Tik Tok Intro to Business Case Study | Reader’s Theater Format | Econ 101

Challenge your business, marketing, entrepreneurship class to analyze the thrilling rise of TikTok with this engaging readers theater script. If you are students are bored of the textbook, this fresh new approach can captivate high school students while teaching essential business and economics concepts. Follow Zhang Yiming and his team as they transform a small idea into a global phenomenon, facing tough choices, viral trends, and billion-dollar risks. This engaging script spans 10 acts, each spotlighting a key moment in TikTok’s journey—from its scrappy ByteDance beginnings in 2012 to its billion-user triumph by 2020. With 9 characters, including Zhang, Musical.ly’s Alex Zhu, and Instagram’s Kevin Systrom, the narrative blends real-world business drama with classroom-ready lessons. Each act ties to one of 10 business related concepts (see the script summary below).

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What's included?

1) Teacher's Guide & Answer Key

• Standards Alignment (CCSS, NCSS, NCSEE, NCHS, CEE)
• Teacher Tips for use as RT
• Answer Keys for all worksheet sections
• Themes & Discussion Question Prompts
• Format: MSWORD DOC

2) Readers Theater Script

• ~9 Characters, 3600 words
• Format: Google Doc (Can be downloaded to PDF, etc)

3) Script Worksheet

• 10 Vocabulary Words
• 10 Short-Answer Questions: Comprehension and recall questions based solely on the script.
• 3 Primary Source Exploration: Students must connect concepts in the script with outside sources (links to primary source text provided).
• Fact vs. Fiction: Identifying whether script details are fact or fictional narrative elements within the script.
• 10 Business Concepts in the Case Study: 10 Questions that explore how TikTok’s story demonstrates key business concepts and application of them in students' lives.
• Format: Google Slides (32 Slides) (Can be downloaded to PDF, etc)

Teaching Tips for Using the Script:

• For More Students: Main character can be read by multiple students.
• For Less Students: Minor characters can be read by just one student.
• This script should take about ~25 minutes and depending on your classroom's level it may be suitable for other grade levels.
• An extra ~25 minutes for prep, discussion, vocabulary or short answer comprehension questions should also be planned.
• The included primary source exploration and business concept questions can be assigned for homework.

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Script Summary:

(Note: Each act covers an important business/entrepreneurship concept)

Act 1: Scarcity and Choice

In 2012 Beijing, Zhang Yiming chooses ByteDance over Kuaishou due to limited resources, then bets on TikTok over Toutiao in 2016 with the Musical.ly buy—both show trade-offs shaping TikTok’s path.

Act 2: Supply and Demand

In 2016 China, Douyin faces huge demand but low video supply, fixed with tools; by 2018, TikTok’s U.S. boom requires scaling tech and creators to match teen cravings.

Act 3: Entrepreneurial Mindset

Zhang’s 2012 vision for ByteDance defies small thinking; by 2017, he shrugs off Instagram’s Kevin Systrom to push TikTok globally, showing risk-taking grit.

Act 4: Business Idea Generation

In 2016 Beijing, Zhang dreams up Douyin’s short-video idea; in 2017, he buys Musical.ly for $1 billion, merging it into TikTok—a bold leap from local to global.

Act 5: Market Research

In 2016, Zhang studies Vine’s fall and Musical.ly’s rise to craft Douyin; by 2017, U.S. teen trends guide the TikTok merger, proving data drives success.

Act 6: Business Planning

Zhang plans Douyin’s 2016 launch with clear steps and an algorithm; in 2017, he maps TikTok’s billion-user goal via Musical.ly, tackling global rollout challenges.

Act 7: Marketing and Sales

Douyin’s 2016 viral challenges spark downloads; in 2018, TikTok’s U.S. hashtag trends with creators like Charli D’Amelio explode sales, outsmarting Instagram.

Act 8: Financial Management

In 2012, Zhang uses savings and pitches investors for ByteDance; by 2017-2018, he raises billions for TikTok’s $1 billion Musical.ly deal and growth.

Act 9: Macroeconomic Concepts

In 2020, U.S.-China tensions threaten a TikTok ban; in 2019, Europe’s GDPR forces costly compliance—both show global forces at play.

Act 10: Personal Finance

Zhang risks his savings in 2012 for ByteDance; by 2020, TikTok’s billion users make his stake worth billions, a personal finance win.