CBC Archives

Have students brainstorm criteria they would use to judge a business’s success. List their responses on the board or chart paper. Have them discuss the criteria, then choose the four criteria they feel are most important for judging a business’s success. Attempt to reach consensus.

Divide the class into four groups and assign each group one of the four selected criteria. Have each group create a rubric that describes indicators of achievement for their criterion. Check each group’s rubric before proceeding.

Direct groups to the topic Turbulent Skies: The Air Canada Story on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site. Have students explore the topic and use their rubric to analyze Air Canada’s degree of achievement.

Ask each group to share its findings with the class. Discuss and summarize the results. Ask:

Was Air Canada a successful business when it began? Is it successful now?

In what way does it meet the elements of your rubric? In what way does it not meet them?

What do you think is the major reason that Air Canada was forced to file for bankruptcy?

Students can refine their rubrics if necessary and apply them to another business with which they are familiar.