Active learning ideas
People in Business focuses on the human element of the commercial world, examining the relationships between various stakeholders. Students analyze the roles of investors, employers, employees, consumers, and the government. This topic is critical for understanding how a business functions as a community of interests rather than just a profit-making machine.
Activity 01
Students take on roles as a disgruntled employee, a manager, and a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) mediator. They must attempt to resolve a dispute over unpaid overtime using the correct legal procedures discussed in class.
Who are the key stakeholders in a business?
Activity 02
Stations are set up around the room with different consumer complaints (e.g., a faulty laptop, a misleading sale price). Students move in pairs to identify which Irish law applies and what the specific remedy (refund, repair, replacement) should be.
How can conflicts between employers and employees be resolved?
Activity 03
Groups are given a well-known Irish company, such as Ryanair or Kerry Group. They must map out all stakeholders and identify a potential point of conflict between two groups, proposing a win-win solution.
What legal protections exist for consumers in Ireland?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
The interests of employers and employees are always in direct opposition.
While interests can conflict, both parties ultimately rely on the success of the business. Teaching the 'co-operative' relationship model alongside the 'competitive' model through role play helps students see the value of industrial harmony.
Consumers have no rights if they lose their receipt.
While a receipt is the best proof of purchase, other forms like bank statements are legally valid. Using a mock-trial format for a consumer complaint helps students understand the nuances of the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act.
Methods used in this brief
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