7.3.1
Non-Financial Data
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Non-Financial Information
As well as using financial information to assess the performance of a business, a business can also use non-financial information to assess its strengths and weaknesses.
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Where data comes from
- Non-financial information can be collected from the operations function.
- Non-financial information can be collected from the marketing function.
- Non-financial information can be collected from the human resources function.

Non-financial information from the operations function
- Labour productivity can be used to provide information on a business’ strengths and weaknesses.
- Capacity and capacity utilisation can be used to provide information on a business’ strengths and weaknesses.
- Quality measures can be used to provide information on a business’ strengths and weaknesses.

Non-financial information from the marketing function
- Sales forecasts can be used to provide information on a business’ strengths and weaknesses.
- Brand loyalty and satisfaction data can be used to provide information on a business’ strengths and weaknesses.
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Comparisons from data
- Data from different departments, teams or divisions may be compared to indicate performance.
- Data from different years may be compared to indicate performance.
- Data from the business may be compared to competitor data, if available, to indicate performance.
- Data from the business may be compared to the industry to indicate performance.

Alternative sources of information
- Absenteeism rates can be used to provide information on a business’ strengths and weaknesses.
- Labour costs per unit of production can be used to provide information on a business’ strengths and weaknesses.
- Labour turnover can be used to provide information on a business’ strengths and weaknesses.
- Employee costs can be used to provide information on a business’ strengths and weaknesses.

Non-Financial Information
- Using non-financial information to assess performance may not provide a full overview of business performance.
- Non-financial information may need to be combined with financial information in order to get an overview of the business’ performance.
- Using financial and non-financial information to assess business performance may not take into account additional factors such as the business’ impact on the environment, or its employee’s wellbeing.
1What is Business?
1.1Nature & Purpose of Business
1.2Different Business Forms
1.3Businesses Operate Within an External Environment
2Managers, Leadership & Decision Making
2.1Management, Leadership & Decision Making
2.2Management Decision Making
2.3Role & Importance of Stakeholders
3Marketing Management
3.1Setting Marketing Objectives
3.2Understanding Markets & Customers
3.3Segmentation, Targeting, Positioning
3.4Using the Marketing Mix
3.4.1Marketing Mix3.4.2Pricing Decisions & Price Skimming3.4.3Pricing Decisions & Price Penetration3.4.4Promotional Decisions3.4.5Promotional Decisions 23.4.6Promotional Decisions 33.4.7Distribution Decisions3.4.8Distribution Decisions 23.4.9Social Media & Influencers3.4.10Digital Marketing3.4.11Evaluating Digital Marketing3.4.12A-A* (AO3/4) - The Marketing Mix & Promotion3.4.13A-A* (AO3/4) - Pricing & Competition
4Operational Management
4.1Setting Operational Objectives
4.2Analysing Operational Performance
4.3Increasing Efficiency & Productivity
4.4Improving Quality
4.5Managing Inventory & Supply Chains
4.6Business & The External Environment
5Financial Management
5.1Setting Financial Objectives
5.2Analysing Financial Performance
5.3Sources of Finance
5.4Improving Cash Flow & Profits
6Human Resource Management
6.1Setting Human Resource Objectives
6.2Analysing Human Resource Performance
6.3Improving Org Design & Human Resource Flow
6.4Improving Motivation & Engagement
6.5Improving Employer-Employee Relations
7Strategic Position of a Business (A Level Only)
7.1Mission, Objectives, Strategy
7.2Financial Ratio Analysis
7.3Assessing Overall Performance
7.4Assessing Political & Legal Change
7.5Assessing Economic Change
7.6Assessing Social & Technological Change
7.7The Competitive Environment
7.8Investment Appraisal
8Choosing Strategic Direction (A Level Only)
8.1Markets to Compete & Products to Offer
8.2How to Compete
9Pursuing Strategies (A Level Only)
9.1Assessing a Change in Scale
9.2Assessing Innovation
9.3Globalisation & Internationalisation
9.4Greater Use of Digital Technology
10Managing Strategic Change
10.1Managing Change
10.2Managing Organisational Culture
10.3Managing Strategic Implementation
10.4Problems with Strategy & Why They Fail
Jump to other topics
1What is Business?
1.1Nature & Purpose of Business
1.2Different Business Forms
1.3Businesses Operate Within an External Environment
2Managers, Leadership & Decision Making
2.1Management, Leadership & Decision Making
2.2Management Decision Making
2.3Role & Importance of Stakeholders
3Marketing Management
3.1Setting Marketing Objectives
3.2Understanding Markets & Customers
3.3Segmentation, Targeting, Positioning
3.4Using the Marketing Mix
3.4.1Marketing Mix3.4.2Pricing Decisions & Price Skimming3.4.3Pricing Decisions & Price Penetration3.4.4Promotional Decisions3.4.5Promotional Decisions 23.4.6Promotional Decisions 33.4.7Distribution Decisions3.4.8Distribution Decisions 23.4.9Social Media & Influencers3.4.10Digital Marketing3.4.11Evaluating Digital Marketing3.4.12A-A* (AO3/4) - The Marketing Mix & Promotion3.4.13A-A* (AO3/4) - Pricing & Competition
4Operational Management
4.1Setting Operational Objectives
4.2Analysing Operational Performance
4.3Increasing Efficiency & Productivity
4.4Improving Quality
4.5Managing Inventory & Supply Chains
4.6Business & The External Environment
5Financial Management
5.1Setting Financial Objectives
5.2Analysing Financial Performance
5.3Sources of Finance
5.4Improving Cash Flow & Profits
6Human Resource Management
6.1Setting Human Resource Objectives
6.2Analysing Human Resource Performance
6.3Improving Org Design & Human Resource Flow
6.4Improving Motivation & Engagement
6.5Improving Employer-Employee Relations
7Strategic Position of a Business (A Level Only)
7.1Mission, Objectives, Strategy
7.2Financial Ratio Analysis
7.3Assessing Overall Performance
7.4Assessing Political & Legal Change
7.5Assessing Economic Change
7.6Assessing Social & Technological Change
7.7The Competitive Environment
7.8Investment Appraisal
8Choosing Strategic Direction (A Level Only)
8.1Markets to Compete & Products to Offer
8.2How to Compete
9Pursuing Strategies (A Level Only)
9.1Assessing a Change in Scale
9.2Assessing Innovation
9.3Globalisation & Internationalisation
9.4Greater Use of Digital Technology
10Managing Strategic Change
10.1Managing Change
10.2Managing Organisational Culture
10.3Managing Strategic Implementation
10.4Problems with Strategy & Why They Fail
Practice questions on Non-Financial Data
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