This article explores a new way to think about business opportunities.

Appropriate Subject Area(s):

Entrepreneurship, business management, marketing

Key Questions to Explore:

• Where do ideas for new ventures come from?

Introduction to lesson and task:

This lesson looks at the concept of excess capacity and how it can be the basis of new ventures.

Action (lesson plan and task):

1. Ask students what they think excess capacity means.  How would they define it relative to a business venture?
2. Distribute the article for reading.
3. In groups of four, ask students to identify businesses that have developed as a result of excess capacity.  They should think big and think small.
4. Have students brainstorm new ideas for using excess capacity to create a venture.
5. Ask students to think of examples of ventures that sliced, aggregated, or opened up the platform to support new ideas.
6. Have students brainstorm other ways this might happen.
7. Have students discuss the relevance of peer power and why it is so critical to the success of a venture.

Consolidation of Learning:

• Using one of the ideas brainstormed from the groups, have students create a mini plan to utilize the platform and peer power to grow the venture.  Have them explain the rationale behind their decisions.

Success Criteria:

• Students understand the value of excess capacity when it comes to creating a venture, big or small.

Confirming Activity

• Have students write a one minute paper on how this concept for business development is unique.