Discuss how technology has changed how small businesses operate

Question (9 marks): Discuss how technology has changed how small businesses operate.

Mark scheme (Levels-based, AO1/AO2/AO3):

• Level 1 (1–3): Identifies technologies (e-commerce, social media, payment systems, digital communication) with limited development.
• Level 2 (4–6): Applied discussion — e.g. contactless / Stripe lowers barrier to card acceptance; Instagram Reels gives zero-cost reach; cloud accounting (Xero) reduces admin; remote work widens talent pool.
• Level 3 (7–9): Balanced judgement with chains of reasoning: technology cuts fixed costs and accelerates growth but raises cyber-security risk (GDPR fines up to 4% of global turnover), platform dependency (Meta algorithm changes), and digital exclusion of older customers. A reasoned conclusion identifies which technology matters most for the chosen context (e.g. payment systems for a market-stall trader, social media for a beauty start-up).