http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/ en tutor2u.net Copyright 2012 2012-02-12T11:47:19+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/tesco-takes-it-easy-controlling-costs-in-its-us-operations http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/tesco-takes-it-easy-controlling-costs-in-its-us-operations#When:11:22:54Z You may already know about Tesco’s overseas expansion strategy, and its Fresh & Easy venture in the States.  The US expansion is taking place in challenging economic conditions and according to The Guardian, the business is ‘mothballing’ a second wave of Fresh & Easy stores, suggesting that the supermarket group’s loss-making US start-up has hit another bump in the road. BUSINESS THEMES, Business Strategy, Credit Crunch, Enterprise and Startups, Economic Environment, International Business, Retailing, 2012-01-11T11:22:54+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/dragons-den-the-board-game http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/dragons-den-the-board-game#When:10:49:37Z How many Business teachers and students received this as a Christmas present? Certainly one student in my family did, and having tested it out the other evening, we found it quick to get into, good fun and quite competitive. Players take the role of Dragons, with a pile of cash to invest and several hundred cards with (rather brief) outlines of business ideas being pitched for investment. All the business ideas are, apparently, genuine; some you will recognise as having become big successes, some you may remember from the TV programme, some are very obscure. You have the chance to bet on the outcome of each, and the winner is simply the Dragon with the most money left at the end. After a couple of rounds we got into some wild all-or-nothing investments - some of which actually paid off! My next investment plan is to buy this for the classroom; it only needs half an hour or so to play it, and will be worth having for those lessons which need some light relief! Buy the Dragons Den board game from Amazon BUSINESS THEMES, Enterprise and Startups, EXAM BOARD SUPPORT, GCSE Business, TEACHING BUSINESS, 2012-01-02T10:49:37+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/strategies-to-revive-the-high-street-mary-portas-reports http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/strategies-to-revive-the-high-street-mary-portas-reports#When:11:49:25Z The woes of the UK High Street had begun long before the Credit Crunch and recession.  It seems that a combination of factors (think PEST analysis) have combined to create the difficulties that are squeezing this traditional sector of business activity.  Nobody has the answers to saving the High Street, but Mary “Queen of Shops” Portas has given it a go. Why not try this exercise for yourself? Firstly, use a form a marketing analysis like PEST or the Porters’ 5 Forces model to identify where the problems lie.  Secondly, make 3 recommendations to either firms or governments as to how they might resist the decline (there’s some background here to help).  Then read on… BUSINESS THEMES, Aims and Objectives, Business Strategy, Change Management, Credit Crunch, Enterprise and Startups, Economic Environment, Marketing, Retailing, 2011-12-13T11:49:25+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/characteristics-of-an-entrepreneur-fil-adams-mercer http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/characteristics-of-an-entrepreneur-fil-adams-mercer#When:09:39:37Z Born into poverty; can’t spell for toffee; no qualifications.  So why is this serial entrepreneur a multi-millionaire? BUSINESS THEMES, E-Business & E-Commerce, Enterprise and Startups, 2011-12-13T09:39:37+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/straight-talking-answers-to-business-questions-the-examiners-might-hate-som http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/straight-talking-answers-to-business-questions-the-examiners-might-hate-som#When:19:21:51Z I just love the regular series in the Telegraph in which business questions are answered by John Timpson, the Chairman of retail group Timpson. Here is yet another superb selection of three problems solved! BUSINESS THEMES, Enterprise and Startups, Leadership & Culture, Retailing, 2011-12-12T19:21:51+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/cut-price-cup-cake-deal-goes-wrong http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/cut-price-cup-cake-deal-goes-wrong#When:04:46:03Z This is classic business studies news article, packed full with learning for students! ‘Need a Cake’ is a small business in Reading owned by Rachel Brown, who has been in the baking business for 25 years and simply loves making and decorating cakes. Her website says “I can never remember a time, even as a child, when I did not enjoy creating innovative cakes.” The business employs eight people, and normal production is around 100 cakes a month. Mrs Brown thought she would like to try expanding a little, and decided to offer online vouchers for a discount deal in order to drum up some new customers - with disastrous results. BUSINESS THEMES, Business Strategy, E-Business & E-Commerce, Enterprise and Startups, Marketing, Retailing, Small Businesses, 2011-11-23T04:46:03+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/how-we-made-our-millions-michelle-mone-and-richard-reed-under-the-spotlight http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/how-we-made-our-millions-michelle-mone-and-richard-reed-under-the-spotlight#When:23:14:31Z I enjoyed watching this programme last night in which Peter Jones investigated Michelle Mone, founder of Ultimo, and Richard Reed, co-founder of Innocent in order to find out ‘How we made our millions’. The programme looked at their very different characters as Peter discussed with them their childhoods, studied their business models, asked staff what they are like to work for, and considered what it was that drove them to be entrepreneurs. BUSINESS THEMES, Business Organisation, Enterprise and Startups, Leadership & Culture, Operations Management, 2011-11-10T23:14:31+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/lets-teach-kids-to-be-entrepreneurs http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/lets-teach-kids-to-be-entrepreneurs#When:22:03:43Z A huge hat-tip to Debbie Gordon for spotting and recommending this 20 minute TED talk from Cameron Herold.  The subject is simple - how do we teach children to be entrepreneurs?  Show it to your students and see what their response is. BUSINESS THEMES, Enterprise and Startups, 2011-11-03T22:03:43+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/the-breakfast-enterprise-challenge-entrepreneurslive-2011 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/the-breakfast-enterprise-challenge-entrepreneurslive-2011#When:07:52:39Z Entries are now being accepted for the student enterprise competition being run at EntrepreneursLIVE! 2011 (London 14 Nov | Birmingham 15 Nov | Manchester 16 Nov).  This year we’re delighted to partner with Moma Foods to set a breakfast food challenge!  Details below and best wishes to all the student teams who enter for the three events.  Last year we had some great pitches for the fast food challenge - we’re sure that 2011 will be just as good… BUSINESS THEMES, Enterprise and Startups, 2011-10-31T07:52:39+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/meet-zoe-jackson-from-living-the-dream http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/meet-zoe-jackson-from-living-the-dream#When:13:35:21Z There is a nice feature on Zoe Jackson on Smarta.com today which provides a quick introduction to one of our entrepreneur speakers at EntrepreneursLIVE! 2011.  Zoe is fast turning into one of the UK’s most energetic and inspiring entrepreneurs for young people, a point not lost on Sir Richard Branson who has chosen Zoe as one of his three young business people to spearhead his new Control Shift campaign. BUSINESS THEMES, Enterprise and Startups, 2011-10-21T13:35:21+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/the-bottom-line-on-startups-and-mistakes http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/the-bottom-line-on-startups-and-mistakes#When:15:05:07Z This is 30 minutes of business studies gold dust.  Evan Davis brings together three superb speakers for this edition of The Bottom Line to discuss the nature of startups in the UK and also the related topic of innovation and adaptability.  Some terrific insights here for all A* students and I would highly recommend that you download the podcast for your own enjoyment too. BUSINESS THEMES, E-Business & E-Commerce, Enterprise and Startups, Small Businesses, 2011-10-19T15:05:07+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/how-pepsico-are-trying-to-control-diseconomies-of-scale http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/how-pepsico-are-trying-to-control-diseconomies-of-scale#When:14:04:03Z Big firms often face huge organisational difficulties that can slow them down and cause costs and problems to spiral.  So I was drawn to a BBC article the big businesses learning how to think small which appeared soon after Steve Jobs’ death.  His insistence on “no committees” and talking to everyone at least once a week was, he said, enough to keep Apple focused, efficient and successful.  I don’t know if that’s true, but for big corporations, with their vast resources and bewildering bureaucracy, operating with the attitude of a technology start-up is a distant dream (but with exciting possibilities).  Poor communication, low levels of motivation and a shortage of innovative ideas are classic diseconomies of scale that are typical of larger organisations. BUSINESS THEMES, Business Communication, Business Organisation, Enterprise and Startups, Leadership & Culture, 2011-10-18T14:04:03+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/entrepreneurslive-2011-speaker-line-up http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/entrepreneurslive-2011-speaker-line-up#When:17:19:59Z [updated 17 October 2011] News of the confirmed speakers for our popular EntrepreneursLIVE! 2011 events taking place in London (14 Nov), Birmingham (15 Nov) and Manchester (16 Nov).  We will update this blog entry with the final confirmed speakers once they have cleared their diaries for the day! Don’t forget that students attending EntrepreneursLIVE! 2011 can also enter the Breakfast Enterprise Challenge on the day.  Details here BUSINESS THEMES, Business Strategy, Credit Crunch, Enterprise and Startups, Small Businesses, 2011-10-17T17:19:59+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-quiz-startups-and-understanding-the-market http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-quiz-startups-and-understanding-the-market#When:09:52:46Z This revision quiz looks at how startups need to gain an understanding of their target market.  Ideal for exam units which cover the startup phase. Launch Startups and Understanding the Market BUSINESS THEMES, Enterprise and Startups, TEACHING BUSINESS, Business Quizzes, 2011-10-16T09:52:46+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/buss1-revision-quiz-locating-the-startup-business http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/buss1-revision-quiz-locating-the-startup-business#When:18:35:15Z What factors should a startup business consider when choosing its business location?  This question is addressed in this 10-question revision quiz on business location: Launch revision quiz on Locating the Startup Business BUSINESS THEMES, Enterprise and Startups, EXAM BOARD SUPPORT, AS & A2 Business, AQA BUSS1, TEACHING BUSINESS, Business Quizzes, 2011-10-12T18:35:15+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/problem-for-pupil-pest-solution http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/problem-for-pupil-pest-solution#When:09:17:05Z Entrepreneurs are risk takers, they spot gaps in a market where customers’ needs are left unfulfilled. They have to balance cash flow management against overstocking, anticipate the likely responses of intelligent rivals and the capricious behaviour of external regulators or governments. BUSINESS THEMES, Business Strategy, Enterprise and Startups, Political & Legal Environment, Small Businesses, EXAM BOARD SUPPORT, GCSE Business, AQA GCSE Business, CIE IGCSE Business, Edexcel GCSE Business, Edexcel IGCSE Business, 2011-10-11T09:17:05+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/management-by-committe-not-at-apple2 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/management-by-committe-not-at-apple2#When:20:30:07Z Since Steve Jobs died last week much has been written and said about his autocratic leadership style and how he built (and rebuilt) the company he co-founded, Apple, into the global brand it is today. Richard Branson wrote an excellent piece on Jobs’ leadership style and enterpreneurial spirit in which he stated that his approach to leadership differed markedly from that of Jobs. The YouTube clip below is of an interview with Jobs in which he stated that there were no committees at all within Apple. A stroke of genius, motivating and empowering senior staff? Or because Jobs needed to maintain control over the company and oversee everything in the weekly meeting where all aspects of the company’s operations were discussed? BUSINESS THEMES, Business Organisation, Business Strategy, Enterprise and Startups, Leadership & Culture, TEACHING BUSINESS, Video Case Studies, 2011-10-09T20:30:07+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/applying-for-a-franchise http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/applying-for-a-franchise#When:22:28:55Z Writing a good assignment or homework is not an easy task. Text books rarely offer anything that is challenging or interesting enough. I am extremely grateful to Jon Mace’s recent blog on Jaguar Land Rover which I used as homework for my Year 12 pupils. The articles were great and all the pupils produced some of their best work so far. I have been teaching Franchising recently and in an attempt to avoid a standard discussion of the advantages and disadvantages to the Franchisee and Franchisor (yawn!) I came up with the attached assignment. BUSINESS THEMES, Business Strategy, Enterprise and Startups, Small Businesses, EXAM BOARD SUPPORT, AS & A2 Business, OCR F291, 2011-10-06T22:28:55+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/steve-jobs-1955-20111 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/steve-jobs-1955-20111#When:07:57:12Z Steve Jobs the co-founder of Apple Inc died today. The short video sums up some of his leadership characteristics, charismatic, driven, dictatorial and visionary. BUSINESS THEMES, Business & Technology, Business Organisation, Business Strategy, Change Management, Enterprise and Startups, Leadership & Culture, Marketing, Retailing, TEACHING BUSINESS, 2011-10-06T07:57:12+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/the-most-popular-business-studies-blog-entries-in-september-2011 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/the-most-popular-business-studies-blog-entries-in-september-2011#When:22:09:33Z With over 4,500 business studies blog entries now available, there is a long tail of content for blog readers.  However, the following were the top 20 blog entries in September 2011 based purely on page views. Have a browse to see if there is something you missed… BUSINESS THEMES, Business Strategy, Credit Crunch, Enterprise and Startups, Small Businesses, 2011-09-30T22:09:33+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/invention-in-a-bottle http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/invention-in-a-bottle#When:13:30:00Z How can an empty plastic drinks bottle make lives better for residents of a shanty town?  Here’s a great video that may be of use in covering invention & creative thinking, for which a hat tip is extended across the foyer of the Freman College Business Education Suite to my HoD Luke McIlvenna. BUSINESS THEMES, Enterprise and Startups, 2011-09-28T13:30:00+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/win-a-copy-of-start-it-up-by-luke-johnson http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/win-a-copy-of-start-it-up-by-luke-johnson#When:07:55:01Z Update: Winners announced! The competition is closed - and the winners chosen at random from the 160 correct entries.  Many congratulations to the following winners: Vici Hodges; Maggie Soutar; Cathy Guy; Amy Hobbs; Sophie Spiby Luke Johnson, perhaps Britain’s busiest entrepreneur and a superb writer on enterprise, has just published a new book.  Start It Up is a certainly a must-read for aspiring entrepreneurs, and is probably the best book available on the subject for business teachers and students.  There is no padding; no bullshit.  Just refreshingly honest advice from someone who really does know what is writing about. We’ve got five copies of Start It Up to give away to the winners of this simple quiz competition… BUSINESS THEMES, Enterprise and Startups, 2011-09-16T07:55:01+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-market-mapping http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-market-mapping#When:22:41:00Z To improve its chances of success, a new business needs to take care positioning its product in the market.  That involves market research, segmentation and a process some call “market mapping”... BUSINESS THEMES, Enterprise and Startups, Marketing, REVISION PRESENTATIONS, 2011-09-07T22:41:00+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-understanding-customer-needs http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-understanding-customer-needs#When:22:22:00Z A new business needs to have an effective understanding of the needs and wants of customers in its target market segment.  This revision presentation outlines the main methods of market research that a startup can use to identify those customer needs. BUSINESS THEMES, Enterprise and Startups, Marketing, Small Businesses, REVISION PRESENTATIONS, 2011-09-07T22:22:00+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-risks-and-rewards-to-enterprise http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-risks-and-rewards-to-enterprise#When:17:04:00Z Entrepreneurs taking calculated risks expect to enjoy suitable rewards for their endeavour.  But what are these risks and rewards?  And how can an entrepreneur minimise risk? This updated revision presentation provides an overview… BUSINESS THEMES, Aims and Objectives, Enterprise and Startups, Small Businesses, REVISION PRESENTATIONS, 2011-09-07T17:04:00+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-adding-value http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-adding-value#When:17:01:00Z This revision presentation examines the concept of adding value - the ways in which a business can achieve revenues that are higher than the cost of the inputs into the production or operations process. BUSINESS THEMES, Business Strategy, Customer Service, Enterprise and Startups, Marketing, Small Businesses, EXAM BOARD SUPPORT, AS & A2 Business, AQA BUSS1, Edexcel Unit 1, OCR F291, REVISION PRESENTATIONS, 2011-09-07T17:01:00+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-objectives-of-new-businesses http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-objectives-of-new-businesses#When:21:56:00Z This updated revision presentation looks at the different objectives that might be set by the entrepreneurs when they set up a new business… BUSINESS THEMES, Aims and Objectives, Enterprise and Startups, REVISION PRESENTATIONS, 2011-09-06T21:56:00+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-enterprise-skills http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-enterprise-skills#When:21:54:00Z In this revision presentation, we outline the key skills demonstrated by successful entrepreneurs…. BUSINESS THEMES, Enterprise and Startups, Small Businesses, REVISION PRESENTATIONS, 2011-09-06T21:54:00+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/the-puzzle-of-rising-profits http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/the-puzzle-of-rising-profits#When:20:33:13Z Would you have guessed that a whole host of companies are reporting bumper profits, even as the economy struggles?  Apparently so.  Despite all the concerns about the world economy, many corporations have still been recording large profits which, on the whole, have been much better than analysts had forecast. BUSINESS THEMES, Business & Technology, Enterprise and Startups, Economic Environment, Finance & Accounting, 2011-09-05T20:33:13+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/insights-from-an-entrepreneur-lara-morgan-pacific-direct http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/insights-from-an-entrepreneur-lara-morgan-pacific-direct#When:14:54:00Z The Virgin Media Pioneers channel looks like it will provide some excellent teaching materials as it grows, and I particularly like this interview with Lara Morgan, the hugely successful founder of Pacific Direct, a manufacturer and supplier of luxury hotel toiletries. Lots of great insights into factors that determine whether a startup will be successful in an interview conducted by the excellent David McQueen… BUSINESS THEMES, Enterprise and Startups, Small Businesses, TEACHING BUSINESS, Video Case Studies, 2011-09-05T14:54:00+00:00