A coherent answer is a chain: each effect becomes the cause of the next, and the last link answers the question. Linking words show the reasoning.
This lesson closes how business functions depend on each other. It uses the decisions and cautions from identifying the missing information before recommending a change.
The fictional case
Roti Pagi learns that its flour supplier will raise the price by 10% next month. The owner asks what might happen to the bakery.
A scattered answer and a chain
A scattered answer lists points: “Costs go up. Customers might leave. The bakery may need to change prices. Staff could be affected.” Each point is reasonable but the answer never says how they connect.
A chain answer reads: “The flour price rises by 10%, so finance sees a higher cost for each bun. If the owner keeps prices the same, the profit on each bun falls, which may reduce the money for wages. If the owner raises prices instead, some customers may buy less, so operations may need to bake fewer buns.”
| Feature | Scattered | Chain |
|---|---|---|
| Order | Random | Cause to effect |
| Linking words | None | So, which may, if |
| Ends with | Nothing | Effect on baking volume |
Building the chain step by step
- Write the trigger: flour price up 10%.
- Name the first effect, on cost (finance).
- Give two branches: keep prices or raise them.
- Follow each branch to one more effect.
- State the conclusion the question asks for.
Branches keep the answer balanced. Keep each branch short so it does not repeat itself.
The mistake that costs marks
Repeating the same effect in new words looks like a chain but adds nothing. “Costs rise, so expenses increase, so spending goes up” is one idea three times.
Test each link by asking what new thing it adds. If the answer is nothing, delete it.
Check yourself
A school uniform shop’s main tailor resigns. Write a three-link chain using so, which means or as a result.
Answer
“The tailor resigns, so operations can make fewer uniforms each week, which means some orders may be late. As a result, customers may go elsewhere and sales may fall.”
The chain moves from human resources to operations to sales, with no repeated idea.
What to study next
Test the whole cluster in the practice set. You can also plan chains with the Business case-answer planner.
For a teacher to reorder your answers with you, see online one-to-one Business tuition.