Swimming with the sharks: An activity exploring cost, volume and profit analysis through the use of Shark Tank

This research presents an in-class activity and accompanying homework assignment designed to encourage students to engage in critical thought about managerial decisions made by a real-world company that appeared on the hit reality show Shark Tank. This alternative approach to teaching cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis helps students engage in active learning while providing context that allows for a deeper understanding of the decisions managers make. Results indicate that students enjoy the activity and agree that it contributes to their learning and understanding of how CVP can be used in real-world businesses.