Identifying World Problems

Unit: Navigating Global Business Challenges

Year Level: 11

Duration: 60 minutes

Class size: 20 students

Learning Area: Business Studies

Lesson Description

This is the first lesson in the unit "Navigating Global Business Challenges". Students will explore and identify significant global issues impacting businesses today. Through interactive discussion and structured research activities, students will define problems such as climate change, inequality, and resource scarcity, and discuss why these issues matter for businesses operating in a global environment.

Curriculum Alignment

This lesson closely aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum, focusing on:

Learning Area: Social Sciences (Business context)

Achievement Objective Level 6: Understand that people’s management of resources impacts on communities and the environment.
Focus on Globalisation and Sustainability as future-focused issues that connect well with business studies, encouraging students to think critically about economic, social, and environmental challenges.

Key Competencies

Thinking: exploring complex global issues and critically evaluating their impact on business operations.
Using language, symbols, and texts: researching and communicating business-related global issues.
Participating and contributing: sharing ideas and working collaboratively in discussions and group activities.
Relating to others: understanding diverse perspectives, including tangata whenua (Māori worldview) and global contexts.
Managing self: independently researching and reflecting on global business challenges.

Values

Sustainability: fostering understanding of responsible business practices that consider long-term environmental and social effects.
Innovation, diversity, and equity: acknowledging business challenges related to social inequality and opportunities for innovative solutions.

Learning Objectives

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

Identify and describe key global problems affecting businesses, including climate change, inequality, and resource scarcity.
Explain the relevance of these global issues to business operations and decision-making.
Communicate their understanding through group discussion and short presentations.

Resources Needed

Whiteboard and markers
Printed handouts summarising key global issues impacting business (climate change, inequality, resource scarcity)
Access to internet-enabled devices for research (tablets/laptops)
Projector for teacher-led presentations
Chart paper and markers for group brainstorming

Lesson Structure

1. Warm-up and Introduction (10 minutes)

Begin with a brief class discussion: "What do you think are some problems in the world that could affect businesses?"
Write students’ responses on the board to activate prior knowledge.
Introduce the lesson focus: "Today, we will explore some major global challenges that businesses must navigate in today's world."
Relate to the local context (e.g., how climate change affects New Zealand export industries, or inequality affects markets and consumer bases).

2. Teacher-Led Brief Presentation (10 minutes)

Provide concise background on three major global issues impacting businesses today:
Climate Change: impacts on supply chains, costs, regulations, and consumer expectations.
Inequality: income gaps, access to resources, and social responsibility pressures.
Resource Scarcity: limited natural resources, increased competition, impact on sustainable business practices.
Emphasise global interconnectedness and the importance of understanding these for successful business management.

3. Small Group Research Activity (20 minutes)

Divide class into 3 groups, each assigned one of the key global problems.
Provide guiding questions for research:
What is this problem?
How does it impact businesses globally?
Can you find a real business example affected by this problem?
Students use provided devices and handouts to research briefly and prepare a 3-minute explanation to share with class.
Teacher circulates and supports groups, prompting deeper thinking and noting key findings.

4. Group Presentations and Class Discussion (15 minutes)

Each group presents their findings to the class.
Facilitate discussion:
What common themes do you see in these problems?
How might businesses in New Zealand be affected compared to other countries?
What should businesses do to navigate these challenges?
Highlight how understanding these problems is a first step toward developing strategies in upcoming lessons.

5. Reflective Wrap-up and Exit Ticket (5 minutes)

Ask students to write a brief answer to the question: "Which global problem do you think will have the biggest impact on business in the next 10 years? Why?"
Collect responses for formative assessment of understanding and personal engagement.

Assessment Activity: Presentation or Poster on a World Problem

Task: Individually or in pairs, students will create a presentation or poster that identifies a significant world problem and explains its impact on businesses globally.
Instructions:
- Choose a world problem discussed in class or researched independently.
- Explain why this problem is important and how it affects businesses.
- Research and explain what the government is doing to counteract the identified world problem.
- Propose an alternative solution to the world problem, explaining how it could be effective.
- Use facts, statistics, and examples to support your explanation.
- Present your work clearly using visuals and concise text.
Criteria for Success:
- Clear identification of the world problem.
- Explanation of the problem's impact on businesses.
- Description of government actions addressing the problem.
- Proposal of a feasible alternative solution.
- Use of relevant evidence and examples.
- Effective communication through presentation or poster design.
- Engagement with the audience during presentation (if applicable).

Assessment and Feedback

Formative assessment based on exit tickets to gauge understanding and engagement with global issues.
Observation of group work and presentations for collaboration and communication skills aligned with Key Competencies.
Use of guiding questions during group research to prompt higher-order thinking and connection-making.

Differentiation and Inclusion

Provide varying levels of scaffolding in research questions to support diverse learners.
Encourage te ao Māori perspectives by discussing the relationship between resource use and kaitiakitanga (guardianship).
Ensure all students have access to technology or provide alternative printed resources.
Use varied communication formats (oral, written, visual) to support diverse learners.

Next Steps

Lesson 2 will focus on analysing how businesses respond to these global challenges, considering opportunities and risks.
Lesson 3 will explore strategies for navigating complex international environments through case studies.

This lesson plan integrates the New Zealand Curriculum’s emphasis on using relevant, future-focused learning to develop students’ critical understanding of globalisation and sustainability within Business Studies. The active research and discussion format aligns with Year 11 students’ developing cognitive and social competencies, supporting engaged, inquiry-based learning.

If you require further tailoring or resources for student handouts and presentations, please let me know!

Teaching Instructions