This article is a great case study of a start up using new technologies to add value.

Appropriate Subject Area(s):

Entrepreneurship, marketing

Key Questions to Explore:

• How do start ups consider and overcome challenges along the way?

Introduction to lesson and task:

Solink is a start up company that has found a way to link existing systems and provide intelligence that each system independently could not provide.

Action (lesson plan and task):

• Distribute article for reading. Ask students to read it two or three times to become familiar with key points.
• Independently, ask students to make notes regarding key ideas in the article.
• Have students independently consider the following questions:
  • What is the key business concept Solink is promoting?
  • What are the challenges, opportunities and/or problems that Solink faces?
  • What are the causes of these?
  • What level of urgency is there to the situation?
  • Who is the decision maker?
  • What is the impact on profitability?
  • What is the impact on the strategic direction of the company?
  • What is the competitive advantage?
• Develop recommendations/solutions to your findings.

Consolidation of Learning:

• Have students present their findings to a small group of classmates.

Success Criteria:

• Students understand how to work through a case study.

Confirming Activity:

• In groups of four, have students build consensus on a recommendation for Solink.