PHASE 1: INSPIRE

Detailed Instructions

Week 1

Overview

The first meeting will set the tone for the rest of the program. Keep the energy high as you get to know the group and ensure that everyone is aware of what lies ahead. Group members will be introduced to the concept of ideation as they begin to brainstorm product and service ideas. This Phase will allow students to get to know each other and establish expectations about the program.

 

Objectives

 

Mentor Preparation

 

 Please note that anywhere this icon is shown, resources have been adapted for the virtual Company Program. 

Agenda

1. Welcome & Attendance (5 min) - Slides & Record Keeping Tool 
   
2. Introductions (5 min) 
   
3. Ice-breakers (15 min) 
   
4. Admin Details (10 min) - Slides
5. Brainstorming and Pitching (Bag of Junk) Activity (45 min) - Slides 
   
6. Product and Service Research Assignment (15 min) - Slides & Activity Sheet 
   
7. Questions and wrap-up (5 min) - Slides
8. Optional Small Group Session (15 min)

 

Activities

1. Welcome (5 min) - Slides 1-8  & RECORD KEEPING TOOL
   

• We recommend using the template included in the Record Keeping Tool. 
• The Lead Advisor should have the most updated list of students.

• Students can request to change programs up until November 12th. Changes are only granted if there is space available in the program they wish to change to. PLEASE NOTE: Any changes must be approved by JA, and not at the advisor level. Students must complete a form found https://www.jacocompanyprogram.ca/register  to make requests.

• If you have any students attend your meeting that is not on your student list, please let them know they will need to reach out to JA before attending - NO EXCEPTIONS. 

     2. Introductions (5 min) 

• You may have a mix of new and returning students to the program. Be sure to try and make everyone feel welcome in the first session.
  
• Some students will sign up to JA Company Program with friends they have made previously. There is a risk that cliques can form at the first meeting. You should do all that you can to bring the group together as a whole.
  
• Allow everyone a few minutes to introduce themselves (name, grade, and school, new or returning to JA).  Don’t forget to have all mentors also introduce themselves. If possible, share why you are a volunteer with JA.

     3. Ice-breakers (15 min) 

• Complete an ice-breaker from the 1.1.01 Team Builders and Ice Breakers. You are welcome to use a whiteboard tool or another icebreaker you know!

     4. Admin Details (10 min) - Slide 9

• Students will have attended the Student Orientation on October 27. Direct students to the recording if they did not attend and have not reviewed it. 
• Remind students to have their parents complete the online Parent Consent Form - this is mandatory in order to participate in the program.
• The JA Canada Resource Portal will become important tools for students over the program. Encourage them to go online and create an account for the Resource Portal. They will be able to access important information and documents about the program.
• Review any housekeeping rules for your online meetings - this may include suggestions on how students should set up for meetings, how chat and other functions work within the virtual meeting platform you are using, etc. You will determine as a team your group norms in your next meeting but for now set the rules and expectations for your first meeting to ensure it goes smoothly. 
• You may also want to establish and clarify contact methods and hours for advisors: let your students know the preferred way for students to communicate with you (i.e. email address, phone number) as well as the best days and times to reach you. You may want to set expectations for students up front as to your response time (i.e. if they email you that evening, they should wait 1 to 2 business days before following up for a response, etc.)

5. Brainstorming and Pitching Activity (45 mins)  - Slides

Brainstorming (Slides 10 - 18)

• This is now the time for students to start critical brainstorming. The key thing is to ensure everyone defers judgement of ideas while in the initial process.
• Emphasis that constructive criticism should be respectful and positive, and that it can lead to better ideas overall.
• There are many approaches that this process can take. You may want to focus on ideas to solve a customer need that is of particular interest to the group, or products and services that would apply to an appealing business model. Or perhaps this is simply a “free for all” to discover what the group with gravitate toward.
• Review the instructions for the Critical Brainstorming, Bag of Junk and Pitching Activity and use them as talking and discussion points for slides 10-18. You do not have to follow the activity as written. 
• Use a whiteboard tool if you wish or share your screen using Word doc to complete the critical brainstorming activity: you can start with brainstorming customer needs and then focus on brainstorming solutions to those needs.
• You can have students brainstorm individually at first and/or brainstorm as a group. 
• Optional Videos: Brainstorming Video (Slide 10), The Itch (Slide 13), Where Good Ideas Come From (Slide 14)

Pitching Activity (Bag of Junk) (Slides 19 - 21)

• Bag of Junk - If you are able to do breakout sessions, use the function to do the Bag of Junk Activity. If you do not have breakout session functions, you can do the Bag of Junk as a large group or within your small group sessions following the meeting instead. Ask students to choose a few random objects from their home. They can either work in small groups or do the pitches individually. 
• Debrief the activity with students using the questions (copied below) provided in the Critical Brainstorming, Bag of Junk and Pitching Activity sheet (either as a group or in small groups depending on how you're doing the activity).

Debrief Questions

1. How easy or difficult was it to identify a problem? How easy or difficult was it to create a solution with your bag of junk items?

2. How did the dynamics of your team help you be more innovative and creative?

3. How could the team improve the decision-making process?

4. Which presentation was most effective? Why?

• Students can consider the following points when making their product selection:

a. It is important that everyone stands behind their product or service since each member of the company will be responsible for promoting it and selling it.
b. Some students start JA Company Program with ideas for the businesses they want to create. Make sure students understand that a company must agree on a product or service, and some ideas will not be chosen. This doesn’t mean they are bad ideas; they may simply have to wait for another time. Finding the right business idea is really important to the success of the student company.
c. It is important to think carefully about their market, consider the steps needed to produce a product and research where they will get the source materials for production.
d. Let participants know that in a few weeks, they will get to pitch their idea to the group. This was their first practice at pitching.

6. Product or Service Research Assignment (15 min)  Slides 22-32

• Review the Product or Service Research Assignment document with the group. (these have been copied into slides 22-29 in the slide deck)
• The Product or Service Research Worksheet (fillable form) will help them work through the viability of some of their ideas. They should spend time completing this prior to the next session. Pitches will occur in either Week 3 or 4. Students should select only one idea to explore in detail. They may choose to work individually or in groups. However, each student is encouraged to research one idea.
• Many students will be eager to understand how their product idea will be considered and selected. This is a good time to review the Product and Service Guidelines (included in slides 30-32)
• Be sure to establish the expectation that the Product or Service Research Worksheet must be completed if a student wants to be eligible to pitch their idea. This worksheet is designed to be a simple way to structure a “Pitch Deck” (slideshow) if students choose to prepare visuals for their pitch.
• Students can access the Product and Service Research Worksheet through the resource portal.

      
 7. Questions and Wrap-Up (5 min) Slide 33

• Create an opening for students to ask any questions about the meeting prior to wrapping up.
• If you have time and you have identified any returning students, please have them speak briefly about why they are doing the program again and its impact on their life. This should help with getting students to return the second week.
• Remind students to submit parent consent form online prior to the next meeting.
• Let students know that next week you will continue brainstorming and research. They will also have the opportunity to learn about the many company roles and nominate themselves and others.
  
• Direct students to the JA Canada Resource Portal, so they can complete a 2-minute Assessment: What’s Your Leadership Style? in advance of next session. 
• Encourage students to access the JA Canada Resource Portal to review some of what was covered in this meeting.
  
• Remind participants that entrepreneurs can start businesses on their own or as part of a small group by combining individual strengths and sharing responsibilities. Today is the start of something great!

 

8. Optional Small Group Session (15 min)

• If timing allows, you can break into smaller groups following your full group meeting. In these early small group sessions, you may want to divide up your advisors and students and rotate each week so that you get a chance to get to know everyone. 
• This first session can be used to get to know each other more - ask students about their interests, review their personal goals in joining the program and answer any questions. 
• If you were not able to set up breakout sessions for the Bag of Junk activity, you can do them in your small group session. 

Next Steps
Students:

• Begin the Product or Service Research Worksheet
  
• Complete the What’s Your Leadership Style? quiz online and be prepared to share the result on Mural at the next meeting.
  

 
Mentors:

• Take a few moments to debrief about the first session with the team of Mentors
• Address any questions, concerns or feedback to your CP Manager