Subjects / Leaving Certificate / Business
Mapped to: Leaving Certificate Business (revised specification, for introduction to schools in September 2025) · official specification (NCCA). Topic names are StudyRoom's own summaries.
Unit 1: People in Business
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Stakeholders and their relationshipsWho the stakeholders in business are and how they co-operate and compete.HLOL 16 q
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Consumer conflict and consumer lawConsumer rights, legislation and the bodies that protect consumers.HLOL 16 q
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Law of contractThe elements of a valid contract and how contracts are terminated.HLOL 16 q
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Industrial relationsTrade unions, industrial action and resolving workplace disputes.HLOL 19 q
Unit 2: Enterprise
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Enterprise and entrepreneursEntrepreneurial characteristics, skills and intrapreneurship.HLOL 20 q
Unit 3: Managing (1)
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Management skills: leading, motivating, communicatingLeadership styles, motivation theories and effective communication.HLOL 20 q
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Management activities: planning, organising, controllingTypes of plans, organisation structures and control.HLOL 19 q
Unit 4: Managing (2) – Management in Action
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Household and business financeMatching sources of finance to needs; cash flow forecasts.HLOL 18 q
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Insurance and risk managementInsurance principles, policies and managing risk.HLOL 15 q
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Human resource managementRecruitment, training, performance appraisal and rewards.HLOL 17 q
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Changing role of managementEmpowerment, teamwork, TQM and managing change.HLOL 15 q
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Monitoring the businessRatios, accounts and the importance of financial information.HLOL 19 q
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Technology and businessHow technology changes communication, production and work.HLOL 15 q
Unit 5: Business in Action
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Identifying opportunities and product developmentIdea generation, screening, market research and product development.HLOL 15 q
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Marketing and the marketing mixMarketing concept, segmentation, positioning and the 4 Ps.HLOL 22 q
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Business plans and expansionBusiness plans, organic and inorganic growth and their finance.HLOL 17 q
Unit 6: Domestic Environment
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Categories of industryPrimary, secondary and tertiary sectors in the Irish economy.HLOL 15 q
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Types of business organisationSole traders, partnerships, companies, co-operatives and state enterprises.HLOL 16 q
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Community developmentLocal enterprise, community groups and supports.HLOL 16 q
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Business and the economyHow economic variables such as inflation and interest rates affect business.HLOL 15 q
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Government and businessHow government influences, supports and regulates business.HLOL 15 q
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Ethics and social responsibilityEthical behaviour and corporate social responsibility.HLOL 15 q
Unit 7: International Environment
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Introduction to the international trading environmentTrade, protectionism, trading blocs and opportunities for Irish firms.HLOL 19 q
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The European UnionEU institutions, decision-making, policies and the single market.HLOL 17 q
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International business and global marketingMultinationals, global marketing and the role of technology.HLOL 15 q
2025 spec – Unifying strand: Investigating Business
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Investigating business: research, evaluation and presentationHow to frame research questions, judge sources, plan a project, analyse findings and acknowledge sources.HLOL 20 q
2025 spec – Strand 1: Exploring the Business Environment (new learning)
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Business regulation, governance and ESGHow organisations are regulated internally and externally, what governance means, and the ESG factors in reporting.HLOL 18 q
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Globalisation and Foreign Direct InvestmentHow globalisation and technology increase interdependence, and how Ireland attracts and benefits from FDI.HLOL 17 q
2025 spec – Strand 2: Understanding Enterprise (new learning)
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Design thinking and feasibility studiesDeveloping business ideas with design thinking (clarify, ideate, develop, implement) and testing them with a feasibility study.HLOL 16 q
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Business models, the business model canvas and the digital economyHow businesses create, deliver and capture value: the business model canvas, common and technology-driven models.HLOL 20 q
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Analytical tools: STEEPLE, Porter's five forces, stakeholder mapping, cost-benefitUsing STEEPLE, Porter's five forces, power-interest grids, stakeholder mapping, cost-benefit and force-field analysis.HLOL 18 q
2025 spec – Strand 3: Leading in Business (new learning)
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Leadership, management and organisational cultureThe difference between leading and managing, leadership styles and how culture and innovation drive success.HLOL 16 q
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Remote and blended working, teams and corporate wellnessHow digital technology changes work, the pros and cons of remote/blended working, teamwork and wellbeing.HLOL 16 q
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Managing change, strategic and contingency planningWhy people resist change, how to overcome it, strategic planning, force-field analysis and crisis/contingency plans.HLOL 18 q
2025 spec – Strand 4: Being Informed and Making Informed Decisions (new learning)
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Digital consumers, data protection and the circular economyHow technology affects consumers, how EU regulation (GDPR) protects personal data, ethical and circular consumption.HLOL 15 q
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Making informed financial decisions: saving, investing, borrowing and creditWeighing inflation, risk, interest, charges and term; risk tolerance, switching providers and credit ratings.HLOL 22 q
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Fintech, financial regulation, fraud and digital currencyFintech benefits and challenges, how financial services are regulated, common frauds, and CBDC versus crypto-assets.HLOL 16 q
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Being an informed employee: rights, unions, the gig economy and the BudgetEmployee rights and responsibilities, legislative and non-legislative protection, unions, gig work and Budget effects.HLOL 18 q