Business Readiness Launchpad • Sequence • Lenny.com
Business Readiness Launchpad
A 13-day transition curriculum designed for 12th graders transitioning to dual-credit college Intro to Business. It covers syllabus decoding, active reading, case analysis, professional emails, online discussion etiquette, and time management.
Exit Ticket (6 min): State the exact physical/digital steps you will take when you fall behind on a college business assignment.
DAY 3: High-Stakes Instructor Emailing (VT: Connect-Extend-Challenge)
Objective: Craft a professional email seeking accommodation or clarification using a 5-point formal blueprint.
Bell Ringer (6 min) Read a poorly written student text-style email. List 3 errors that damage credibility.
Activity Steps (38 min) Introduce 5-Point Email Blueprint (Subject, Salutation, Context, Specific Request, Professional Closing). Pair critique of simulated email requests. Individual draft workbook execution (Page 2).
Exit Ticket (6 min): Match the five critical parts of a professional email to their corporate functions.
Dual-Credit Business Launchpad Curriculum • Faculty Resource Page 2 of 6
Module 2: Business Text Strategy
Active Reading, SWOT, & Guided Case Studies
Days 4 - 6
DAY 4: Active Reading & Business Journal Analysis (Visible Thinking: Headlines)
Objective: Mark and process dense corporate reporting articles (e.g., WSJ, HBR) using active annotations.
Bell Ringer (6 min) When skimming a massive business document, which structural indicators do you prioritize?
Activity Steps (38 min) Model Annotation Protocol (underline claims, square business entities, circle data metrics). Group reading of sample Wall Street Journal excerpt. Students synthesize key ideas using 'Headlines' routine in workbook (Page 3).
Exit Ticket (6 min): Draft your 'Headline' summarizing the read business article. Explain why you selected this angle.
DAY 5: Strategic Business Frameworks (Visible Thinking: Parts-Purposes)
Objective: Distinguish internal from external factors using the strategic SWOT analysis framework.
Bell Ringer (6 min) Define the distinction between an internal business problem and an external market factor.
Activity Steps (38 min) Introduce SWOT framework. Model a SWOT analysis of 'Netflix' live with class. Students map out internal vs. external variables for a selected local store on Page 3 of the workbook.
Exit Ticket (6 min): Categorize this scenario: "A new health code regulation is introduced." Is this an S, W, O, or T? Why?
DAY 6: The Art of Case Analysis (Visible Thinking: Think-Puzzle-Explore)
Objective: Dissect a real-world complex case scenario and formulate guiding investigation lines.
Bell Ringer (6 min) Why are business cases used in college instead of simple fact-retrieval tests?
Activity Steps (38 min) Introduce "The Coffee Bean Shakeup" scenario. Model 'Think-Puzzle-Explore' routing. Encourage teams to puzzle over hidden financials and explore industry standards for independent coffee shops. Write in workbook (Page 4).
Exit Ticket (6 min): Write one core 'puzzle' regarding the Coffee Bean Shakeup that must be answered to solve the case.
Dual-Credit Business Launchpad Curriculum • Faculty Resource Page 3 of 6
Modules 2 & 3: Cases & Comms
Debriefs, Team Dynamics, & Discussion Protocols
Days 7 - 9
DAY 7: Case Debrief & Peer Defense (Visible Thinking: Claim-Support-Question)
Objective: Construct and verbally defend a strategic business recommendation using evidence-based claims.
Bell Ringer (6 min) What is the risk of presenting a recommendation to a executive without empirical evidence?
Activity Steps (38 min) Facilitate structured Case Debate. Implement 'Claim-Support-Question' routine: Groups pitch recommendations to combat drive-thru rival; opponents ask high-level questions.
Exit Ticket (6 min): Rewrite your case recommendation in one sentence containing a clear claim, a supporting statistic, and a lingering question.
DAY 8: High-Performing Group Dynamics (Visible Thinking: Compass Points)
Objective: Identify individual team contributions and collaborative blindspots using Compass Points.
Bell Ringer (6 min) Recall a bad group-project experience. What structural breakdown caused the project to fail?
Activity Steps (38 min) Introduce Compass Points (North=Action, South=Empathy, East=Vision, West=Details). Group students physically in corners. Review collaboration styles, map team vulnerabilities, complete workbook Page 5.
Exit Ticket (6 min): State your dominant team compass point and how you will protect your group against its native weaknesses.
DAY 9: College Online Discussion Board Etiquette (VT: The 4 A's)
Bell Ringer (6 min) Why do college professors utilize discussion forums? What is the rubric impact of low-effort posts?
Activity Steps (38 min) Deconstruct a standard college LMS discussion rubric. Introduce 'The 4 A's' Framework (Agree, Argue, Aspire, Ask). Model converting a lazy post to an academic masterpiece. Draft in workbook (Page 5).
Exit Ticket (6 min): Review a peer's discussion draft; label which of the '4 A's' they utilized and critique its structural strength.
Dual-Credit Business Launchpad Curriculum • Faculty Resource Page 4 of 6
Modules 3 & 4: Comms & Mastery
Tuning Protocols, Time Management & Recall
Days 10 - 12
DAY 10: The Corporate Tuning Protocol (Visible Thinking: Tuning Protocol)
Objective: Give and receive objective, non-defensive peer feedback on strategic solutions.
Bell Ringer (6 min) How do you filter constructive criticism from personal attack when reviewing projects?
Activity Steps (38 min) Explain Tuning Protocol (Presentation, Clarifying Questions, Warm/Cool Feedback, Presenter Reflection). Run a dry run sequence with mock team strategies. Document refinements in notebooks.
Exit Ticket (6 min): State one piece of 'Cool Feedback' (area for improvement) you received today and describe your exact plan to address it.
DAY 11: Priority Planning & The Eisenhower Matrix (VT: Quadrant Priority)
Objective: Prioritize high-volume collegiate deliverables based on urgency and long-term importance.
Bell Ringer (6 min) What is the distinction between a task being 'Urgent' versus a task being 'Important'?
Activity Steps (38 min) Deconstruct "Cramming" as a systemic failure. Introduce Eisenhower Matrix (Q1: Do, Q2: Plan, Q3: Delegate, Q4: Eliminate). Students plot their life/academic tasks on Page 6 of the workbook.
Exit Ticket (6 min): List two essential 'Quadrant 2' (not urgent but vital) study actions that you must build into your weekly academic routine.
DAY 12: High-Retention Active Study Methods (VT: Generate-Sort-Connect)
Objective: Transition from passive review (rereading notes) to active study recall tactics (retrieval practice).
Bell Ringer (6 min) Estimate the percentage of material retained from highlighting a textbook. Why is it low?
Activity Steps (38 min) Expose the illusion of competence from reading notes. Teach Active Recall and Spaced Repetition techniques. Introduce Concept Mapping (Generate-Sort-Connect-Elaborate) using the core terms taught.
Exit Ticket (6 min): Detail an active recall strategy you will use to prepare for the Day 13 final mock business simulation.
Dual-Credit Business Launchpad Curriculum • Faculty Resource Page 5 of 6
Module 4: Final Launch & Resources
Mock Lecture Simulation & Resource Kit
Day 13 & Faculty Resources
DAY 13: Simulated College Mock Class & Transition Reflection (VT: Bridge)
Objective: Complete a rapid mock college lecture simulation, incorporating live note-taking and professional discussion protocols.
Bell Ringer (6 min) Open workbook Page 6. Set up your notebook area for rapid collegiate note capture.
Activity Steps (38 min) Teacher delivers rapid 15-min mock lecture on "The Principal-Agent Problem in Corporate Governance". Students take notes independently. 15-min discussion board mock simulation. Complete workbook final reflection.
Exit Ticket (6 min): Submit final "I Used to Think, Now I Think" reflection of college business (Workbook Page 6).
Faculty Grading Rubric Snippet: Business Case Recommendations
Strategic Claim Clear recommendation that directly solves core strategic threat. Vague suggestion or generic corporate advice. No direct strategy proposed.
Evidence Integration Integrates 2+ explicit case metrics or SWOT alignments. Mentions case facts generally without metrics. Relying purely on personal opinion.
Professional Tone Academic writing, direct syntax, no text-slang. Conversational tone, weak structure. Highly unprofessional or incomplete phrasing.
Dual-Credit Business Launchpad Curriculum • Faculty Resource Page 6 of 6
W • Weaknesses Internal liabilities or structural gaps.
O • Opportunities External market factors ready for leverage.
T • Threats External competitor or regulation threats.
Academic Case Analysis Slide 4 of 9
Thinking Routine: Think - Puzzle - Explore
How elite business thinkers unpack a convoluted market scenario.
1. Think
What stands out as the core operational problem? Who are the key business stakeholders affected? What are the immediate risks of inaction?
2. Puzzle
What is confusing, unknown, or hidden? What structural financial data do we lack? Why did previous managers fail to solve this problem?
3. Explore
Where must we search for industry benchmarks? Which tools or frameworks will yield deeper insights? How do we audit competitor tactics?
Open your Student Workbook to Page 4 to process "The Coffee Bean Shakeup" case framework.
Academic Case Analysis Slide 5 of 9
Thinking Routine: Compass Points
Elite collaboration styles. Where do you naturally map in group dynamics?
N • North Action Style
"Let's get moving! What are our immediate tasks? Let's take charge, execute fast, and iterate as we go."
Vulnerability: Impatient, Skips Analysis
S • South Empathy Style
"How is everyone feeling about this process? Let's listen, ensure equity, and collaborate humanely."
Vulnerability: Avoids Productive Friction
E • East Vision Style
"What is the massive long-term potential here? Let's zoom out, dream big, and avoid boring templates."
Vulnerability: Struggles to Execute Details
W • West Detail Style
"Wait, why are we doing this? Where is the research? Let's verify details, document proof, and structure thoroughly."
Vulnerability: Analysis Paralysis
Stand up and physically migrate to the classroom corner that matches your dominant style. Turn to Page 5 of Workbook.
Professional Communication & Dynamics Slide 6 of 9
College Discussion Boards: The "4 A's"
Converting low-effort responses into academic artifacts. Stop writing "Cool post, I agree!"
A • AGREE
Build & Validate
Validate their claim, but extend it: "I agree, because in Chapter 3, the SWOT framework indicates that..."
Goal: Extend core thesis
A • ARGUE
Polite Opposition
Provide logical friction: "I understand that claim, however, the financial metrics suggest a conflicting path..."
Goal: Logical friction
A • ASPIRE
Big Picture Lift
Elevate to systemic view: "Your focus on local staffing is critical; it aspires us to consider the national labor trends..."
Goal: Broaden scope
A • ASK
Critical Inquiry
Pose high-level inquiry: "If foot traffic is dropping 15%, what exact operational threshold makes this business insolvent?"
Goal: Spark debate
Turn to Workbook Page 5. Draft two mock discussion board responses utilizing different "A's".
Professional Communication & Dynamics Slide 7 of 9
Time Management: The Eisenhower Matrix
Why high school "cramming" models fail completely in college environments.
Quadrant 1: Do Immediately Urgent & Important
Deliverables due in 24 hours, failing server issues, exams tomorrow. (Stressing and reactive)
Quadrant 2: Schedule & Strategize Important, Not Urgent
Reading weeks in advance, drafting case papers early, forming study groups. (This is where elite college students live)
Quadrant 3: Delegate / Automate Urgent, Not Important
Text notifications, incoming spam, standard administrative tasks, minor requests from peers.
Quadrant 4: Eliminate / Minimize Not Urgent & Not Important
Infinite social media scrolling, binge-watching series, excessive video gaming. (Time leaks)
Turn to Workbook Page 6. Audit your tasks using this system.
Metacognitive Study Habits Slide 8 of 9
Day 13 Finale Simulated College Mock Class
Ready for the Launchpad Simulation?
Today, you are a college student. You will face a rapid 15-minute mock lecture, capture active notes, and defend strategic decisions under professional constraints.
