Lesson Plan

• Describe the key political and legal factors that influence businesses.
• Analyse how changes in these factors affect strategic, operational and financial decisions.
• Evaluate business responses such as location, pricing, product development and CSR to political/legal shifts.
• Apply a checklist to monitor and assess political and legal risks in a case study.

• Projector and screen
• Whiteboard and markers
• Printed handout of the comparative political vs legal table
• Case‑study worksheet (UK tax increase example)
• Laptop with internet access for research
• Sticky notes for brainstorming

Begin with a brief news clip about the 2023 UK corporation‑tax increase to capture interest. Ask students what they already know about political and legal influences on business. Explain that by the end of the lesson they will be able to identify these influences, explain their impact on decisions, and propose appropriate managerial actions.

1. Do‑now (5') – Quick recall quiz on external influences (political vs legal).
2. Mini‑lecture (10') – Define political and legal influences; present key factors with slides.
3. Group activity (12') – Pairs analyse the UK tax‑increase case study and list affected business decisions.
4. Whole‑class discussion (8') – Share findings and link them to the provided checklist.
5. Comparative table analysis (10') – Students complete a Venn diagram contrasting political and legal impacts.
6. Decision‑making simulation (10') – Teams choose a strategic response to a hypothetical new regulation and present their rationale.
7. Exit ticket (5') – Write one actionable step a manager should take when a political change occurs.

Recap the main ways political and legal changes shape business strategy and operations. Collect the exit tickets to gauge understanding, then assign homework: each student researches a recent political or legal change in another country and writes a brief report on its likely business impact.