business

contrasting
contexts
Resources for Courses

building application skills

Activity Overview
The aim of this activity is to develop application skills by comparing business impacts on
contrasting contexts.

Resources Required
• Contrasting contexts: question cards
• Contrasting contexts: deck A & deck B

Teacher Instructions
This is an activity using a variety of business concepts and contrasting business contexts
to build application skills with students. The theory behind this approach is that students
are more likely to engage with applying their answers if they can see how the same point or
argument can be examined in very different ways for different business contexts. This activity
would be effective in small groups or as an individual task.

Activity 1
Part 1
Students should choose – or be given – one of the question cards. They should then be given
some thinking time to develop some potential responses/points that they could talk about for
that theory or concept. These should be jotted down to be developed in context in part 2.
contrasting contexts Resources for Courses

Part 2
The students should then choose – or be given – some contrasting contexts, one from Deck
A and one from Deck B. The students should then revisit their points and consider how the
arguments they had developed would be analysed or examined differently for the two contrasting
contexts. They would benefit from writing two paragraphs that address the same point for
both contexts. They should then be able to see very clearly that the way they have examined/
analysed their points vary greatly depending upon the given context. The students will then
be able to see very clearly how they should use application and contexts in their answers
to tasks, assignments or exam questions.
Part 3
Students should share their two paragraphs with the group, demonstrating how they have
adapted their analysis to suit the different contexts.

Activity 2
If there is a specific concept/theory that is being covered or revised, blank question cards
have been provided to allow for adaptation to suit your topics. There are also blank context
cards in both decks to allow for any businesses or types of markets/contexts to be added to
the activity. Students could also be given a task to create some question cards and contexts
to test the application skills of their peers using the blank cards.

Activity 3
Guess the context: Once the students have practised the task and feel confident, this could
become an activity that engages the wider group. The students could choose their questions
and contexts and complete the paragraphs (as outlined in activity 1) and then read their two
paragraphs to the group, who then need to attempt to guess the contexts they were given,
further developing their ability to tailor points to given contexts.
 contrasting contexts
question cards contrasting contexts
question cards

Examine one impact Analyse one

of a motivated benefit of training
workforce
contrasting contexts
question cards contrasting contexts
question cards

Identify one way Analyse one

of reducing the consequence of
break-even point poor cash flow
contrasting contexts
question cards contrasting contexts
question cards

Identify one reason Examine one

the business would use way of improving
internal recruitment profitability
contrasting contexts
question cards contrasting contexts
question cards

Analyse one benefit Examine one

of using Just in consequence of
Time management under-utilised capacity
contrasting contexts
question cards contrasting contexts
question cards

Identify one Identify one benefit

benefit of increased of primary market
automation research
contrasting contexts
question cards contrasting contexts
question cards

Analyse one use Identify a

of the Product suitable source
Life Cycle of finance
contrasting contexts
question cards contrasting contexts
question cards

Examine a key
influence on the Analyse one impact
marketing mix of of rising interest
the business rates
contrasting contexts
question cards contrasting contexts
question cards

Examine one
impact of rising
unemployment
contrasting contexts
question cards contrasting contexts
question cards

contrasting contexts
question cards contrasting contexts
question cards
contrasting contexts
Businesses deck a contrasting contexts
Businesses deck a

Large fashion International

retailer manufacturer of mobile
phone components

contrasting contexts
Businesses deck a contrasting contexts
Businesses deck a

Budget airline House builder

contrasting contexts
Businesses deck a contrasting contexts
Businesses deck a

National chain Low priced

of travel agents supermarket

contrasting contexts
Businesses deck a contrasting contexts
Businesses deck a

Large PLC Sportswear retailer

competing on price

contrasting contexts
Businesses deck a contrasting contexts
Businesses deck a
 contrasting contexts
Businesses deck B contrasting contexts
Businesses deck B

Luxury car Supermarket that

manufacturer competes on quality

contrasting contexts
Businesses deck B contrasting contexts
Businesses deck B

Small chain of New business

local takeaways start up

contrasting contexts
Businesses deck B contrasting contexts
Businesses deck B

Online furniture Bespoke luxury

company holiday company

contrasting contexts
Businesses deck B contrasting contexts
Businesses deck B

Florists operating Chain of luxury

in one region hotels

contrasting contexts
Businesses deck B contrasting contexts
Businesses deck B