WASSCE Business Management past questions and answers

Scene A depicts a strike — a collective withdrawal of labour by workers to compel the employer to meet their demands. The workers are voluntarily refusing to enter the workplace and are holding placards stating their grievances. Scene B shows a lockout, which is the opposite — the employer shuts down the workplace to pressure workers. In Ghana, the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) governs industrial disputes. Workers must exhaust negotiation and mediation through the National Labour Commission before embarking on a lawful strike.

Structure Y is a flat structure where the Director directly supervises seven staff members (wide span of control). Structure X is a tall structure with an additional management layer — the Director supervises three managers, each of whom supervises staff (narrower span of control at each level). A wider span of control means more subordinates report directly to one manager.

Handbills and flyers (C) are the most suitable for a local chop bar owner who wants to reach customers in her immediate neighbourhood at low cost. Handbills are cheap to produce, can be distributed directly to nearby residents and businesses, and do not require any technology. Television (A) is expensive and has a national reach that is unnecessary for a local business. Billboards (B) are also costly. Social media (D) is an option but requires internet access, which not all potential local customers may have.

Point B shows Mr. Mensah concealing his claims history, violating the principle of utmost good faith (uberrimae fidei). This principle requires both parties — the insured and the insurer — to disclose all material facts honestly and completely. If the policyholder conceals, misrepresents, or withholds relevant information (such as previous claims), the insurer has the right to void the contract. In Ghana, the Insurance Act 2021 (Act 1061) enforces this principle across all insurance contracts.

The loans and advances department (Area C) handles the granting of credit facilities such as overdrafts, loans, and trade finance to business owners and individuals. This is one of the most important functions of commercial banks in Ghana. The Bank of Ghana (BoG) regulates all commercial banks. Area A handles deposits and withdrawals, Area B handles account opening and general enquiries, and Area D provides automated self-service banking.

Section C represents Place (Distribution), the third element of the marketing mix (4Ps). Place refers to how and where products are made available to consumers — including channels of distribution (wholesalers, retailers), transportation, warehousing, and location of outlets. The icons of a delivery truck, shop, and warehouse all relate to distribution. The 4Ps were developed by E. Jerome McCarthy: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion.

The Production Manager (B) is at the middle-level management tier. In a hierarchical structure, the Managing Director (A) is top-level management, departmental managers like Production Manager and Finance Manager are middle-level management, supervisors (C) are lower-level management, and workers (D) are operational staff.

The diagram shows flow (mass) production — a continuous process where raw materials enter at one end and finished goods come out at the other, moving along a conveyor belt through sequential workstations (A → B → C → D). Each station performs a specific operation. This is used when producing large quantities of identical or similar products, as seen in companies like Akosombo Textiles Ltd, Coca-Cola Bottling Ghana, or Nestlé Ghana.