IB Business Management IA SL: 60 Examples and Guidance

The International Baccalaureate (IB) program offers a variety of assessments for students, including Internal Assessments (IAs), which are pieces of coursework marked by students’ teachers. The Business Management SL IA is an assessment designed to test students' understanding of the material they have learned in their business management course and their ability to conduct independent research. The investigation should be a self-directed study that demonstrates the student's ability to understand and analyze a specific, real-world business issue.

Students should note that the Standard Level and Higher Level Internal Assessments for Business Management are quite different. In HL, students are expected to carry out their own investigation to curate primary research, while SL students only need to write a written commentary. Check out our separate article for guidance on the HL IA!

What is the IB Business Management IA?

The SL internal assessment is a written commentary that allows students to demonstrate the application of business management tools, techniques and theories to a business issue or problem.

For their written commentary, SL students must adhere to the following guidelines:

• Choose a genuine business issue or problem that pertains to the SL syllabus.
• Directly reference a single business organization, but may consider industry-wide matters that affect that particular organization.
• Build their written commentary on secondary research that is appropriate in terms of depth and breadth. Primary research may be utilized for support.
• Create a title for the commentary that is framed as a question to provide focus and direction.
• Keep the written commentary within 1,500 words.
• Include three to five supporting documents with the commentary, which should be the primary source of information.
• Thoroughly cite all supporting documents and additional sources, and add them to the bibliography.

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What are the supporting documents?

The supporting documents should present a range of ideas and views, which you base your analysis on. They must be written within at least 3 years from the submission of the written commentary. One of the supporting documents may be a transcript of video/audio material, if it is published by a reliable organization.

These sources could include news articles, business accounts, extracts from the company’s website, government statistics, market research surveys, and mission statements.

Remember to fully reference these supporting documents in your IA’s bibliography.

How should the IA be structured?

To begin, the introduction should provide an overview of the business issue and contextual information about the organization. The subsequent section comprises the body of your work, which should detail the findings drawn from supporting documentation and, crucially, analyze them through the application of relevant business theories, tools, and techniques. This analysis must be conducted in the context of the question posed, and a definitive connection must be established. Lastly, the conclusion should address the question being investigated and discuss any unanswered aspects.

Have a look at our comprehensive set of IB Business Management Study Notes and IB Business Management Questions, developed by expert IB teachers and examiners!

How is the IA assessed?

There are seven assessment criteria for the written commentary:

Criterion A: Supporting documents (4 marks)

The supporting documents should be relevant, sufficiently in-depth and provide a range of

ideas and views.

Criterion B: Choice and application of business tools, techniques and theories (5 marks)

There should be an appropriate selection of business management tools, techniques and theories, and these are skillfully applied.

Criterion C: Choice and analysis of data and integration of ideas (5 marks)

There should be an appropriate selection of data from the supporting documents with skillful

analysis and a coherent integration of ideas.

Criterion D: Conclusions (3 marks)

Conclusions should be consistent with the evidence presented and explicitly answer the commentary question.

Criterion E: Evaluation (4 marks)

There should be thorough evidence of evaluation, and judgments are well substantiated.

Criterion F: Structure (2 marks)

The student should have an appropriate structure to organize their ideas in a manner which is easy to follow.

Criterion G: Presentation (2 marks)

This assesses the extent to which the student presents the written commentary well. The student should include a title page, an accurate table of contents, appropriate headings and subheadings, consistent referencing, a complete bibliography and numbered pages.

How much does the IA contribute to my overall grade?

The IA will make up 30% of your final grade, with the furth 70% being based on Papers 1 and 2 in your final exams.

Check out the IB’s subject brief for a reminder of the rest of the key Business Management facts.

International Baccalaureate Subject Brief: Business Management SL

60 Example Investigation Questions

The IB provides these examples:

“Can airline X successfully target segment Y?” The commentary could then examine business

management topics such as market segmentation, consumer profiling, promotion, and measure of financial success.

“Should company Y outsource its manufacturing?” The commentary could then examine areas within business management such as operations management and human resource management.

You’ll see that you should pick a specific business, and then apply your syllabus knowledge to analyse it. Here are some more examples to inspire your own question, written by our expert IB Business Management tutors:

Sure, here are examples of questions and descriptions based on real businesses:

1. How did the introduction of the Prime membership impact Amazon's customer retention rate?

This study could examine Amazon's customer retention data before and after the introduction of the Prime membership program. The analysis could determine whether there is a significant change in retention rates attributed to this strategy.

2. What impact does Google's workplace culture have on employee satisfaction and productivity?

Using secondary data such as employee reviews and public surveys, you could investigate the relationship between Google's unique workplace culture and its effects on employee satisfaction and productivity.

3. How has the adoption of artificial intelligence in logistics improved efficiency for FedEx?

By reviewing public statements, press releases, and reports on FedEx's use of AI in its logistics operations, a study could be conducted on the efficiency gains made in its supply chain.

4. What role has innovation played in Tesla's market position in the electric vehicle industry?

A study could analyze Tesla's innovation strategies through product development, patents, and technologies, and how these have influenced its competitive advantage in the electric vehicle market.

5. How has McDonald's international marketing strategy adapted to different cultural contexts?

This investigation could examine case studies of McDonald's marketing campaigns in different countries, assessing how the company has adapted its strategy to various cultural contexts.

6. What impact has social media marketing had on Nike's brand visibility and customer engagement?

An analysis of Nike's social media activities (e.g., posts, ads, campaigns) could be conducted, measuring metrics like engagement, reach, and conversion, and assessing their effectiveness in promoting the brand.

7. How have sustainable practices influenced Patagonia's brand image and customer loyalty?

The study could use surveys or interviews to gauge customer perceptions of Patagonia's sustainability initiatives and whether these influence brand loyalty.

8. What role did diversification strategy play in the growth of Virgin Group?

By exploring Virgin Group's expansion into various sectors (e.g., music, airlines, space travel), a study could assess the role and success of diversification in the company's growth strategy.

9. How has digital transformation impacted the sales and operations of Walmart?

This study could analyze the financial and operational data of Walmart before and after its digital transformation initiatives, observing changes in sales, efficiency, and customer experience.

10. How has IKEA's cost leadership strategy contributed to its competitive advantage in the furniture industry?

The study could investigate IKEA's cost leadership strategy, analyzing how it has influenced the company's pricing, market share, and competitive position in the global furniture industry.

11. How does Starbucks' reward program contribute to customer loyalty and increased sales?

This investigation could analyze data on customer participation in Starbucks' reward program and its impact on repeat purchases, average transaction value, and customer loyalty.

12. What impact has Coca-Cola's global branding strategy had on its market position?

The study could review Coca-Cola's branding strategies across different markets, examining how these contribute to its global brand image and market position.

13. How does Apple's product differentiation strategy contribute to its profitability?

An analysis could be made of Apple's product differentiation in terms of design, technology, and branding, and how these factors contribute to its premium pricing and high profit margins.

14. How did Zara's fast-fashion supply chain model revolutionize the retail fashion industry?

The investigation could examine Zara's supply chain and production strategies, assessing how they enable fast fashion turnaround and their impact on the retail industry.

15. How has Disney's acquisition strategy influenced its market expansion and content portfolio?

The study could analyze Disney's acquisitions (e.g., Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm), examining how these have expanded its market reach, diversified its content portfolio, and contributed to financial growth.

16. How has LEGO’s product diversification impacted its market position in the toy industry?

This study could investigate LEGO’s diversification into various product lines (e.g., themed sets, video games, films) and analyze how these strategies have affected its competitiveness and market share.

17. What strategies did Nokia employ to recover its market position in the telecommunications industry?

The study could examine the strategic decisions (e.g., collaborations, product launches, target markets) Nokia made to regain its footing and their effectiveness in improving its market position.

18. How did Netflix's business model disruption contribute to its success in the video streaming industry?

This investigation could analyze Netflix's evolution from DVD rentals to streaming, and how this disruptive model led to its dominance in the video streaming market.

19. How has Spotify's freemium business model influenced its user growth and revenue generation?

The study could evaluate Spotify's freemium model, looking at the correlation between free and premium users, conversion rates, and their impact on revenue growth.

20. How did Toyota's Just-in-Time (JIT) production system affect its operational efficiency?

An analysis could be done on Toyota's JIT system, examining how it reduces inventory costs and improves operational efficiency.

21. What impact did the shift to cloud computing have on Microsoft's business operations and profitability?

This study could examine Microsoft's transition to cloud-based services (like Azure), analyzing how this shift has affected its revenue and business operations.

22. How did Alibaba's platform business model drive its growth in the e-commerce market?

The investigation could assess Alibaba's platform model, examining how it facilitates transactions between sellers and buyers, and its role in Alibaba's market expansion.

23. How has H&M's fast-fashion business model impacted its sustainability initiatives?

An analysis could be made of H&M's fast-fashion model and its conflict or synergy with sustainability practices, based on their sustainability reports and public perception.

24. What role did vertical integration play in Samsung Electronics' success in the smartphone market?

This study could review Samsung's vertical integration strategy in semiconductor production and how it gives them a competitive advantage in the smartphone market.

25. How did Instagram’s monetization strategy impact its user engagement and revenue generation?

An analysis could be done of Instagram's ad model and influencer partnerships, looking at their influence on user engagement and the platform's revenue.

26. What impact has the diversification of services had on the growth of JPMorgan Chase & Co?

The study could investigate how diversifying into various financial services (like asset management, private banking) has contributed to JPMorgan's growth and competitive advantage.

27. How has Costco's membership business model contributed to its competitive position in the retail industry?

The investigation could analyze Costco's membership model, looking at how it drives customer loyalty and recurring revenue, contributing to its competitive positioning.

28. How has Uber's surge pricing model affected its profitability and customer satisfaction?

The study could assess the impact of Uber's dynamic pricing on its earnings during peak times, along with its effect on customer satisfaction and demand.

29. What effect did digital transformation have on General Electric's business operations and performance?

This investigation could analyze General Electric's digital initiatives and their impact on operational efficiency and financial performance.

30. How does Twitter's advertising model contribute to its revenue generation and user experience?

An analysis could be made of Twitter's ad model, examining how it drives revenue and the balance it maintains with user experience.

31. How has Airbnb's peer-to-peer business model disrupted the traditional hospitality industry?

This study could analyze how Airbnb's unique business model has impacted the traditional hotel and lodging industry in terms of competition and market share.

32. What role did strategic acquisitions play in Facebook's market dominance in the social media industry?

The study could investigate how Facebook's acquisitions (e.g., Instagram, WhatsApp) have contributed to its market expansion and dominance in the social media landscape.

33. How does Vodafone's pricing strategy influence its market share in the telecom sector?

An analysis could be made of Vodafone's pricing policies and how they correlate with its competitive positioning and market share in the telecom industry.

34. What impact did the pivot to digital banking have on Barclays' customer engagement and service delivery?

This study could examine the effects of digital transformation on Barclays' customer engagement, service delivery, and overall business operations.

35. How does Johnson & Johnson's diversification strategy contribute to its stability in the pharmaceutical industry?

The investigation could analyze how Johnson & Johnson's diversification into various healthcare sectors contributes to its financial stability and competitive positioning.

36. How has Dell’s direct-to-customer business model influenced its market position in the computer hardware industry?

An analysis could assess the impact of Dell’s direct sales model on its market share, customer relationships, and operational efficiency.

37. What role did innovation play in the growth and market dominance of PayPal in the online payment industry?

This study could examine the role of innovation in PayPal’s products, security measures, and partnerships in its rise to dominance in the digital payments industry.

38. How does Bayer's merger and acquisition strategy contribute to its market expansion in the pharmaceutical industry?

The investigation could analyze Bayer's major acquisitions (like Monsanto) and their impact on the company's market reach and diversification.

39. How has Slack’s freemium model contributed to its user growth and revenue generation?

The study could evaluate Slack’s freemium model, investigating how it balances user growth, conversion rates, and revenue generation.

40. What role does branding play in Rolex's pricing strategy and market position in the luxury watch industry?

An analysis could be made of Rolex's brand image and how it supports the company's premium pricing strategy and its positioning in the luxury watch market.

41. How did the pivot to a subscription model contribute to Adobe's growth and customer retention?

This study could analyze the effects of Adobe's transition from license sales to a subscription model on its revenue growth, customer retention, and profitability.

42. What impact does PepsiCo's product diversification have on its market share in the food and beverage industry?

The investigation could analyze PepsiCo's diversification into various food and beverage categories and its impact on the company's market share and competitiveness.

43. How has Volvo's commitment to safety influenced its brand image and market position in the automobile industry?

An analysis could be made of Volvo's safety initiatives and how these contribute to its brand image and positioning in the global automobile industry.

44. How has IBM's shift to cloud and AI services influenced its market position in the IT industry?

This study could analyze IBM's strategic shift towards more AI and cloud services, examining how it has affected its market positioning and revenue generation.

45. What role did e-commerce play in Alibaba's market expansion in the retail industry?

The investigation could analyze Alibaba's e-commerce strategies and their impact on the company's market expansion and dominance in the retail industry.

46. What impact did McDonald's 'Plan to Win' strategy have on its global market position in the fast-food industry?

The study could evaluate McDonald's strategic initiative focusing on improving existing locations rather than opening new ones, and how this influenced their market position globally.

47. How does Starbucks' customer loyalty program contribute to its customer retention and revenue generation?

An analysis could be made of Starbucks' loyalty program, examining its effectiveness in enhancing customer retention and contributing to revenue.

48. How did Amazon's two-day shipping commitment influence its competitive position in the e-commerce industry?

This investigation could analyze Amazon's two-day shipping strategy as a part of Amazon Prime, examining its role in creating a competitive advantage.

49. What role does Coca-Cola's global branding strategy influence its market position in the beverage industry?

The study could evaluate the effectiveness of Coca-Cola's global branding strategy in enhancing its market position and recognition.

50. What role did diversification play in Disney's growth in the entertainment industry?

The investigation could analyze Disney's diversification into various entertainment sectors (films, TV, parks, streaming services) and its effect on the company's growth.

51. How has Google's organizational culture contributed to its innovative capabilities?

An analysis could be made of Google's unique organizational culture and its impact on the company's capacity for innovation and product development.

52. What impact does IKEA's cost leadership strategy have on its market position in the furniture retail industry?

This study could evaluate IKEA's cost leadership strategy and its effectiveness in securing a competitive market position.

53. How does Tesla's direct sales model contribute to its market position in the electric vehicle industry?

The investigation could analyze Tesla's unique direct sales model, examining how it influences the company's market positioning and customer relationships.

54. How has Zara's fast-fashion supply chain management contributed to its success in the fashion industry?

An analysis could be conducted of Zara's supply chain practices, focusing on their 'fast fashion' model and how it contributes to their competitive advantage.

55. What role did technological innovation play in Apple's market dominance in the smartphone industry?

The study could investigate Apple's history of technological innovations, exploring how these advancements have contributed to its market dominance in the smartphone industry.

56. How does FedEx's hub-and-spoke distribution model contribute to its operational efficiency in the courier industry?

An investigation could be conducted into FedEx's hub-and-spoke distribution model, examining its role in improving operational efficiency and service delivery.

57. How did Huawei's investment in R&D influence its competitiveness in the telecommunications industry?

This study could evaluate Huawei's investment in research and development, focusing on how this strategy has influenced its competitiveness and innovation.

58. How does Unilever's sustainable living plan impact its brand image and customer loyalty?

An analysis could be made of Unilever's commitment to sustainable practices, examining its effects on the company's brand image and customer loyalty.

59. What impact has the move towards online shopping had on Walmart's business operations and market position?

The study could evaluate Walmart's transition towards e-commerce, analyzing how this move has affected its business operations and market position.

60. How does BMW's differentiation strategy contribute to its market position in the luxury automobile industry?

The investigation could analyze BMW's differentiation strategy, focusing on how it supports the company's market position and pricing strategy in the luxury car market.

Conclusion

We have discussed the intricacies of crafting an effective IB Business Management IA at the Standard Level. Emphasizing the importance of choosing a pertinent business issue, conducting comprehensive research, and applying theoretical concepts, we aim to equip students with the tools needed for a successful IA. The addition of IB tutoring can further enhance this process, providing personalized support to ensure that your IA is not only thorough but also reflects a deep understanding of business concepts.