Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 25/02/2026
Subject: Business Studies
Lesson Topic: simple hierarchical structures: tall and flat levels of hierarchy, long and short chains of command, wide and narrow spans of control
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the characteristics of tall and flat organisational hierarchies.
  • Differentiate between long and short chains of command.
  • Compare narrow and wide spans of control and explain their impact on decision‑making.
  • Evaluate which structure best suits different business contexts.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector and screen
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Printed comparison handout
  • Organisational chart diagrams (tall & flat)
  • Student worksheets
  • Sticky notes
 Introduction:
Begin with a quick think‑pair‑share: students write examples of companies they consider “tall” or “flat” on sticky notes. Connect this to previous lessons on organisational design. Explain that today they will identify key features of hierarchy levels, chain of command length, and span of control, and be able to explain how these affect business operations.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5') – List examples of tall vs. flat organisations on sticky notes.
  2. Mini‑lecture with slides (10') – Introduce tall/flat structures, long/short chains, narrow/wide spans, using side‑by‑side diagrams.
  3. Guided comparison activity (15') – In groups, complete a comparison table and discuss advantages/disadvantages.
  4. Whole‑class debrief (10') – Groups share findings; teacher highlights key points and corrects misconceptions.
  5. Application task (10') – Students choose a business scenario and write a short justification for an appropriate structure.
  6. Quick check (5') – Exit ticket: one sentence defining each of the three concepts.
Conclusion:
Recap that the number of hierarchy levels determines span of control and chain length, influencing decision speed. Collect exit tickets to confirm understanding. For homework, ask students to research a local business and describe its organisational structure, noting whether it is tall or flat, its chain of command, and span of control.