Grade 9 EMS: Business Functions in Entrepreneurship – Week 7 Term 3

1. Business Function

A specific area of business activity that contributes to the overall success of the organization

2. Administration

Recording and organizing business information and paperwork to ensure smooth operations

3. Human Resources

Managing employees including recruitment, training, development, and staff welfare

4. Marketing

Activities focused on promoting products/services and satisfying customer needs

5. Interdependent

When different functions rely on each other to achieve business success

Hook Activity:

Display images of different business activities (e.g., someone at a computer, factory workers, people in a meeting, customer service). Ask learners: “What business activities do you see? How do these different activities work together in a business?”

Introduction Activities:

• Quick brainstorm: “Name any South African business” – write responses on the board
• Ask: “What do you think happens inside these businesses to make them successful?”
• Introduce the concept that businesses have different ‘departments’ or ‘functions’ that work together

Direct Instruction (15 minutes):

Introduce the 9 Business Functions:

1. Administration: Handles paperwork, filing, and record-keeping
2. Finance: Manages money flow, budgets, and financial records
3. General Management: Plans, organizes, leads, and controls all activities
4. Human Resources: Recruits, trains, and manages employees
5. Marketing: Promotes products and satisfies customer needs
6. Production: Creates goods and services
7. Public Relations: Builds and maintains company image
8. Purchasing: Buys necessary goods and services for the business
9. Risk Management: Identifies and minimizes business risks

Guided Practice (15 minutes):

Business Function Matching Activity: Provide scenarios and have learners identify which business function is involved. Examples:

• “Hiring a new cashier” → Human Resources
• “Creating an advertisement for TV” → Marketing
• “Keeping track of daily sales” → Administration
• “Installing security cameras” → Risk Management

Independent Practice (10 minutes):

Small Group Case Study: Groups analyze how Pick n Pay or Shoprite uses different business functions. Each group focuses on 2-3 functions and presents findings.

Consolidation Activity:

Create a visual mind map on the board showing how all 9 business functions are interconnected. Emphasize that if one function fails, it affects the entire business.

Exit Ticket:

Each learner writes down: “The three most important business functions for a small tuck shop and why.”

📝 Formative Assessment

• Observe learner participation during matching activity
• Listen to group discussions during case study analysis
• Check understanding through questioning during direct instruction
• Review exit ticket responses for misconceptions

📋 Summative Assessment

• Group presentations on business functions in real companies
• Written assignment: Design business functions for a new business idea
• Quiz on business functions and their roles

🤝 For learners who need support:

• Provide visual aids and diagrams for each business function
• Use simplified language and provide glossary of terms
• Pair with stronger students during group activities
• Allow extra time for processing and writing responses

🚀 For advanced learners:

• Research how business functions differ in small vs. large businesses
• Analyze how technology impacts different business functions
• Create a business function organizational chart for their dream business
• Lead group discussions and help explain concepts to peers

♿ For learners with barriers:

• Use visual symbols and pictures to represent each function
• Provide note-taking templates with key information
• Allow verbal responses instead of written work where appropriate
• Use assistive technology for reading and writing tasks

✅ What worked well:

[To be completed after lesson – note learner engagement, understanding levels, effective activities]

🔧 What could be improved:

[To be completed after lesson – note timing issues, activities needing modification, resources needed]

📝 Notes for next lesson:

[To be completed after lesson – concepts to reinforce, preparation for business plans topic]