse yourself in a topic that resonates with you, you will find the process enjoyable and aim for that coveted level 7 grade with a newfound enthusiasm.

Now, let me guess, you might wonder, “How do I choose a topic that not only piques my interest but also holds substantial relevance in today’s context?” 

Well, fret not, because as someone who is running a company that has guided numerous students in their academic curriculum, my team and I have curated a list of diverse business IA topics that might just spark that perfect idea strictly for you. I’ll share this list of 50+ different topics later in this article.

Working on Business Management Topics

In my experience, working with business management topics offers a rich ground for exploration. For instance, consider exploring the drastic shift in marketing strategies with the advent of technology. 

Real-life examples abound, from the surge in influencer marketing to the use of big data in crafting personalized marketing campaigns. Or perhaps you might find yourself intrigued by the concept of “sustainable development” and its influence on contemporary companies. 

As I know, many companies nowadays are adopting green initiatives, not just as a part of corporate social responsibility but also as a strategic movement to align with the growing consumer choice for eco-friendly brands.

The main goal here is to choose a topic that intrigues you and allows you to showcase an in-depth understanding of business concepts in a real-world context . 

Get help with IB English Internal Assessment

And if at any point you find yourself needing guidance or assistance in choosing a topic or crafting your IA, my business, WritingMetier , is here to assist you with both topic suggestions and internal assessment writing services.

List of Good BM IA Topics

I understand the importance of selecting a topic that not only adheres to the IB criteria but also stands out in terms of uniqueness and depth. 

Here are some unusual yet manageable IB Business Management IA topics, and moreover, I’m sharing with you potential RQs that can be used even today:

1. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Brand Image

How does the implementation of CSR initiatives influence the brand image of tech companies?

2. Psychological Pricing Strategies

What impact do psychological pricing strategies have on consumer purchasing behavior in the fashion industry?

3. Remote Work Culture and Employee Productivity

How has the shift to remote work culture during the COVID-19 pandemic affected employee productivity in IT firms?

4. Green Marketing and Consumer Perception

How does green marketing influence consumer perception and buying decisions in the automobile industry?

5. Gamification as a Marketing Tool

What is the effectiveness of gamification as a marketing tool in enhancing customer engagement for e-commerce platforms?

6. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Customer Service

How has the integration of AI in customer service improved customer satisfaction in the banking sector?

7. Subscription Box Business Model

What factors contribute to the success of the subscription box business model in the beauty and cosmetics industry?

8. Influencer Marketing and Brand Loyalty

How does influencer marketing influence brand loyalty among millennials in the fashion industry?

9. Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Management

How can blockchain technology enhance transparency and efficiency in supply chain management for retail companies?

10. Circular Economy and Sustainable Business Practices

How are companies in the manufacturing sector adopting the principles of the circular economy to promote sustainable business practices?

11. Emotional Intelligence and Leadership

What role does emotional intelligence play in effective leadership within healthcare organizations?

12. Augmented Reality (AR) in Retail

How is augmented reality revolutionizing the customer shopping experience in the retail sector?

13. Ethical Sourcing and Consumer Preference

How does ethical sourcing influence consumer preference in the coffee industry?

14. Crisis Management and Corporate Reputation

How do effective crisis management strategies safeguard corporate reputation during product recalls?

15. Employee Wellness Programs and Organizational Performance

What impact do employee wellness programs have on organizational performance in the corporate sector?

16. Social Media Analytics and Market Research

How are companies utilizing social media analytics for market research and product development?

17. Virtual Reality (VR) in Real Estate Marketing

How is virtual reality transforming marketing strategies in the real estate sector?

18. Ephemeral Content and Brand Engagement

What is the role of ephemeral content in enhancing brand engagement on social media platforms?

19. Crowdfunding as a Financing Option

How effective is crowdfunding as a financing option for startup companies in the technology sector?

20. Gender Diversity in Corporate Boards

What impact does gender diversity in corporate boards have on company performance?

Are you ready for more IB BM IA topic ideas? Of course you are. Let’s continue 😉

More Business IA ideas

Here are more unique yet manageable topics along with research questions for your IB Business Management IA:

21. Corporate Storytelling and Brand Identity

How does corporate storytelling enhance brand identity and customer loyalty in the hospitality industry?

22. The Role of Big Data in Business Decision Making

How is big data influencing business decision-making processes in e-commerce companies?

23. The Impact of Brexit on International Business Strategies

How have international business strategies of UK-based companies evolved in response to Brexit?

24. The Gig Economy and Labor Rights

What are the implications of the gig economy on labor rights and job security in the transportation sector?

25. The Rise of Veganism and Food Industry Adaptations

How is the rise of veganism impacting product development strategies in the food industry?

26. The Role of Behavioral Economics in Marketing

How are doctrines of behavioral economics being utilized to enhance marketing strategies in the retail sector?

27. The Impact of Podcasting on Business Marketing

How is the rise of podcasting affecting content marketing strategies for businesses?

28. The Influence of Cultural Intelligence on International Business

How does cultural intelligence influence the success of international business ventures?

29. The Integration of Internet of Things (IoT) in Supply Chain Management

How is the integration of IoT technologies enhancing efficiency in supply chain management?

30. The Role of Corporate Wellness Programs in Employee Retention

How do corporate wellness programs influence employee retention rates in IT companies?

31. The Impact of Urbanization on Retail Business Strategies

How is urbanization influencing retail business strategies and store locations?

32. The Influence of Music on Consumer Behavior in Retail Environments

How does background music influence consumer behavior and spending patterns in retail environments?

33. The Role of Chatbots in Enhancing Customer Service

How are chatbots revolutionizing customer service in the e-commerce sector?

34. The Impact of Sustainable Packaging on Consumer Buying Decisions

How does sustainable packaging influence consumer buying decisions in the FMCG sector?

35. The Influence of Celebrity Activism on Brand Perceptions

How does celebrity activism influence brand perceptions and consumer loyalty?

36. The Role of Emotional Branding in Building Customer Loyalty

How does emotional branding influence customer loyalty in the luxury fashion industry?

37. The Impact of Virtual Teams on Organizational Productivity

How have virtual teams influenced organizational productivity during the COVID-19 pandemic?

38. The Role of Corporate Social Innovation in Business Sustainability

How is corporate social innovation contributing to business sustainability in the technology sector?

39. The Influence of Experiential Marketing on Brand Engagement

How does experiential marketing enhance brand engagement and customer experiences?

40. The Impact of Language Localization on International Marketing Strategies

How does language localization influence the effectiveness of international marketing strategies?

41. The Role of Neuro-Marketing in Consumer Behavior Analysis

How is neuro-marketing being utilized to analyze and influence consumer behavior in the advertising industry?

42. The Impact of 3D Printing on Manufacturing Businesses

How is the adoption of 3D printing technology influencing production strategies in manufacturing businesses?

43. The Influence of Micro-Moments on Digital Marketing Strategies

How are micro-moments reshaping digital marketing strategies for e-commerce businesses?

44. The Role of Business Analytics in Strategic Planning

How is business analytics aiding in strategic planning and decision-making in financial institutions?

45. The Impact of Augmented Reality (AR) on Online Retail

How is augmented reality enhancing the online shopping experience and influencing consumer buying decisions?

46. The Influence of Employee Engagement on Organizational Performance

How does enhancing employee engagement influence organizational performance and productivity in service industries?

47. The Role of Content Curation in Digital Marketing

How is content curation being utilized as a digital marketing strategy to enhance brand visibility and engagement?

48. The Impact of Social Entrepreneurship on Community Development

How is social entrepreneurship contributing to community development and social change?

49. The Influence of Omni-Channel Retailing on Customer Experience

How is omni-channel retailing enhancing customer experience and loyalty in the fashion industry?

50. The Role of Predictive Analytics in Inventory Management

How is predictive analytics being utilized to enhance inventory management and reduce costs in retail businesses?

51. The Impact of Corporate Transparency on Consumer Trust

How does corporate transparency influence consumer trust and brand loyalty in the food industry?

52. The Influence of Ethical Leadership on Organizational Culture

How does ethical leadership influence organizational culture and employee satisfaction in healthcare organizations?

53. The Role of Mobile Wallets in E-commerce

How are mobile wallets influencing consumer purchasing behavior and payment preferences in e-commerce?

54. The Impact of Social Media Influencers on Brand Image

How do social media influencers influence brand image and consumer purchasing decisions in the beauty industry?

55. The Influence of Eco-Friendly Initiatives on Brand Loyalty

How do eco-friendly initiatives influence brand loyalty and consumer preferences in the automotive industry?

56. The Role of Business Intelligence in Competitive Advantage

How is business intelligence being utilized to gain a competitive advantage in the telecommunications industry?

57. The Impact of Employee Training Programs on Organizational Growth

How do employee training programs influence organizational growth and employee performance in manufacturing industries?

58. The Influence of Consumer Reviews on Online Purchasing Decisions

How do online consumer reviews influence purchasing decisions and brand perceptions in the electronics industry?

59. The Role of Corporate Blogging in Brand Awareness

How is corporate blogging being utilized to enhance brand awareness and engagement in the IT sector?

60. The Impact of Green Supply Chain Management on Environmental Sustainability

How is green supply chain management contributing to environmental sustainability in the logistics industry?

These topics align with what you envision, and hopefully, you now have enough ideas to get inspiration.

Tips for Choosing and Researching Your Topic

Selecting the right topic sometimes feels like a Herculean task. In my opinion, the secret to easing this process lies in aligning your BM IA topic with current trends and your interests. 

Yes, a  topic that resonates with you  can fuel your enthusiasm and drive a more insightful analysis.

Now, let’s talk about  relevance . In the current business landscape, topics revolving around the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, the surge in e-commerce, or the increasing focus on sustainable business practices are timely and rich with information. 

Drawing from real-life examples , consider analyzing the strategies adopted by businesses to pivot during the pandemic or the role of digital marketing in enhancing brand loyalty during these times.

Similarly, opting for a topic  with readily available comprehensive information  is a good choice. Trust me, having many reliable sources can significantly streamline the research process, allowing you to craft a well-rounded and insightful Business IA.

If you are also interested, please check a new article about good business management EE topics for IB students.

Crafting a Successful IA

As you may already understand from the previous parts, the foundation of a successful Business and management IA lies in meticulous planning and a clear and understandable research question. 

Now, let’s focus on the importance of a well-supported conclusion. Drawing from real-life examples, consider analyzing various case studies to substantiate your arguments, thereby adding depth and credibility to your IA.

Moreover, do not forget about the power of brainstorming and mind mapping. These strategies foster creativity and help unearth unique perspectives that might remain overlooked. 

Keep in mind that your IA in BM reflects your understanding and application of business concepts in a real-world context. Therefore, don’t hesitate to seek feedback and refine your topic to align perfectly with the IB objectives.

If you find yourself at a crossroads, remember that assistance is just a click away. At Writing Metier, we specialize in helping students like you with topic suggestions and crafting impeccable IAs, ensuring that your work is both rewarding and successful.

I must emphasize that your topic choice can make or break the whole IB Business Management IA. 

In my opinion, crafting a successful IA is akin to nurturing a seed into a full-fledged tree. It requires patience, diligence, and a deep-rooted knowledge of the business dynamics that govern our world today.

More related articles with IB topic suggestions:

• Global Politics IA Ideas
• Literaturature IA Topics
• Math IA Topic Ideas
• Math AA Topics
• Physics IA Topics and RQs
• Bio IA Ideas
• Biology Research Paper Topic Ideas
• Chemistry IA Topics
• Economics IA Topic Ideas
• ESS IA Topics

From years of experience assisting students, I have observed that those who choose topics aligned with their personal interests and the pressing issues of the modern business world often find themselves more engaged and enthusiastic throughout the writing and researching process. 

Exactly! A well-chosen topic not only facilitates a smoother writing process but also paves the way for a richer and more insightful analysis.

This is why I encourage you to choose a topic that resonates with you and allows you to showcase a deep understanding of business concepts intertwined with real-world applications. 

Always remember, your IA is not just another academic assignment but a golden opportunity to enter the fascinating business world, fostering a lifelong appreciation and understanding of the subject .

Keep in mind, should you need guidance or help with your IB assignments , WritingMetier is here to support you every step, offering expert advice and assistance in both topic selection and crafting a stellar IA.

Free topic suggestions

Vasy kafidoff.

Vasyl Kafidoff is a co-founder and CEO at WritingMetier. He is interested in education and how modern technology makes it more accessible. He wants to bring awareness about new learning possibilities as an educational specialist. When Vasy is not working, he’s found behind a drum kit.

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Table of content

Ib business management in a nutshell 🥜, ib business ia - a deep dive 🌊, pros of doing a ib business ia, breaking down ib business sl ia 🔨, understanding ib business hl ia 📚, secret business ia tips that no one will tell yeh 💯 , the perfect workplan for a level 7 worthy business ia 🏫, sexy suggestions from our desk 💁.

Hey there, biz wizards!

Need help with your IB Business IA?

Well, aren't you in the right place!

IB Business can be a tough nut to crack, given how dynamic it is, but tackling the IB Business Internal Assessment is another job. And as though that needed to be more, surfing the net only to find bits of information and tips scattered all over makes it all the more troublesome.

We understand that you need to crack your IB Business Internal Assessment with a comprehensive assortment of tips, strategies, and ideas.

Presenting the one-stop guide that will help you nail your IB Business IA. With step-by-step guidance, sample IAs to kickstart the process, and tips/techniques to fix your IA, this guide is your key to unlocking a level 7.

Before we begin, you should check out our premium IB Business course curated by subject experts and top-performing alums!

• IB Business Management SL Video Course & Resources

The IB Business Management course aims to develop students' ability to analyze, discuss and evaluate business activities on different levels by understanding various business management theories and various tools and techniques. It gives students a taste of the dynamic business environment via real-world examples and case studies. It ensures that subject-specific skills (e.g., Financial Analysis) and generic ones (e.g., Critical Thinking) are learned and developed.

To read more on the IB Business Management Curriculum, there's no better resource than the IB itself. Go through  this  article to understand first-hand what the course's objectives are. Now that we are well acquainted with the subject objectives let's get down to business.

What is the IB Business IA, and how does it benefit students?

The Internal Assessment is where students get the opportunity to use their knowledge and skills to pursue their interests. Although the IA is compulsory for SL and HL students, there's a difference.

While the SL students must prepare a  Written Commentary , the HL students must produce a  Research Project . The HL students must base their project on primary Research (gathered from the investigated organization). SL students' written commentary needs to be based on secondary Research.

As listed by the IB, examples of Primary and Secondary data sources include

• Primary Sources
• Responses to questionnaires (students should include a blank copy of the questionnaire and a tally/ summary of results)
• Results of surveys
• Discussions with Business Stakeholders

The research findings should be summarised, and relevant documents (interview transcript, evaluations) should be added to the appendix.

• Secondary Sources
• Articles from the local, national or international press
• Business accounts
• Business plans Extract from company websites.
• Transcripts of a relevant audio-visual file
• Financial reports
• Government and other statistics
• Journal publications
• Market research surveys
• Web-based surveys

Learners tend to grasp information relatively faster in the IB business Internal Assessments since maximum study content is relevant to everyday life, helping learners create comparisons.

The emphasis in IB Business IA is on

• how well do you carry out your research
• the conciseness of arguments put up
• and the real-time case analysis of the chosen company/organization.

Students pursuing IB business develop critical reasoning, practical, cognitive, and judgment abilities.

The IB Business IA examines an organization from any industry and the social-economic and political environments in which it functions.

The IA works with issues that arise inside businesses, where students gain a reasonable understanding via case studies. With a fresh and objective point of view on enterprises and overall variety, they have a more excellent grasp of the industry surrounding them, both worldwide and regionally.

Students working on their IB Business IA will study a business's fundamental ideas and processes while learning about ethics and corporate social responsibility. With this help, learners begin to evaluate, debate and develop brief data on local, national, and worldwide business activity.

Below is a coherent breakdown of SL and HL IA requirements, criteria, etc. Understanding the highlights will help you complete half the IA task!

If you've opted for IB Business SL, your IA will be a Written Commentary, and your work will center around secondary Research. This commentary will make up 25% of your total grade. All the points you need to take care of are listed below .

• A real business issue about an entire organization should be selected.
• Primary Research may be used for support.
• The title of your commentary should be framed as a research question.
• Adhere to the word limit of 1500 for the commentary.
• The commentary should comprise analysis, evaluation, and discussion of the findings. The conclusion should give a solution/answer to the commentary question.
• 3-5 fully referenced supporting documents and additional sources in the bibliography.
• The content of the commentary should be structured and well-presented. Starting with the introduction, which states the business issue at hand and gives background information about the organization, the next part is the body of your work. The body should present the findings from the supporting documents and, most importantly, analyze them with the help of business theories and business tools and techniques. This must be done in the context of the question, and a clear link must be established. Finally, the conclusion should answer the explored question and discuss aspects that must be fully answered.

To work in the right direction, it is essential to understand the marking/grading standards set by the IB. The criteria against which your Business SL IA will be assessed are as follows

• Supporting documents (Levels - 0,1,2,3,4)
• Choice and application of business tools, techniques, and theories (Levels - 0,1,2,3,4,5)
• Choice and analysis of data and integration of ideas (Levels - 0,1,2,3,4,5)
• Conclusions (Levels - 0,1,2,3)
• Evaluation (Levels - 0,1,2,3,4)
• Structure (Levels - 0,1,2)
• Presentation (Levels - 0,1,2)

Now that you know the deets, here's an  annotated level 7 worthy IB DP Business SL IA published by the IB . Please give it a good read to better understand how to go about your exploration.

For your Business HL students, your IA also weighs 25% of your total grade. Your IA will be a Research Project based on primary research obtained/collected from the organization under investigation. Everything that you need to take care of is listed below .

• Take up an actual issue/business decision in the context of an entire organization or a range of organizations.
• Secondary research may be used for support.
• The title of your project needs to be framed as a question. Your task is divided into the Research Proposal and the Written Report. The word limit should be at most 500 and 2000 words for the two sections.
• Research Question
• The proposed Methodology includes the rationale for the study, areas of the syllabus to be covered, possible sources of information, organizations and individuals to be approached, methods to be used to collect and analyze data, the reason for choosing them, the order of activities and timescale of the project.
• Anticipated difficulties, such as limited or biased sources
• Action plan
• Acknowledgments
• Contents Page
• Abstract (max word limit-200 (not included in the word count of the Written Report))
• Introduction
• Methodology, Findings, and Results
• Conclusion and Recommendations
• References and Bibliography and Appendices.

The HL IA criteria are nine in total. While criterion A is used to assess the Research Proposal, criteria B-I are used to evaluate the Written Report.

• Criterion A -  Research Proposal (Levels - 0,1,2,3)
• Criterion B -  Sources and data (Levels - 0,1,2,3)
• Criterion C -  Use of tools, techniques and theories (Levels - 0,1,2,3)
• Criterion D -  Analysis and Evaluation (Levels - 0,1,2,3,4,5,6)
• Criterion E -  Conclusion (Levels - 0,1,2)
• Criterion F -  Recommendations(Levels - 0,1,2)
• Criterion G -  Structure (Levels - 0,1,2)
• Criterion H -  Presentation (Levels - 0,1,2)
• Criterion I -  Reflective Thinking (Levels - 0,1,2)

You should refer to this document to better understand the descriptors of the assessment criteria levels.

And here's an  annotated high-scoring Business HL IA published by the IB . The more you refer, the better your clarity.

Obtaining a 7 in just about any IB Business IA topic will always be among the most challenging tasks an IB student may face, especially those attempting to get admission to elite institutions or universities. This is also true for IB Business IA. Nail IB discovered that the most challenging obstacle students face in achieving high scores in the Business IA involves utilizing analytical tools. To put it in simple terms, students frequently make the error of conducting a ton of research but need to relate it to the given research topic.

• Make sure you form a relevant link between your analytical approach and the chosen IA report topic. When starting the report, do not mention why this particular argument was selected and the strategy applied. You must conduct a detailed analysis that adds value to your topic.
• Conduct the analysis appropriately and thoroughly, demonstrating that you understand its aim. You can look at numerous business IA sample pdf  here  for a better understanding of how to go about the entire report and the right way to put across relevant arguments.
• After you've finished each approach, provide a note about what you learned about your proposed solution. After each analysis is completed, do a quick review. State the key results that are relevant to your answer. The goal here will be that by the time your teacher reaches the overall conclusion, they will already know your level of understanding.  
• Ask, ask and ask again -  No amount of google searches can answer your queries the way your teacher can. Understand that your teacher is always there to help you improve your chances of getting a band 7. It is critical, particularly in IB, to seek the teacher's limitless wisdom; trust us, it is worth it. When asking questions, you're not just clearing your doubts but also giving your brain new information and a fresh viewpoint, which are extremely useful to you and your IB business IA score. Look for clarifications. Develop an interest in what you're studying. Consider how most of the notions throughout the course may be used in the actual world. This is an excellent technique to get your teacher to share information!   
• Get your research documents rights -  The number of supporting research papers mentioned in the IB business IA criteria is 3-5. These supporting papers are pertinent to the question under consideration. These papers should be recent and written within the previous two years, not preceding that. Accounting records, media articles, web publications, and other credible information are also encouraged. These papers must include a broad spectrum of views and standpoints. The bodily parts that were identified and utilized must be emphasized accordingly.  
• Calling into question the data you used throughout your analysis should be part of the evaluation process. Remember to have at least two quantitative and two qualitative analytical tools to give credibility to your arguments.
• All assessments regarding the significance of propositions must be supported by evidence.
• The structure of supporting papers should be evaluated, and so should the grounds for the given research query's existence.
• In your conclusion, remember that your commentary has to lead to a decision.
• Conclusions must be a natural extension of the conducted analysis and its explanations. They should stand relevant, backed up by evidence from the accompanying sources, and address the chosen question directly.  
• The word limit for the IB Business SL IA is 1500, with the number of words noted on the first page. Regarding IB Business HL IA, the Research Proposal should be 500 words, while the word limit for the Written Report is 2000 words. Remember, do not beat around the bush. A single paragraph of irrelevant or extra data will completely digress the report. Thus, the comments should always support or focus on the highlighted situation or question. Through the discussion, subject-oriented vocabulary must be utilized. This showcases that your conference addresses the given question throughout.
• For Business SL, all corroborating papers of your primary research and any references utilized must be accompanied by a bibliography. Secondary data may be used for support for Business HL. Your preliminary research details should be mentioned in the appendix. The supporting documents are a critical piece of your puzzle, so examine them thoroughly.  
• Choose a topic keeping your strengths in mind -  Make a mental map of the themes in your curriculum that you'd like to learn more about, along with companies that you're willing to take part in or deal with frequently. Selecting a company whose statistics are widely or easily obtainable for you to utilize in your investigation is an intelligent choice. Cross-reference those themes and companies, then come up with several research problems. Ensure you clarify how you conduct analyses and what this implies for a competitive or profitable firm. Its marketplace in case your topic includes broad phrases like  competitive, dynamic or successful.  
• Include relevant factors in your evaluation -  Your research has to be the center of your evaluation. The assessment should be logical and relevant to the business and its principles. In addition to that, your analysis and interpretation should be backed up by sufficient evidence, and the findings must be based on your evaluation. The conclusion should provide an answer to your core evaluation. Suggestions for the topic's future activities and suggestions for further research should always be offered (It is essential to give tips wherever necessary). Analytical and critical reflection must also be present in the evaluation section.  
• Understand the aim of your rationale -  The rationale is not to prove or justify why you seem interested in the topic. Instead, cover why your chosen company is the right fit for your case. Let's take, for instance, the firm is now focusing on enhancing the quality of goods and services, and your Business IA is connected to boosting performance. Here, you are supposed to have a reference to showcase the same. This demonstrates to the teacher that your effort is worthwhile and noteworthy.

The IB business IA report is demanding, no doubt about that. However, losing hope or lowering your expectations will get you nowhere. Thus, aim for scoring a 7! There is no silver bullet for scoring a seven since it always boils back to actual effort and perseverance.

• Keep records, practice questions, and review related material handy. It would help if you felt like a company leader to succeed in IB business IA. You must provide answers to every problem or question in the corporate world. Use journal articles and case studies to put this strategy into practice. Put yourself in the shoes of a director or an advisor.  
• Do not lag! As your study will depend heavily on individuals and factors from outside the school setting, you should begin your internal review on schedule. The last thing you need is conducting late research, cramping up your nights, and not thoroughly planning the entire report. Make an action plan, divide each stage of the information (like research, analysis, writing, references, etc.) by weeks and give undivided attention to the task at hand. Thus, getting started on your coursework as soon as possible is imperative.  
• Make sure you're familiar with the course material. This will aid in developing your plan; you may either begin by working on themes or focusing on the basic principles. Keep up with the latest business news from the day your curriculum starts. This will help you save time when picking a company for your IA since you will already be aware of companies and their recent updates. Every company has its approach to running its operations. Reading the most recent business news will help you comprehend each organization's various techniques, thus helping you pick the best out of all.  
• Don't Charge-in Aimlessly. It's incredibly beneficial to invest serious effort into understanding what to compose and how your IB business IA topic would develop in writing. It would help if you had a general notion of what you want to accomplish before starting. It would help if you were alright as long as you have a general idea of what you want in your IA. Making a one-page outline with primary headings and subheadings and writing down some thoughts will help you channel your ideas.
• Mention some of your research's shortcomings. There should be at most one, if not two. Demonstrate that you've thought deeply about your internal assessment. You might talk about any inconsistencies in your research and why they exist.  
• Since the entire HL Internal Assessment revolves majorly around primary research, it's a good idea for learners to look at relatively small, local firms. There's a better possibility you'll be able to schedule conversations and obtain specific information, such as cash flow figures.  
• As an IB student completing the IA, you'll have to emphasize constructing comments, picking which argument on an organization might effectively back your claims, and looking for any potentially contradictory information. This combination of contradictions supported by your solutions/suggestions is advantageous to your evaluation.  
• Before conducting primary research on your specific firm, looking for secondary sources or asking where you would obtain additional information about them is suggested. Some instances could be in covered print publications, or the mainstream press profiled them.  
• Create a statement/argument at least 250 words long for every source you mention. This number may vary based on the supplementary or primary resources available. Still, the objective would be that the IA should be a single and well-supported argument.  
• Whatever you discover in the analysis and how you apply it will determine the quality of your work. Remember that your work should flow smoothly and not appear like a poorly articulated argument accompanied by sources cited as evidence rather than facts for the idea.  
• Your teacher will critique your IA original proposal. Don't be too concerned. After all, it's the first version, and no one ever wrote a flawless first copy. Accept the teacher's criticism carefully, evaluate whatever they said and wrote, and above all, pay attention to the suggestions they make for your progress. This is precisely what will get you a couple of grades higher.  
• As per the IB business IA format, you will have to figure out where you'll place your sources and which referrals go where and for what purpose. Ensure you're correctly referencing and utilizing the materials you've learned about to avoid plagiarism. This is why it's crucial to plan.  
• You must do an analysis that tackles a problem that an organization is experiencing or examine a choice that an organization is about to make. In addition, you must write a study proposal that may be utilized as a critical project plan and can be displayed as an implementation strategy.  
• You must do an analysis that tackles a problem that an organization is experiencing or examine a choice that an organization is about to make. In addition, you must write a study proposal that may be utilized as a critical project plan and can be displayed as an implementation strategy.

It does not end here. Business IA HL and SL prep is a never-ending process, but you should still explore it. Remember to have fun in this journey of becoming a business genius. You can show why the given choices were made or what techniques using concepts and substance may be used. Also, continue to examine firms critically daily.  

To wrap things up, here's a c omplete IB DP Business Management Guide published by the IB. I t will come in handy throughout your Business Course journey.

That's all for now! We hope this comprehensive guide answers your queries about IB Business IA! Whenever stuck, Nail IB will be there to your rescue. You can explore  our plan  or get in touch with  IB professionals here.

Happy learning!

To wrap things up, here's a complete  IB DP Business Management Guide   published by the IB. It will come in handy throughout your Business Course journey.

IB Resources you will love!

Nan + free ib flashcards, -1 + free ia samples, nan + ib videos by experts, -1 + ib sample practice questions, ib resources for nan + subjects.

IB General , IB Study Tips

November 7, 2023

Mastering the 2024 IB Business Management IA: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

The Internal Assessment (IA) is a vital component of the IB Business Management course, providing students with the opportunity to apply business management tools and theories to a real organizational issue or problem. The 2024 syllabus introduces some key changes, emphasizing the use of a conceptual lens and requiring a maximum word count of 1,800. In this guide, we will walk you through the essential steps to excel in this new format.

Step 1: Understand the IA Requirements

Before diving into your IA, it’s essential to grasp the specific requirements set by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). Under the new syllabus, these requirements are consistent for both SL and HL students:

– The IA should be based on a real business or organization.

– You must choose a research question related to the business management concepts studied in your course

Requirements:

• Selecting a Real Business Issue

Choose a business issue or problem that is relevant to any part of the syllabus. Directly refer to a single business organization, but consider industry-wide issues that impact that organization.

• Formulating a Research Question

Craft a research question that can be either forward-looking or backward-looking. This question will be the cornerstone of your project.

• Conducting Research

Base your research on a combination of primary and/or secondary sources. Ensure that the chosen sources are suitable, deep, and broad in their coverage.

• Supporting Documents

Attach three to five supporting documents that provide the majority of the information for your project. These documents should offer a range of ideas and views, ensuring balance and objectivity.

• Word Limit and Referencing

The project should not exceed 1,800 words. Fully reference all supporting documents and additional sources, including them in a bibliography.

• Key Concept

Choose one of the four key concepts – change, creativity, ethics, or sustainability – as a lens through which to analyze your IA. While the key concept may not necessarily be stated in the research question, make it explicit on the title page which key concept you have selected. This choice will influence the analysis and evaluation of your research.

Step 2: Selecting a Relevant Research Question

Your research question is the cornerstone of your IA. It should address a real business issue or problem and relate directly to the concepts covered in the syllabus. Remember to choose a question that can be either forward-looking or backward-looking. For instance, questions like “Should company Y change its manufacturing to outsourcing?” or “How can company B enter the new market in country X?” are excellent examples.

Step 3: Conducting Research

Both SL and HL students should conduct thorough research to gather relevant data and information for their IA. It’s essential to consult various sources, including academic journals, books, and reliable online resources. Your project should include:

• Provide background information about the business organization.
• Clearly outline the issue or problem under investigation.
• Explain the methodology used for the investigation.
• Present and analyze findings from supporting documents.
• Utilize relevant business management tools and theories.
• Integrate the chosen key concept.
• Explicitly answer the research question.
• Do not introduce new facts or arguments not discussed in previous sections.
• Highlight aspects that may need further investigation.
• Internal Assessment Criteria

The business research project will be assessed against seven criteria related to the course’s assessment objectives. Familiarize yourself with each criterion to ensure that your project meets the highest standards:

Criterion A: Integration of a key concept

Criterion B: Supporting documents

Criterion C: Selection and application of tools and theories

Criterion D: Analysis and evaluation

Criterion E: Conclusions

Criterion F: Structure

Criterion G: Presentation

Step 4: Organizing Your IA

Now, it’s time to structure your IA. The standard structure includes:

• Introduction: Present your research question and provide some context

In the introduction, provide context for your research question. Explain why it’s important and how it relates to the field of business management. For instance, if your research question is, “How does a company’s corporate culture impact employee satisfaction?” you could begin by briefly discussing the significance of corporate culture in the modern workplace.

• Methodology: Explain your research methods and data collection process

Describe the methods you used to gather data. If you conducted surveys or interviews, explain the sample size, data collection tools, and the criteria for selecting participants. For example, “To assess employee satisfaction, we distributed a survey to 200 employees across different departments, using a Likert scale to measure their responses.”

• Analysis: Analyze the data and information you’ve gathered to address your research question 

In the analysis section, delve into your findings and provide a thorough examination of the data. Use business management concepts and tools to support your analysis. For instance, if your data shows that employees in companies with strong corporate cultures tend to report higher job satisfaction, you can link this finding to concepts like organisational culture, employee motivation, and retention strategies. If you are doing research on marketing strategies, the Ansoff or BCG matrix would be good choices.

• Conclusion: Summarize your findings and draw a clear conclusion

Summarize the key findings from your analysis. In the example of corporate culture and employee satisfaction, your conclusion might state, “Based on the survey results and analysis, it is evident that a strong corporate culture positively influences employee satisfaction.”

• Recommendations: Suggest practical recommendations based on your analysis 

Offer practical recommendations based on your analysis. For instance, you could suggest that organizations focus on building and maintaining a positive corporate culture to enhance employee satisfaction. Provide specific strategies and actions that businesses can implement, such as leadership training programs, open communication channels, and recognition initiatives.

• Citation and References: List all the sources you’ve cited in your IA 

List all the sources you used in your IA in a standardized citation format, following the IB’s referencing guidelines. It is important to properly cite all sources you’ve used in your IA. Follow the IB’s citation and referencing guidelines diligently.

Step 5: Proofreading and Editing 

Before final submission, carefully proofread and edit your IA. Ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and free from grammatical errors.

Step 6: Seek Feedback

Ask your teacher or mentor for feedback on your IA draft. They can provide valuable insights to help you refine your work.

Formatting is an often-overlooked but essential aspect of your IB Business Management IA. Proper formatting not only makes your IA visually appealing but also ensures that it’s easy to read and navigate. Consistency in formatting can make your work appear more polished and professional. Here are some formatting tips to enhance the presentation of your IA:

• Consistent Style : Use a consistent formatting style throughout your IA. This includes font size, type, and line spacing. The IB typically recommends a standard font like Times New Roman or Arial, size 12, and double spacing.
• Headings and Subheadings : Organize your IA with clear headings and subheadings for each section. This helps your readers follow the structure of your paper easily. Use a larger font size or bold formatting for headings to make them stand out.
• Page Numbers : Include page numbers in your IA, typically in the header or footer. This helps both you and your readers keep track of where they are in your document.
• Citations and References : Ensure that your citations and references are consistently formatted according to a recognized citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, or Chicago). This demonstrates academic rigor and gives credit to your sources.
• Tables and Figures : If you use tables, charts, or graphs to present data, label them clearly and provide brief explanations. Number them sequentially (e.g., Table 1, Figure 2) and refer to them in your text. Make sure they are visually clear and easy to understand.
• Margins and Page Layout : Check the required margin sizes and page layout for your IA. The IB may specify particular margin sizes for the top, bottom, left, and right sides of your pages.
• Word Count : Keep track of your word count to ensure your IA falls within the required range. Include a word count at the end of your document, excluding references and appendices.
• Appendices : If you have supplementary material, such as detailed survey questionnaires or raw data, include them in an appendix. Ensure that the appendix is well-organized and labeled.

In conclusion, the IB Business Management IA is a challenging but rewarding task for both SL and HL students. By understanding the specific requirements, selecting an appropriate research question, conducting thorough research, and following a structured approach, you can craft a high-quality IA that showcases your knowledge and analytical skills. Remember that while the difference between SL and HL IA is primarily in the complexity of the research question and depth of analysis, both levels require dedication and attention to detail. Best of luck with your IA!

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IA Research Questions for first exams 2024

The most important part of the IA in Business Management is of course the research question.  It is important to first consult the IB guide for this course, but here are some of my own tips on how to settle on a good question. If you are a student, you’ll want to ask your teacher for the sections of the subject guide on the IA, and the annual subject report, if they have not already done so.  The subject published every year is a fantastic resource in which the IB team gives specific guidance on strengths and weaknesses that they tended to see in the last exam session’s IAs.  

Most of my students go through multiple rounds of consultation with me before they settle on a question that is viable.  If your question is problematic in any way, a student will likely end up wasting a lot of time and effort pursuing a path that is fruitless or must be significantly altered.  It is therefore much better to spend more time than you want nailing down a good question rather than having to fix it later.  

Should I do a forward-looking or backward-looking question? 

The question can be forward-looking or backward-looking, as long as you remember for backward-looking questions that there is a three-year limit on sources and that the question needs to be evaluative and not simply report and/or analyze what happened.  A student may not use source material that is dated more than three years before their IA submission.  I personally often advise my students that writing a forward-looking IA question is usually easier, giving the question a binary either/or choice for the firm.  However, it is quite possible to do a backward-looking question, and many students evaluate something like how successfully a firm has been able to implement a choice, or to what extent it was the right decision.

Examples of good questions 

Should Nintendo stop making Rated M games and focus on kid-friendly games?

Should Alphabet acquire a smart TV manufacturer?

Should Walmart try to expand the variety of products offered under the Great Value brand?

Will third-party delivery apps be a greater source of revenue for The Bagel than catering to large events?

Should Celtic Crossing consider expanding to a second location in the metro area?

Are Taco Bell’s experimental product campaigns a valid marketing strategy for future expansion in China?

All of these questions narrow the firm’s options down to a clear set of options that can be addressed adequately within the word limit.

"Should" questions 

For most students, I often find that “should” questions end up being the easiest for the students to narrow down their focus into a scenario in which they can apply course tools, techniques, and theories.  It tends to lead to a simple binary choice of “yes or no,” or “Option A or Option B.”

"Can" questions 

This is similar to a “should” question in the sense that the answer is clearly going to be yes or no.  For example, “Can Exxon successfully increase revenues by adding electric car charging ports to its gas stations?”

"To what extent" questions 

Another option is to go with “to what extent.” For instance, to what extent is a product line, marketing campaign, strategy, or so on impacting the firm in a positive way (profitability, competitive advantage, productivity, etc.).   While the conclusion could be a bit more fuzzy than in a “should” question, it’s still pretty straightforward to conclude if the answer is to a limited, moderate, or great extent.

"How Effective" questions 

As long as this addresses an issue that is ongoing and not solely in the past, this can be a good way of evaluating the merits of a firm’s objectives, strategies, tactics, and so on.  For example, “How effective is Gold's Gym's use of social media promotional techniques?”  

What makes a bad question? 

There are many things that can lead to a bad research question, but here are a few things I commonly see in students’ first iteration of their questions: 

Considers too many aspects of the business functions

Is about the industry, not the firm

Requires info that you don’t have access to [for this reason, I highly recommend that students do a publicly traded company so that they can get access to financial info]

Has already been answered

Is very likely to be answered/irrelevant long before you submit your draft

Has an obvious answer

Examples of  unusable q uestions I have seen before 

"Should Nike cut back on advertisement/ marketing money and focus it on new tech products?"

This could work, but so often the student doesn't have a really good idea of what "tech products" they envision Nike getting into.  Nike is a company that mostly sells sporting goods and apparel.  What kind of tech products would they do?  Upon questioning, the student was unable to come up with concrete examples other than NFTs, and they were unable to explain Nike's potential creation of NFTs further.  Students need to have a clearer idea of what they're proposing.

"How did the transgender bathroom policy impact Target's profits?"

I doubt you’re going to be able to prove whether or not it had any impact on their profits; teasing out the cause and effect there is likely to be way too difficult, and you will not have firm data to point to in order to justify a conclusion. This essay will thus be highly speculative.  Also, the way the student has phrased this question, it’s entirely in the past and they're running the danger of writing a report on facts and ahve no true evaluation.  If the student wants to investigate whether this will have an ongoing or future impact on the business, then this should be rephrased.  

"What impact will the recent move of Wilson Sporting Goods' headquarters have on the mobility of jobs within the workforce of the company?"

This is a mouthful.  I’m not entirely sure what the student means by mobility of jobs within the workforce of the company, and the student clearly didn’t either when we chatted.

"How can Wendy's revamp the public's outlook on the service and attitude of the staff?"

Firstly, I generally advise against questions beginning with “how.”  Too often, there are far too many possibilities to explore, so a “how” question is too broad to be covered well within the word count limit. Secondly, the student is assuming that Wendy’s has a problem with the public perception of service and staff attitudes.  In this case, the student was never able to come up with reliable data showing that these were even problems to begin with. 

"Should Amazon invest in private label brands?"

They already are, so this question is irrelevant.

"Should Sony expand its electronics sales into new markets?"

Sony is a huge company, and I don't know what market they could potentially get into that they're not currently in.  Also, does the student mean geographic markets, new product markets, etc?  The student was never really able to answer these questions for me.

"What new features can Spotify add to better compete with Apple Music?"

Maybe this could work if it were more specific, but the student wasn't really able to clearly lay out what options he had in mind.  Consequently, without narrowing it down to specific features or at least types of features, the question was too broad and wasted a lot of the student's time before he switched.

"How can/should " q uestions 

As stated above, I usually advise students against these questions because they very often end up being too vague and broad.  For example, “How can Sony increase its market share in electronics sales?”  There are far too many ways that the firm could potentially do that, so it’s very hard to imagine that the student could effectively answer the question within the word limit.  If a student has a more specific “how” question though, it could be workable.  For instance, “How can Local Firm X reduce its monthly fixed costs?” may be workable because there are not many options to explore for the specific firm in question.  

IBDP Business Management

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Updated 12 April 2024

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Tips for Business Management SL IA

The Business Management SL IA is a written commentary investigating a real-life business issue or problem. Throughout your IA, you’ll need to demonstrate the application of business tools, techniques, and theories. Despite not being the most business-minded person, I enjoyed writing my IA and ultimately achieved a Level 7. These are my best tips to help you succeed! 

Choosing your topic

I would suggest creating a mind map of topics in your course that would be interesting for you to explore, as well as businesses that you are interested in, or that you interact with often. It is a good idea to select a public limited company so that their data would be readily available for you to use to support your analysis. Try to cross-reference those topics and businesses and write out a few potential research questions. Here are some general examples: 

• Will Company X’s decision to acquire Company Y allow it to be more competitive in Z market? 
• How effective is Company A’s marketing strategy of product B?
• To what extent has Company M been profitable in N market?

I knew I wanted to center my Business IA  around marketing and I chose the national bank Absa as my business.  My research question was “ To what extent has Absa’s rebranding strategy been successful in the South African retail banking industry? ” Remember that, if your topic mentions broad terms like ‘competitive’ or ‘successful’, you need to explain how you are evaluating what it means to be ‘competitive’ or ‘successful’ in relation to your business and its market.

Pro Tips: 

• Looking at past IAs can be helpful when formulating your topic.
• This site was helpful for me when I was getting started.
• I would recommend reading through the entirety of the SL internal assessment details in the Business Management syllabus guide .

Synthesizing business tools, techniques and theories 

There are many ways to go about selecting your business tools, techniques and theories and this will be specific to your topic. At SL, the business tools covered in the syllabus include: 

• SWOT analysis
• STEEPLE analysis
• Ansoff’s Matrix
• Motivation theory
• Break-even analysis
• Cash flow forecast
• Ratio analysis and final accounts
• Investment appraisal
• Marketing mix
• Product Life Cycle
• Product Positioning Maps

I would suggest including 3-4 business tools/techniques/theories in your IA to ensure that you discuss each with sufficient depth. I also recommend against using both a SWOT and a STEEPLE analysis, because the external factors of a SWOT analysis (opportunities and threats) can overlap with external factors mentioned in a STEEPLE analysis. For example, I discussed the weak economy as a threat in my SWOT analysis, but it would also be an economic factor in a STEEPLE analysis, thus making the information redundant if I had used both tools.

There is flexibility for you to structure your discussion in your own way! For example I used the following tools/techniques:

• SWOT analysis — To evaluate both internal and external factors influencing my business.
• Analysis of rebranding strategy — To discuss the use of branding as a method of differentiation.
• Brand Value Analysis — To discuss a quantitative measure of my business’s brand value.
• Brand Positioning Map — To assess my business against other businesses in the market using benchmarking data.

As you can see, my tools weren’t necessarily extracted exactly from the textbook but I did reference syllabus theory throughout. Remember that your IA needs to be a coherent flow from paragraph discussions to business tools to figures.

• Make sure you have discussed why you are using a specific tool and that you relate your findings back to your research question.
• Make sure the order that you put your tools in flows well. 
• Refer back to the syllabus topic your IA centers around to ensure you are using the correct terminology.
• Where possible, try to include both qualitative and quantitative tools in your discussion.

Selecting the supporting documents

You will need to select three to five supporting documents, from which you have extracted most of your information. You will be marked on whether your supporting documents present a range of views and ideas, as well as whether you present them correctly in your IA. 

You can demonstrate a range of views and ideas by including supporting documents produced by your business and by others. You can also do this by including supporting documents that present different arguments/perspectives. In order to present your supporting documents correctly in your appendix, they must be titled “Supporting Document 1”, “Supporting Document 2”, and so on. You also need to highlight the information you extracted from them. 

My supporting documents included an article, along with internal and external reports, and publications. Overall, just make sure the sources you select are reliable, relevant and balanced.

Structuring your IA

I structured my business IA as follows:

• Title Page — Includes research question, candidate number, session number, word count and the words ‘IB Business Management SL IA’.
• Table of Contents — An accurate list of each of your subheadings and their page number. 
• Introduction — A brief background of your business and the central issue. Your introduction should give context to how you decided on your research question which should be stated as well.
• Methodology — I included a methodology where I gave a brief overview of how I would be evaluating the success of the strategy and the reason for selecting my business tools.
• Analysis and Evaluation — This included a detailed discussion of my business tools and theories.
• Conclusion — Summarized findings and answered my research question. 
• Bibliography & References — Listed all my sources in the referencing style required by my school. I separated them into the subheadings of ‘Supporting Documents’ and ‘Other’ sources.
• Appendices — This included my images of my five supporting documents with information I extracted highlighted.
• I would recommend having a copy of the  SL Business IA rubric to refer to when writing.
• Remember to be consistent when labelling your tables, figures, headings and subheadings. 
• I used mybib.com for my references, which was really easy to use and could be changed to different referencing styles.

You now have an arsenal of tools to write a solid SL Business IA. Remember that just like any other IA, it is a process. My first draft was almost foreign when comparing it to my final submission, so there’s always room  for improvement. And with that said, GOOD LUCK!

You may also like…

• Elena’s overview for the Business Management HL IA
• Nikki’s overview for Business Management

Share this:

I just wanted to ask did the content in your business tools count as part of your word count.

Hi Abigail, Yes the content of the business tools did count as part the word count. You can refer to the IA details in the syllabus guide for further clarification if you need.

Hi I just wanted to ask if by tools they mean literal tools of analysis like the ones you listed or if this could also include thorough references to the theory (eg. using motivation theories to assess how a firm’s behaviour towards its staff will impact their performance

Theory is also applicable, it does not just have to be tools!

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IB Business Management IA HL Structure: A Simple Guide

by  Antony W

February 12, 2023

Are you looking for a comprehensive structure for an IB Business Management IA for Higher Level?

You can this structure as a guide.

Even though there have been some recent adjustments made to the format, such as those related to the requirements for the cover sheet, the format shared below is current.

Key Takeaways

• The IA and the Proposal should be in a single document, with Arial font size 12 and double spacing between paragraphs.
• Don’t forget to cite all of your sources in MLA format whenever possible.
• Cite every fact that you include, as well as every opinion that you write, as they all shape whatever you read.

IB Business Management IA HL Structure

The following is the structure to use to write your IB Business Management IA at the Higher Level:

The title page of your IB Business Management IA at Higher Level must include:

• Your Research Question
• Your IB Number
• Word count for the proposal and the Internal Assessment

Note that the candidate number, student number, and the student’s name are not part of the title page anymore. 

Acknowledgements

Although it is not strictly necessary, it is usual to give this information.

Contents Page

Include details (including page numbers) about the following:

• All parts your Internal Assessment

Structure for the Research Proposal 

First off, the research proposal elements for your IB Business Management IA at Higher Level should be no more than 500 words long. Also, you must write this section in future tense.

The research proposal section of this assignment should include the following in the order in which they appear:

Research Question

A research question is the focus of the business research project. The question should be clear so that it’s easy to understand without requiring additional explanation.

In addition to being arguable and open for debate, ensure your research question is relevant to your field of study.

Discuss how the research question connects to the priorities or difficulties that are currently facing the company.

This is not the reason why you have an interest in this subject. It’s why the company has an interest in this matter.

Theoretical Framework

Include course sections. Make a list of tools along with an explanation of how each one will assist you in answering the research question.

Methodology

Include the primary and secondary sources of information that you want to investigate, including the precise names of persons that you will interview (and the reasons for doing so), as well as the specific information that you will concentrate on discovering.

Include more than one primary source of information in your report. If you are unable to conduct two interviews, you should probably choose another method, such as a survey or an observation.

Anticipated Difficulties

Describe some of the challenges you anticipate encountering, the reasons for those challenges, and your strategy for overcoming them if they materialize.

Make an effort to go further beyond the apparent ones, such as access to information and prejudice.

Explain why it could be difficult to gather some of the information you need or why it might not be credible.

Action Plan

Include dates, as well as a section where you may detail the alterations you made to your work as you progressed through the project. This demonstrates that you made use of your action plan when carrying out your IA.

Additionally, at least one of these adjustments should demonstrate that you truly learnt something and that is the reason why you made the change.

Structure for the IB Business Management IA HL

Your Internal Assessment in Business Management at HL should not be more than 2,000 words long. Also, you should write this section in the past tense and ensure it has all the sections as indicated.

Executive Summary (200 Words)

Write a summary of the nature of the firm and the circumstances surrounding it, the research question, the tools used, and an explanation of the most important primary and secondary sources used.

Describe your most important results, and then point any caveats associated with those findings.

Note that the executive summary is not part of the IA’s word count.

Introduction (200 Words)

In the introduction, give the name of the company and some background on what it does, and explanation of one of their top strategic initiatives, and explain your research question.

Also, describe the parts of the curriculum that are relevant to this topic and the total number of words in this section.

Method Employed (200 Words)

Write more information about your method, including the kind of primary and secondary sources that you employed to investigate your RQ.

Describe some of the different sources of data that you used in your work, and ensure to mention that you obtained primary data from more than one source.

Explain the advantages of using these sources, the strategies and methods used, and the validity and reliability of your data collection method. Also, explain how valid the procedures that you used to acquire data were and mention any adjustments that you made to the way you approached the IA.

Main Results and Findings (100 Words)

You may include a graph as well as a summary of your study, potentially in the form of a list of some of the most important information discovered and the primary or secondary sources for them.

Analysis and Discussion (1,100 Words)

It’s a good idea to use at least one financial instrument, but you should prioritize your qualitative tools first.

In general, qualitative tools (such as SWOT and PEST) should appear before quantitative ones (such as ratio analysis and decision trees), because qualitative tools set the stage and offer context for the financials.

Conclusions (200 Words)

Bring your mini-conclusions from the analysis together, or synthesis them, and then draw some intriguing observations based on what you’ve learned from them.

Mention some of the constraints that your study had. At a minimum, there should be one, and most likely, there should be two.

Demonstrate that you have carefully considered your work. You may talk about additional facts that would be incredibly useful to know, but which you couldn’t get for whatever reason. You might talk about the potential errors in your work as well as the reasoning for such problems.

Recommendations (200 Words)

Have at least three recommendations, as well as at least one extra sort of study, all of which would help to ensure the credibility of your findings. This is something you need to do to receive full credit for the suggestions.

Work Cited (No Word Limit)

This section should include:

• At the very least, two books.
• At least two interviews.
• At least four sources on the internet
• At least one source that demonstrates your desire to put in a lot of effort and go above and beyond what is required of you

Appendices (No Word Limit)

• Transcripts of the interviews that you have conducted
• Additional analyses that you carried out but couldn’t put in the main body of your IA
• Any other noteworthy data that you would like to refer to in the main body of your work

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

• [email protected]

Business IA topics. Guide with examples

Welcome to this comprehensive guide to Business IA topics under the International Baccalaureate program. Business IA involves the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data to make informed business decisions. In this article, we will explore the top Business IA topics, including data analytics, automation, machine learning, and natural language processing, to help you prepare for your exams.

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Data Analytics

Data analytics is a crucial component of Business IA. By collecting and analyzing data, businesses can gain valuable insights that inform business decisions. Under the International Baccalaureate program, students must understand the importance of data analytics and the different techniques and tools used in data analytics.

The most common techniques and tools used in data analytics include statistical analysis, data mining, and predictive modeling. Statistical analysis involves using mathematical methods to analyze data, while data mining is the process of discovering patterns and relationships in data. Predictive modeling, on the other hand, uses historical data to make predictions about future events.

Real-world examples of data analytics in Business IA include customer segmentation, marketing campaign analysis, and supply chain optimization. Students under the International Baccalaureate program should understand how to apply data analytics to different business scenarios and be able to analyze data using different techniques.

Sample International Baccalaureate exam questions related to data analytics include: “Explain the role of data analytics in supply chain management” and “Analyze the impact of data analytics on customer segmentation.”

Automation is another crucial Business IA topic under the International Baccalaureate program. Automation involves using technology to automate routine tasks and processes, freeing up valuable time and resources that can be used for more strategic activities.

Students must understand the importance of automation and the different types of automation used in Business IA. Some of the most common types of automation include process automation, robotic process automation (RPA), and cognitive automation. Process automation involves automating routine tasks such as data entry, while RPA involves using software robots to automate more complex tasks such as invoice processing. Cognitive automation uses artificial intelligence (AI) to automate tasks that require decision-making or problem-solving.

The benefits of automation in Business IA include increased efficiency, improved accuracy, and reduced costs. However, there are also challenges to implementing automation, such as the need for skilled personnel to design and implement automation systems and the potential for job loss.

Sample International Baccalaureate exam questions related to automation include: “Discuss the benefits and challenges of implementing robotic process automation in supply chain management” and “Analyze the impact of automation on employee job roles.”

Machine Learning

Machine learning is another important Business IA topic under the International Baccalaureate program. Machine learning involves teaching machines to learn from data and make predictions or decisions based on that learning.

Students must understand the importance of machine learning and its different applications in Business IA. Some of the most common applications of machine learning include predicting customer behavior, optimizing pricing strategies, and improving supply chain management. Machine learning can also be used to automate fraud detection and improve risk management by identifying potential risks before they occur.

The advantages of machine learning in Business IA include increased accuracy, faster decision-making, and the ability to process large amounts of data quickly. However, there are also limitations to machine learning, such as the need for high-quality data and the potential for bias in machine learning algorithms.

Sample International Baccalaureate exam questions related to machine learning include: “Discuss the role of machine learning in supply chain optimization” and “Analyze the advantages and limitations of machine learning in predicting customer behavior.”

Natural Language Processing

Natural language processing (NLP) is another important Business IA topic under the International Baccalaureate program. NLP involves teaching machines to understand and interpret human language.

Students must understand the importance of NLP and the different techniques and tools used in NLP for Business IA. Some of the most common techniques and tools used in NLP include sentiment analysis, named entity recognition, and machine translation. Sentiment analysis involves analyzing the emotional tone of language, while named entity recognition involves identifying and categorizing entities mentioned in text. Machine translation involves translating text from one language to another.

NLP can be used to automate tasks such as customer service and improve communication between different departments and teams. Students should understand the different use cases of NLP in Business IA and how to apply different NLP techniques and tools to specific business scenarios.

Sample International Baccalaureate exam questions related to NLP include: “Analyze the benefits and challenges of using natural language processing in customer service” and “Explain how named entity recognition can be used in supply chain management.”

Business Topic examples

• Analyzing the effectiveness of a company’s remote work policy during the pandemic.
• Developing a marketing strategy for a company entering a new international market.
• Assessing the financial feasibility of expanding a business to a new location.
• Evaluating the impact of digital transformation on a company’s operations and profitability.
• Investigating the factors that contribute to employee turnover in a specific industry.
• Analyzing the effectiveness of a company’s customer service and support.
• Examining the impact of social media on a company’s brand reputation and customer engagement.
• Investigating the factors that contribute to successful mergers and acquisitions in a specific industry.
• Assessing the effectiveness of a company’s employee training and development programs.
• Examining the impact of climate change on a company’s supply chain and sustainability practices.
• Analyzing the factors that contribute to successful product innovation in a specific industry.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of a company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives.
• Investigating the factors that contribute to successful international joint ventures in a specific industry.
• Assessing the impact of e-commerce on a company’s sales and revenue growth.
• Analyzing the effectiveness of a company’s data analytics and business intelligence systems.
• Examining the factors that contribute to successful pricing strategies in a specific industry.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of a company’s diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Investigating the impact of emerging technologies on a specific industry.
• Assessing the impact of geopolitical factors on a company’s operations and profitability.

In conclusion, Business IA is a critical aspect of modern business operations, and students under the International Baccalaureate program must have a comprehensive understanding of the different Business IA topics, including data analytics, automation, machine learning, and natural language processing. Through this article, we have explored the importance of these topics, their different applications, and the techniques and tools used in each.

We have also provided sample International Baccalaureate exam questions to help students better prepare for their exams. To succeed in Business IA, students must have a solid understanding of the different topics, and they must be able to apply this knowledge to real-world business scenarios. With the knowledge and skills gained from studying these Business IA topics, students will be better equipped to navigate the fast-paced and ever-changing world of business.

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Nick Radlinsky

Nick Radlinsky is a devoted educator, marketing specialist, and management expert with more than 15 years of experience in the education sector. After obtaining his business degree in 2016, Nick embarked on a quest to achieve his PhD, driven by his commitment to enhancing education for students worldwide. His vast experience, starting in 2008, has established him as a reputable authority in the field.

Nick's article, featured in Routledge's " Entrepreneurship in Central and Eastern Europe: Development through Internationalization ," highlights his sharp insights and unwavering dedication to advancing the educational landscape. Inspired by his personal motto, "Make education better," Nick's mission is to streamline students' lives and foster efficient learning. His inventive ideas and leadership have contributed to the transformation of numerous educational experiences, distinguishing him as a true innovator in his field.

IB TOK Essay Rubric. Grading Criteria

This article provides essential insights and strategies for understanding the assessment process and helping you write essays that meet and exceed the rigorous standards of the IB curriculum. Whether you’re striving for clarity of argument, effective integration of knowledge, or personal engagement, our tips will help you achieve a higher score.

IB Internal Assessment Rubric and Grading Criteria

The IB IA rubric is carefully structured to assess students’ understanding, skills and application of subject matter in a nuanced and comprehensive manner. Each subject rubric, whether for sciences such as Biology and Chemistry, humanities such as History and Psychology, or Mathematics, emphasizes a unique set of criteria tailored to assess specific competencies and skills.

Visual Arts IA Topics: The Best Topic Ideas

In the vast world of art, the possibilities for your IA topic are nearly limitless. Yet, this abundance of choice can sometimes feel overwhelming. Whether you’re drawn to traditional painting techniques, the avant-garde movements of the 20th century, or the intersection of digital media and art, your chosen topic should ignite a spark of curiosity and passion within you.

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When selecting a topic for your IB Music Internal Assessment, both SL and HL students face a unique set of challenges and opportunities. As a seasoned IB educator with years of experience guiding students through this process, I’ve come to recognize the importance of choosing a topic that aligns with the IB criteria and resonates with your musical interests and strengths.

Film IA Topics: SL and HL Topic Ideas

Choosing a topic for your IB Film Internal Assessment (IA) can be exciting and daunting. Whether you’re enrolled in the Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL), the key is to select an option that not only intrigues you but also meets the criteria of the IB Film course. In this article, we dig into a variety of creative and thought-provoking ideas for both SL and HL Film IA topics.

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• Knowledge Base
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• 10 Research Question Examples to Guide Your Research Project

10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project

Published on October 30, 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on October 19, 2023.

The research question is one of the most important parts of your research paper , thesis or dissertation . It’s important to spend some time assessing and refining your question before you get started.

The exact form of your question will depend on a few things, such as the length of your project, the type of research you’re conducting, the topic , and the research problem . However, all research questions should be focused, specific, and relevant to a timely social or scholarly issue.

Once you’ve read our guide on how to write a research question , you can use these examples to craft your own.

Note that the design of your research question can depend on what method you are pursuing. Here are a few options for qualitative, quantitative, and statistical research questions.

Other interesting articles

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

Cite this Scribbr article

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McCombes, S. (2023, October 19). 10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project. Scribbr. Retrieved April 11, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-question-examples/

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50+ IB Business Management IA Ideas

Request free trial class, ib business management hl ia ideas.

This list of IB Business HL IA ideas is a helpful resource for students seeking inspiration and guidance in their coursework. The IA questions along with the details is a research project that accounts for 25% of the total grade for Business HL students and is based on primary research obtained from the organization under investigation. The list includes a wide range of topics and ia questions, such as the impact of globalization on small businesses, the role of ethics in business decision making, and the effects of technological advancements on the job market. By selecting a strong topic and conducting thorough research and planning, students can create a standout IA that showcases their understanding of business concepts and theories. Additionally, students can find high-scoring IB Business and Management Internal Assessment examples to further enhance their understanding and improve their own work.

1.) What marketing strategies should D-Mart supermarkets use to increase their sales revenue in Pune?

Research question:.

What marketing strategies should D-Mart supermarkets use to increase their sales revenue in Pune?

Area of Syllabus:

Marketing (The four Ps, Extended Marketing Mix)

Methodology:

Interview with the manager, Survey with customers, Observation at the store

Organizational Tools:

SWOT Analysis, Profit and Loss Account, Ratio Analysis, 7P’s of Marketing mix

Recommendation:

Invest in radio, television advertising, digital marketing and e-commerce. Open stores in shopping malls to attract more customers. Use direct, viral, social media, and guerrilla marketing.

2.) To what extent, and how should the employee motivation at Sonigara Builders be increased in Pune?

To what extent, and how should the employee motivation at Sonigara Builders be increased in Pune?

Human Resource Management (Planning, Motivation, Stakeholders, Leadership, Organizational Culture, Employee and Employer Relations)

Interview with the owner, Company’s Website, Interview employees

Organizational  Tools:

Motivation Theories – Taylor and Maslow, Financial and Non-Financial Rewards, SWOT Analysis

Sonigara Builders should seek to motivate their workforce to maximize job satisfaction, staff morale and labor productivity by financial rewards (salary, wages, commission, performance-related pay, perks) and non-financial rewards (job enrichment, job rotation, encourage teamwork).

3.) Should Sante Spa restaurant set up a new branch in order to maximize their profitability?

Should Sante Spa restaurant set up a new branch in order to maximize their profitability?

Operations Management (Quality Management, Location, Research and Development), Marketing (Market Research, Extended Marketing Mix)

Interview owner, Observations at new branch location

Investment Appraisal (Payback Period), Decision Tree, SWOT Analysis, Force Field Analysis, Ansoff Matrix, Net Present Value

It is recommended that Sante Spa should consider setting up a new branch. It should go digital to leverage growth. Consider franchising, reinvent your product portfolio, focus on customer service, encourage learning and training sessions for employees. Lastly, build partnerships that enable growth.

4.) What are the consequences of Takur Bakery’s decision to restrain from rapid expansion of the company?

What are the consequences of Takur Bakery’s decision to restrain from rapid expansion of the company?

Growth and Evolution (Internal and External growth), Operations Management

Interview with the owner, Observations

SWOT Analysis, Force Field Analysis, STEEPLE Analysis, Balance Sheet

Thakur Bakery should look at advantages of expansion rather than restraining it from expansion. The consequences to restrain from expansion include the company will not grow, it will not secure larger market share, sales and profit will not increase, poor brand awareness. However the reasons for restraining from rapid expansion would be entry into new markets that require extensive market research and compete with well-established rivals.

5.) What expansion strategies should Bajaj use to expand its electric scooters business in the face of increasing demand in Pune?

What expansion strategies should Bajaj use to expand its electric scooters business in the face of increasing demand in Pune?

Growth and Evolution (Internal and External Growth)

Customer Survey, Observations at the showrooms, Interview with manager

Position Map, Investment Appraisal, SWOT Analysis, STEEPLE Analysis

Expansionary fiscal policy should be used to boost bajaj business activity. The government should provide subsidies and reduce taxes on electric vehicles because it’s sustainable for the environment. Businesses tend to require external finance to fund their expansion. Expansion strategies should include product development, increase customer base, diversification, increase brand awareness, recruit more workers, franchise new showrooms, use high-tech machinery.

6.) What promotional strategies should Cake Studio use to target a new market segment which emphasizes their USP?

What promotional strategies should Cake Studio use to target a new market segment which emphasizes their USP?

Marketing (Planning, Four Ps – Promotion: ATL and BTL)

Focus Groups, Observation

Organizational Tools:

4 P’s of Marketing Mix, Ansoff Matrix, Perception Map, BCG Matrix, AIDA Model

Prices could also be changed to attract different market segments. Cake Studio must be able to provide suitable products to cater for each market segment. The size and purchasing power of each market segment must be quantifiable. They should use mass marketing strategy to target market segments. The marketing strategies should focus on the uniqueness and exclusivity of the product. Promotion may need to take place on a large scale through above the line methods to attract a large number of potential customers.

7.) Should Suhana company undertake investment into ready to eat product lines in order to increase their market share and build a larger brand in the Indian Food Industry?

Should Suhana company undertake investment into ready to eat product lines in order to increase their market share and build a larger brand in the Indian Food Industry?

Marketing (Role, The Four Ps, Market Research)

Focus Groups

STEEPLE Analysis, Decision Tree, Investment Appraisal, Force Field

Yes definitely Suhana company should invest in ready-to-eat packets in order to increase their market share and build a larger brand in the Indian Food Industry. It should be segmented by product types (Instant Break, Soup and Snacks), distribution (Supermarkets, retailers) and geography(Asia-Pacific, South America). It should focus on packaging for promotion. It should constantly innovate products to meet and even preempt evolving needs. They should also focus on product development, market penetration and expansion of the sales channel. To increase demand, the firm should consider introducing loss leader pricing strategy in relation to ready-to-eat packets.

8.) How can Hi-Fi Gym improve its brand presence in Pune, India?

How can Hi-Fi Gym improve its brand presence in Pune, India?

Marketing (Branding, Promotion – ATL and BTL, Pricing)

Interview with owner, Customers Survey

SWOT Analysis, Position Map, Fishbone Diagram, BCG Matrix, STEEPLE Analysis Recommendation: Hi-Fi Gym should use branding to improve its brand presence in Pune by using several marketing strategies. It should franchise new branches in different locations. They should use psychological pricing by offering packages in months and years. It should focus on long-term goals and objectives. It should create brand identity, keep branding consistent, they should be authentic, offer value and focus on quality.

9.) How can Big Bazar supermarket increase its staff productivity?

How can Big Bazar supermarket increase its staff productivity?

Human Resource Management (Appraisal, Training, Leadership Style, Employer and employee relations)

Interview with HR Manager, Survey with employees

Taylor’s, Maslow’s, Profit and Loss Account, SWOT Analysis

It should change its leadership style. Since there is a communication problem between staff and managers, they should change their ways of dealing and treating employees. The managers should assign tasks and roles to staff. It should divide the staff and implement division of labour on a rotational basis to build teamwork. Staff should be appreciated for their hard-work through promotion or higher pay. On-site training should be provided to staff.

10.) What methods of motivation should Ranka Jewellers implement to retain staff?

What methods of motivation should Ranka Jewellers implement to retain staff?

Human Resource Management (Planning, Motivation, Leadership, Corporate culture, Employee and Employer relation)

Survey with employees to evaluate their level of satisfaction, Interview with owner of the company.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, Non-Financial Rewards, SWOT Analysis

The work should be appreciated and employees should feel valued. This will encourage them to work harder for praise, keeping them motivated throughout. On-site training should be provided by business executives. Leadership style needs to be changed to situational. The company should reconsider the current employee positions in regards to their abilities and past experiences.

11.) What marketing strategies should Burger King use to expand their reach in the European market?

What marketing strategies should Burger King use to expand their reach in the European market?

Marketing (International marketing, Market segmentation, Targeting and positioning)

Secondary research (industry reports, competitor analysis), survey with potential customers in Europe, analysis of company’s current marketing efforts

SWOT Analysis, PESTEL Analysis, Marketing Mix, Market Research Tools

Focus on developing a strong digital marketing presence, tailor messaging and promotions to different segments of the European market, consider partnering with European retailers or distributors, attend industry trade shows to build awareness and generate leads.

12.) How can Wynn Resorts Ltd. reduce employee turnover in their call center?

How can Wynn Resorts Ltd. reduce employee turnover in their call center?

Human Resource Management (Recruitment and Selection, Training and Development, Motivation and Leadership)

Interviews with current and former employees, analysis of exit surveys, review of company policies and procedures, benchmarking against industry standards

SWOT Analysis, Job Analysis, Performance Appraisal, Employee Training and Development Programs, Leadership Theory

Develop and implement a comprehensive onboarding program for new employees, offer ongoing training and development opportunities, ensure that compensation and benefits packages are competitive with industry standards, establish a culture of open communication and feedback.

13.) What steps can Party City take to improve their supply chain efficiency?

What steps can Party City take to improve their supply chain efficiency?

Operations Management (Supply Chain Management, Quality Management, Process Analysis)

Site visits to suppliers and manufacturers, analysis of current inventory management systems, interviews with supply chain partners, benchmarking against industry standards

SWOT Analysis, Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, Total Quality Management, Inventory Management Systems

Invest in new inventory management systems and technology, streamline processes and eliminate bottlenecks, establish strong relationships with suppliers and manufacturers, conduct regular quality control checks.

14.) What pricing strategy should Yves Saint-Laurent use to increase market share in the luxury goods sector?

What pricing strategy should Yves Saint-Laurent use to increase market share in the luxury goods sector?

Marketing (Pricing Strategies, Market Segmentation)

Secondary research (industry reports, competitor analysis), focus groups with luxury goods consumers, analysis of company’s current pricing strategy

SWOT Analysis, Pricing Models (Cost-Plus, Value-Based, Penetration), Market Research Tools

Consider a penetration pricing strategy to gain market share, offer promotions or discounts to attract new customers, tailor pricing to different segments of the luxury goods market, focus on creating a perception of exclusivity and luxury.

15.) How can Malabar Gold & Diamonds improve their customer service to increase customer loyalty?

How can Malabar Gold & Diamonds improve their customer service to increase customer loyalty?

Marketing (Customer Relationship Management, Service Marketing)

Mystery shopping at company locations, analysis of customer service interactions, customer satisfaction surveys, benchmarking against industry standards

SWOT Analysis, CRM Software, Service Quality Measurement Tools, Complaint Management Systems

Implement a comprehensive training program for customer service employees, empower employees to make decisions and resolve issues on the spot, create a formal complaint management system, establish a loyalty program for repeat customers.

16.) What steps can Maruti Suzuki take to reduce their carbon footprint?

What steps can Maruti Suzuki take to reduce their carbon footprint?

Environmental Management (Sustainability, Corporate Social Responsibility)

Analysis of company’s energy and resource use, benchmarking against industry standards, consultation with environmental experts, review of government regulations

SWOT Analysis, Life Cycle Assessment, Environmental Management Systems, Carbon Accounting Tools

Develop and implement a sustainability plan with specific goals and targets, invest in renewable energy sources, reduce waste and implement recycling programs, use sustainable materials in products and packaging.

17.) How can TCS improve their team collaboration and communication?

How can TCS improve their team collaboration and communication?

Organizational Behavior (Team Dynamics, Communication, Leadership)

Surveys with employees, analysis of team communication patterns, review of company policies and procedures, benchmarking against industry standards

SWOT Analysis, Team Building Exercises, Communication Strategies, Leadership Development Programs

Implement regular team building exercises and activities, establish clear communication channels and protocols, provide training in effective communication and conflict resolution, develop and promote effective leadership practices.

18.) What marketing strategies should Raymond use to target the Gen Z demographic?

Marketing (Target Marketing, Consumer Behavior)

Focus groups with Gen Z consumers, analysis of social media trends and platforms, review of competitor strategies, benchmarking against industry standards

SWOT Analysis, Market Segmentation Strategies, Social Media Marketing Tools, Customer Relationship Management Software

Develop a strong social media presence and engage with Gen Z influencers, use targeted advertising on social media platforms, create content that speaks to Gen Z values and interests, offer personalized and interactive experiences.

19.) How can Costco improve their online sales and customer experience?

Marketing (E-commerce, Customer Experience Management)

Analysis of website user experience, surveys with online customers, benchmarking against industry standards, consultation with e-commerce experts

SWOT Analysis, Customer Journey Mapping, E-commerce Platform Analysis, Conversion Rate Optimization Tools

Invest in improving website user experience and functionality, optimize the customer journey from browsing to purchase, offer personalized recommendations and promotions, provide clear and transparent information about shipping and returns.

20.) To what extent does employee engagement affect organizational performance in Cognizant?

Organizational Behavior (Motivation, Job Satisfaction, Performance Management)

Surveys with employees and managers, analysis of performance metrics and employee turnover rates, benchmarking against industry standards, review of company policies and procedures

SWOT Analysis, Employee Engagement Surveys, Performance Management Frameworks, Total Rewards Programs

Develop and implement employee engagement initiatives such as recognition programs, career development opportunities, and work-life balance initiatives. Set clear performance goals and provide regular feedback and coaching to employees. Align total rewards programs with employee performance and organizational goals.

21.) How can Kovai Pazhamudir Nilayam improve their procurement process and reduce costs?

Business Management (Procurement Management, Cost Management)

Analysis of procurement processes, cost analysis, benchmarking against industry standards, consultation with procurement experts, review of government regulations

SWOT Analysis, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Procurement Performance Metrics, Contract Management Systems

Implement a strategic sourcing approach to reduce costs and improve supplier relationships. Conduct regular spend analysis to identify areas for cost savings. Use data analytics to optimize procurement processes. Develop and implement effective contract management systems to improve supplier performance and reduce risk.

22.) What factors contribute to customer loyalty in Popeyes and how can they be improved?

Marketing (Customer Relationship Management, Customer Experience Management)

Surveys with customers, analysis of customer feedback and complaints, benchmarking against industry standards, review of company policies and procedures

SWOT Analysis, Customer Journey Mapping, Net Promoter Score, Customer Relationship Management Software

Develop and implement a customer-centric culture within the organization. Provide personalized and engaging customer experiences at all touchpoints. Use customer feedback to continuously improve products and services. Offer loyalty programs and incentives to reward and retain customers.

23.) How can Himalaya diversify their product offerings and enter new markets?

Strategic Management (Diversification, Market Entry Strategies)

Analysis of market trends and opportunities, consultation with industry experts, review of company resources and capabilities, benchmarking against industry standards

SWOT Analysis, Porter’s Five Forces Analysis, Resource-Based View Analysis, Ansoff Matrix

Conduct market research to identify new product offerings and potential markets. Utilize partnerships and collaborations to enter new markets. Develop and acquire resources and capabilities necessary for new product offerings. Use a diversification strategy such as related or unrelated diversification.

24.) How can Zomato effectively manage their international human resources?

Human Resource Management (Global Human Resource Management, Cross-Cultural Management)

Surveys with international employees, analysis of cultural differences and practices, consultation with international HR experts, review of government regulations

Cross-Cultural Training Programs, International Performance Management Frameworks, International Compensation and Benefits Structures

Develop and implement cross-cultural training programs for employees and managers. Use international performance management frameworks to evaluate and develop employee performance. Develop international compensation and benefits structures that align with local practices and regulations.

25.) What steps can Party City take to improve their supply chain efficiency?

Business Ethics (Corporate Social Responsibility, Stakeholder Theory)

Analysis of company financial performance metrics, surveys with stakeholders, benchmarking against industry standards, review of company CSR policies and practices

SWOT Analysis, Stakeholder Mapping, Sustainability Reporting Frameworks, Triple Bottom Line Analysis

Integrate CSR practices into the company’s core business strategy. Develop and implement sustainability reporting frameworks to track and measure CSR impact. Align CSR practices with stakeholder expectations and industry standards. Communicate CSR efforts and impact to stakeholders and the public.

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IB Business Management SL IA Ideas

This is a list IB Business Management SL IA ideas is a valuable resource for students to showcase their understanding of business concepts and theories. The IA is a research project that accounts for a significant portion of the grade, and students can choose from a wide range of topics and IA questions , such as globalisation, ethics, and technological advancements. Additionally, students can find high-scoring IB Business and Management Internal Assessment examples to improve their own work.

1.) What marketing strategies should Burger King use to expand their reach in the European market?

2.) how can wynn resorts ltd. reduce employee turnover in their call center, 3.) what steps can party city take to improve their supply chain efficiency, 4.) what pricing strategy should yves saint-laurent use to increase market share in the luxury goods sector, 5.) how can malabar gold & diamonds improve their customer service to increase customer loyalty, 6.) what steps can maruti suzuki take to reduce their carbon footprint, 7.) how can tcs improve their team collaboration and communication, 8.) what marketing strategies should raymond use to target the gen z demographic.

What marketing strategies should Raymond use to target the Gen Z demographic?

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9.) how can costco improve their online sales and customer experience.

How can Costco improve their online sales and customer experience?

10.) To what extent does employee engagement affect organizational performance in Cognizant?

To what extent does employee engagement affect organizational performance in Cognizant?

11.) How can Kovai Pazhamudir Nilayam improve their procurement process and reduce costs?

How can Kovai Pazhamudir Nilayam improve their procurement process and reduce costs?

12.) What factors contribute to customer loyalty in Popeyes and how can they be improved?

What factors contribute to customer loyalty in Popeyes and how can they be improved?

13.) How can Himalaya diversify their product offerings and enter new markets?

How can Himalaya diversify their product offerings and enter new markets?

14.) How can Zomato effectively manage their international human resources?

How can Zomato effectively manage their international human resources?

15.) What impact does corporate social responsibility have on the financial performance of Bajaj Finance?

What impact does corporate social responsibility have on the financial performance of Bajaj Finance?

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• Feb 27, 2023
• 11 min read

The EXACT Structure you need for a 7 in your Business Management IA

Updated: Feb 28, 2023

The Business Management IA assesses students' ability to analyze businesses, use business tools, and collect data. However, due to the vague criteria for the IA, many students find it highly challenging. It shocking the number of students that perform poorly in the IA. But we are here to change that!

In this blog, I will outline the IA structure that has been used time and time again by our tutors to achieve high marks in the Business IA. Following this guide as strictly as possible and I am certain you will get a 7.

Before we dive into the IA's structure, let's briefly discuss the IA in general.

Business IA General Overview

For HL students, the IA accounts for 25% of their final grade, making it the most crucial assessment piece.

The primary distinction between the HL and SL IA is that HL students need to analyze a forward-thinking business decision, whereas SL students need to write a commentary on a business's operations.

Most importantly, the HL IA heavily relies on primary data, while SL students have the option to solely collect secondary data. Let's examine examples of SL and HL research questions to further illustrate this distinction.

SL Research Question:

How have Google's changes in organizational structure and leadership style affected its corporate culture, employee productivity, and efficiency?

Please note that SL students can choose large businesses since primary market research is not a priority.

HL Research Question:

Should TNN invest in a laser cutter to decrease costs and gain control over operations in an attempt to increase revenue and overall profitability?

Note that "TNN" is not a massive Fortune 500 company, so it is possible to collect valuable primary data. Additionally, the question is forward-facing, meaning the IA will evaluate the pros and cons of a potential business decision.

The Business IA consists of two separate reports. The first report is the "Research Proposal," where students justify and plan their research. The second document is the actual IA, where students analyze all the data and evaluate their business decision.

How to structure a Level 7 business IA

Research Proposal (Total 500 Words)

The research proposal is the precursor to the IA and should be written in the future tense as the primary research has yet to be conducted.

Research Proposal Title Page

State your Research Questions

The session number, e.g., Nov22

Research Question

The research question is one of the most important parts of your IA; therefore, it is worthwhile to write a good one from the start. Here are a few points to refine your research questions:

Always state the name of the business in the form of an abbreviation.

Always include a list of criteria that you will use to evaluate the business decision.

For example, in the following research question:

“Should TNN invest in a laser cutter to decrease costs and gain control over operations, in an attempt to increase revenue and overall profitability?”

The criteria that will be evaluated are the revenue and profitability increase of this plan.

Other aspects you should avoid are:

Making an IA that is heavily dependent on the industry rather than the company

Being too broad with your research questions

IAs that require information you do not have access to

Choosing to focus on an IA that is not prevalent in the IB syllabus

2. Rationale (~150 Words)

Give a summary of the business

What type of business is it? Private limited? Un-incorporated?

What are its main operations?

What are its values and mission?

What is your justification for choosing this business?

Outline the problem that the business is facing.

What is the potential solution that is looking to be implemented? Why has this not been implemented in the past?

3. Theoretical Framework

Make a table and list the topics that will be covered in your IA.

Make a justification column explaining why this topic is needed in your IA.

TIP: Be selective with the tools that you are using. Using too many means that you will spread your word count too thin and not be able to do in-depth analysis.

4. Methodology

Include all the sources of primary and secondary data, along with why you have included them.

Use multiple sources of primary data. This will help you in Criteria B.

TIP: Include as many primary sources as possible, even if you are only going to refer to them once.

5. Anticipated Difficulties

Talk about difficulties that are industry and business-specific along with potential solutions.

Avoid mentioning obvious problems and those that are within your control.

Eg: “It will be hard to arrange a meeting with the CEO.” This is not a good difficulty as you can rearrange to a more convenient time.

6. Action Plan

Use a Gantt Chart to show the dates of each task.

Create the base model in excel.

Always include modifications as it shows that you actually used the graph.

TIP: For this page only, change the layout to landscape. This is the only way to fit the whole chart on one page.

Business Written Report (Total word count: 2000)

The written report is the main component of your IA. It should be written in the past tense since you have already conducted your research and analysis. As there is no page limit for business IAs, I highly recommend double spacing. This will increase the legibility of your IA.

1. Title Page

Include research questions, session number, executive summary word count, and the main IA word count.

The page number should restart from 1 on this page.

2. Acknowledgment

Write a relatively short paragraph expressing your gratitude. This is not needed in the IA and does not count in the word count.

3. Table of Contents

The table of contents should only include the major headings, i.e., all the numbered points in this list.

The table of contents must start with the executive summary at the top. TIP: It is easier if you complete this page as one of the last parts of your IA.

4. Executive Summary (200 words, excluded from your report's word count)

TIP: This section provides an extremely condensed version of your IA, and the key is to use a high concentration of business terminology. Read through a business paper 1 case-study to get an idea of the level of detail expected.

TIP: Leave this section until last, after finishing your entire IA.

TIP: Divide the summary into three short paragraphs:

Quickly summarize the business and the issue that has arisen.

Briefly state all primary and secondary data that was used, as well as any other business tools employed for analysis.

Briefly summarize the conclusion and main recommendations. Also, mention a brief line about the assumptions and limitations of your findings.

5. Introduction (~150 Words)

TIP: The introduction is very similar to the rationale. It's not a bad idea to rewrite your rationale.

Include the company name and abbreviation.

State and explain the company’s operations.

Outline current strategic goals.

Explain the problem the business is facing and propose a potential solution.

Describe what prevented the company from implementing this solution in the past.

At the end, include your research question and justify how you reached it.

6. Methodology (~150 Words)

TIP: This section is dedicated to giving a brief outline of the research and data you have collected.

State the primary and secondary sources you used, e.g., “Interview with the owner, survey with customers, and observations at competitors.”

Make sure to emphasize the wide range of primary data you are using.

Discuss all the business tools you will be using and briefly justify why you are using them.

Mention any changes that you made to the method throughout the IA.

7. Limitations (~100 Words)

The limitation is aimed to discuss how valid your data is.

Include 2 or 3 points that may affect the reliability of your data. Some examples are:

Subjectivity in qualitative business analysis.

Financial data during times of a recession/boom may not be representative of regular business activity.

Customers of the workplace may be intentionally biased.

8. Main Results and Findings (~300 Words)

In this section, you will state all the data you have collected. Summarize all the qualitative data and calculate all the quantitative data.

Include a brief summary of the interview, with footnotes referring to the answers you are summarizing.

Include 2 or 3 graphs of the survey that you conducted. Only include necessary graphs in the main body of the document. Place all other graphs in the appendix and refer to them through footnotes.

Include all investment appraisal and financial ratio calculations. It is good practice to write the equation for all calculations that you do. In addition, all the financial information needs to be cited using footnotes.

Tip: If you are calculating ARR, I highly recommend using the table method. This is the most visually clear way of presenting calculations, especially if you are dealing with variable annual cash flow.

The main point to keep in mind is that all data, whether financial, quantitative, or qualitative, needs to be cited in the appendix using footnotes.

9. Analysis and Discussion (~1100 Words)

TIP: This criterion accounts for the largest number of marks, so spend the most amount of time dedicated to analyzing and evaluating. Here, analyze the data using business theory and assess if it supports or opposes the proposed research question's change. Analyze all the implications of the data in a sequential and coherent manner. For every different tool and primary research method that is used, you should dedicate a separate analysis section to it.

This section is where many students struggle, so here is a potential structure you can use:

Apply the theory and terminology from the business textbook when analyzing data.

Ensure that all analysis points are linked to the impact on internal and external stakeholders. For the main analysis section, it is recommended to use the 'snowball method', which is used in the mark schemes of business paper 1s. This method will be outlined below.

Conclude each section with a brief analysis of whether the tool supports or opposes the business decision, taking into consideration whether it is for the short or long term.

Add a section at the end of every tool where you discuss the limitations of the tool. For instance, for the Lewin's force field analysis, the ranking for the driving and restricting factors is subjective; this bias needs to be accounted for through the use of quantitative tools.

Always analyze the qualitative tools first then the quantitative tools as the qualitative data provides context to the reader.

10. Conclusion (~100 Words)

In the conclusion, you need to combine all the mini-conclusions together and evaluate if the short-term disadvantages out weight the long-term advantages or vice-versa.

State all the tools that are in support of the business decision and all the tools that are against it. long-term. Imagine a table

Note: Do not include a table. You must explain the same concept in written form

As seen above, most tools support the decision, while some are against it. You must discuss and justify why the change must be implemented despite the disapproving interview and investment appraisal results. This process of weighing up the pros and cons will favorable for the evaluation and critical thinking criteria. ii. Discuss the limitations of your research; components that may have prevented you from reaching an established conclusion

11. Recommendation (~100 Words)

Limit your recommendations to three to ensure that you provide sufficient detail within the word count limits. Furthermore, ensure that your recommendations are coherent with your conclusion.

Provide recommendations for short-term actions (0-1 years) that the business can take to achieve quick results. These could range from contacting suppliers to making new investments.

Provide recommendations for long-term objectives (2-5 years). What can the business do to continue growing and profiting?

Include at least one recommendation for gathering additional information and conducting research. This additional research should be aligned with the limitations outlined earlier in the IA.

12. Bibliography

Alphabetize your sources

The format of the bibliography and citation is not relevant; however, it needs to be consistent throughout the IA.

13. Appendix

Include all primary data sources

Include all graphs and scripts of interviews

All financial data collected directly from the company also needs to be here.

As you write your IA, I highly encourage you to keep this blog open and add the following sections as you go. It is essential to include all these points, especially if you are aiming for a 7.

How to Analyze and Evaluate like a Level 7 Business Student (The Snowball Method)

The snowball method for analysis is something I came up with while I was in grade 12. It consistently allowed me to score in the high 80s in my business papers 1s and 2s. If you read any business paper 2 example answer, you will not find detailed and isolated discussions regarding single topics such as cash flow. Instead, you will find fluid analysis created by a chain of implications.

By a chain of implications, I mean constantly asking yourself the question: "So what? What is impacted by this change? Who will be affected? Why does it matter?" These are all important questions that you need to address in your analysis. The best way to do this is to continuously ask "so what" over and over again, hence why it is called the snowball method. Let's go over an example:

Imagine you are the owner of a school that lacks well-trained teachers. As a result, customer satisfaction has been low. The proposed solution is to increase the training of the teachers.

A low-level and one-dimensional analysis would be:

"Increasing teacher training would improve service quality, hence would improve customer satisfaction."

This analysis lacks sophistication and has a poor spread of business terminology. A high-quality analysis would discuss additional content, which continuously flows. See the example below.

“Implementing teacher training will result in more skilled teachers who are more motivated as suggested by the mastery component of Daniel Pink's theory of motivation. This change will likely have a positive impact on the school's corporate culture and reduce the school's labor turnover . Additionally, having specialized and highly skilled teachers will make it easier for the school to implement on-the-job training in the future, reducing training costs in the long term.”

The analysis represented as a continuous chain:

Implementing teacher training → more skilled teachers → increased motivation (Daniel Pink) → improved corporate culture → low labor turnover → teachers stay for longer at the school, gaining more experience and becoming more specialized → easier to implement on-the-job training → reducing training costs over the long term

As you can see, the second analysis discusses far more implications of the business decision and includes a high density of business terminology. This is the type of analysis you should be looking to replicate. Try to create a chain of events, showing where each business decision leads and how the effects trickle down to stakeholders.

I would highly encourage you to attempt to discuss as many business concepts as possible, at least those that are relevant to the IA. As a general guide, regardless of your proposed change, you must, to some extent, discuss the impact it will have on HR, operations, marketing, and finance.

Another important tip is to add variety to your analysis. Avoid having "an increase in profitability" as the outcome of all your analysis. This will be seen as one-dimensional by the IB markers, and you will be penalized in the analysis and evaluation criteria. Instead, try to discuss the impact your business decision will have on cash flow, revenue, working capital, working capital cycle, fixed and variable costs, short-term and long-term capital expenses, and more. The list goes on. Many low-performing business IAs tend to be hyper-focused on profit. Make your analysis multi-dimensional and discuss other components as well.

How to Layout a Level 7 Business IA

Unlike other IAs, the Business IA is lengthy. Therefore, it is crucial to have a good layout. Moreover, the layout accounts for 4 marks in the IA criteria, which could be the difference between a 7 and a 6.

I highly recommend using footnotes as a citation method. This will not only save you words, but it will also allow you to easily reference all your primary data.

Important note: In your IA, whenever you refer to primary data, it must be cited using footnotes. This includes all financial data used for investment appraisal and driving and restraining forces for Lewin's force field diagrams.

Be specific with your appendix references, particularly for the interview. Do not ambiguously state (Appendix 1: interview), instead say something like (Appendix 1: Interview with the owner - question 7). This layout can be seen in the image below.

2. Double-space your IA. This will help with legibility in your IA.

Make sure to have clean headings with few aesthetic features.

Font size should be 12 or 13 Arial, making sure it is consistent throughout the IA.

Make sure to bold and italicize important concepts that you want the marker to pay attention to.

3. Always caption your diagrams and include table headings. These headings should not be vague and should be as detailed as possible.

Although the business IA is confronting, if done right, it can be one of the most intellectually challenging and fun experiences of your IB journey. As a past IB student who scored 80% overall in their finals, I can confidently say that if you include all these components in your IA, you will perform very well.

There is only so much advice I can provide you over a blog. For personalized feedback on your IA, sign up for our IA feedback service.

Best of luck!

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