The Ultimate 101 Prompt Guide for IB Business Management (Latest Update 2025) - Top Study Guide

This guide is designed to help IB Business Management educators and students leverage the power of Generative AI. The prompts are crafted to align with the latest syllabus (first assessment 2024) and are structured to support every stage of the teaching and learning journey. Using AI effectively is a skill; it’s about asking the right questions to provoke deeper thinking, generate creative ideas, and streamline your workflow.

To use this guide, simply copy a prompt and paste it into your preferred AI tool (like Gemini, ChatGPT, or Claude). Think of these prompts as starting points. The best results come from iterative dialogue. Modify the prompts by adding specific details, such as a company name, a particular business scenario, or a desired tone, to get even more tailored results. For example, where you see [Company Name], replace it with a real-world business like Tesla or Starbucks. Use the AI’s response as a foundation to build upon, critique, and refine.

Section 1: Educator Prompts (50)

Planning

Syllabus Breakdown: “Break down the IB Business Management HL Unit 3: Finance and accounts into a 12-week teaching schedule. For each week, include key topics, subtopics, suggested in-class activities (like a ratio analysis competition), a relevant real-world example, formative assessment points, and explicitly link one activity per unit to a CUEGIS concept (e.g., linking innovation to new sources of finance).”
Lesson Objectives: “Generate three differentiated learning objectives for an SL lesson on ‘Marketing in the digital age’ (Subtopic 4.5). Frame them using ‘Must, Should, Could’ to target varying abilities. For each objective, also create a specific, measurable success criterion. For instance, ‘Must: Define viral marketing. Success Criterion: Student can write a correct one-sentence definition.'”
Unit Introduction: “Create an engaging, 15-minute ‘hook’ activity to introduce the concept of ‘Business Ethics’ (Subtopic 1.3). The activity should be a short, ambiguous scenario where students must vote on a course of action, forcing them to confront ethical trade-offs immediately. Provide a script for the scenario and three follow-up discussion questions.”
Case Study Sourcing: “Find three contrasting business case studies from the last 18 months suitable for an HL topic on ‘Business strategy’ (Subtopic 2.2). One should be a success story (e.g., a successful turnaround), one a failure (e.g., a failed merger), and one an ethical dilemma. Provide a concise summary for each and a paragraph explaining its direct relevance to strategic choice models like the Ansoff Matrix.”
Resource Curation: “Curate a list of 5 high-quality, diverse online resources (e.g., a TED Talk, a Wall Street Journal article, a podcast episode, an academic summary, an infographic) that explain the ‘Ansoff Matrix’ (Subtopic 1.6). For each resource, provide a brief description, suggest a specific classroom application (e.g., ‘Use this podcast for a flipped classroom homework assignment’), and create one critical thinking question based on it.”
IA Integration: “Suggest three opportunities to integrate Internal Assessment (IA) research skills into the teaching of Unit 5: Operations Management. For each, describe a mini-project (e.g., ‘Analyze the supply chain of a local cafe’), list the primary and secondary research methods students could use, and formulate a sample HL-style research question for it.”
TOK Links: “Identify three compelling Knowledge Questions (TOK) related to Unit 2: Human Resource Management. For each, provide a brief explanation of how it connects to syllabus content (e.g., motivation theories) and suggest a real-world business scenario that could be used to spark a class discussion on the question.”
Concept Connections: “Create a detailed concept map illustrating the intricate links between ‘Globalization’ (Subtopic 1.8) and other key areas of the Business Management syllabus. The map should show how globalization impacts marketing (global branding), operations (global supply chains), finance (exchange rates), and HR (cultural differences in management).”
Differentiated Worksheets: “Generate a worksheet on ‘Break-even analysis’ (Subtopic 3.3) with three tiers of difficulty. Tier 1 should have basic calculations. Tier 2 should require students to calculate and draw a break-even chart. Tier 3 should present a scenario where students must not only calculate break-even but also analyze the impact of changing variables and recommend a strategy.”
Long-Term Plan: “Develop a comprehensive, year-long pacing guide for the IB Business Management SL course. Allocate teaching hours to each of the five units, and build in dedicated weeks for the IA process (topic selection, research, writing), mock exams, and a final review period. Suggest where key business tools (SWOT, PEST, etc.) should be introduced and revisited.”

Delivery

Real-World Examples: “Provide three current and distinct examples of businesses using ‘Guerilla Marketing’ (Subtopic 4.5). For each, explain the specific tactic, identify the target audience, analyze its potential impact on brand image, and discuss the potential risks or ethical considerations involved.”
Discussion Starters: “Create five thought-provoking, open-ended discussion questions to stimulate a class debate on the ethical and strategic implications of ‘Offshoring and reshoring’ (Subtopic 5.4). Ensure the questions force students to consider multiple stakeholder perspectives (employees, managers, customers, government).”
Explaining Complex Models: “Explain the concept of ‘Porter’s Five Forces’ (Subtopic 1.6) using an analogy a 16-year-old can understand, using the global smartphone industry as the example. After the explanation, provide a ‘Limitations’ section that critiques the model’s relevance in fast-changing tech industries.”
Role-Play Scenario: “Design a detailed role-play activity where students act as a management team at [Company Name] facing a PR crisis stemming from a viral social media post. Provide specific roles (CEO, Head of PR, Legal Counsel, Head of HR), a detailed scenario with a timeline of events, and a secret objective for each role to create dynamic tension.”
Interactive Quiz: “Create a 10-question multiple-choice quiz for a tool like Kahoot! or Quizizz, covering key terminology in Unit 3: Finance and accounts. Include two challenging ‘red herring’ questions with plausible but incorrect answers, and provide a brief explanation for why the correct answer is right for each question.”
Video Script: “Write a clear, concise script for a 3-minute educational video explaining the difference between ‘Cash flow’ and ‘profit’ (Subtopic 3.2). The script should include an opening hook, a simple analogy (e.g., the ‘bathtub’ analogy), on-screen text callouts for key definitions, and a concluding summary of why a profitable business can still fail due to cash flow issues.”
Guest Speaker Briefing: “Prepare a comprehensive, one-page briefing document for a guest speaker who is an entrepreneur. The document should introduce the IB Learner Profile, outline key themes from Unit 1: Business Organization and Environment, suggest 5 specific questions for the speaker to address, and provide logistical details for the session.”
Jigsaw Activity: “Design a jigsaw reading activity for the topic ‘Organizational cultures’ (Handy, Hofstede) (Subtopic 2.3). Divide the topic into four expert groups: Power Culture, Role Culture, Task Culture, and Person Culture. For each, create an ‘expert sheet’ with a summary and guiding questions. Then, create a ‘jigsaw group’ worksheet for students to complete after sharing their expertise.”
Case Study Analysis Framework: “Provide a step-by-step framework for students to analyze an unseen Paper 1 case study. The framework should be a checklist including: ‘1. First 5 mins: Read questions first, then skim case. 2. Annotate: Highlight key numbers, names, and problems. 3. Tool Selection: Identify relevant business tools (SWOT, PEST, etc.). 4. Stakeholder Scan: List all stakeholders and their interests.'”
Flipped Classroom Task: “Create a pre-lesson activity for a flipped classroom model on ‘Lean production and quality management’ (Subtopic 5.3). The activity should require students to watch a specific video (e.g., ‘How a Toyota factory works’), define three key terms (Kaizen, JIT, TQM), and then formulate one question they have about the topic to bring to class.”

Assessment

Paper 1 Style Questions: “Generate two Paper 1 style questions based on a fictional case study about a struggling local restaurant trying to compete with large chains. One question should be a 4-mark Section A question, and one a 10-mark Section B question (HL only). Also, provide an outline of a model answer for the 10-mark question.”
Paper 2 CUEGIS Essay Prompt: “Create a challenging Paper 2, Section C style essay prompt that requires students to evaluate the impact of Globalization and Ethics on the corporate Strategy of a multinational corporation in the fast-fashion industry, like [Company Name]. The prompt should encourage a nuanced discussion of conflicting pressures.”
Mark Scheme Creation: “Develop a detailed, IB-style mark scheme for a 10-mark question that asks students to ‘analyze the importance of a business plan for a new start-up’. The mark scheme should include level descriptors (e.g., for 1-2 marks, 3-4 marks, etc.) and indicate what is required for top marks, such as application to a specific business and balanced analysis.”
IA Research Question Feedback: “Critique the following IA research question: ‘How can [Company Name] improve its marketing?’ Rewrite it three times to make it more focused, specific, arguable, and appropriate for the scope of the IA. For each revised question, explain why it is an improvement, referencing the official IB assessment criteria.”
Formative Assessment Ideas: “Suggest three creative and engaging formative assessment methods to check for understanding of ‘Motivation theories’ (Subtopic 2.4). Move beyond a standard quiz and suggest ideas like an ‘exit ticket’ where students must explain which theory best applies to them and why, or a ‘silent debate’ on chart paper.”
Peer-Assessment Checklist: “Create a detailed peer-assessment checklist for students to evaluate each other’s presentations on ‘Sources of Finance’ (Subtopic 3.1). The checklist should be structured with sections for ‘Content & Accuracy,’ ‘Clarity & Structure,’ and ‘Engagement,’ and use language directly from the IB assessment criteria (e.g., ‘Was the analysis balanced?’).”
Command Term Practice: “Generate a series of short-answer questions using a range of IB command terms (‘Define’, ‘Explain’, ‘Analyze’, ‘Evaluate’, ‘Distinguish’, ‘To what extent’) for the topic ‘Marketing Mix: 4Ps’ (Subtopic 4.2). Ensure the questions require application to a consistent, fictional business scenario.”
Exam Wrapper: “Design an ‘exam wrapper’ worksheet for students to complete after a mock exam. It should prompt them to analyze their performance by question, identify the type of error (e.g., misread question, lack of knowledge, poor time management), and then create a specific, actionable plan to address their top two areas of weakness before the next exam.”
HL Quantitative Question: “Create a complex, multi-part quantitative question for HL students involving investment appraisal. Provide a scenario with cash flow data for two competing projects (A and B). Require students to calculate Payback Period, Average Rate of Return (ARR), and Net Present Value (NPV) for both, and then write a concluding paragraph recommending which project to choose, justifying their answer with both financial and non-financial factors.”
Exemplar Answer Analysis: “Take this sample student answer to a 6-mark question and rewrite it to achieve full marks. Use a ‘track changes’ format, showing the original text and the improved text. Below the answer, provide a detailed commentary explaining exactly what improvements were made regarding structure, use of specific business terminology, application to the case, and adherence to the command term.”

Enrichment & Differentiation

Extension Task for High-Achievers: “Design a challenging extension project for HL students who have mastered ‘Financial Ratio Analysis’ (Subtopic 3.4). The task is to act as an investment analyst. Students must select two real, competing public companies, download their annual reports, perform a full ratio analysis (profitability, liquidity, efficiency), and produce a formal, 1000-word investment recommendation report, justifying their choice.”
Scaffolding for Struggling Students: “Provide a scaffolded template to help students structure their answer to a ‘To what extent…’ essay question. The template should include sentence starters for the introduction, for presenting a point, for presenting a counter-point, and for the final evaluative conclusion. Also, provide a list of evaluative phrases they can use (e.g., ‘However, this depends on…’).”
Connecting to CUEGIS: “For the topic of ‘E-commerce’ (Subtopic 4.5), create a detailed mind map that connects it to all six CUEGIS concepts. For each concept, provide a specific, real-world example. For instance, for Innovation, link to Amazon’s one-click patent. For Ethics, link to data privacy concerns.”
Business Pitch Competition: “Outline the detailed structure, rules, and assessment criteria for an in-class ‘Shark Tank’ / ‘Dragons’ Den’ style competition. Students must pitch a new business idea. The outline should specify that the pitch must include elements from Unit 1, such as business type, objectives, and a stakeholder analysis. The judging criteria should be weighted and shared in advance.”
Local Business Project: “Design a project where students analyze the operations management of a local business (e.g., a café, salon, or shop). Provide a detailed investigation guide that includes specific questions to ask the owner (if possible), observations to make on-site, and secondary research to conduct on their suppliers. The final output should be a report analyzing their supply chain, quality management, and capacity utilization.”
Interdisciplinary Link (ESS/Psychology): “Create a mini-case study about a company like Patagonia that highlights the tension between ‘Profitability’ and ‘Environmental Sustainability’. Include discussion questions that link Business Management with ESS. Then, add a second set of questions linking the case to Psychology, asking students to analyze how the company’s strong ethical culture might impact employee motivation, drawing on theories from subtopic 2.4.”
Current Affairs Briefing: “Generate a one-page ‘Business News Briefing’ on a recent major business story (e.g., a merger, a tech innovation, a corporate scandal). The briefing should summarize the event, identify the key companies and people involved, and then provide three analytical questions that directly connect the story to different parts of the IB syllabus (e.g., ‘How does this merger affect market structure?’ ‘What leadership style is being demonstrated?’).”
Simulation Game Idea: “Develop a detailed concept for a classroom simulation game about managing inventory levels for a retail store. Describe the rules, objectives (maximize profit, minimize waste), and challenges. Students would be given a budget and face random events like a ‘supplier delay’ or a ‘sudden surge in demand,’ forcing them to make decisions about stock levels and see the financial consequences.”
Ethical Dilemma Scenarios: “Write three short, nuanced ethical dilemma scenarios a manager might face, ensuring they don’t have an easy answer. For example, related to employee dismissal (performance vs. loyalty), misleading advertising (puffery vs. deception), or environmental impact (cost vs. sustainability). For each, ask students to propose a course of action and justify it using two different ethical frameworks (e.g., utilitarianism and rights-based ethics).”
Career Pathways: “Create a presentation slide outlining five potential career pathways for a student who excels in IB Business Management (e.g., Marketing Manager, Financial Analyst, HR Specialist, Entrepreneur, Management Consultant). For each career, detail the key responsibilities, explain how specific skills from the IB course are relevant, and list one or two other IB subjects that would be beneficial for that path.”
Business Biography Project: “Design a project where students research a famous entrepreneur (e.g., Steve Jobs, Anita Roddick, Jack Ma) and analyze their leadership style, strategic decisions, and ethical conduct in the context of IB theories. The final product should be a presentation that not only describes what they did but evaluates the effectiveness and consequences of their actions, linking them to concepts like market positioning and corporate culture.”
Podcast Creation Task: “Outline a task for students to create a 5-minute podcast episode called ‘Business Breakdown.’ They must explain a key business concept (e.g., ‘Price Elasticity of Demand’) to a non-specialist audience. The task requires them to submit a script, use at least one real-world example, and include a short segment analyzing the strategic implications of the concept for a business.”
Infographic Design: “Create a task for students to design a visually appealing and informative infographic summarizing the key features, advantages, and disadvantages of different types of business ownership (sole trader, partnership, private limited company, public limited company). The task should specify the target audience (e.g., a student thinking of starting a business) and require a ‘Which is right for you?’ decision tree element.”
Debate Club Motion: “Formulate a nuanced and debatable motion related to the syllabus, such as: ‘This House believes that for modern businesses, a strong ethical culture is more important for long-term success than technological innovation.’ Provide three supporting arguments for each side of the debate to get them started.”
Community Engagement (CAS Link): “Suggest a detailed CAS project idea that links directly to the Business Management course. For example, ‘Develop a comprehensive marketing plan for a local animal shelter.’ The suggestion should outline the stages: initial research (primary and secondary), setting SMART marketing objectives, developing the marketing mix (product, price, place, promotion), and creating a method to measure the campaign’s success.”
Financial Document Analysis: “Provide a simplified but realistic balance sheet and profit and loss account for a fictional company over two consecutive years. Generate five questions that require students to not only interpret the documents but also to identify trends, calculate key ratios (e.g., gross profit margin, current ratio), and comment on the company’s changing financial performance.”
Global Strategy Challenge: “Challenge HL students to develop an international expansion strategy for a successful domestic company like [Local Company Name]. They must choose a specific country to enter and produce a report that includes a PEST analysis of the target country, recommends a mode of entry (e.g., exporting, joint venture), and adapts the marketing mix to the new cultural context.”
Crisis Management Simulation: “Create a live, in-class simulation where you provide rolling updates (via slips of paper or a live chat) on a developing business crisis (e.g., a product recall, a data breach). Students, in teams, must react and make decisions under time pressure. The simulation should require them to draft a press release, manage internal communications, and consider the financial implications.”
Reverse Case Study: “Provide students with a set of business outcomes for a fictional company after a five-year period (e.g., market share has doubled, but employee turnover is dangerously high and brand image has declined). Ask them to work backward and construct a plausible, detailed case study explaining the strategies, leadership decisions, and external factors that could have led to this specific set of results.”
Future of Business Report: “Task students with creating a short, formal report on a future trend (e.g., AI in the workplace, the circular economy, personalized marketing). The report must analyze the trend’s potential impact on a specific industry using PEST analysis and then recommend how a specific, real company in that industry should strategically adapt its operations and marketing to prepare for this trend.”

Section 2: Student Prompts (50)

Understanding Concepts

Simple Explanation: “Explain the concept of ‘Market Segmentation’ (Subtopic 4.3) as if you were talking to a 10-year-old using the example of a toy company. Then, re-explain the same concept using formal business terminology, including the terms demographic, geographic, and psychographic segmentation.”
Key Term Flashcards: “Generate a set of 10 digital flashcards for Unit 2: Human Resource Management. Each card should have a key term on one side (e.g., ‘Labour Turnover’) and a concise definition plus a short example sentence on the other (e.g., ‘A high labour turnover rate meant the company was constantly spending money on recruitment.’).”
Analogy Creation: “Create a clear analogy to explain the difference between ‘Job Production’ (e.g., building a custom house) and ‘Flow Production’ (e.g., making cans of soda). Explain the analogy and how it highlights the key differences in customization, speed, and cost.”
Concept Comparison: “Create a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting ‘Marketing’ and ‘Branding’ (Unit 4). In the overlapping section, list what they have in common. In the separate sections, list what is unique to each. Then, write a sentence that explains the relationship between them.”
Summarize a Topic: “Summarize the main points of ‘Sources of Finance’ (Subtopic 3.1) in five bullet points. For each bullet point, specify whether it is an internal or external source and whether it is best for short-term or long-term needs.”
Real-World Application: “How does Apple Inc. use ‘Product Differentiation’ (Subtopic 4.2) to compete in the market? Provide three specific examples related to design, software ecosystem, and branding. For each, analyze how it allows Apple to command a premium price.”
Visual Explanation: “Describe a simple, memorable diagram I could draw to remember the ‘Product Life Cycle’ (Subtopic 4.4). Describe what each axis represents and what the curve looks like. For each of the four stages (introduction, growth, maturity, decline), add two key characteristics or strategies.”
Clarify a Misconception: “What is the most common misunderstanding about ‘Stakeholders vs. Shareholders’ (Subtopic 1.3)? Explain it clearly, then provide a scenario where the interests of these two groups would be in direct conflict.”
Formula Breakdown: “Break down the formula for ‘Net Present Value (NPV)’ (Subtopic 3.5 – HL Only). Explain what each component means in simple terms. Then, walk me through a simple calculation step-by-step and explain what a positive vs. a negative NPV tells a manager about a potential investment.”
CUEGIS in Context: “Explain how the CUEGIS concept of Innovation applies to the business operations of a company like Tesla. Provide one example related to its product, one to its manufacturing process (e.g., Gigafactories), and one to its marketing/sales model (e.g., direct-to-consumer).”

Practicing & Applying

Practice Questions: “Give me five short-answer questions (4-6 marks) on the topic of ‘Leadership Styles’ (Subtopic 2.3). After each question, provide a follow-up ‘what if’ question that would challenge my understanding further (e.g., ‘What if the company was facing a crisis? Which style would be best then?’).”
Calculation Practice: “I need to practice calculating the ‘Acid-Test Ratio’ (Subtopic 3.4). Give me a set of balance sheet data for a fictional company. Walk me through the calculation step-by-step. Then, tell me what the resulting ratio means for the business and suggest one action the business could take to improve it.”
Case Study Analysis: “I am studying a case study about [Company Name]. Suggest three business tools or theories from the syllabus that would be most useful for analyzing their situation. For each tool (e.g., PEST analysis), explain what specific insights it could provide for this particular company.”
SWOT Analysis: “Perform a SWOT analysis for the fast-food company McDonald’s, providing two detailed points for each category. Then, suggest one specific strategy that uses a strength to capitalize on an opportunity (S-O) and one strategy that uses a strength to mitigate a threat (S-T).”
Decision-Making: “I am a manager at a company that has to choose between two new projects. Provide me with a set of financial and non-financial data, and ask me to construct a ‘Decision Tree’ (Subtopic 1.6 – HL Only). The data should include probabilities of success and failure. After I’ve calculated the expected value of each path, ask me to write a recommendation that also considers the non-financial factors.”
Ethical Judgment: “A company is considering moving its production to a country with lower labor costs but also weaker environmental regulations. Analyze this decision from a ‘Utilitarian’ perspective (greatest good for the greatest number) and a ‘Deontological’ perspective (actions are right or wrong in themselves). Conclude by stating which perspective you find more convincing in this case and why.”
Draft an IA Question: “Help me brainstorm three possible research questions for my SL Internal Assessment, focusing on a local coffee shop. For each question, identify the key business concepts involved and explain what kind of primary and secondary research I would need to conduct to answer it.”
Structure an Answer: “Provide a detailed, paragraph-by-paragraph structure for a 10-mark question that asks to ‘examine the role of branding in the success of a business’. The structure should include an introduction, two paragraphs for the role of branding, one paragraph for counter-arguments or limitations, and a concluding judgment.”
Apply a Model: “Apply the ‘Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Matrix’ to the product portfolio of The Coca-Cola Company. Place at least four of their specific products (e.g., Coca-Cola Classic, Diet Coke, Vitaminwater, Honest Tea) into the matrix and justify your placement for each. Then, suggest a strategy for one product in each quadrant.”
Role-Play Prep: “I have to role-play a union representative negotiating a pay raise. Based on motivation theories like Maslow and Herzberg, what are the key arguments I should use? Provide me with three arguments based on ‘higher-order needs’ (e.g., esteem, self-actualization) and two arguments based on ‘hygiene factors’ (e.g., working conditions).”

Revising & Consolidating

Revision Guide: “Create a one-page revision guide for the entire Unit 5: Operations Management. The guide should be highly visual, using headings and bullet points. It must include key terms and definitions, simple diagrams for concepts like supply chain management, a summary of key formulas, and a ‘Common Mistakes’ section.”
Mind Map: “Generate a text-based mind map for ‘Marketing Planning’ (Subtopic 4.1), structured to answer the essay question: ‘How does effective market research lead to a more successful marketing strategy?’ The map should have branches for different types of research, how they inform objectives, and how that shapes the marketing mix.”
Quiz Me: “Ask me 10 quick-fire questions about Unit 1: Business Organization and Environment. After I’ve tried to answer, reveal the correct answer and provide a one-sentence explanation to solidify my understanding, especially if I get it wrong.”
CUEGIS Connections: “For each of the six CUEGIS concepts, give me one specific, real-world example of how it applies to the airline industry. For instance, for Change, you could mention the shift to online booking. For Ethics, you could mention carbon offsetting schemes.”
Topic Summary Podcast: “Write a 2-minute podcast script that summarizes the most important aspects of ‘Final Accounts’ (Subtopic 3.2) for an SL student. The script should be conversational and explain the purpose of the Profit and Loss Account and the Balance Sheet, and how they are different but related. Include a sound effect suggestion, like a ‘ka-ching’ sound.”
Mnemonic Device: “Create a memorable mnemonic to help me remember the ‘4 P’s of the Marketing Mix’ (Product, Price, Place, Promotion). Then, create a second, more complex mnemonic for the ‘7 P’s of the extended Marketing Mix for services’ (adding People, Processes, Physical evidence).”
Key Theorists: “List the key theorists mentioned in the Human Resources unit (e.g., Taylor, Maslow, Herzberg, Adams, Pink). For each one, summarize their main theory in one sentence and then state one key criticism or limitation of that theory.”
Formula Sheet: “Create a comprehensive ‘cheat sheet’ with all the key financial formulas I need to know for the SL course. Group the formulas by topic (e.g., ‘Profitability Ratios,’ ‘Liquidity Ratios,’ ‘Break-Even’). For each formula, briefly explain what it measures.”
Common Mistakes: “What are the top 3 most common mistakes students make when answering questions about ‘Investment Appraisal’ (Subtopic 3.5)? For each mistake, explain why it’s wrong and then provide a clear tip or rule to follow to avoid making it.”
Connections Across Units: “Explain in detail how a company’s ‘Organizational Culture’ (Unit 2) directly impacts its ability to successfully implement a new ‘Business Strategy’ (Unit 1). Use the example of a traditional, hierarchical bank trying to innovate like a tech startup to illustrate the potential conflicts.”

Preparing for Assessment

IA Introduction: “Write a draft introduction for my HL Internal Assessment. My research question is: ‘To what extent has the implementation of lean production methods improved operational efficiency at [Local Manufacturing Company]?’ The introduction should include context about the company, clearly state the research question, and briefly outline the methodology and business tools I will use.”
Paper 1 Time Management: “Suggest a detailed time management strategy for completing IB Business Management Paper 1 (SL) within the 1 hour 15 minute time limit. Break it down into reading time, time per question, and a final review period. Provide specific advice on what to do if I get stuck on one question.”
Deconstruct a Question: “Deconstruct this Paper 2 question: ‘With reference to an organization of your choice, discuss the ways in which marketing and innovation can influence each other.’ Identify the key command words, the conceptual focus, and the contextual constraints. Then, suggest a structure for an answer that fully addresses all parts of the question.”
Essay Plan: “Create a detailed, point-by-point essay plan for the CUEGIS prompt: ‘With reference to one or two organizations you have studied, examine how globalization has changed business strategy.’ The plan should include a thesis statement, three main body paragraphs with topic sentences, and specific, real-world evidence (from companies like IKEA or Starbucks) for each point.”
Using Evidence: “How can I effectively integrate my own research and case study knowledge into my Paper 2 Section C essay without just ‘storytelling’? Provide three specific techniques, with examples, such as ‘Use a short example to illustrate a theoretical point’ or ‘Use data to support an argument.'”
Evaluation Skills: “Explain how to show ‘evaluation’ in a 10-mark answer. Provide a list of five different ways to evaluate (e.g., consider long-term vs. short-term, different stakeholder perspectives, pros and cons). Then, provide three sentence starters for each technique (e.g., ‘From the perspective of employees, however…’).”
Command Term Practice: “Give me a practice question for each of these command terms: ‘Distinguish’, ‘Analyze’, and ‘To what extent’, all related to the topic of pricing strategies (Subtopic 4.2). For the ‘To what extent’ question, also provide a brief plan for a balanced answer.”
Mock Paper 2 Section C: “I’ve chosen to write my Paper 2 Section C essay on Apple and Nike. Give me a challenging CUEGIS-based prompt that forces me to compare and contrast how culture and ethics have shaped the global strategies of these two companies.”
Self-Assessment: “I just finished a practice essay. Create a detailed checklist based on the official IB marking criteria that I can use to grade my own work. The checklist should be in the form of questions, such as ‘Have I defined the key terms from the question?’ or ‘Is my evaluation supported by evidence and balanced?'”
Last-Minute Review: “It’s the night before my exam. Give me a list of the ‘Top 10 Things to Review’ for the HL course. The list should include a mix of key concepts, complex HL-only models, important formulas, and one key tip for exam technique.”
Financial Analysis Practice: “Give me a set of financial data (Balance Sheet and P&L) for a company. Ask me to calculate three key profitability and liquidity ratios. Then, ask me to write a paragraph analyzing the company’s financial health, making specific reference to my calculated ratios and what they mean.”
Stakeholder Conflict: “Analyze a potential conflict between the ‘shareholders’ and the ‘local community’ stakeholders of a mining company that is planning a new operation. Explain the main objective of each group and why they are in conflict. Then, suggest one possible strategy the company could use to mitigate this conflict.”
Business Plan Critique: “Here is a summary of a business plan for a new app. Act as a venture capitalist and critique its ‘Marketing’ and ‘Finance’ sections. Identify at least two strengths and two weaknesses for each section and provide specific, constructive advice on how the plan could be improved to be more convincing.”
HL Extension Topic Explanation: “Explain the concept of ‘Critical Path Analysis’ (Subtopic 5.6) in a clear, step-by-step way. First, define all the key terms (EST, LFT, float). Then, walk me through a simple network diagram, showing how to calculate the critical path. Finally, explain why this tool is so important for project management.”
Structuring the IA: “Provide a detailed outline for the structure of the HL Business Management IA. For each of the nine required sections (from Research Proposal to Recommendations), provide a brief description of what should be included and a suggested word count to help me stay within the 1,800-word limit.”
Citing Sources (IA): “Explain how to properly cite sources in my IA using the MLA format. Provide a clear example of an in-text citation for a business article and a corresponding entry for the ‘Works Cited’ list. Also, explain how to cite a personal interview, which is a common form of primary research for the IA.”
Unseen Case Study Strategy: “What is the best 5-step strategy for tackling the unseen case study in Paper 1? How should I spend my 5 minutes of reading time? Your strategy should cover the initial read-through, annotating the text, linking to theory, and planning the answers.”
Balancing Arguments: “How do I create a truly balanced argument when a question asks me to ‘discuss’ the advantages and disadvantages of a particular business strategy? Provide a template for a paragraph that effectively presents both sides, using transition words like ‘On the one hand…’ and ‘Conversely…'”
Crafting a Conclusion: “What are the key ingredients of a strong, evaluative conclusion for a CUEGIS essay? Provide a template that includes: 1. A sentence that directly answers the question. 2. A brief summary of the main arguments. 3. A final, justified judgment that uses evaluative language (e.g., ‘Ultimately, the most significant factor is…’).”
Final Motivation: “Give me a short, motivational speech to get me focused and confident for my final IB Business Management exam. Remind me of the skills I’ve learned and the hard work I’ve put in, and give me one final piece of advice for walking into the exam hall.”

Section 3: Bonus Universal Prompt (1)

The Interdisciplinary Challenge: “You are the newly appointed Chief Strategy Officer of [Company Name], a business you have studied. The year is 2040. Based on your knowledge from IB Business Management, as well as concepts from two other IB subjects you study (e.g., Economics, Geography, Psychology, ESS), write a 600-word strategic memo to the Board of Directors. Your memo must:
a) Clearly identify and analyze the single biggest challenge or opportunity your company will face, integrating concepts from all three IB subjects.
b) Propose a clear, multi-faceted strategic plan to address it.
c) Justify your strategic decisions using specific theories, models, or evidence from all three subjects.
d) Include a brief risk assessment of your proposed strategy.”