Teacher Resources
PriceLab Challenge
What pricing strategy hits our profit target while staying competitive in the local market?
Duration: 2 weeksDifficulty: Intermediate
Driving Question
Using live competitor price data and advanced Excel tools, teams will develop data-driven pricing recommendations through CVP analysis and sensitivity modeling.
What pricing strategy hits our profit target while staying competitive in the local market?
Performance Task
This mirrors real business pricing decisions where multiple stakeholders evaluate strategies based on financial analysis and market positioning.
Pricing Strategy Debate & Recommendation
Present your pricing recommendation to a town‑hall style debate panel including economics teachers, PTA representatives, and local entrepreneurs.
- Data-driven pricing recommendation based on CVP analysis
- Clear explanation of markup vs. margin calculations
- Demonstration of sensitivity analysis using data tables
- Professional memo or slide deck presentation
- Effective participation in town‑hall debate format
Assessment Milestones
Aligned to implemented student lessons
Day 1: Benchmark Competitor Pricing
MilestoneImport and analyze competitor price data using Power Query
- Successfully import live competitor data via Power Query
- Calculate current margin using markup vs. margin formulas
- Create benchmark analysis comparing competitive position
- Document data transformation and cleaning process
Day 5: Advanced CVP Automation: Scenario Runner & Data Tables
MilestoneImplement professional "what‑if" automation with validation for investor‑readiness
- Functional CVP model with clear input/output structure
- One‑ and two‑variable Data Tables for sensitivity analysis
- Goal Seek scenarios to hit target profit levels
- Validation rules for out‑of‑range values and stale data (e.g., negative costs, missing IDs)
- Concise executive summary communicating pricing insights
Day 10: Draft Pricing Recommendation
MilestoneComplete pricing recommendation memo or presentation
- Clear pricing strategy recommendation with rationale
- Supporting CVP analysis and sensitivity scenarios
- Professional formatting and business language
- Ready for debate panel presentation
Lessons (10)
Click a day to open the detailed lesson plan
Day 1
Launch & Competitor Data Import
Entry event demonstration and Power Query data import skills
45 minutes
Day 2
Markup vs. Margin Concepts
Direct instruction on foundational pricing calculations and profit metrics
45 minutes
Day 3
CVP Model Construction
Build comprehensive Cost-Volume-Profit models using Excel
45 minutes
Day 4
Goal Seek for Target Profit Scenarios
Master Goal Seek functionality for reverse engineering pricing decisions
45 minutes
Day 5
Advanced CVP Automation: Scenario Runner & Data Tables
Build one- and two-variable Data Tables and add robust validation
45 minutes
Day 6
Peer Critique & Model Refinement
Structured peer feedback on CVP automation and collaborative improvement
45 minutes
Day 7
Data Tables for Sensitivity Analysis
Build comprehensive what-if analysis using one- and two-variable data tables
45 minutes
Day 8
Pricing Recommendation Development
Synthesize all analysis into comprehensive pricing strategy recommendation
45 minutes
Day 9
Town Hall Debate Preparation
Prepare for and rehearse pricing strategy defense in debate format
45 minutes
Day 10
Town Hall Pricing Debate & Reflection
Final presentations in town hall format with comprehensive unit reflection
45 minutes
Prerequisite Resources
Files referenced in student lessons
Unit 6 CVP Templatedownload
Competitor Price Datasetdownload
Power Query Tutorialdownload
Memo Writing Guidedownload
Goal Seek Practice Scenariosdownload
Advanced CVP Practice Datasetdownload