Active learning ideas
Business expansion explores why and how companies grow over time. Students analyse the motives for expansion, such as increasing profits, achieving economies of scale, or diversifying into new markets. They also examine the different methods of growth, distinguishing between organic (internal) growth and inorganic (external) growth through mergers and acquisitions.
Activity 01
Divide the class into two 'companies' (e.g., a local coffee chain and a bakery). They must negotiate the terms of a merger, discussing how they will combine their brands, what will happen to staff, and where the new headquarters will be.
Why do businesses choose to expand?
Activity 02
Groups research an Irish company that has expanded globally (e.g., Ryanair, CRH, or Glanbia). They must identify whether the growth was organic or inorganic and present the key reasons why the company chose to expand abroad.
What is the difference between organic and inorganic growth?
Activity 03
Students are given a scenario of a small business that grew too quickly and is now struggling. They must think of three potential reasons for this (e.g., cash flow problems, loss of quality), discuss with a partner, and then share their 'lessons learned' with the class.
How do mergers and acquisitions affect stakeholders?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Bigger is always better for a business.
Expansion can lead to 'diseconomies of scale', where a business becomes too large and inefficient. Active learning tasks that simulate 'communication lag' in a large group help students see the practical downsides of being too big.
A merger and an acquisition are the same thing.
A merger is a mutual agreement to join, while an acquisition is one company 'taking over' another (sometimes against their will). Role-playing the different 'vibes' of a friendly merger vs. a hostile takeover helps students understand the impact on employee morale and company culture.
Methods used in this brief
Identifying Business Opportunities
Learn how businesses generate new ideas and conduct market research. Students will differentiate between desk and field research methods.
8 methodologies
The Marketing Mix
Explore the four Ps of marketing: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. Students will design a marketing strategy for a hypothetical product.
8 methodologies