Exchange Rates

Exchange Rate

An exchange rate is the value of one currency in terms of the other. For example, £1 is worth around $1.4. An exchange rate can fluctuate (change) regularly and this can have implications for UK businesses that buy goods or sell goods in other countries.

International sales

Whenever a UK company wants to sell a good in another country, they sell it in another currency.
A Rolls Royce car sold in the United States will be bought by a consumer in the United States in a price quoted in US dollars.
Whenever UK businesses buy goods from foreign firms, the foreign firm’s valuation of pounds depends on what a pound is worth in their currency.

Strong pound

A strong pound means that the pound can buy a lot of another currency.

Weak pound

A weak pound is when the pound cannot buy a lot of the other currency relative to what it could purchase when the pound was stronger.

How the Exchange Rate Impacts Businesses - A Weak Pound

A weak pound is good for UK exporters (a company who sells goods in other countries). Because of the same logic, a weak pound is bad for importers.

Weak pound - good for exporters

When the pound is weak, a UK company can sell a product for less in another country in order to receive the same amount of pounds.
A business sells a tennis ball for £1. If the exchange rate for dollars is $1.5 to £1, a tennis ball would cost $1.5 in the USA.
If the pound was weaker at $1.25. Then a tennis ball would only cost $1.25 in the US. This would make it more attractive to US consumers, who would buy UK tennis balls.
UK businesses become more price competitive relative to US businesses. They should make higher sales and more profit.

Weak pound - bad for importers

When paying for a good in another currency, the business will have to pay more pounds to get the exact same product.
E.g if a UK business was importing raw materials for production then the costs of these raw materials would rise. This would have a negative effect on profit. The UK business would either have to raise their price to cover the increase in costs (which would lead to fewer sales) or it would make less profit.

Benefits of becoming a Multinational (MNC)

A multinational can access more customers, leading to higher sales and profits.
It can access cheaper labour or raw materials in other countries.
Risk is spread, because if one country faces problems, the business can still rely on operations in others.
It can build a strong global brand (e.g. Coca-Cola, Apple).

Becoming a multinational: stakeholders

Impact on stakeholders:
- Shareholders may earn higher profits.
- Employees may benefit from more job opportunities.
- Suppliers in different countries may gain contracts.
- However, workers in the original country may lose jobs if factories are moved abroad.

Benefits to the country

Benefits to the country where the MNC operates:
- MNCs create jobs for local people.
- MNCs invest in buildings, infrastructure, and staff training.
- MNCs may increase exports and strengthen the local economy.
- Consumers benefit from greater choice of products.

Drawbacks to the country

Drawbacks to the country where the MNC operates:
- Local businesses may find it hard to compete with large MNCs.
- Profits may be sent back to the MNC’s home country (repatriation of profits).
- Environmental damage or poor working conditions may occur if not properly regulated.
- MNCs may leave suddenly, causing large job losses.

Example

If TechTex Ltd expands to India:
- It creates new jobs and brings in investment.
- But small Indian textile businesses might lose customers.
- TechTex may also send profits back to the UK rather than reinvesting locally.

1Understanding Business Activity

1.1Business Activity

1.1.1Purpose of Business Activity

1.1.2Customer Needs

1.1.3Why are Businesses Set Up?

1.1.4Specialisation & Division of Labour

1.2Classification of Businesses

1.2.1The 3 Sectors of Economic Activity

1.2.2Public & Private Sector

1.3Enterprise, Business Growth & Size

1.4Types of Business Organisation

1.4.1Sole Traders

1.4.2Partnerships

1.4.3Limited Companies

1.4.4Private Limited Companies

1.4.5Public Limited Companies

1.4.6Unlimited vs Limited Liability

1.4.7Not For Profit

1.4.8Franchising

1.4.9End of Topic Test - Business Ownership

1.4.10Application Questions - Business Ownership

1.4.11Diagnostic Misconceptions - Company vs Business

1.5Business Objectives & Stakeholder Objectives

1.5.1The Main Stakeholders in a Business

1.5.2The Impact & Influence of Stakeholders on Business

1.5.3Diagnostic Misconceptions - Profit

1.5.4Diagnostic Misconceptions - Owners vs Shareholders

2People in Business

2.1Human Resource Management (HRM)

2.1.1Contracts of Employment

2.1.2Recruitment

2.1.3Benefits of an Effective Recruitment Process

2.1.4Reducing the Workforce

2.1.5Legal Controls Over Employment

2.1.6Training

2.1.7End of Topic Test - The Workforce

2.1.8Application Questions - The Workforce

2.1.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - Recruitment

2.2Organisation & Management

2.2.1Internal Organisational Structures

2.2.2Business Functions & Definitions

2.2.3Centralised vs. Decentralised Structures

2.2.4Tall & Flat Organisations

2.2.5The Impact of Organisational Structure on Managing

2.2.6Leadership Styles

2.2.7Trade Unions

2.2.8End of Topic Test - Org Structure

2.3Methods of Communication

2.3.1Communication in Businesses

2.4Motivating Employees

2.4.1Motivation in the Workplace

2.4.2Financial Methods of Motivation

2.4.3Non-Financial Methods of Motivation

2.4.4Diagnostic Misconceptions - Money

3Marketing

3.1Marketing & the Market

3.1.1Customer Needs

3.1.2Identifying and Satisfying Customer Needs

3.1.3The Market

3.1.4The Market-Driven Approach

3.1.5Competition

3.1.6The Impact of High Competition

3.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Competition

3.1.8Market Segmentation

3.1.9Methods of Market Segmentation

3.2Market Research

3.2.1Market Research

3.2.2Qualitative & Quantitative Research

3.2.3Primary Market Research

3.2.4Secondary Market Research

3.2.5Analyse Market Research Data

3.2.6Application Questions - Marketing

3.2.7End of Topic Test - Marketing

3.3Marketing Mix

3.3.1The Product Life Cycle

3.3.2Product Design

3.3.3Product Portfolio & The Boston Matrix

3.3.4Benefits & Risks of New Products

3.3.5Extension Strategies

3.3.6Price

3.3.7Pricing - Skimming & Penetration

3.3.8Competitive and Cost-Plus Pricing

3.3.9Market Mapping - Price vs Quality

3.3.10Place

3.3.11Manufacturer-Wholesalers-Retailers-Customers

3.3.12Manufacturer-Retailers-Customers

3.3.13Direct to Customers

3.3.14Promotional Methods

3.3.15Reasons for Promotion

3.3.16Advertising

3.3.17Advertisement - Product Placement

3.3.18Public Relations

3.3.19Sales Promotion

3.3.20Sponsorship

3.3.21Social Media

3.3.22Promotional Mix

3.3.23E-Commerce and M-Commerce

3.3.24Benefits & Drawbacks of E-Commerce and M-Commerce

3.3.25End of Topic Test - Marketing Mix

3.3.26Grade 9 - Marketing Mix

3.3.27Diagnostic Misconceptions - Decreasing Price

3.3.28Diagnostic Misconceptions - Advertise vs Promote

3.3.29Diagnostic Misconceptions - Social Media

3.3.30Marketing Strategy

3.3.31Entering Foreign Markets

3.4Legal Controls

3.4.1Legal Controls on Marketing

4Operations Management

4.1Production of Goods & Services

4.1.1Production Processes Overview

4.1.2Job Production

4.1.3Flow Production

4.1.4Batch Production

4.1.5Production Efficiency - Lean Production

4.1.6Managing Stock - Just in Time

4.1.7Technology & Production

4.1.8Factors of Production

4.1.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - JIT vs JIC

4.2Cost, Scale of Production & Break-Even Analysis

4.2.1Costs

4.2.2Costs - Calculations

4.2.3Economies of Scale

4.2.4Diseconomies of Scale

4.2.5Break-Even Analysis

4.2.6Profits and Losses - Calculations

4.2.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Fixed Costs

4.2.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Economies of Scale

4.2.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - Break-Even

4.3Achieving Quality Production

4.3.1Importance of Quality

4.3.2Measuring Quality

4.3.3Quality control

4.3.4Total Quality Management

4.3.5Benefits of Maintaining High Product/Service Qual.

4.3.6Costs of Maintaining High Quality/Service

4.3.7End of Topic Test - Operational Decisions

4.4Location Decisions

4.4.1Business Location

4.4.2Nature of Business Activity

5Financial Information & Decisions

6External Influences on Business Activity

6.1Economic Issues

6.1.1Business Cycle

6.1.2Objectives of Government Economic Policy

6.1.3Provision of Public Services

6.1.4Taxation & Constraints on Public Spending

6.1.5The Government & Business Activity

6.1.6Interest Rates

6.1.7Interest Rates - Calculations

6.1.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Recession

6.2Business & the International Economy

6.2.1Multinational Companies

6.2.2Exchange Rates

6.3Business & the Environment

6.3.1Globalisation

6.3.2Environmental Issues

6.3.3Business and Sustainability

6.4Business & Ethical Issues

6.4.1Ethical Considerations for Businesses

6.4.2Benefits of Being Ethical

6.5Pressure Groups

6.5.1Pressure Groups

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