ACQUISITIONS - ADS & DISADS

Why has Microsoft, the owners of XBox - just spent almost $70 billion in order to buy Activision Blizzard, the gaming pubisher which produces games such as Call of Duty.

CLICK HERE to read this article from the Guardian - to find out more!

SUGGESTIONS :

- Students to read the article and to produce a list of reasons both why this takeover might prove to be a good move on the part of Microsoft, as well as reasons why this aquisition might not turn out to have been money well spent - based on the evidence in the source - and own knowledge.

 EMERGING MARKETS

What is happening with the Chinese economy in recent times and how is this likely to affect business prospects around the world?  

CLICK HERE to this article from the New York Times on potential problems with the Chinese economy.

SUGGESTIONS :

- Students to read article and to make separate list of positive aspects of economic growth and business opportunities in China, together with evidence of falling growth and business threats.

- Use article as a springboard to find out more about the recent state of the Chinese economy - and whether or not it still represents a good place for non-Chinese firms to trade, in terms of FDI and as a place to seek Joint Ventures with Chinese firms based in the country.  (Presentation to the class on this?)

SOCIAL TRENDS : OPPORTUNITIES & THREATS

 

CLICK HERE to an article from The Guardian to find out how consumer buying habits linked to social concerns with the environment, social justice and animal welfare - are changing in the UK.

SUGGESTIONS :

Ask the students to list a number of different industries which are affected in some way or another with the changing pattern of consumer buying habits.

For each industry suggested - ask the students to pair up and to consider how a business in each industry selected might try to react in order to benefit in some way from the changes being seen in consumer buying habits.

The students work for a major supermarket company based in their own country.  Ask the students to detail a strategic plan for the following year - designed to improve sales - on the premise that the trends seen in the UK are similar to those in their own country (if not the UK).

 MARKETING & PEOPLE KEY TERMS

 

SPIN THE WHEEL!

CLICK HERE to test your ability to explain the meaning of key terms - linked to the Edexcel IAL and A level Unit 1 syllabus in particular...

CLICK HERE for another set of 50 Key Terms connected to Unit 1...

CLICK HERE to keep the scores up-to-date with your teams.

This free resource can be combined with a purchase of the KEY TERMS for Unit 1 of the IAL Business course.

CLICK HERE to buy the resource from Frank BIZ Resources NOW.

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. 

TRIUMPH & NICHE MARKETING

 TRIUMPH & NICHE MARKETING

 How does Triumph succeed in ensuring that it's niche marketing strategy works, given the competition from the mass market producers of motorbikes?

CLICK HERE to read the article on how the UK-based motorbike firm aims to attract customers and to develop a deep sense of customer loyalty.

SUGGESTIONS :

Ask the class to read the article and to list the ways in which TRIUMPH attempts to ensure that their marketing strategy links in with their target audience.

REBRANDING :  From Facebook to META

Why has Facebook recently decided to change it's name to Meta? 

CLICK HERE to read the article which examines a number of changes to well-known company names, with a brief explanation as to the reasons behind them - and an attempt at showing whether or not they have proven to be successful or not. 

SUGGESTIONS :

- Ask students for their own reasons why Facebook has decided to rebrand itself as META.  (get students to understand some of the negative publicity surrounding Facebook - such as negative self-image and self-esteem, and issues with relation to privacy of data and the manipulation of opinions, to threats it may pose to democracic organisations).

- Students to take own notes on other examples of rebranding covered in this article - together with evidence on whether or not the rebranding has proven to be successful.

- Individual student research on companies that have been involved in rebranding in some way in recent years  (SKODA, Coca Cola, M&S, LIDL - a few more examples perhaps to consider...)  Students to show their presentations based on their research to the class.

 DEMAND & SUPPLY DIAGRAMS

CLICK HERE to purchase your copy of the Demand & Supply diagram test from the TES resources website.

This test comes complete with a separate and clear Mark-Scheme with diagrams, and a further short TOP TIPS booklet describing the best way to attain FULL MARKS when asked to complete Demand & Supply diagrams in examinations.