01
Should [a local café] introduce a loyalty app to improve customer retention?
Approach · Primary: customer survey on repeat-visit drivers. Tools: marketing mix, cost–benefit, force-field analysis of the change.
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Business Management · IA research questions
12 IB Business Management IA ideas
Written and cross-checked by IB Diploma graduates: Alexander (41), Alejandro (40), Martina (40), Victoria (38), Martin (35), Maria (34)
· Checked against official IB guidance · Editorial policy
The Business Management HL research project answers one real, decision-focused question about a single organisation, using primary research (interview, survey) and secondary research, and applying three or four course tools. A strong question is narrow, answerable with the data you can actually get, and framed as a recommendation.
Scope: Base it on one real organisation you have genuine access to. Choose tools that fit the question (SWOT, Ansoff, the marketing mix, investment appraisal, financial ratios, force-field analysis). 1,800 words maximum on the research project plus supporting documents.
02
Is opening a second location financially viable for [an SME]?
Approach · Secondary: the firm's accounts. Tools: investment appraisal (payback, ARR, NPV), break-even, SWOT.
03
How could [a retailer] reduce stockouts without raising holding costs?
Approach · Primary: interview with the owner on current ordering. Tools: inventory analysis, JIT vs JIC evaluation, cost analysis.
04
Should [a manufacturer] switch a product line to sustainable packaging?
Approach · Primary: customer willingness-to-pay survey. Tools: cost analysis, stakeholder mapping, decision on price vs demand trade-off.
05
What pricing strategy should [a service business] use for a new premium offering?
Approach · Primary: survey on perceived value. Tools: pricing strategies, the marketing mix, competitor analysis.
06
How could [a restaurant] use its marketing mix to reach a younger demographic?
Approach · Primary: focus group or survey with the target segment. Tools: the 7Ps, market segmentation, Ansoff (market development).
07
To what extent is staff turnover at [an organisation] driven by motivation, and how could it be reduced?
Approach · Primary: anonymous staff survey. Tools: motivation theory (Herzberg, Maslow), cost of turnover, recommendations.
08
Should [a firm] outsource its delivery function or keep it in-house?
Approach · Secondary: cost data. Tools: cost comparison, SWOT of each option, risk and control analysis.
09
How could [a charity] diversify its funding to reduce financial risk?
Approach · Primary: interview with a trustee. Tools: sources-of-finance analysis, risk assessment, stakeholder mapping.
10
Is franchising a suitable growth strategy for [a founder-led business]?
Approach · Secondary: industry data. Tools: Ansoff, evaluation of franchising vs organic growth, financial projection.
11
What effect would extending opening hours have on [a store]'s revenue and costs?
Approach · Primary: footfall counts by hour. Tools: contribution analysis, break-even on the extra hours, staffing implications.
12
How could [a B2B firm] use a CRM system to shorten its sales cycle?
Approach · Primary: interview with the sales team. Tools: process mapping, cost–benefit, change-management analysis.
Sources & verification
Primary-source references used to verify key assessment facts on this page. Last source check: September 22, 2026.
These Business Management ideas are original iBacalao starting points, not official IB research questions. Check the current Business Management subject guide, your assessment session and your school's safety/ethics rules before committing to a question.
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