# Business Studies Grade 12 NSC Supplementary 2015 QP (Eng)

> Grade 12 Business Studies question paper from the NSC Supplementary Exam 2015 (English), 13 pages. Read online or download the free PDF.

- Page: https://www.hlayiso.com/library/business-studies-feb-march-2015-eng/a15d5d2f-02be-48cc-b60e-3d943e640065
- Updated: 2026-09-27
- Subject: Business Studies
- Grade: Grade 12
- Document type: Question paper
- Year: 2015
- Exam period: NSC Supplementary Exam
- Curriculum: CAPS
- Pages: 13

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## About this document

Business Studies · Grade 12 · NSC Supplementary Exam · 2015. Question paper, 13 pages. Read online or download the PDF.

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                                    GRAAD 12

                                  NATIONAL
                             SENIOR CERTIFICATE

                                    GRADE 12

                                BUSINESS STUDIES

                             FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015

MARKS: 300

TIME: 3 hours

                       This question paper consists of 13 pages.

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Business Studies                             2                          DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2015
                                            NSC

INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION

Read the following instructions carefully before answering the questions.

1.       This question paper consists of THREE sections and covers all main topics.

         SECTION A:      COMPULSORY
         SECTION B:      Consists of FIVE questions.
                         Answer any THREE of the five questions in this section.
         SECTION C:      Consists of FOUR questions.
                         Answer any TWO of the four questions in this section.

2.       Read the instructions for each question carefully and take particular note of
         what is required.

3.       Number the answers correctly according to the numbering system used in this
         question paper. No marks will be awarded for answers that are numbered
         incorrectly.

4.       Except where other instructions are given, answers must be in full sentences.

5.       Use the mark allocation and nature of each question to determine the length
         and depth of an answer.

6.       Use the table below as a guide for mark and time allocation when answering
         each question.

                   SECTION                 QUESTION         MARKS              TIME
          A:   Objective type
               questions                        1              40            30 minutes
               COMPULSORY

          B: FIVE direct/indirect               2              60            30 minutes
             type questions                     3              60            30 minutes
             CHOICE (Answer any                 4              60            30 minutes
             THREE.)                            5              60            30 minutes
                                                6              60            30 minutes

          C: FOUR essay-type                   7               40            30 minutes
             questions                         8               40            30 minutes
             CHOICE (Answer any                9               40            30 minutes
             TWO.)                             10              40            30 minutes

          TOTAL                                               300           180 minutes

7.        Begin the answer to EACH question on a NEW page, for example
          QUESTION 1 – new page, QUESTION 2 – new page, et cetera.

8.        You may use a non-programmable calculator.

9.        Write neatly and legibly.

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Business Studies                               3                            DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2015
                                              NSC

SECTION A (COMPULSORY)

QUESTION 1

1.1       Various options are provided as possible answers to the following questions.
          Choose the answer and write only the letter (A–D) next to the question
          number (1.1.1–1.1.10) in the ANSWER BOOK, for example 1.1.11 B.

          1.1.1       According to this theory of leadership employees are encouraged
                      to work hard because they will receive rewards:

                      A   Situational
                      B   Charismatic
                      C   Transactional
                      D   Democratic

          1.1.2       The success of a business is mainly informed by …

                      A   profitability.
                      B   social projects.
                      C   BBBEE scores.
                      D   insolvency.

          1.1.3       This Act makes provision for the functioning of the Commission for
                      Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA):

                      A   Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act, 2003 (Act 53
                          of 2003)
                      B   Employment Equity Act, 1998 (Act 55 of 1998)
                      C   Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act 66 of 1995)
                      D   National Credit Act, 2005 (Act 34 of 2005)

          1.1.4       A government agency that develops quality standards for products
                      manufactured in South Africa:

                      A   SABC
                      B   SABS
                      C   SARB
                      D   SAQA

          1.1.5       Employers are legible to pay a skills levy if their total annual salary
                      expenses exceed ...

                      A   R1 million.
                      B   R5 million.
                      C   R250 000.
                      D   R500 000.

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Business Studies                              4                            DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2015
                                             NSC

          1.1.6       Customers complete questionnaires after tasting the new fruit juice
                      of IBI Beverage. This is known as ... feedback.

                      A   implicit
                      B   written
                      C   oral
                      D   verbal

          1.1.7       Which statement is TRUE with regard to creativity?

                      A   Only intelligent people are creative.
                      B   Knowledge does not support creativity.
                      C   Creativity is an inborn talent that can also be acquired through
                          learning.
                      D   Only artistic people are creative.

          1.1.8       A problem-solving technique where a team of experts are given
                      questionnaires to obtain their opinions without bringing them
                      together:

                      A   Force-field
                      B   Brainstorming
                      C   Empty chair
                      D   Delphi

          1.1.9       Which ONE of the following is an advantage of corporate social
                      responsibility for a business?

                      A   Increases financial risks
                      B   Good publicity to improve reputation
                      C   Detailed reports must be drawn up
                      D   Projects must be constantly monitored

          1.1.10      Employees have the right to belong to a trade union. This is known
                      as an employee's right to ...

                      A   freedom of association.
                      B   be treated fairly.
                      C   equal payment.
                      D   dignified treatment.                                     (10 x 2)       (20)

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Business Studies                              5                           DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2015
                                             NSC

1.2       Choose the correct word(s) from those given in brackets. Write only the
          word(s) next to the question number (1.2.1–1.2.5) in the ANSWER BOOK.

          1.2.1      A maximum of (ten/fifty) members can form a close corporation.

          1.2.2      (Gross/Net) pay is an amount received by an employee after
                     deductions.

          1.2.3      The Department of Labour introduced the National (Skills
                     Development Strategy/Growth Strategy) to improve the quality of
                     education and training.

          1.2.4      (Share-/Debenture) holders are creditors of a company.

          1.2.5      The (Belbin/Jungian) theory is based on the idea that people are
                     born with preferences for certain attitudes and functions. (5 x 2)          (10)

1.3       Choose a description from COLUMN B that matches a term in COLUMN A.
          Write only the letter (A–H) next to the question number (1.3.1–1.3.5) in the
          ANSWER BOOK, for example 1.3.6 J.

                     COLUMN A                                 COLUMN B
          1.3.1 Retirement annuity              A    decisions usually made by top-
                                                     level managers
          1.3.2 Excess
                                                B    usually followed by choice
          1.3.3 Managers
                                                C    amount of money paid by the
          1.3.4 Strategic decisions                  insured when the claim is lodged

          1.3.5 Human resource                  D    provides financial security for the
                department                           investor upon reaching
                                                     pensionable age

                                                E    responsible for marketing business
                                                     products/services

                                                F    decisions usually made by middle-
                                                     level managers

                                                G    responsible for recruitment of staff

                                                H    exercises authority to get things
                                                     done in a business due to their
                                                     position
                                                                                    (5 x 2)      (10)

                                                                    TOTAL SECTION A:             40

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Business Studies                               6                             DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2015
                                              NSC

SECTION B

Answer ANY THREE questions in this section.

NOTE: Clearly indicate the QUESTION NUMBER of each question that you choose.
      The answer to EACH question must start on a NEW page, for example
      QUESTION 2 on a NEW page, QUESTION 3 on a NEW page, et cetera.

QUESTION 2: BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

2.1       Identify the PESTLE elements illustrated in each scenario below:

          2.1.1        The South African Reserve Bank decided to keep the repo rate
                       unchanged

          2.1.2        The government introduced the affirmative action policy to address
                       past imbalances

          2.1.3        Governmental incentives given to companies that sponsor nature
                       conservation programmes

          2.1.4        Businesses are promoting online trading to reduce paperwork

          2.1.5        The introduction of the Consumer Protection Act, 2008 (Act 68 of
                       2008) eliminates consumer exploitation by businesses                         (10)

2.2       Complete the table on economic sectors below. Write only the correct word(s)
          next to the question number (2.2.1–2.2.6) in the ANSWER BOOK.

             SECTOR            DESCRIPTION           INDUSTRY             EXAMPLE OF A
                                                                            BUSINESS
               2.2.1         Extract raw materials     Forestry               2.2.2
                   (1)            from nature                                           (2)
            Secondary                 2.2.3              2.2.4             ABC Furniture
                                               (2)                  (1)    Manufacturers
               2.2.5         Rendering a service      Hospitality             2.2.6
                       (1)                                                              (2)         (9)

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Business Studies                              7                           DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2015
                                             NSC

2.3       BB Potato Farm supplies potatoes to local vegetable shops as well as Zimba
          Ltd who manufactures and supplies crispy chips nationwide.

          2.3.1       Explain how BB Potato Farm can apply vertical integration. Using
                      the scenario above, which type of vertical integration could they
                      have applied?                                                              (4)

          2.3.2       Describe how Zimba Ltd can apply vertical integration. Using the
                      scenario above, which type of vertical integration could they have
                      applied?                                                                   (4)

          2.3.3       Distinguish between horizontal integration and horizontal
                      diversification. Give a practical example of each using the scenario
                      above.                                                                     (6)

2.4       The Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997 (Act 75 of 1997) aims to
          improve the working conditions of workers in South Africa. Discuss the
          following regarding this Act:

          2.4.1       THREE types of leave                                                       (9)

          2.4.2       TWO disadvantages of this Act for businesses                               (6)

2.5       Analyse the impact of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and
          Diseases Act (COIDA), 1997 (Act 61 of 1997), as amended, on both
          employers and employees.                                                               (12)
                                                                                                 [60]

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Business Studies                               8                             DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2015
                                              NSC

QUESTION 3: BUSINESS VENTURES

3.1       Read the case study below and answer the questions that follow.

                          HOW MTETO NYATI'S LEADERSHIP TURNED
                           MICROSOFT SA INTO A 'BEST EMPLOYER'
          Mteto Nyati is not only leading Microsoft SA to grow its market share in Africa,
          he is also winning business awards.
          Nyati believes that the only way to achieve high levels of excellence is by
          having high standards of leadership. He also believes that leaders should
          have clear directions and not be afraid of criticism. Leaders must be upfront
          and precise about what they want to achieve.
          Every month Nyati meets with his team with the aim of getting feedback and
          inputs on how the company should be directed. 'I ask two things of everyone:
          what should we continue doing and what should we change to improve.
          Everyone must contribute ideas.' Viable ideas are then implemented.
                                                [Adapted from Succeed Magazine, February 2013]

          3.1.1       Identify THREE qualities of a successful leader from the above
                      case study.                                                                   (3)

          3.1.2       Mteto Nyati is a democratic leader. Support this statement by
                      quoting THREE characteristics from the case study.                            (3)

          3.1.3       Evaluate the democratic leadership style.                                     (8)

3.2       Co-operatives are formed by a group of interested parties to meet their
          economic and social needs through a jointly owned business.

          3.2.1       Name FOUR types of co-operatives.                                             (4)

          3.2.2       Explain any THREE advantages of this form of ownership.                       (9)

3.3       Distinguish between simple and compound interest.                                         (4)

3.4       Annette invested R10 000 three years ago on a fixed deposit and received
          R11 800 at maturity. She is also running a small tuck shop at a local school in
          which she initially invested R10 000 as start-up capital. The tuck shop has
          generated a profit of R3 600 in total over the past three years.

          3.4.1       Calculate the rate of return (%) Annette received on the fixed
                      deposit per year.                                                             (5)

          3.4.2       Calculate the rate of return (%) on Annette's investment in her
                      business per year.                                                            (5)

          3.4.3       The fixed deposit has matured now and she has the option of
                      re-investing it in the bank or using it in her business for expansion.
                      Recommend and motivate the best investment option to Annette.                 (5)

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Business Studies                             9                            DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2015
                                            NSC

3.5       Analyse the following forms of investment available on the Johannesburg
          Securities Exchange Ltd (JSE):

          3.5.1       Preference shares                                                          (8)

          3.5.2       RSA Retail Savings Bond                                                    (6)
                                                                                                 [60]

QUESTION 4: BUSINESS ROLES

4.1       Read the scenario below and answer the questions that follow.

          CC Creative Design is a successful graphic design business that specialises
          in designing creative social media-marketing and advertising campaigns.
          Sam Mamabulo, the owner, believes that an ever-changing work environment
          encourages creative thinking. He recently replaced all the floor tiles in their
          offices in Cape Town with artificial grass. All employees have to walk barefoot
          while working. Office hours are flexible so staff may choose their own working
          hours, as long as they meet their deadlines. Sam said: 'Creative thinking
          explores ideas and ideas are possibilities.'

          4.1.1       Quote a strategy from the scenario above that shows how Sam
                      encourages creative thinking.                                              (1)

          4.1.2       State any FOUR barriers which may prevent Sam Mamabulo from
                      engaging in creative thinking.                                             (8)

4.2       Each scenario below illustrates unprofessional business practices. Suggest
          ONE method how the business could address each scenario:

          4.2.1       Middle-level managers are discussing work-related issues on
                      social media.                                                              (2)

          4.2.2       The secretary of the CEO in a large company is rude when
                      answering the phone.                                                       (2)

          4.2.3       The CEO has a habit of arriving late for board meetings and
                      everyone must wait before they can discuss urgent matters.                 (2)

4.3       Describe what is meant by ethical behaviour.                                           (4)

4.4       Identify FOUR workplace diversity issues unique to South African businesses.
          Suggest ONE strategy to address each issue.                                            (12)

4.5       Recommend any FOUR steps that employers and employees should follow
          when handling grievances in the workplace.                                             (8)

4.6       Discuss THREE principles of professionalism.                                           (9)

4.7       Analyse FOUR benefits that communities may enjoy through corporate social
          investment (CSI) projects.                                                             (12)
                                                                                                 [60]
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Business Studies                               10                         DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2015
                                              NSC

QUESTION 5: BUSINESS OPERATIONS

5.1       Read the scenario below and answer the questions that follow.

          Jeff Tyres (Pty) Ltd advertised a workshop manager's position in a national
          newspaper. The advertisement specified the job requirements and
          specifications and also stated that all shortlisted candidates will be subjected
          to screening tests. Successful candidates will be expected to sign an
          employment contract.

          5.1.1       List THREE items that should be included in a job specification for
                      a workshop manager's position.                                             (3)

          5.1.2       State THREE details included as contents in the employment
                      contract.                                                                  (3)

          5.1.3       Describe the procedure which Jeff Tyres (Pty) Ltd should follow
                      when selecting candidates.                                                 (6)

5.2       Distinguish between piecemeal and time-related remuneration.                           (4)

5.3       Discuss TWO reasons why an employee's contract may be terminated.                      (6)

5.4       Explain the following elements of total quality management (TQM):

          5.4.1       Continuous skills development/Education and training                       (6)

          5.4.2       Total clients/customer satisfaction                                        (6)

          5.4.3       Continuous improvements to systems and processes                           (6)

5.5       Describe how the quality of performance within the following business
          functions is the key to a successful business:

          5.5.1       Marketing                                                                  (6)

          5.5.2       Purchasing                                                                 (6)

5.6       Analyse the impact of total quality management (TQM) on large businesses.              (8)
                                                                                                 [60]

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Business Studies                             11                           DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2015
                                            NSC

QUESTION 6: MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS

6.1       Read the scenario below and answer the questions that follow.

          The e-toll system has recently been introduced on Gauteng roads. The South
          African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL) experiences huge
          problems in collecting outstanding e-toll fees. Motorists refusing to pay and
          fake vehicle registration plates are some of the challenges they are faced
          with. SANRAL must decide how they are going to solve these problems and
          indicate measures that they should implement to prevent it.

          6.1.1       Refer to the scenario above and identify any TWO challenges
                      faced by the South African National Roads Agency.                          (2)

          6.1.2       State the steps that SANRAL should follow to solve the identified
                      problems.                                                                  (10)

6.2       Implemented strategies must be evaluated continuously. List the steps used
          in this evaluation process.                                                            (8)

6.3       Outline the benefits of implementing a good quality control system in a
          business.                                                                              (10)

6.4       Describe the concept protected strike as outlined in the Labour Relations Act,
          1995 (Act 66 of 1995).                                                                 (6)

6.5       Explain the functions of the Johannesburg Securities Exchange Ltd (JSE).               (8)

6.6       Recommend FOUR ways in which a business can promote the well-being of
          its employees.                                                                         (8)

6.7       Evaluate PowerPoint as a presentation method.                                          (8)
                                                                                                 [60]

                                                                  TOTAL SECTION B:               180

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Business Studies                             12                          DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2015
                                            NSC

SECTION C

Answer ANY TWO questions in this section.

NOTE: Clearly indicate the QUESTION NUMBER of each question that you choose.
      The answer to EACH question must start on a NEW page, for example
      QUESTION 7 on a NEW page, QUESTION 8 on a NEW page, et cetera.

QUESTION 7: BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTS

Susan is selling sandwiches from a small shop in a busy office block. Her sandwiches
are very popular as she uses only fresh quality ingredients that are delivered daily. She
wants to expand to other office blocks in the area, which are further away from her
suppliers and closer to other fast food restaurants.

Analyse Susan's idea of expanding her business using the Porter's Five Forces model.
Explain how Susan can apply the THREE intensive strategies to address challenges
she may experience when expanding to other areas.                                               [40]

QUESTION 8: BUSINESS VENTURES

Accidents and disasters are part of life and if businesses are not insured, it could lead
to financial losses.

As an insurance broker, you have been invited by a group of business owners to
advise them on insurance. You must include the following aspects in your presentation:

•     The importance of insurance to a business
•     Differentiation between insurance and assurance
•     Description of any TWO principles of insurance
•     Explanation on the difference between insurable and non-insurable risks. Provide
      TWO practical examples of each.
•     Analysis of the benefits of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and the Road
      Accident Fund (RAF) for businesses                                                        [40]

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Business Studies                            13                          DBE/Feb.–Mar. 2015
                                           NSC

QUESTION 9: BUSINESS ROLES

Chicky Fried Chicken sells takeaway chicken meals. Their largest supplier of fresh
chicken closed down and they must urgently find a new supplier.

Zama, the owner, decided to ask the financial manager, the marketing manager and
the purchasing manager to form a team to solve the problem of finding the most
suitable supplier. This should be done effectively without any conflict.

Write a detailed report to the managers of Chicky Fried Chicken in which you include
the following aspects:

•     An explanation of the stages of team development
•     A discussion on possible causes of conflict within the team
•     A suggestion regarding the procedure that would be applied to overcome conflict
      that teams usually experience
•     Recommendations on the criteria that team members may apply to assess their
      team's success                                                                         [40]

QUESTION 10: BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Ben is the human resources manager of Mangaliso Ltd. He is responsible for recruiting
and interviewing prospective candidates for the post of a bookkeeper. Mangaliso Ltd
has to make appointments within the confines of the Employment Equity Act (EEA),
1998 (Act 55 of 1998).

Assist Ben with the recruitment procedure as referred to in the scenario above.

You must include the following aspects in your answer:

•     Critically evaluating the types of recruitment
•     Explaining the purpose of interviewing and his role as an interviewer
•     Discussing the impact of the EEA on Mangaliso Ltd when making new
      appointments                                                                           [40]

                                                                  TOTAL SECTION C:           80
                                                                     GRAND TOTAL:            300

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