Business Studies - Taking Care of Business

Molong Central School Business Studies students toured the facilities at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo as part of a unique opportunity to examine a zoo business.  Students attended a workshop, which investigated the main elements involved in the development and implementation of Taronga’s successful marketing strategies and used the zoo as a business case study. The students discovered the strategies employed to ensure the strategic goals of the zoo are met through marketing, operations and financial efficiency, while gaining a truly unique insight into the workings of this organisation. Students also stayed overnight on a  ‘Zoo Snooze’, to experience this element of their marketing strategy which included guided tours of several of the enclosures. There was also an opportunity for students to develop and build their communication, teamwork, problem solving and critical thinking skills in an Escape Room. Although the 3 groups did not manage to escape in the allocated hour (an extra 5 minutes is all they needed!), all groups demonstrated cohesive team skills and had a few laughs along the way. A highlight for many of the students was the 5km bike ride around the zoo where students were able to observe the zoo’s marketing strategies in action whilst improving their fitness.