0.2 SEAB 9587 Syllabus Reference & Exam Specification
⚠️ Official Notice & Disclaimer: This page is an excerpt and study reference derived from the Singapore–Cambridge General Certificate of Education Advanced Level Higher 2 (2026/2027) Management of Business (Syllabus 9587) document issued by the Ministry of Education (MOE) Singapore and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Please refer to the official Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) website for the definitive, authoritative syllabus.
1. Syllabus Aims
The H2 Management of Business (9587) syllabus seeks to develop in students:
- An understanding of the environment in which businesses operate.
- The role of business in creating value for stakeholders.
- The decision-making process, taking into consideration multiple stakeholder perspectives, business ethics, and external factors (PESTLE).
- The importance of the four business functions (Marketing, Managing People, Operations, and Finance) in supporting value creation.
- Analytical and evaluative tools to analyze internal capabilities and external market dynamics.
- The strategic management framework to gain and sustain long-term competitive advantage.
2. Assessment Objectives (AOs)
- · Knowledge and Understanding (20% Total Weight): Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of concepts, theories, and approaches in business management.
- · Application (25% Total Weight): Apply relevant concepts, theories, and approaches in given business issues and situations.
- · Analysis (30% Total Weight — Highest Weight): Analyse business issues and situations, and draw valid, evidence-backed inferences.
- · Evaluation (25% Total Weight): Synthesise and evaluate quantitative and qualitative information to make well-reasoned judgements and informed decisions to solve business issues.
3. Scheme of Assessment
| Component | Paper Format | Total Marks | Weighting | Duration | Syllabus Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Data Response & Essays • Section A: 2 Compulsory Data Response Questions (25m each = 50m) • Section B: 2 Essay Questions chosen from 3 choices (25m each = 50m) |
100 marks | 50% | 3 hours | Units 1 to 5 only (Unit 6 Strategic Management is NOT examined in Paper 1) |
| Paper 2 | Integrated Case Study • Section A: 5 Compulsory Structured Questions (approx. 8m–14m each = 60m) • Section B: 2 Compulsory Strategic Decision-Making Essays (20m each = 40m) |
100 marks | 50% | 3 hours | All Units (1 to 6) (Section B exclusively tests Unit 6 Strategic Management in context) |
Official Specification Grid
| Assessment Objective | Paper 1 (Marks / %) | Paper 2 (Marks / %) | Total Subject Marks | Total Subject % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knowledge & Understanding | 20m (10%) | 20m (10%) | 40m | 20% |
| Application | 26m (13%) | 24m (12%) | 50m | 25% |
| Analysis & Synthesis | 30m (15%) | 30m (15%) | 60m | 30% |
| Evaluation & Decision-Making | 24m (12%) | 26m (13%) | 50m | 25% |
| Total | 100m (50%) | 100m (50%) | 200m | 100% |
Approved scientific/financial calculators are permitted for both examination papers.
4. Master Content Outline & Navigation Map
Unit 1 — Business and the Environment
- 1.1 Nature and Purpose of Business — Go to Note 1.1
- 1.2 Business Structure — Go to Note 1.2
- 1.3 Growth of Business — Go to Note 1.3
- 1.4 Globalisation — Go to Note 1.4
- 1.5 Decision-Making (Syllabus Core Spine) — Go to Note 1.5
Unit 2 — Managing People
- 2.1 Nature and Purpose of Management — Go to Note 2.1
- 2.2 Organisational Structure — Go to Note 2.2
- 2.3 Human Resource Management & Singapore Tripartism — Go to Note 2.3
- 2.4 Leadership — Go to Note 2.4
- 2.5 Motivation — Go to Note 2.5
- 2.6 Communication — Go to Note 2.6
Unit 3 — Marketing
- 3.1 Nature and Purpose of Marketing — Go to Note 3.1
- 3.2 Market Analysis & Growth Strategies (BCG & Ansoff) — Go to Note 3.2
- 3.3 Market Intelligence — Go to Note 3.3
- 3.4 Market Segmentation, Targeting & Positioning (STP) — Go to Note 3.4
- 3.5 The Marketing Mix (4Ps & Strategic Pricing) — Go to Note 3.5
Unit 4 — Operations Management
- 4.1 Nature and Purpose of Operations Management — Go to Note 4.1
- 4.2 Operations Planning & Control — Go to Note 4.2
- 4.3 Methods of Operations (Job, Batch, Flow & Intensity) — Go to Note 4.3
- 4.4 Productivity & Efficiency — Go to Note 4.4
- 4.5 Capacity Utilisation, Outsourcing & Off-Shoring — Go to Note 4.5
- 4.6 Quality Management & PDCA Cycle — Go to Note 4.6
- 4.7 Inventory Management & JIT — Go to Note 4.7
Unit 5 — Finance
- 5.1 Nature and Purpose of Finance — Go to Note 5.1
- 5.2 Sources of Finance & Capital Markets — Go to Note 5.2
- 5.3 Cost Allocation & Break-Even Analysis — Go to Note 5.3
- 5.4 Financial Statements & Performance Ratio Analysis — Go to Note 5.4
- 5.5 Cash Flow Forecasting & Budgetary Variance — Go to Note 5.5
- 5.6 Investment Appraisal (Payback, ARR, NPV) — Go to Note 5.6
Unit 6 — Strategic Management
- 6.1 Nature and Purpose of Strategic Management — Go to Note 6.1
- 6.2 Strategic Analysis (Governance, Internal & Five Forces) — Go to Note 6.2
- 6.3 Strategic Choice (Business-Level & Corporate-Level) — Go to Note 6.3
- 6.4 Strategic Implementation, Change Management & Evaluation — Go to Note 6.4