1
BUSINESS STUDIES
GRADE 12
NOVEMBER EXAM
2025
PAPER 1
Previous exam papers were used to compile these notes. @IMPAQ NOV 2021, DBE/November 2022 &
DBE/November 2021, @IMPAQ SEP 2021, NSC SEP 2022, GDE SEP 2021, EC/SEPTEMBER 2023. NSC
DBE/NOV 2023. NSC NOVEMBER: BUSINESS STUDIES P1 | 2024
This document has been compiled to assist Grade 12 learners to prepare purposefully and systematically
for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) Business Studies November 2025 examination.
The content is based on official DBE and SACAI question papers from previous years, including 2021–
2024, and has been compiled to comply with the latest exam paper structure and memorandum
guidelines. Where the same questions appear across different years, the answers have been combined
to give you the most complete and reliable version.
Use these notes as a study guide – not as a substitute for your own work. The aim is to show you how
questions are repeated over time, how key concepts are handled, and how you can consistently score
points by formulating your answers logically, completely, and concisely.
Important: These notes form part of your complete preparation package for Business
Studies. You must study them together with the notes for Term 1 & 2 and the Record Exam
notes. If you do not have those documents, please contact Miss Ansie at
to request them.
This summary covers the two main topics of Paper 1, namely: Business Environments and Business
Operations, with focused coverage of business strategies, quality management, legislation and the
human resource function.
Good luck with your preparation for the final exam.
.
Good luck. Juffrou Ansie
@Juffrou_Ansie
, 2
Contents
Business environment 5
Influences on business environments 5
BUSINESS STRATEGIES 5
Adaptations and challenges of the business environments 6
Business sectors 17
Business operations 18
QUALITY MANAGEMENT 18
Human resource function 22
Section D: Long questions 29
BUSINESS STRATEGIES 30
QUALITY CONTROL 31
LEGISLATION 35
HUMAN RESOURCES FUNCTION 37
Section A: Short questions
Annual General Meeting A meeting of a company attended by all the shareholders that takes
(AGM) place once a year.
Curriculum Vitae (CV) Curriculum Vitae (CV), skills, previous occupations and special
personality traits of an individual used when applying for a job
National Credit Act (NCA) This Act prevents credit from being recklessly granted to consumers.
NVC - National Consumer NVK is the primary regulator of consumer-business interactions in
Commission South Africa and was established to promote and ensure the economic
welfare of consumers.
CPA - The Consumer The CBA obliges both businesses and consumers to act responsibly
Protection Act when carrying out business activities.
Labour Relations Act (LRA) The LRA is an enabling framework that regulates the relationship
between employees and employers and promotes good relations
between trade unions and employer organisations.
Skills Development Act The Skills Development Act (No. 97 of 1998), SDA, was introduced to
(WVO/ WVBS) COIDA develop the skills of people in South Africa.
@Juffrou_Ansie
, 3
Employment Equity Act The WGI creates an enabling framework of acceptable employment
(EEA) practices and was primarily promulgated/introduced to promote
affirmative action.
The Basic Conditions of The BCEA sets out the minimum conditions that ensure fair labour
Employment Act (BCEA) practices and human resource practices in the workplace.
SETAs - Sectoral Education SETAs are vocational skills training organisations in South Africa that
and Training Authorities identify/describe/manage and create learnerships, internships and
(SETAs) apprenticeships within their jurisdiction.
Porter's Five Forces model Porter's Five Forces model based on the rationale that five forces
determine/influence the competitive strength/position of the business
within the market/industry.
Social Responsibility Index Provides for the measurement of CSR/CSI compliance of companies
(SRI) that helps managers improve their CSR/CSI performance. It is an index
used by the JSE to inform investors about the corporate sustainability
policies and practices of businesses.
Corporate Social Corporate Social Investment (CSI) the investment of corporate
Investment (CSI) funds/other assets for the core purpose of achieving social outcomes.
Corporate Social Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) how the business manages their
Responsibility (CSR) processes, including time and effort, to positively impact all
stakeholders of the business
Total Quality Management Total Quality Management (TQM) an integrated
(TQM) system/methodology/process applied throughout the organization,
which helps to design/produce/provide quality products and services
to customers.
WFIS (Financial Intelligence WFIS/FICA South Africa's primary anti-money laundering and counter-
Centre Act)/FICA terrorism financing legislation.
SWOT analysis An industry analysis tool/environmental scanning technique that
enables a business to study the internal (micro) and external (market
and macro) environments of a business.
@Juffrou_Ansie
, 4
Commission for This regulatory body decides on matters related to labour disputes that
Conciliation, Mediation and cannot be resolved by the CCMA.
Arbitration (CCMA)
Strategy An action plan to achieve a specific future goal
Backward vertical Charlie's Cheese Factory took over a dairy farm. This is an example of
backward vertical integration.
Business sectors The different categories of business enterprises based on the type of
business/production activity carried out.
Tertiary sector provide final products and services to customers.
Secondary sector Focuses on the production/processing/conversion/transformation of
natural resources/raw materials into semi-finished/final products.
Primary sector Extract/exploit/collect/harvest natural resources/raw materials from
the earth.
Services An action/performance of intangible activities offered by one party to
another
Degree of control The degree of control the business has over the specific business
environment
Macro environment External uncontrollable factors/forces outside the business.
Market environment Components/elements/factors immediately outside the business.
Microenvironment The business itself, characterized by all the processes/functions/factors
within the business.
@Juffrou_Ansie
BUSINESS STUDIES
GRADE 12
NOVEMBER EXAM
2025
PAPER 1
Previous exam papers were used to compile these notes. @IMPAQ NOV 2021, DBE/November 2022 &
DBE/November 2021, @IMPAQ SEP 2021, NSC SEP 2022, GDE SEP 2021, EC/SEPTEMBER 2023. NSC
DBE/NOV 2023. NSC NOVEMBER: BUSINESS STUDIES P1 | 2024
This document has been compiled to assist Grade 12 learners to prepare purposefully and systematically
for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) Business Studies November 2025 examination.
The content is based on official DBE and SACAI question papers from previous years, including 2021–
2024, and has been compiled to comply with the latest exam paper structure and memorandum
guidelines. Where the same questions appear across different years, the answers have been combined
to give you the most complete and reliable version.
Use these notes as a study guide – not as a substitute for your own work. The aim is to show you how
questions are repeated over time, how key concepts are handled, and how you can consistently score
points by formulating your answers logically, completely, and concisely.
Important: These notes form part of your complete preparation package for Business
Studies. You must study them together with the notes for Term 1 & 2 and the Record Exam
notes. If you do not have those documents, please contact Miss Ansie at
to request them.
This summary covers the two main topics of Paper 1, namely: Business Environments and Business
Operations, with focused coverage of business strategies, quality management, legislation and the
human resource function.
Good luck with your preparation for the final exam.
.
Good luck. Juffrou Ansie
@Juffrou_Ansie
, 2
Contents
Business environment 5
Influences on business environments 5
BUSINESS STRATEGIES 5
Adaptations and challenges of the business environments 6
Business sectors 17
Business operations 18
QUALITY MANAGEMENT 18
Human resource function 22
Section D: Long questions 29
BUSINESS STRATEGIES 30
QUALITY CONTROL 31
LEGISLATION 35
HUMAN RESOURCES FUNCTION 37
Section A: Short questions
Annual General Meeting A meeting of a company attended by all the shareholders that takes
(AGM) place once a year.
Curriculum Vitae (CV) Curriculum Vitae (CV), skills, previous occupations and special
personality traits of an individual used when applying for a job
National Credit Act (NCA) This Act prevents credit from being recklessly granted to consumers.
NVC - National Consumer NVK is the primary regulator of consumer-business interactions in
Commission South Africa and was established to promote and ensure the economic
welfare of consumers.
CPA - The Consumer The CBA obliges both businesses and consumers to act responsibly
Protection Act when carrying out business activities.
Labour Relations Act (LRA) The LRA is an enabling framework that regulates the relationship
between employees and employers and promotes good relations
between trade unions and employer organisations.
Skills Development Act The Skills Development Act (No. 97 of 1998), SDA, was introduced to
(WVO/ WVBS) COIDA develop the skills of people in South Africa.
@Juffrou_Ansie
, 3
Employment Equity Act The WGI creates an enabling framework of acceptable employment
(EEA) practices and was primarily promulgated/introduced to promote
affirmative action.
The Basic Conditions of The BCEA sets out the minimum conditions that ensure fair labour
Employment Act (BCEA) practices and human resource practices in the workplace.
SETAs - Sectoral Education SETAs are vocational skills training organisations in South Africa that
and Training Authorities identify/describe/manage and create learnerships, internships and
(SETAs) apprenticeships within their jurisdiction.
Porter's Five Forces model Porter's Five Forces model based on the rationale that five forces
determine/influence the competitive strength/position of the business
within the market/industry.
Social Responsibility Index Provides for the measurement of CSR/CSI compliance of companies
(SRI) that helps managers improve their CSR/CSI performance. It is an index
used by the JSE to inform investors about the corporate sustainability
policies and practices of businesses.
Corporate Social Corporate Social Investment (CSI) the investment of corporate
Investment (CSI) funds/other assets for the core purpose of achieving social outcomes.
Corporate Social Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) how the business manages their
Responsibility (CSR) processes, including time and effort, to positively impact all
stakeholders of the business
Total Quality Management Total Quality Management (TQM) an integrated
(TQM) system/methodology/process applied throughout the organization,
which helps to design/produce/provide quality products and services
to customers.
WFIS (Financial Intelligence WFIS/FICA South Africa's primary anti-money laundering and counter-
Centre Act)/FICA terrorism financing legislation.
SWOT analysis An industry analysis tool/environmental scanning technique that
enables a business to study the internal (micro) and external (market
and macro) environments of a business.
@Juffrou_Ansie
, 4
Commission for This regulatory body decides on matters related to labour disputes that
Conciliation, Mediation and cannot be resolved by the CCMA.
Arbitration (CCMA)
Strategy An action plan to achieve a specific future goal
Backward vertical Charlie's Cheese Factory took over a dairy farm. This is an example of
backward vertical integration.
Business sectors The different categories of business enterprises based on the type of
business/production activity carried out.
Tertiary sector provide final products and services to customers.
Secondary sector Focuses on the production/processing/conversion/transformation of
natural resources/raw materials into semi-finished/final products.
Primary sector Extract/exploit/collect/harvest natural resources/raw materials from
the earth.
Services An action/performance of intangible activities offered by one party to
another
Degree of control The degree of control the business has over the specific business
environment
Macro environment External uncontrollable factors/forces outside the business.
Market environment Components/elements/factors immediately outside the business.
Microenvironment The business itself, characterized by all the processes/functions/factors
within the business.
@Juffrou_Ansie
