Business Development Module: Corporate Consolidation Assignment

This homework assignment analyzes a video on corporate consolidation, focusing on its impact on small businesses and the broader economy. The student begins by sharing their expectations before watching the video, anticipating a discussion on how consolidation could promote equal competition and support small businesses, which are often considered the backbone of the economy. However, after watching the video, the student's perspective shifts, realizing that corporate consolidation primarily benefits larger companies, potentially leading to oligopolies and hindering smaller businesses' ability to compete. The student reflects on how this new understanding has changed their perspective, emphasizing that larger enterprises often control the economy through consolidation, and the need for stricter regulations to protect smaller businesses. The assignment then explores the role of videos in learning, highlighting their effectiveness in facilitating quick problem-solving, enhancing memory, and engaging learners. Finally, the student discusses what they've learned from the video, particularly the damaging effects of the misconception that small businesses run the economy, and the need for stronger laws to ensure fair competition. The student references sources to support their analysis.

Running header: Corporate Consolidation 1
Corporate Consolidation
Students Name
Institutional Affiliation

Corporate Consolidation 2
1. What was your expectation before watching the video?
In accordance to the title of the video, I expected the video to address the
consolidation of smaller companies to form a large conglomerate that promote equal
competition. This is because smaller companies are said to be the backbone of the
economy. For example, about 99.7% of United States employer companies are small
businesses. In addition, small businesses create more jobs in the US as well as contribute
a larger percentage of income tax that goes into the government’s budget (Hecht, 2018).
Therefore, before watching the video, I expected to see how small businesses were
merging or being consolidated in order to improve operations or bring about innovation.
2. How has this changed after watching it?
After watching the video, it seems the consolidation only involves the larger
companies which intend to create an oligopoly since being a monopoly is against the law
in America. Therefore, if any new or small company tries to compete with the bigger
companies, the smaller companies end up losing to the bigger companies. This is clear
that smaller companies are not the backbone of the economy as promulgated by
politicians and other people. Small businesses have no voice in the market, and therefore
laws on consolidation should be much aggressive so as to impose strict standards and also
empower the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice anti-trust divisions
(LastWeekTonight, 2017).
3. Has the video helped change your perspective about the issues?
Yes. The video has assisted me clearly understand why corporate consolidation is
killing smaller companies. In addition, according to politicians and also views from
various peoples, small businesses are regarded as the backbone of the economy.
However, from the video, it is clear that the larger enterprises are the controllers of the
economy. Consolidation has been the main way of large corporations occupying a larger
market since by creating an oligopoly market structure; the big businesses prevent either
small or new business from occupying a significant market share. Therefore, stricter laws
should be established in order to promote the smaller businesses.
4. How do you relate videos to the learning on module?
Learning through videos transforms and impacts how leaners digest and explore
lecture content. In my opinion, videos assist in facilitating quick problem solving and

Corporate Consolidation 3
thinking. Visual clues help in the recalling of new knowledge and also in the memory
process. Moving images make a topic more insightful and engaging hence sharpening the
leaners skills more than written content (The University of Queensland, 2018). Secondly,
learning through videos is crucial in engaging and inspiring learners effectively. This
helps increase student motivation and also enhance the learning experience. Besides, it
creates the potential for deeper learning specifically for learners.
5. What have you learned that you can pass on to others?
From the video, I have learnt that wrong perception can bring about damaging
results. For example, the perception that small businesses are the backbone of the
economy has damaged their market share. This is because the larger businesses have
devised ways to capture a significant market share at the expense of the notion that small
businesses run the economy. Large companies such as Amazon, Google, and AT&T are
still occupying a significant market share due to the consolidation and mergers.
Therefore, stricter laws should come up so as to ensure consolidation does not serve the
purpose of occupying a larger market share but creating an equally competitive
environment.

Corporate Consolidation 4
References
Hecht, J. (2018). Are Small Businesses Really the Backbone of the Economy? Retrieved from
https://www.inc.com/jared-hecht/are-small-businesses-really-the-backbone-of-the-
economy.html
LastWeekTonight. (2017, September 24). Corporate Consolidation: Last Week Tonight with
John Oliver (HBO) [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=00wQYmvfhn4
The University of Queensland, (2018). Pedagogical benefits of video for teaching and learning –
Retrieved from http://www.uq.edu.au/teach/video-teach-learn/ped-benefits.html