Your the store manager of busy fashion retailer Off The Rails. Five hard-worked staff are feeling the pressure. You want to motivate them...but, do your staff want a bonus, or just a little respect?

The motivational theorists had some ideas, but can them be put into practice? This new simulation for AQA A-Level Business (2026) puts students in the hot seat.

Motivate Me places students in charge of a retail team at Christmas. The twist? The staff are coded to represent motivation theorists.

• Callum only wants cash (Taylor).
• Aisha wants responsibility (Maslow).
• Dev wants flexible hours (Herzberg).

They are advised by Tay Lore (who says "pay them based on results") and Herr Tseberg (who says "treat them better").

Students realise that a "one size fits all" motivation strategy fails. They have to "taylor" their approach to the individual

Try the Motivate Me simulation here

Browse the full series of mini business simulations for the AQA A-Level Business specification (2026)