Business Comparisons

Unit: Evolving Business Strategies

Lesson 2 of 12
Duration: 45 minutes
Class Size: 6 students
Year Level: 12 (Queensland Curriculum)

Lesson Title

Business Characteristics and Situations

Learning Area

Business (Economics and Business Strand)

Queensland Curriculum Alignment

This lesson supports the development of the following Queensland Curriculum Achievement Standards and objectives for Year 12 Business, specifically under the unit "Evolving Business Strategies":

Analyse business environments, considering internal and external factors influencing strategic decisions, particularly in the post-maturity stage of the business lifecycle.
Compare characteristics and situations of businesses making repositioning or transformation strategies to maintain competitiveness and relevance.
Employ economic and business concepts and terminology accurately in the analysis and communication of business scenarios.
Incorporate research and data to make evidence-based conclusions about business performance and strategic options.

The lesson will align with the development of skills in interpreting and analysing economic and business information from various sources, consistent with the curriculum focus on decision-making based on internal and external contextual factors.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Identify and describe key characteristics of businesses in the post-maturity stage.
Analyse internal and external factors influencing these businesses.
Compare and contrast two or more businesses through a Venn diagram to visualise similarities and differences.
Communicate business characteristics and contextual factors clearly using structured templates.

Success Criteria

Completion of a clear, colour-coded Venn diagram illustrating the similarities and differences of selected businesses in the post-maturity stage.
Participation in pair discussions to deepen understanding of business factors.
Use of correct business terminology in explanations and comparisons.

Resources Required

Printed and digital colour-coded Venn diagram templates (dyslexia-friendly with clear fonts and colours).
Case studies/fact sheets on selected businesses at the post-maturity stage.
Whiteboard or digital display for teacher modelling.
Laptops or tablets for optional digital work.
Coloured markers/pens.

Lesson Breakdown

Time	Activity	Details	Differentiation / Support
5 mins	Introduction & Context Setting	Teacher introduces the concept of the post-maturity stage in a business lifecycle. Briefly explain internal vs external factors affecting business strategy. Model examples on the whiteboard.	Use of visual aids and clear, concise language. Highlight key terms with colour.
10 mins	Pair Research & Information Gathering	Students work in pairs to read fact sheets on two chosen businesses. They identify internal factors (e.g., management style, financial performance) and external factors (e.g., market trends, competition).	Pairs support each other; teacher circulates offering scaffolds or simplifying language as needed. Use guiding questions for those with ADHD/dyslexia.
15 mins	Venn Diagram Completion	Using the provided colour-coded templates, pairs create Venn diagrams comparing the businesses' characteristics and situational factors. They highlight overlapping aspects and distinct features.	Templates have dyslexia-friendly fonts and colour coding. Students can verbally dictate ideas to the teacher or use speech-to-text tools if necessary.
10 mins	Pair Presentations & Discussion	Each pair presents their Venn diagram briefly to class, explaining key points. Class discusses differences and similarities. Teacher prompts with probing questions to deepen analysis.	Encourages oral communication skills; diverse learners supported by small group setting and collaborative work.
5 mins	Lesson Reflection & Extension Task Introduction	Reflect on learning with guided questions: "What surprised you about the businesses compared?" "How do internal/external factors influence decision-making?" Introduce extension activity for advanced learners.	Reflection questions provided in writing and verbally.

Differentiation Strategies

Pair work to facilitate peer support, ideal for learners with ADHD or dyslexia who may benefit from peer scaffolding.
Colour-coded and dyslexia-friendly templates help reduce cognitive load.
Clear chunking of tasks with step-by-step instructions.
Oral and written prompts.
Teacher availability for one-on-one assistance during activities.

Extension Activities

Students independently create a digital presentation (using software like PowerPoint or Canva) comparing repositioning strategies of two businesses in the post-maturity stage.
Students research additional companies to broaden their analysis.
Investigate how repositioning affects market share and consumer perception.

Dyslexia-Friendly Options

Use colour-coded diagrams with high contrast colours.
Provide printed fact sheets with clear, sans-serif fonts (e.g., Arial, Calibri) and generous spacing.
Offer audio recordings or read-aloud supports for fact sheets.
Allow use of speech-to-text technology during diagram explanation or extension activity.
Break down instructions into simple steps and repeat orally.

Assessment

Formative assessment through observation of pair work and discussion participation.
Evaluation of completed Venn diagrams against criteria: clear identification of internal/external factors, relevant comparisons, neat presentation with colour coding.
Optional submission of extension digital presentation for extended assessment of conceptual understanding and communication skills.

Teacher Reflection Prompts

Did students demonstrate understanding of post-maturity business characteristics and influencing factors?
Were the differentiation strategies effective for diverse learners?
Did the pair work facilitate engagement and scaffolded learning?
How effective were the dyslexia-friendly resources in supporting student success?
What changes can be made to support even deeper analysis in future lessons?

This lesson plan meets the Queensland Curriculum requirements for Year 12 Business, focusing on critical analysis of strategic business stages, using interactive, scaffolded activities that support diverse learner needs including those with ADHD and dyslexia. It provides a clear success criteria, differentiation, and extension grounded in curriculum content and pedagogy.

Teaching Instructions