CAIE A-Level Business 4.3.2 Outsourcing

CAIE A-Level Business 4.3.2 Outsourcing
Cambridge International AS & A Level Business 9609 syllabus for exams in 2026, 2027 and 20282026–2028

Practise defining outsourcing and weighing how using third-party production or services affects capacity, costs and control.

How this is tested

  • explain outsourcing as using a third party to carry out a business function
  • analyse one advantage and one disadvantage of outsourcing production in a case
  • evaluate outsourcing as a capacity solution using cost, quality and control evidence

Question 2(a)(ii)

[Maximum number: 3]

Law Advice Forum (LAF)

Drake has a law degree and works for a partnership of lawyers during the day. Drake owns a website that gives free legal advice. He works on the website in the evenings and at the weekend.

He started the website as a hobby, but the website has grown to over 20000 users and he now sells advertising on his videos and on the website.

Drake uses outsourcing for some areas of his website. He has recently been sent a report showing variances in the budget from the previous month (see Table 2.1).

Table 2.1 Budget report for Drake's website in the previous month

Table 2.1 Budget report for Drake's website in the previous month

Drake has now left his job and is focusing full time on the website. He rebranded the website as Law Advice Forum (LAF). Drake's business plan for LAF included:
- Operating as a sole trader.
- Continuing to develop and expand the website to provide legal advice and paid legal services.
- Renting an office in city G where all employees would work.
- Hiring five fully qualified lawyers.
- Hiring three administrators.
- Leasing IT equipment.

However, Drake is concerned about the limitations LAF will face as a labour intensive operation.

Explain the term outsourcing.