External Influences in Business
Suggested Timeframe: 1-2 hours
Goal
To assist students in becoming more familiar with the external influences on a business.
Activities
Activity 1. Discussion
Ask students what outside sources of pressure and influence could be applied to a business. Make a list of examples with the class. Ask students for an example of an ethical business and an unethical one, and start a discussion on how important it is for the students that businesses act in a socially responsible way.
Activity 2. Quiz
Have students study the topic handout individually before forming into groups of four for the quiz. Each team only has a few moments to discuss the question and give an answer. Give points accordingly for good ideas. For question 3 (List THREE ways that ethical business operations benefit business), answers can include: Improved reputation, Highly motivated staff, Increased efficiency and productivity, and Reduced costs. For a more intense learning game, divide the topic into four subjects (such as pressure groups, government, business ethics and social responsibility). After the students have studied the topic handout and formed groups, ask them to assign a number, from 1 to 4, to each team player. Each player is now the ‘expert’ on the subject you assigned their number to, and only they can answer questions on that subject. This quiz is based on a resource from Co-operative Learning by Spencer Kagan.
Activity 3. Newspaper articles
Ask students to use the topic handout and their own research to write a series of fictional newspaper articles on the three scenarios outlined in the worksheet: Dangerous supermarket produce, New restaurant with no disabled access, and Contaminating emissions. This activity can also be set as homework.
Resources on business.govt.nz
- What is the advertising code of ethics? (an article on an example of an external influence, the Advertising Code of Ethics)
