This section of the IB Business Management syllabus examines the growth and evolution of businesses. Almost all businesses strive to grow, whether this is measured in terms of sales revenue, profits, number of stores / outlets, number of employees or market share.

Businesses often have to evolve their practises and/or products in order to survive (see Box 1 below). For example, although Samsung is best known for its smartphones and consumer electronic products, the multinational conglomerate is also involved with weapons manufacturing, life insurance and theme park management. Samsung originally started traded as a grocery store.

The single learning outcome (or assessment objective) for this section of the syllabus are:

• The impact of multinational companies (MNCs) on the host countries (AO3)

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Note to teachers

Please note that this topic featured in the previous syllabus (final exams N23) as part of Unit 1.6 Growth and evolution. The learning outcomes were formally:

• Reasons for the growth of multinational companies (MNCs) (AO3), and

• The impact of MNCs on the host countries (AO3)

These have now changed to the single learning outcome in the new guide:

• The impact of MNCs on the host countries (AO3).