Module 4: Competitiveness

Activities

Module 4.1 Enquiry 1: The petrol stakes
Petrol sales provide a good context for thinking about a market which has relatively few players but at some times, and in some places, very fierce price competition. The focus is on the elements of a pricing strategy, which might take in both price and non-price competition. Useful as an introduction.

Module 4.1 Enq 1: The petrol stakes (, 462 KB)

Module 4.1 Enquiry 1: Going the distance
Taxis usually compete to a degree but entry may be restricted. Students consider entry, exit and contestability, through brainstorming, in discussion and answering questions.

Module 4.1 Enquiry 1: Going the distance (, 168 KB)

Module 4.1 Enquiry 3: Who sets the price?
The stimulus material consists of six mini-case studies. Students think out in pairs how much market power different types of business may have, and when consumers are relatively powerful.

Module 4.1 Enquiry 3: Who sets the price? (, 41 KB)

Module 4.1 Enquiry 4: Tesco's strategy
Students are asked to compare the leading supermarkets. There is substantial data included in Nuffield Investigations but the outline of the activity can be used without it, if students investigate for themselves. Some of the data provided on the Nuffield Investigations CD came from studies done during the 1990s; the basic supermarket data goes up to 2002. Some of the older data are still useful, covering areas on which information is scarce.

Module 4.1 Enquiry 4: Tesco's Strategy (, 45 KB)

Module 4.1 Enquiry 4: Going global
This activity uses basic data (which can be found in the Nuffield Database, but there are other sources) and the IKEA web site. It consists of a guided investigation of IKEA's international operations, leading to a brief consideration of multinational marketing.

Module 4.1 Enquiry 4: Going global (, 201 KB)

Module 4.1 Enquiry 5: I will if you will ...
This is a decision taking activity designed to highlight pricing strategies. It provides a context for thinking about game theory.

Module 4.1 Enquiry 5: I will if you will ... (, 32 KB)

Module 4.2 Enquiry 1: Gloom Town
The context of this case study is an illustration of an area in need of regeneration. Students explore the effects of different government policies which might help to improve competitiveness. It would make a good introduction to Module 4.2.

Module 4.2 Enquiry 1: Gloom Town (, 220 KB)

Module 4.2 Enquiry 2: War or Peace
Consideration of everyday products leads into an investigation of pricing and possible price fixing. There are opportunities to revise relevant prior knowledge, and leads onto the introduction of competition policy.

Module 4.2 Enquiry 2: War or peace (, 91 KB)

Module 4.2 Enquiry 3: Making an entrance
Using the data in the Nuffield Investigations program, students create a proposal for a new food business. This is essentially a decision-taking activity, based on a wealth of data. Much of the data is from the 90s but it is not easy to update. It still provides a lot of relevant information which can be used to inform the necessary decisions.

Module 4.2 Enquiry 3: Making an entrance (, 85 KB)

Module 4.2 Enquiry 3: Who concentrates?
This activity has been updated. It covers concentration ratios and the reasons why some industries are more concentrated than others. Open-ended questions explore the implications of concentration for competition in the relevant markets.

Module 4.2 Enquiry 3: Who concentrates? (, 97 KB)

Module 4.2 Enquiry 4: Flying too high?
This is a role play, designed to develop arguments for and against a merger. The context is the airlines. Thinly disguised companies are in dispute and a lively discussion can be expected. The lesson plan has been used to effect during an Ofsted inspection. It provides an example of how an activity can be set up with very clear objectives and a tight structure. It might be useful in any observation situation, or where the teacher is fairly new to the course, or as a source of clues to the making of a good lesson.

Module 4.2 Enquiry 4: Flying too high? (, 50 KB)
Module 4.2 Enquiry 4: Flying too high? Lesson plan (, 38 KB)

Module 4.2 Enquiry 4: Fitter, leaner, meaner
The subject matter is government policies that might improve competitiveness. Students in groups explore a range of policies, thinking through the pros and cons of each and making comparisons.

Module 4.2 Enquiry 4: Fitter, leaner, meaner (, 36 KB)

Module 4 – General – A Bug's Life
This activity provides test-type questions in a student-friendly context. It gives practice in dealing with the kind of questions likely to be encountered in the early part of the Unit 4 exam.

Module 4 - general - Bug's life activity (, 30 KB)
Module 4 - general - Bug's life answers (, 28 KB)