JSS1 First Term- Business Studies

WEEK ONE

INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS STUDIES

MEANING OF BUSINESS STUDIES

Some decades ago, the means by which people earned their living was through trade by barter system.

Trade by barter is a means of exchanging good s for goods and services for services. In this system, someone who needs one thing or the other has to look for someone who has what he wants and also needs what he has. But on the invention of money, people in the society started thinking of what to do in order to earn a living. This was the beginning of business in large volume because money started serving as a means of exchange.

Business can be defined as a legal means (i.e good means) of earning a living by people in a society. People in the society earn their living on daily or monthly basis by engaging in one trade or the other. Therefore we can define business studies as the study of the means through which people in a society earn their living by engaging in commercial activities or occupational services.

Some people in the society today engage in trading that is, they buy goods from one place and another and sell the goods at a price higher than the purchase price in order to make profit. The profit made by the trader is his/her daily or monthly earning which he or she will use to satisfy his/her needs.

SCOPE OF BUSINESS STUDIES/ COMPONENT OF BUSINESS STUDIES

Business studies as a subject covers many areas of human endeavor. The study of business studies enables many people in our society today to know much on the following subjects and how these subjects can be applied in their practical lives. The subject covered by the studies of business are mainly:

Business Administration or business management

1. Economics                                                   5. Shorthand

2. Bookkeeping/ accounting                           6. Typewriting

3. Banking and finance                                   7. Computer

4. Office practice                                            8. Marketing   

9. Insurance

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN BUSINESS STUDIES

It is possible with hard work and focus, to choose a career in any of the areas we discussed in the above paragraph. A student can study business administration or economics or accountancy or become a banker. It is also possible for a student to study marketing, insurance or transportation. The choice of career all depends on the interest of the student.

IMPORTANCE OF BUSINESS STUDIES

Since man has advanced beyond a stage of trying to produce everything required by his family, no individual or country can survive without engaging in one form of business or another. The study of business therefore enables the students to understand various business activities that exist and the profit they make. Finally, business studies enables students to develop keen interest in various forms of business which they can take up after leaving school.

EVALUATION

  1. Write a short note on the scope of business studies
  2. What is a business study?

GENERAL EVALUATION / REVISIONAL QUESTIONS

  1. Mention five occupations you know.
  2. What is business?
  3. Mention four subjects covered by business studies.
  4. When can a business person be said to have made a profit?
  5. Why is business important?

READING ASSIGNMENT

Business studies for JSS Revised Edition Book 1 (WABP) by Ehiametalor, Osu-Nwyfoetc Pages 1-3

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

Section A

  1. The legal means by which people earn their living is called A. business  B. services   C. Goods     D. Trade
  2. The exchange of goods for goods and services for services is called    a. trade by barter    b. trade by exchange    c. trade by engage     d. trade by moving
  3. The activities or services engaged in by people in the society in order to earn a living are called   a. commercial occupation    b. commercial services    c. commercial and art    d. art and service
  4. The means through which people in a society earn their living by engaging in commercial activities or occupation is called     a. social studies     b. school studies    c. business studies    d. financial studies
  5. The subject covered by business studies are the following except    a. shorthand   b. commerce    c. book-keeping    d. biology

SECTION B

  1. what is trade by barter?
  2. mention five subjects covered by business studies

WEEK TWO

TOPIC: THE OFFICE

CONTENT

  • Meaning
  • Types 
  • Function

TYPES OF OFFICE

Basically there are two types of office and they are:

  1. Big or large office
  2. Small office

BIG OR LARGE OFFICE: this is a large building partitioned into small offices.

SMALL OFFICE: This could just be a single room with a table, telephone and in some cases, fax machine and a computer.

An office is usually at the centre of every organization, it serves as the life wire of the organization

EVALUATION

1. List and explain the types of office you know

2. Write a short note on an office

FUNCTION OF AN OFFICE

The functions of an office may be different from one office to another, but most functions performed by an office are as follows;

  1. RECEIVINGINFORMATION: An office receives information from within and outside the organization by means of
  2. Correspondence e.g letter, faxes, E-mail, e.t.c.
  3. Telephones calls
  4. Personal contacts
  5. RECORDINGINFORMATION: A piece of information received by an office by means mentioned above is recorded and filed away for use when the needs arises.
  6. ARRANGINGINFORMATION: Information recorded is distributed to various sections and departments that need it.

EVALUATION

1. a  Define an office

b. Explain in one paragraph each:

         i. Big office   ii. Small office

READING ASSIGNMENT

Business studies  for J.SS 2 Revised Edition by O.A Lawale.t.c

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

  1. A place where clerical work is done is called a/an      a. office    b. department    

c. firm      d. organization

  • A single room with a table, telephone, fax machine, computer is called    a. big office    b. small office     c. large office     d. complex office
  • A building that is partitioned into small office is called    a. small office    b. large office      c. partitioned office     d. building
  • The means through which information is received in an office are as follows except    a. letter    b. fax    c. e-mail    d. running
  • The following except _______ are the function of an office    a. receiving information    b. arranging information    c. recording information    d. scattering information

THEORY QUESTION

  1. Mention seven (7) functions of an office
  2. Explain two functions of the above

REVISION / EVALUATION QUESTIONS

  1. What is an office?
  2. Describe clerical works with three examples
  3. Mention the types of office that you know
  4. State three  means of receiving  information in an office
  5. Give an example each for the types of an office that you know.

WEEK FOUR

TOPIC: DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS IN AN ORGANIZATION

INTRODCUTION

The size of an organization depends on various departments in an organization. In a one man business the owner can act as an accountant, receptionist, clerk, manager, personnel manager, e.t.c in this type of organization the departments are few. But in a large organization where division of labour is practiced people with different fields of learning work in their special areas in an organization, we have what is called division of labour and specialization.

TYPES OF DEPARTMENT

In a large organisation there are various departments. Such department includes:-

  1. Administrative department
  2. Personnel department
  3. Accounts department
  4. Sales department
  5. Purchasing department
  6. Production department
  7. Their functions are as follows:-
  1. ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT
  2. Formulation of policies
  3. Arranging reception room for visitors to the organization
  4. Maintaining efficient filly system
  5. Documenting incoming and outgoing letters

PERSONNEL  DEPARTMENT

  • Employing new staff
  • Arranging staff training
  • Looking after staff welfare
  • Keeping staff record
  • Carrying out staff dismissal

EVALUATION

  1. What are the functions of the administrative department?
  2. Write a short note on personnel department.

ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT

  • Preparing and paying staff wages and salary
  • Keeping records of assets and liabilities
  • Paying those who the organization is owing
  • Collecting money from outsiders who owe the organization
  • Making sure that invoices are sent to those who purchased goods from  the organization
  • Offering financial advice to the organization
  • SALES DEPARTMENT
  • Selling and marketing the organization’s products.
  • Advertising the organization’s products
  • Offering after-sales services
  • Following consumers change in taste
  • PURCHASING DEPARTMENT
  • Buying new materials and equipment at reasonable prices
  • Monitoring the available goods in the market
  • Checking invoices submitted by suppliers to ensure they agree with goods supplied.

EVALUATION

  1. Mention four functions of sales department
  2. What is Personnel department?

READING ASSIGNMENT

Business studies for J.S.S1 by O. A Lawal page for 34

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

  1. The department that is responsible for staff welfare is……..a. personnel b. account c. Sales

2. The department that is responsible for advertising the organization’s products is ………….(a) purchasing (b)administrative (c)sales

3. The department which is in charge of staff dismissal is………………  (a) personnel (b) production (c) purchasing

4. The department which is responsible for keeping records of organization assets and liabilities is (a) accounts (b) sales (c) purchases

5. Department that formulates the organization polices is a. Productions b. Marketing c. Administrative

THEORY

  1. Mention four different departments in an organization
  2. Mention three functions of the personnel department

REVISION/EVALUATION QUESTIONS

  1. Give another name for a large organization.
  2. Give two examples of a large organization that exist in Nigeria
  3. List four different departments that can be found in such organization.
  4. Mention three functions of personnel department
  5. Why do you have different departments in most large organizations?

WEEK FIVE

TOPIC: INTRODUCTION TO OFFICE EQUIPMENT

CONTENT

  • Meaning
  • Various types of office equipment

MEANING

Office equipment are tools and assets used by a firm or an organization. The organisations use them for the following:-

  1. To receive information
  2. To disseminate information
  3. For saving valuable items, etc.

VARIOUS TYPES OF OFFICE EQUIPMENT

The various types of office equipment in use in an office are :-

  1. OFFICE CABINET: This is a place when documents, surplus cash, and valuable items are kept

ADVANTAGES OF OFFICE CABINET

  1. It prevents document, cash and valuable items from being stolen
  2. It prevents the above items from fire explosion
  • TYPE WRITTER: This is a machine which prints letters on paper by means of keys

ADVANTAGES

  1. It makes the secretary work faster
  2. It presents the typed work neatly
  3. It is faster than using pen to write
  • TELEPHONE: This is a machine through which information relating to an organization in question is received and given. Telephone could be digital or analogue

ADVANTAGES

  1. It helps to give out information
  2. It helps to receive information

EVALUATION

  1. What are the advantages of office cabinet?
    1. What is a telephone?
  • COMPUTER: this is an electronic machine or device which accepts data in the form of input, processes it, and gives out information in the form of output. Kinds of computer are-:
  • personal or micro computer
  • mini computer
  • mainframe

ADVANTAGES

  1. it is faster
  2. it gives accurate information
  3. Information is easily accessed through the use of computer
  • CALCULATOR: this is also called adding machine. This is an electronic, machine which performs arithmetic work of division, multiplication , and subtraction, etc.

ADVANTAGES

  1. it performs arithmetic work at faster rate
  2. it gives accurate information based on input
  • FAX MACHINE: This type of machine is used by large organization, and it is used to send and receive short information for the organization

ADVANTAGES

  1. what is office equipment?
  2. it is faster than computer

other equipment are telex, telegram photocopy machine, etc.

EVALUATION

  1. what is office equipment?
  2. state seven office equipment you know

READING ASSIGNMENT

Business Studies for Junior Secondary School Book Revised Edition Book two page 3-7

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

  1. The place where cash and valuable document are kept is called——a. office file b. office shelve c. office cabinet

2. A machine which accepts data, processes it and gives information is called a. photocopy   b. calculator    c. computer

3. A machine which prints letter on paper by means of keys isa. typewriter  b. computer  c. fax machine

4. A machine used for sending and receiving short information is called   a. fax machine     b. text machine     c. photocopy machine

5. These are the office equipment except   a. telephone     b. typewriter   c. file

THEORY

  1. Define the following   a. computer   b. typewriter
  2. Mention five office equipment you know

REVISION/EVALUATION QUESTIONS

  1. Define office equipment
  2. List seven office equipment that you know
  3. Give one functions of each of the office equipment you listed above.
  4. State the advantages of using the typewriter.
  5. Give the reason for the use of office equipment in the office.

WEEK SIX

TOPIC: CLERICAL STAFF

CONTENT

  • Definition
    • Examples of clerical staff
    • Job qualities of a clerical staff

DEFINITIONS

A clerical staff is someone who keeps record of account or sales in an office .Generally , a clerical staff is assigned to do written work.

Examples of a clerical staff are

  1. Accounts clerk
    1. Sales clerk, etc

QUALITIES OF A CLERICAL STAFF

  1. Must possess a sound minimum education of West African Senior School Certificate or its equivalent
  2. Must have the ability to speak official language fluently
  3. Must be endowed with good health
  4. Must be willing to improve on his education
  5. Must have the ability to respond to enquiries with alertness of mind, precision and interest.
  6. Must have an ambition to take to a profession.
  7. Must like clerical duties such as recording and filling.
  8. Must be cheerful and courteous when attending to callers
  9. Must possess the ability to take correct decisions without being directed.
  10. Must be neat and smartly dressed always.

EVALUATION

  1. Who is clerical staff?
  2. Give two example of clerical staff

READING ASSIGNMENT

Business Studies for Junior Secondary School Book One revised edition by O.A Lawal, J.E Yaro, F.O.C. Ezeah Page 3 – 4

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

  1. Someone who is employed to keep record of account in an office is called (a) clerical staff (b) account officer (c) sales officer
  2. The minimum qualification for the post of a clerk in an office is called (a) SSCE (b) OND (c) ATS
  3. A good clerical staff must possess the following quality except (a) must be neat (b) must be willing to improve on his education (c) must be arrogant
  4. The basic functions of an office are the following except (a) receiving information (b) giving information (c) scattering information
  5. Trade by barter means (a) exchanging goods for goods and services (b) buying goods and services (c) selling goods and services

THEORY

  1. What is meant by clerical staff?
  2. Mention five qualities of a good clerical staff

REVISION EVALUATION QUESTION

  1. What is trade by barter?
  2. State two advantages of money over trade by barter
  3. Mention four subjects covered by business studies
  4. State one benefit of studying business studies
  5. What is an office?

WEEK SEVEN

TOPIC: OCCUPATION

CONTENT

  • Meaning of Occupation
  • Classification of Occupation

NOTE

Occupation refers to various activities that are legal, ( that is not against the law ) which people engage in,  in order to earn their daily living. It can also be defined as the activities in which people engage themselves in, in order to earn a living.

CLASSIFICATION OF OCCUPATION

Occupations are divided or classified into the following groups:-

  1. Extractive occupation: this occupation involves people whose activities are directed to the process of bringing natural resources from the sea and soil. Examples of those in this occupation are farmers, fishermen, hunters, etc. they produce raw materials.
  2. Manufacturing occupation: those involved in this are engaged in changing the form of the raw materials extracted by workers in extractive occupation. Examples of workers in this occupation are cloth weavers, motor manufacturers, etc.
  3. Constructive Occupation: workers involved in this occupation engage in assembling different components extracted and manufactured by both the extractive and manufacturing occupation workers. Examples are road construction, bridge construction

EVALUATION

  1. Write a short note on extractive and manufacturing occupation
  2. Give 4 examples of constructive occupation
  • Commercial Occupation: this involves the activities of those who work in different groups  as a team in order to make production of goods and services possible. They also work to make goods and services available to those who need them. Examples of commercial occupation are banking, transportation, warehousing etc.
  • Direct Services Occupation: these include those whose daily activities involve giving satisfaction, amusement, enjoyment and rendering of personal services to others. Examples of those in this occupation are actors, dancers, doctors, barbers, etc.
  • Indirect Services Occupation: these involve those who earn their living by rendering one type of service or another to members of the public. Examples are police, soldier, etc.

EVALUATION QUESTION

  1. What is an occupation?
  2. List five types of occupation.

READING ASSIGNMENT

Business Studies for J.s.s 1 by O.A. Lawal etc. page 7 – 8

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

  1. Examples of commercial occupation are except (a) banking (b) insurance

(c) warehousing (d) farming

  • Which of the following statements is not true of extractive occupation?  [a] It involves production of raw materials     [b] It is also called primary production     [c]Examples are farming, hunting, fishing      [d] A banker is in an extractive occupation
  • The following are branches of occupation except [a]mining [b]hunting [c]dancing [d]banking
  • A singer is in [a] extractive occupation [b] manufacturing occupation [c] constructive occupation [d]direct service occupation
  • Which of the following is not in the group (a)transportation (b)banking

(c)warehousing (d)fishing

THEORY

  1. List 6 classes of occupation
  2. Explain one of the following branches of occupation listed in question one 

REVISION / EVALUATION QUESTION

  1. Who is a clerical staff?
  2. Give two examples of the clerical staff.
  3. Mention the duty of clerical staff.
  4. Where does a clerical staff work?
  5. Mention five qualities of clerical staff

WEEK EIGHT

TOPIC: TRADE

CONTENT

  • Meaning of Trade
  • Home Trade
  • Foreign Trade
  • Entre-pot Trade

NOTE

Meaning of Trade: trade is the buying and selling of goods and services. It can also be defined as the activities which cover exchange, buying and selling of goods and services

Branches of Trade

Trade has three main branches which are as follows

  1. Home Trade: this is the act of exchanging, buying and selling of goods and services within a country. For an example: Mr. Ade in Lagos buys goods from Mr. Aminu in Kano . This is home trade because both the buyer {Mr. Ade} and the seller {Mr. Aminu} are Nigerians and they reside in Nigeria. In home trade only one currency e.g (naira in Nigeria) is in use. Home  trade is divided in two wholesale and retail trade
  2. Wholesale Trade: involves buying in large quantities from the manufacturers and selling to the retailers. Those involved in wholesale trade are called wholesalers
  3. Retail Trade: this involves buying in small quantities  from the wholesaler and selling in units to the final consumer. Those involved in retail trade are called retailers

EVALUATION

  1. List the functions of wholesalers and retailers in the chain of distribution.
  2. What is home trade?

B.        FOREIGN TRADE: this is the exchange, buying and selling of goods and services between two countries. For example between Nigeria and Ghana. Foreign trade is also a trade between a citizen of one country and the citizen of another country. For example between Ade in Lagos, Nigeria and Kofi in Accra, Ghana. Buying in foreign trade requires the use of foreign currency.

C.        ENTER-POT TRADE: this is buying from one foreign country to sell to another foreign country. Eg. Mr. Ade in Nigeria buys from Kofi in Ghana in order to sell to Mr. Johnson in London.

EVALUATION

  1. Define trade
    1. List and explain the three main branches of trade

READING ASSIGNMENT

Business Studies for J.S.S 1 by O.A Lawal and other pages 14-15

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

  1. Foreign trade requires the use of    a. bids    c. cowry shells    c. foreign currency    d. naira and kobo
  2. The main branches of trade are the following except    a. home trade    b. enter-pot trade   c. foreign trade    d. general trade
  3. Wholesale trade is a branch of    a. home trade    b. foreign trade    c. none of the above    
  4. A trade between Obi in Nigeria and Ojo in Nigeria is known as    a. foreign trade   b. home trade    c. friendly trade    d. Nigeria trade
  5. A trade between Nigeria and Togo is known as    a. neighbor trade    b. home trade    c. Africans trade    d. foreign trade

THEORY

  1. List the three main branches of trade
  2. What is retail trade?

REVISION /EVALUATION QUESTIONS

  1. Define occupation
  2. Give another name for occupation
  3. What is your father’s occupation?
  4. Why does your father engaged in an occupation?
  5. Among the classes of occupation, where does your father’s occupation fall?

WEEK NINE

TOPIC: AID TO TRADE

CONTENT

  • Meaning of Aids to Trade
  • Listing of Aids to Trade
  • Functions of Aids to Trade

MEANING OF AIDS TO TRADE

By the expression “Aids to Trade” we mean those things or agents that make trade to grow . The aids to trade make trade easy and for this reason they are called aids to trade or factors of trade or auxiliary to trade.

THE AIDS TO TRADE

These aids to trade are:

  1. Insurance
  2.  Banking
  3. Transportation
  4. Warehousing
  5. Advertising
  6. Communication and
  7. Tourism

FUNCTION OF AIDS TO TRADE

The functions of above aids to trade are as follows:

  1. Insurance: insurance covers risks. It is an aid to trade because it encourages business men to take risky business ventures.
  2. Banking: the two main functions of a bank is to save money and lend money. This money accepted and saved for costumers are lent to businesses as capital. In this way the bank is an aid to trade .
  3. Transportation: transport helps trade by moving goods from one place to another. For example it moves goods from where they are surplus to where they are scares.

EVALUATION

  1. What is the importance of transportation in business?
  2. How can insurance serve as an aid to trade?
  • Warehousing: this is concerned with storing goods in safe condition until they are demanded. Therefore, warehousing prevents scarcity of goods.
  • Advertising: this is the activity that is concerned with informing members of the society that a particular good or service exists, its quality and function. Advertising is an aid to trade because it creates an awareness and demand for goods and services.
  • Communication: this is a form of interaction (i.e. discussion), letter, telephone etc between buyers and sellers with the intention to sell or buy. An example is a letter of  enquiry about the goods available in the warehouse
  • Tourism: this covers all the activities which make someone on tour to be comfortable examples of activities under tourism are good hotel accommodation, tourists centers etc. tourism assists trade because tourists from foreign countries bring foreign currency into the economy

EVALUATION 

  1. What do you understand by “aids to trade”?
  2. List the aids to trade you know

READING ASSIGNMENT

Business Studies for J.S.S1 by O.A. Lawal and other pages 15-16

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

  1. The following are aid to trade except (a) advertising (b) insurance (c) banking

(d) manufacturing

  • Aids to trade can also be called (a) auxiliary to trade (b) friends of trade (c) foreign trade (d) home trade
  • Banking is an aid to trade because (a) it keeps a lot of money (b) bank managers are in commercial occupation (c) many banks works on Saturday (d) it can save and lend money to various traders
  • Warehouse is useful to trade because (a) it is a means of keeping goods until they are demanded (b) it causes scarcity of goods (c) it can lead to inflation (d) it moves goods from one place to another
  • Insurance is useful to trade because (a) it links buyers and sellers together (b) it moves goods from point of production to where they are demanded (c) it prevents scarcity (d) it encourages businessmen to undertake risky business

THEORY

  1. List the seven aids to trade.
  2. Explain two of the aids listed in question one above

REVISION/EVALUATION QUESTIONS

  1. What is trade?
  2. Who is a trader?
  3. Draw the division of trade
  4. What is home trade?
  5. Mention traders who are involved in home trade

WEEK TEN

TOPIC: DIRECT AND INDIRECT SERVICES.

CONTENT

  • Direct Services- Meaning and Examples
  • Indirect Services-Meaning and Examples

DIRECT SERVICES

Direct services are simply those services that are rendered to directly on person- to-person basis and the payment for them is made by us directly to the service providers. Examples of direct service occupations are barbing, services of a private doctor, a private teacher, a personal lawyer, a steward etc

INDIRECT SERVICES

Indirect services are the services enjoyed by us, but the payment for which is not made directly by us. The services that fall under this heading include:-

  1. The doctor in government hospitals.
  2. The policemen
  3. The soldiers
  4. The teacher in government colleges

From the above explanation, we can now see that payment for indirect services is made on our behalf by the government

EVALUATION

  1. Classify the services rendered by the street cleaner, the security guard in government schools and government hospital
  2. What are indirect services?

DIRECT SERVICE OCCUPATION

These include those whose daily activities involve giving satisfaction, amusement, enjoyment and rendering of personal service to others. Example of those in this occupation are actor, dancer, doctor, etc

INDIRECT SERVICE OCCUPATION

These involve those who earn their living by rendering one type of service or another to members of the public. Example are police, soldier, etc. 

READING ASSIGNMENT

Read essential commerce page 15

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

  1. The soldier renders _______ services.

      a)direct     b)indirect     c)general     d)special

  • A street cleaner renders ________ services

     a)direct    b)indirect      c)special     d)all of the above

  • A barber renders ________ services

a)indirect b)special c)general d) direct

  • A personal doctor renders ________ services

a)personal b) direct c) indirect d) important

  • A business studies teacher in government school renders _________ services.

a) direct b) good c) indirect d) special

THEORY

  1. Explain with example the term “indirect service”
  2. Differentiate with example direct and indirect services.

REVISION/EVALUATION QUESTIONS

  1. Mention the traders who are involved in foreign trade .
  2. What is business?
  3. What are aids to trade?
  4. Mention the aids to trade
  5. Explain insurance as an aid to trade

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