CORPORATE CULTURE

Ok - so you have already looked at Handy's four different types of corporate culture?  Then ask the students to take a look at this article on the corporate culture to be found working for Google.  

CLICK here to be able to read the article on the corporate culture at GOOGLE.

SUGGESTIONS :

- Ask the students to identify which of Handy's four types of corporate culture this article appears to suggest for Google.  

- Make a list of the evidence from the article on how Google tries to create a working environment for its workers which might lead to more motivated workers.

- Lead a discussion on how Google's attempts to motivate its workers links with the motivational theories of Taylor, Maslow, Mayo, Herzberg and McGregor.

- Ask the students to produce their own A3 posters on GOOGLE and how their corporate culture links to various motivational theories.

NB.  Ensure that students understand the link between creating the right corporate culture and productivity...

You may well wish to show the students this excellent short Youtube video which allows you to see the interior of GOOGLE's head offices.

 CLICK here to the Youtube video and tour of GOOGLE HQ.

 ANSOFF'S MATRIX :

OK - so you have already explained the concept of the Ansoff's Matrix to your students.

Now get the students to consider this question on ANSOFF'S MATRIX - for a real-life demonstration of how companies might link their own corporate strategies to this concept.

CLICK here to the question on Ansoff's Matrix - from Word Wall (an excellent tutor resource - purchase recommended...)

SUGGESTIONS :

- Ask the students to offer an example of a strategy which fits in with each of the other incorrect answers - after having first identified the correct answer.

- NEXT - as a paired activity - ask the students to produce a visual presentation of recent corporate strategies for the following companies - and to offer examples of how they might fit into different elements of the Ansoff's Matrix - with your reasons :

- BEN & JERRY'S

- CARREFOUR

- SAMSUNG

- VIRGIN

 TECHNOLOGY & COST REDUCTIONS

How are technological improvements transforming the Retail Sector on our High Streets?

CLICK here to an article from The Independent on ways in which technology is already succeeding in reducing retail costs - with its implications on the reduced number of jobs in the sector.

SUGGESTIONS :

-  Ask the students to tell you first how technology is already transforming the retail industry.

- Get students to consider how the use of drones may have a big impact on costs and jobs in the retail industry in future years.

- Have the students produce their own brief summary of the article - with a list of the ways in which technology is transforming the industry - along with its likely longer-term impacts on the industry.

 ECONOMIES & DISECONOMIES OF SCALE

How to introduce the topic?

A suggestion here - follow my example and draw the mathematical diagram as I have tried to do here (you will no doubt be able to improve quite easily on the visuals!) - and show by use of colours (using in my case BLUE for economies of scale and GREEN for diseconomies) - what is meant by these crucial business concepts.

I suggest that you take your time with the drawing and start only with the x and the y axes.  Ask your students what they might represent - bearing in mind that the diagram is trying to show the advantages of a business expanding its production.  This should get you to draw the curve up to its lowest point - once we have worked out what the x and the y axes represent.  Explain the key point that as output expands - the average cost of producing each car for example - is likely to fall.  Mention the more obvious purchasing economy of scale - and the likelihood of attaining a bulk-buying reduction in the price of the steel perhaps...

Next - then try to get the students to think what might happen further if output were to continue to get bigger?  If this doesn't yet get the students to come up with the correct addition to the diagram - draw the rest of the curve as it then slopes upwards again.  Ask the students to exlpain what is happening - and get them to think of potential reasons for this reaction.  Then write down a few of the more common reasons for diseconomies of scale.

A follow-on task?  Work your way through ALL of the Economies of Scale - with a leading car manufacturing company perhaps as your example...

- Purchasing Economies (already explained?)

- Financial Economies 

- Marketing Economies

- Managerial Economies

- Technical Economies

- Risk-Bearing Economies

YOUR ideas on how to teach Economies and Diseconomies of Scale?

 BUSINESS ETHICS

IKEA found to be intruding on privacy of workforce and fined in French courts.

CLICK here to go to the article from the BBC.

SUGGESTIONS :  

Use this article with your students to discuss Business Ethics and multinational corporations.  

Other examples of Businesses operating unethical practices?

Ask students to find out some more information about the following companies - and how they have been accused of operating unethically in one form or another in recent years :

- APPLE

- NIKE

- NESTLE

(Perhaps the students could produce their own presentation to the class - to be shared with all of the students afterwards as well?)

 BUSINESS KEY TERMS

FOR students to complete -  a full list of the KEY TERMS which complements perfectly with the IGCSE Pearson Edexcel Business 9-1 course.  

Designed primarily as a worksheet activity for students to complete as they progress through the course on their own.  However it does come with an answer sheet with clear explanations and many real-life and up-to-date examples of how the terms might relate to the Business world, which students will recognise and understand today.

Available to purchase either individually depending on the Unit and/or the topic - OR at a reduced price - as a bundle - which covers ALL five units of the course.

The TOPIC areas cover :

- Business Activity & Influences on Business

- People in Business

- Business Finance

- Marketing

- Business Operations

The key terms used are of course relevant to the vast majority of Business courses based in the UK and around the world as well.

CLICK on the image below to access the TES Shop - look for IGCSE KEY TERMS & IGCSE KEY TERMS Bundle Pack :

 BUSINESS ETHICS : A Marketing 'MAKEOVER'? 

Read this fascinating article from The Guardian about Phillip Morris - the producers of Marlboro Cigarrettes amongst other tobacco brands....  

Phillip Morris - takeover of Pharmaceuticals firm - Click to Link

Use the article to start a classroom debate - with the following questions in mind :

- How likely are such makeovers to succeed in resetting the image of the company in the eyes of the public?

- What other examples can the students come up with - when firms have tried to transform their image in the eyes of the consumer?    

To help with this - perhaps consider the following examples :

- BP (formerly British Petroleum - now short for 'Beyond Petroleum' - with a completely changed logo to go with it..

McDonalds - now with a green backdrop and an increasing range of non-meat alternatives on the menu - as well as more environmentally-friendly packaging...

TOPICS :  

BUSINESS ETHICS / TAKEOVERS / CONGLOMERATES / MARKETING / RISK-BEARING ECONOMIES

Personal Perspective :  Is this the equivalent of an arsonist being put in charge of putting out the fire - when it comes to public health concerns??     Your Opinions?

CORPORATE STRATEGY - Quiz Game 

Spin The Wheel - Business Strategy Key Terms

This links perfectly with the Edexcel A2 and IA2 course, but useful for any post-16 Business course.

The RULES : 

Split the class into small teams.

Each team to get chance to spin the wheel.

The team that spins gets 2 minutes to confer a joint response to the meaning of the key term.  If the tutor deems the answer to be sufficiently accurate - 2 marks awarded.

If the answer is incorrect - the tutor will allow the following team to try to answer - no further conferring allowed.  If the answer is correct - a bonus mark is awarded.  If incorrect, all remaining teams get chance for bonus point, in order.

Select Hide for each Key Term correctly answered.

5 rounds - after which the winning team is declared the WINNER. 

WordWall - a thoroughly recommended site and value for money also - for what it offers.

SPIN THE WHEEL  - Click on to start!

SCORE SHEET  - Click on to Copy and then Complete!

 

 

 

TES Shop - FrankBIZ Resources 

Resources to download for free and to purchase.

 

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Frank BIZ Resources - WELCOME!

Welcome to the new Blog for all professionals involved in the teaching of Business to students across the world.  

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Marketing, Business Operations, Business Finance, Human Resources, Business Structures, International Business, Business Strategy and Investment Decision-Making.

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