Business · Year 13

Active learning ideas

Global Supply Chains and Ethics

Managing a global supply chain is a logistical and ethical minefield. Students investigate why businesses choose to outsource (using third parties) or offshore (moving their own operations abroad). While these moves can significantly reduce costs, they also increase the risk of ethical scandals, such as child labour or poor working conditions, which can devastate a brand's reputation in the UK market.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• AQA A-Level Business 3.9.4
• Edexcel A-Level Business Theme 4.3.1

• 35–50 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Inquiry Circle
• 50 min · Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: The Supply Chain Detective

Groups are given a 'scandal' (e.g., a factory fire or environmental spill). They must trace the supply chain back to a major UK brand and draft a crisis management plan to protect the brand's reputation.

What are the benefits of offshoring and outsourcing?

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Activity 02

• Formal Debate
• 35 min · Whole Class

Formal Debate: Profit vs. Ethics in Sourcing

Debate whether a business should stay with a cheap but 'ethically questionable' supplier or move to a certified 'Fair Trade' supplier that will force a 20% price increase for customers.

How can businesses ensure ethical practices in their global supply chains?

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Decision-Making

Activity 03

• Stations Rotation
• 40 min · Small Groups

Stations Rotation: Outsourcing vs. Offshoring

Stations provide different business scenarios. Groups must decide whether to outsource, offshore, or keep production in the UK, justifying their choice based on cost, quality, and ethical risk.

What is the role of corporate social responsibility in global business?

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• Outsourcing and Offshoring are the same thing.

  Outsourcing is *who* does the work (a different company). Offshoring is *where* the work is done (a different country). You can offshore without outsourcing. Using a simple matrix helps students keep these clear.

• Ethical sourcing is just about avoiding bad PR.

  While PR is a factor, ethical sourcing can also improve supply chain reliability, attract 'ethical' investors, and appeal to the growing segment of conscious consumers. Peer-researching the 'triple bottom line' helps broaden this view.

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Methods used in this brief

• Inquiry Circle
• Formal Debate
• Stations Rotation