"You must be cheerful and happy, animating all around you." Catherine McAuley

HUMANITIES LEARNING AREA

AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS WEEK

Term 3 is a very exciting time for the Humanities Learning Area thanks to Australian Business Week (ABW), a dynamic, five-day project where students work in teams, taking on management roles to run a simulated business. The program integrates English, Mathematics, Economics, Visual Art and Design, and Business, guiding students to:

  • Manage a business through computer simulation.
  • Invent and develop a new product.
  • Create a video and trade display to market their product.
  • Present verbal and written reports on their activities.

ABW fosters independent and collaborative learning, nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset while teaching valuable skills in stress and time management – essential for senior high school students. Many thanks to Miss Paula Cox, Mrs Andrea Chamberlain, and Mrs Jodie Birnie for organising this valuable program for the Year 11 students, and to all the staff and community members who made this week a success. 

 

Mrs Michelle Winderlich

Humanities Learning Area Facilitator

 

TEAM BUILDING

MEETINGS AND PREPARATION

TRADE TEAMS

 

PETER ARGIRO

YEAR 11

Starting on 5 August, all Business Management, Accounting, Legal Studies, Economics, and VM students participated in Australian Business Week (ABW). Students were divided into groups of 12 and worked through a series of activities throughout the week to build relationships with their team. 

 

The teams appointed CEOs, CFOs, and heads of departments and instructed that they were to take over a make-believe simulation of a hotel and to create a product to go along with this hotel. They were told to create a TV ad, company stationery (letterhead, business cards, thank you cards), print media (brochure, media release, and poster) and a trade display for the product. Each group was further divided into smaller groups to complete these tasks while the CEO overlooked the development of these projects.

 

Throughout the week all groups participated in team building exercises every morning, which went towards the overall score, and worked hard throughout the week to make sure deadlines were met and work completed to a good level. Making the product was a group decision, and everyone worked hard to help produce ideas and considerations for these products. 

 

As well as making their products, CFOs found themselves making financial decisions for the hotel, such as investing more money into another hotel, or even advertising. It was quite cool how the simulation worked as it gave real feedback quarterly on their actions and helped them plan for the future. Students could also find themselves filling out case studies daily that also affected the outcome for the quarterly report. 

 

At the end of the week, all ABW students were treated to a business lunch made by Mr Haydn Collins and his VET students. The week was fun, and everyone enjoyed themselves and found themselves way out of their comfort zone. 

 

I urge everyone to participate if given the chance to do these subjects as it is a very good life experience for all.