Summary

This article is a case study on how a company pivoted to survive the pandemic. There is further useful material in an associated article entitled It was kind of a blessing: Five independent businesses on what they learned from adopting e-commerce during the pandemic, by Chris Hannay and Susan Krashinsky Robertson, May 7, 2021.

Getting Started

Introduction to the article (perhaps by having everyone read it)

Have a discussion with the class on the impact of the pandemic on small businesses.  Use think-pair-share strategy to facilitate engagement in the discussion.

Subject Area(s) covered

Entrepreneurship, change management

Study and Discussion Activity

Key things students can learn from this lesson

Students will learn the process of reinventing a business as the result of a crisis.

Action (here’s how we’ll do it)

  • Distribute the article for reading.
  • In small groups, either in meeting rooms online, or in class, have students outline how Nicole Smith pivoted her business to generate revenue during the pandemic.
  • How was she able to do this?
  • Which of the changes that Flytographers has undertaken do students think will last beyond the pandemic?
  • Have students use the Internet to research other companies that have had to pivot as a result of the pandemic. What did they do? What was the impact?

Consolidation of learning

Pivoting is not an easy thing to do. Using Nicole Smith’s Flytographer as an example, create a step-by-step on what is needed to successfully pivot from one business model to another.

Success and Additional Learning

Success Criteria

  • Students understand what is involved in pivoting a business to generate new sources of revenue.

Confirming Activities

  • Distribute the article: It was kind of a blessing: Five independent businesses on what they learned from adopting e-commerce during the pandemic by Chris Hannay and Susan Krashinsky Robertson, May 7, 2021.  Assign each of the five businesses to a small group of students and ask each group to apply the change model Flytographer used to see how this might assist this business in being more successful.

Activities to do together

  • Do a walk through your community and identify businesses that have pivoted or need to pivot to increase their success. What have they done? What more should they do? Have a discussion.