Strategic Business Decisions

Lesson Overview

This 50-minute lesson is designed for A-level Business students, focusing on the AQA A-Level Business specification. It will cover Section 3.10: Strategic Decision-Making with an emphasis on Section 3.10.1: Managing Change. The objective is to equip students with a deep understanding of how businesses adapt to change, utilising models, theories, and real-world examples to solidify their learning. This interactive and thought-provoking lesson fosters critical thinking, group discussion, and independent analysis, with methods that will engage and inspire students.

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Learning Objectives

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

• Understand key concepts surrounding managing organisational change.
• Use Lewin’s Force Field Analysis and Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model to analyse business decisions.
• Evaluate the impact of change on various stakeholders.
• Apply theory to real-world business case studies.

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

Objective: Set the stage for the lesson and engage the students' interest.

Teacher Notes

• Greet and energise students with a question-driven approach. Begin with:

  “Why do businesses struggle with change? Name a company you believe managed change well or poorly.”

• Use a flip chart or whiteboard to jot responses. Encourage brief discussion.

Slide Content:

• Title: Why Is Change Vital for Businesses?
• A thought-provoking quote:

  "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, but the one most responsive to change." – Charles Darwin

• Bullet Points:
  • Change in dynamic industries (e.g. Tech, Retail).
  • Impact of external/internal environments (PESTLE, SWOT).

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2. Core Content (20 minutes)

Objective: Teach core theories and apply them to real-world contexts.

Part A: Theoretical Frameworks (10 minutes)

Teacher Notes:

• Explain Lewin’s Force Field Analysis:

  • Forces driving vs. restraining change.
  • Visualise examples (e.g., Tesco's response to online shopping trends).

• Discuss Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model:

  • Include steps (e.g., "Create Urgency," "Build Partnerships").
  • Explain in simple terms for student comprehension.

Slide Content:

Title: Frameworks for Managing Change

Slide 1: Lewin's Force Field Analysis

• Forces driving change: Customer demand, competition.
• Forces restraining change: Employee resistance, cost.

Slide 2: Kotter’s 8-Step Process

• Urgency, Vision, Communication, Empowering, Short-Term Wins, Consolidation, etc.
• Visualisation: Flowchart of stages.

Part B: Real-World Application (10 minutes)

Teacher Notes:

• Case Study 1: Netflix's transition from DVDs to streaming services.

  • Students discuss: What forces drove this change? What resistance might Netflix have faced?

• Case Study 2 (localised example): Marks & Spencer's clothing market challenges.

  • Students reflect: How could Kotter's model aid strategic decisions?

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3. Group Activity (15 minutes)

Objective: Encourage teamwork and synthesis of knowledge.

Task Instructions for Students:

• In pairs, pick one of the following UK firms:
  • Tesco, British Airways, or John Lewis.
• Using a whiteboard or large paper, identify the forces driving/restraining a given change (use Lewin’s Force Field and explain how Kotter’s steps might help manage transitions).

Teacher Notes:

• Walk around to guide students with constructive feedback.
• Conclude with 2-minute presentations from each group.

Slide Content:

Title: Over to You!
Subheading: Activity Instructions

• Select a UK business case example.
• Draw on Lewin’s and Kotter’s frameworks.

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4. Wrap-Up & Reflection (5 minutes)

Objective: Reinforce understanding and highlight takeaways.

Teacher Notes:

• Recap key learning objectives:
  1. What is change in business?
  2. How do Lewin and Kotter help manage change?
• Ask students:
  • What surprised them most about the strategic decision frameworks?
  • What might they explore further in their independent study?

Slide Content:

Title: Key Takeaways

• Change is constant and complex in businesses.
• Frameworks provide clarity and structure to manage it.
• Real-world businesses are an excellent source to see theories in action.

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Homework Task (Optional Extension Activity)

Objective: Extend learning beyond the classroom.

Task:

• Research a UK-based company that recently underwent significant change.
• In 250 words, outline the change process, analyse it using either Lewin’s or Kotter’s model, and submit your response for discussion in the next lesson.

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Materials Needed

• Projector and slides.
• Flip chart or whiteboard with markers.
• Handouts (summarising Lewin’s and Kotter’s frameworks).

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Teacher’s Key Tips for Success:

• Tie all examples back to UK-based businesses for curriculum relevance.
• Make every slide visually engaging with simple charts, flow diagrams, and brief text.
• Encourage active participation through open-ended questioning and group work.

By using engaging teaching strategies aligned to the AQA specification, this lesson is designed to challenge and inspire A-Level students, equipping them to connect theoretical business insights with practical real-world applications.