Business Basics

Just as the human body needs to accomplish certain activities to live and maintain health, companies need to engage in primary business activities to survive—and thrive. In this LAP, students will discover the core business activities of financial analysis, human resources management, information management, marketing, operations, and strategic management. Students will also learn about the interdependence of these activities and how they shift and adapt during changing circumstances. LAPs...

Writing down everything that you want isn’t easy. That’s because we all have unlimited, competing wants, but our resources are limited. As a result, we must learn to make wise economic choices. Economics is all about decision-making—determining how to get the most satisfaction with the fewest resources. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT!...

What’s the difference between economic and noneconomic wants? What are goods and services? How can goods and services be classified? This LAP answers these questions and explains even more about economic goods and services. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that includes information about economic goods and services, a (So...

Economic resources (factors of production) enable businesses to produce the goods and services that consumers want. Regardless of a business’s product or size, a significant consideration affecting the business’s success is its ability to choose and use the best combination of natural resources, human resources, and capital goods. Use this LAP to help your students learn about the different types of resources and their limitations, how to respond to limited resources, and why economic...

Why do we pay what we do for the things we buy? Help your students understand the importance of price, the functions of relative prices (information, incentives, and rationing), and the impact of supply and demand on the prices we pay for products and services. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that includes information about...

Owning your own business is risky, but if you do it right, you’ll receive something for your efforts: profit. The financial gains realized from profit provide business owners with a real incentive to build successful businesses. Use Risk Rewarded to teach your students about types of profit, the benefits received from profit, the external and internal factors that affect profit, as well as ways to gain more profit. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that...

Your students take risks all the time, but do they realize how to translate their everyday risk experiences into the business world? If not, LAP-EC-911—Lose, Win, or Draw (Business Risk) can show them how! Use this LAP to teach your students the types of risk that businesses face, as well as how to handle them. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with...

Competition isn’t a bad thing—it turns the wheels of our private enterprise economy! This LAP explains the types of competition, the four main types of market structures, and how competition benefits businesses, customers, and society. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that includes information about competition, a (So What?)...

Do your students know where their stuff comes from? Chances are their favorite products have traveled a great distance to get to them. In this LAP, students will discover the impact of globalization—both on their everyday lives and on the buying and selling of goods across the world. They will learn why countries engage in global trade, the economic benefits of global trade, and the many barriers to trade. In The Gray Zone, students will examine the ethicality of sweatshop labor, an important...

Though it might not seem as “glamorous” as inventing new products or creating marketing campaigns, accounting is an absolutely vital part of business success. Teach your students about the importance of accounting—what it is, why businesses need it, and how they use it. Explain to them the difference between managerial and financial accounting, and help them discover each step in the accounting cycle. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all...

Running a business without a budget is like trying to steer a ship on a cloudy day without a compass—it’s far too easy to sail off course. Money Tracks helps you teach your students why budgets are so important, prepares you to discuss various types of budgets, and maps out your discussion of the characteristics that effective budgets possess. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP...

Finance affects just about every aspect of a business. In this engaging LAP, students will discover the various responsibilities of financial managers and explore the relationship between finance and other business functions. In the Gray Zone, students will explore a challenging ethical dilemma commonly faced by finance professionals. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a...

Financial information is important for all of us – but especially important for businesses! Using this LAP, teach your students about the types of financial information businesses use as well as how they use it. In the activities, students will get hands-on experience with financial information, helping them better understand the various characteristics of quality financial information. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a...

Human resources management is a lot more than just interviewing and hiring! HR managers administer benefits, oversee training and development, ensure compliance, and more. This LAP shows students just how influential the HR function is in every business. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that includes information about human...

In the world of business, one thing leads to another. The actions companies take today will lead to the results, good or bad, that they face tomorrow. Teach your students about positive and negative company actions and results with LAP-MK-019—Just Do It...Right (Company Actions and Results). LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission)...

How would your students define marketing? As advertising? As selling? If so, they’re not alone. But there’s so much more that marketers do to create exchanges in our marketplace. Check out Have It Your Way! to help your students develop an appreciation for all that marketers do for us every day. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission)...

All businesses rely on information for decision-making and other important business activities. Successful businesses learn to manage information efficiently and effectively through the use of people, processes, and technology. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that includes information about the nature of Information...

Show your students how shopping for the best deals can become a career with Buy Right. In this LAP, they’ll learn about the importance of purchasing, the types of purchasing, and the process that purchasing specialists follow. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that includes information about purchasing, a (So What?) discussion...

Production is all around us and crucial to businesses and society. This LAP gives a detailed look at the resources used in production and explains the importance of each stage of the production process. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that includes information about the nature of production, a (So What?) discussion of why it's...

Teach your students the importance of every activity involved in the operations process—from production planning to expense control—and the impact those activities have on the overall production of goods and services. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that includes information about the nature of operations, a (So What?)...

Careers in business come in many shapes and sizes. The possibilities are endless, but it’s important to know what options are available. Go for It! (Careers in Business) teaches your students about different business careers and what traits, skills, and educational requirements are needed to succeed in the business world. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student...

This LAP walks students through the basics of management—what managers do, what skills they need, and what types of resources they manage—as well as what levels of management most companies have. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that includes information about management, a (So What?) discussion of why it's important to learn,...

Teach your students what a business plan is, what goes into its different components, and how it benefits startup and existing businesses. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive instructional packages that include all elements of a performance-oriented lesson plan. This LAP includes a student handout (with CopyIT! permission) that includes information about nature of business plans, a (So What?) discussion of why it's important to learn, ideas (Make it Pay!) for immediate...

All business is risky, but smart businesses manage their risk. Help your students understand how businesses use risk management to avoid loss, create strategy, and increase profits with Prepare for the Worst; Expect the Best (Nature of Risk Management). This LAP explains how risk management is used to identify, monitor, and evaluate past and future risks, and it explores some cutting-edge technologies businesses use to manage risk today. LAPs (Learning Activity Packages) are comprehensive...