IB DP Business Management
CASE STUDY PACK – MAY 2024
Paul Hoang
Before One PLC (BON)
Peacewick University
, IB Business Management – Paper 1 Case Study Pack
Case Study: Before One PLC (BON)
Introduction
For May 2024 examinations
How to use the new Paper 1 Case Study Pack, May 2024
This comprehensive Case Study Pack (CSP) has been produced to help students
in their preparations for the May 2024 Paper 1 examination (Before One PLC).
The new format of the Paper 1 CSP contains the following:
1. Glossary of key terms from the pre-release statement.
See pages 3 – 9
2. Additional glossary of key terms relevant to the case study and the music festivals industry.
See pages 10 – 32
3. Two different complete case studies (for reference and exam practice only).
See pages 33 – 35 and pages 47 – 49
4. Two separate Paper 1 mock exams, using the new assessment format.
See pages 36 and 50
5. Full mark schemes for both mock exams.
See pages 37 – 46 and pages 51 – 61
6. Comprehensive PowerPoint presentation that includes:
o Lesson activities that engage students.
o Assessment advice.
o Embedded videos (to provide additional context to the case study).
o Exam-practice questions.
o Accompanying teachers’ notes.
With best wishes for the upcoming exams in May 2024!
Paul Hoang
22nd February 2024
© Level7 Education Page 2
, IB Business Management – Paper 1 Case Study Pack
Case Study: Before One PLC (BON)
Key Terms
For May 2024 examinations
Key terms appear in alphabetical order for ease of reference. Line numbers in the pre-release
statement are shown in brackets.
Average cost (lines 9-10)
This refers to the cost per unit of production. The average cost is derived from dividing the total cost
of output by the number of units of produced. As a business grows, the average cost will tend to fall
due to economies of scale.
Challenge (line 11)
A challenge refers to any internal or external factor that hinders the operations and profitability of an
organization. For example, internal challenges facing BON include environmental sustainability
practices (line 10). Examples of external challenges include competition from other organizers of
music festivals, technological breakdowns during music concerts and festivals, changes in
government regulations (such as eco-friendly guidelines), and adverse weather conditions.
Company (line 4)
A company is a business owned by shareholders who have limited liability. Companies, like BON,
are incorporated organizations, i.e., they are legally separate entities from their owners. This means
there is a divorce of ownership (the shareholders) and control (the directors) in the company.
Contracts (line 8)
Contracts are legally binding agreements between two parties, such as an employer and employee.
The legal agreement sets out specific terms and conditions established for work-related matters.
Contract exist between BON and its employees (temporary and permanent), the five farmers (to use
their farmland for the music festivals), and freelancers.
Cost (line 10)
Costs are items of expenditure by a business when producing goods and/or services. Examples for
BON include the costs of salaries for the events managers and administrative staff, rent paid to the
farmers, advertising expenses, and corporate taxes.
Directors (line 10)
Directors are senior executives in an organization who hold autonomous decision-making
responsibility and power. They are appointed to manage and oversee the operations of a company.
© Level7 Education Page 3
, IB Business Management – Paper 1 Case Study Pack
Case Study: Before One PLC (BON)
Key Terms
For May 2024 examinations
Employees (line 6)
A type of internal stakeholder, employees are the people who work for a business. They are
employed to carry out specific tasks or roles. They can have significant influence on the organization,
such as their level of loyalty, motivation, and productivity. BON hires both permanent and temporary
employees (line 6).
Environmental sustainability (line 11)
This is one of the three pillars in John Elkington’s triple bottom line (TBL), along with social and
economic sustainability. Environmental sustainability (or ecological sustainability) is the ability of a
business to maintain the use of its renewable and non-renewable resources for future generations.
This means production does not jeopardize the resources for successive generations. Depletion of
the earth’s scarce resources is not sustainable as they cannot be used indefinitely.
Expansion (line 6)
This refers to the growth of a business due to an increase in the size of the organization itself and/or
growth in the market. Expansion is usually measured by an increase in metrics such as sales
revenue, market share, or profits. The music festival industry has expanded substantially, especially
after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fee (line 9)
These are payments made to a professional body in exchange for advice or services. Essentially,
this refers to the price a customer pays for receiving advisory services.
Finance (line 6)
Finance refers to the money required for business activities, such as funding music concerts and
festivals during the summer months, the day-to-day running of the business throughout the year,
and to fund its expansion. Finance for a business can come from internal sources (such as retained
profit) or external sources (such as share capital and bank loans).
Location (line 1)
This refers to the geographical position of a business, such as the farmland that BON hires to host
its music festivals (lines 8-9). The location decision is a crucial one, and will depend on both
quantitative and qualitative factors. The location of a business or its operations can have profound
implications on the profitability and survival of the organization.
© Level7 Education Page 4
CASE STUDY PACK – MAY 2024
Paul Hoang
Before One PLC (BON)
Peacewick University
, IB Business Management – Paper 1 Case Study Pack
Case Study: Before One PLC (BON)
Introduction
For May 2024 examinations
How to use the new Paper 1 Case Study Pack, May 2024
This comprehensive Case Study Pack (CSP) has been produced to help students
in their preparations for the May 2024 Paper 1 examination (Before One PLC).
The new format of the Paper 1 CSP contains the following:
1. Glossary of key terms from the pre-release statement.
See pages 3 – 9
2. Additional glossary of key terms relevant to the case study and the music festivals industry.
See pages 10 – 32
3. Two different complete case studies (for reference and exam practice only).
See pages 33 – 35 and pages 47 – 49
4. Two separate Paper 1 mock exams, using the new assessment format.
See pages 36 and 50
5. Full mark schemes for both mock exams.
See pages 37 – 46 and pages 51 – 61
6. Comprehensive PowerPoint presentation that includes:
o Lesson activities that engage students.
o Assessment advice.
o Embedded videos (to provide additional context to the case study).
o Exam-practice questions.
o Accompanying teachers’ notes.
With best wishes for the upcoming exams in May 2024!
Paul Hoang
22nd February 2024
© Level7 Education Page 2
, IB Business Management – Paper 1 Case Study Pack
Case Study: Before One PLC (BON)
Key Terms
For May 2024 examinations
Key terms appear in alphabetical order for ease of reference. Line numbers in the pre-release
statement are shown in brackets.
Average cost (lines 9-10)
This refers to the cost per unit of production. The average cost is derived from dividing the total cost
of output by the number of units of produced. As a business grows, the average cost will tend to fall
due to economies of scale.
Challenge (line 11)
A challenge refers to any internal or external factor that hinders the operations and profitability of an
organization. For example, internal challenges facing BON include environmental sustainability
practices (line 10). Examples of external challenges include competition from other organizers of
music festivals, technological breakdowns during music concerts and festivals, changes in
government regulations (such as eco-friendly guidelines), and adverse weather conditions.
Company (line 4)
A company is a business owned by shareholders who have limited liability. Companies, like BON,
are incorporated organizations, i.e., they are legally separate entities from their owners. This means
there is a divorce of ownership (the shareholders) and control (the directors) in the company.
Contracts (line 8)
Contracts are legally binding agreements between two parties, such as an employer and employee.
The legal agreement sets out specific terms and conditions established for work-related matters.
Contract exist between BON and its employees (temporary and permanent), the five farmers (to use
their farmland for the music festivals), and freelancers.
Cost (line 10)
Costs are items of expenditure by a business when producing goods and/or services. Examples for
BON include the costs of salaries for the events managers and administrative staff, rent paid to the
farmers, advertising expenses, and corporate taxes.
Directors (line 10)
Directors are senior executives in an organization who hold autonomous decision-making
responsibility and power. They are appointed to manage and oversee the operations of a company.
© Level7 Education Page 3
, IB Business Management – Paper 1 Case Study Pack
Case Study: Before One PLC (BON)
Key Terms
For May 2024 examinations
Employees (line 6)
A type of internal stakeholder, employees are the people who work for a business. They are
employed to carry out specific tasks or roles. They can have significant influence on the organization,
such as their level of loyalty, motivation, and productivity. BON hires both permanent and temporary
employees (line 6).
Environmental sustainability (line 11)
This is one of the three pillars in John Elkington’s triple bottom line (TBL), along with social and
economic sustainability. Environmental sustainability (or ecological sustainability) is the ability of a
business to maintain the use of its renewable and non-renewable resources for future generations.
This means production does not jeopardize the resources for successive generations. Depletion of
the earth’s scarce resources is not sustainable as they cannot be used indefinitely.
Expansion (line 6)
This refers to the growth of a business due to an increase in the size of the organization itself and/or
growth in the market. Expansion is usually measured by an increase in metrics such as sales
revenue, market share, or profits. The music festival industry has expanded substantially, especially
after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fee (line 9)
These are payments made to a professional body in exchange for advice or services. Essentially,
this refers to the price a customer pays for receiving advisory services.
Finance (line 6)
Finance refers to the money required for business activities, such as funding music concerts and
festivals during the summer months, the day-to-day running of the business throughout the year,
and to fund its expansion. Finance for a business can come from internal sources (such as retained
profit) or external sources (such as share capital and bank loans).
Location (line 1)
This refers to the geographical position of a business, such as the farmland that BON hires to host
its music festivals (lines 8-9). The location decision is a crucial one, and will depend on both
quantitative and qualitative factors. The location of a business or its operations can have profound
implications on the profitability and survival of the organization.
© Level7 Education Page 4
