Course Title: Develop a transport and logistics business plan

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2017

Course Code: BUSM8003C

Course Title: Develop a transport and logistics business plan

School: 650T Vocational Business Education

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5369 - Diploma of Logistics

Course Contact: Suzanne Maugeri

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 1466

Course Contact Email: suzanne.maugeri@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 150

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to develop a business plan for an organisation or a discrete business unit in the transport and logistics industry, in accordance with relevant Australian and international regulatory requirements, standards, codes of practice and workplace procedures.

This includes conducting a situational and market analysis, analysing the organisational environment, developing appropriate strategies, and implementing and evaluating the resulting business plan.

Work is under general guidance on progress and outcomes. It requires discretion and judgement for self and others in planning and using resources, services and processes to achieve required outcomes.

The unit generally applies to those with responsibility for resource coordination and allocation, and who lead individuals or teams.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

TLIP5004 Develop a transport and logistics business plan

Element:

1 Conduct a situational and market analysis

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Transport and logistics business's principal services, markets, products and the factors that distinguish the business and contribute to its success are identified

1.2 Transport and logistics business/operating environment is defined and reviewed using information from staff members, customer feedback and external sources

1.3 Qualitative and quantitative market analysis data is documented

1.4 Target markets and relevant regulatory requirements are identified

1.5 Impact of transport and logistics business on market is recorded and projected change in market and/or services during the life of the plan is projected

1.6 Competitors, customer perceptions and market share of existing competitors operating in the transport and logistics industry are identified

1.7 Proposed business focus on specific target markets, pricing, sales and appeals are defined

1.8 Potential profitable opportunities are identified and documented

Element:

2 Analyse organisational environment

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Current transport and logistics business operations, practices, work flow, equipment and facilities are analysed

2.2 Organisational capability in terms of technology, research, development and tools is outlined

2.3 Current resources and resources that may be accessed to meet identified opportunities for business operations are evaluated

2.4 Developments in technology predicted within the lifetime of the business plan are evaluated and analysed

2.5 Organisational capability in terms of staff, equipment, facilities, operational systems and financial status are assessed for strengths and weaknesses

2.6 Costs of making operational adjustments in relation to existing and new business to influence improved profitability and positioning are reviewed

2.7 Premises for decisions are documented, potential circumstances which may alter the environment are identified and contingency provisions are made

Element:

3 Develop strategies

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Benchmark goals are documented and checked for realism in terms of internal and external environmental factors

3.2 Decisions and adjustments regarding resource allocation for products and services are made, based on external and internal analyses

3.3 Organisational adjustments are documented and implementation strategies are established

3.4 Projections of profit and loss or income statements per quarter until break-even point are constructed for the whole organisation and each cost centre

3.5 Business plan, including performance indicators, is finalised in accordance with enterprise requirements and is circulated to stakeholders

3.6 Questions and feedback from stakeholders are responded to promptly and, where appropriate, incorporated into the plan

Element:

4 Implement and evaluate business plan

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Implementation plans for the management of workplaces, staff, business operation and operational systems are monitored and, where required, adjustments to the plans are made

4.2 Current and future marketing strategies and areas of specialisation are detailed and implemented

4.3 Organisational performance in relation to identified performance indicators is regularly monitored and reviewed

Learning Outcomes


This course is structured to provide students with the optimum learning experience in order to demonstrate the skills and knowledge required to develop a business plan for an organisation or a discrete business unit in the transport and logistics industry, in accordance with relevant Australian and international regulatory requirements, standards, codes of practice and workplace procedures.


Details of Learning Activities

A range of in class activities, case studies and face to face delivery will provide a range of learning and teaching experiences for students.


Teaching Schedule

The Teaching Schedule for this course is as follows but please note that it is subject to change. 

Week

Week Commencing

Topics

Assessment

1

3 Jul

Induction overview

Introduction to course

Assess 1 handed out

Assess 2 handed out

2

10 Jul

Overview Business Plan

  

3

17 Jul

Product Service & Analysis

  

4

24 Jul

Logistics Marketing and Logistics Plan

  

5

31 Jul

Business Structure Insurance & Legislation

 

6

7 Aug

Legal & Manage Risk

Assess 1 due Fri 11 Aug 5.00pm

7

14 Aug

Strategic Logistics Planning

  

8

21 Aug

Logistics Channels Products & Services

  

28 Aug – 3 Sep  Mid-Semester Break

9

4 Sep

Implement & Evaluate Business Plan

 

10

11 Sep

Implement & Evaluate Business Plan

Assess 2 due Fri 15 Sept 5.00pm

11

18 Sep

Implement & Evaluate Business Plan

 

12

25 Sep

Implement & Evaluate Business Plan

 

13

2 Oct

Review & prepare Assessment

 

14

9 Oct

Review & prepare assessment

Assess 3 due Fri13 Oct 5.00pm

15

16 Oct

Presentation

 

16

23 Oct

Resubmissions, resits and feedback

 

 

The nominal hours associated with this are a guide only and represent the total teaching time and student effort required to successfully complete the course. This may include not only scheduled classes bit also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

 

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Methods

Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of the requirements in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks, for example:

  • direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate
  • review of final printed documents
  • demonstration of techniques
  • observation of presentations
  • oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of software applications

You are advised that you are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate your assessment work to your teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.

Performance  Evidence

You will be required to provide evidence of the following skills:

  • adapting to differences in equipment in accordance with standard operating procedures
  • applying relevant legislation and workplace procedures
  • communicating effectively with others when developing a transport and logistics business plan
  • completing documentation related to work activities and the development of a transport and logistics business plan
  • modifying activities to cater for variations in workplace contexts and environment
  • monitoring work activities in terms of planned schedule
  • operating electronic communications equipment to required protocol
  • planning and organising business systems and activities
  • prioritising work and coordinating self and others in relation to workplace activities
  • providing leadership and working collaboratively with others when developing a transport and logistics business plan
  • reading and interpreting business and market data, regulatory requirements and other planning information relevant to the development of a transport and logistics business plan
  • reporting and/or rectifying identified problems promptly, in accordance with workplace procedures
  • selecting and applying appropriate technology, information systems and procedures
  • working systematically with required attention to detail without injury to self or others, or damage to goods or equipment.

Knowledge Evidence

You are required to provide evidence of the following:

  • application of current competencies within functional activity
  • application of relevant Australian and international standards and associated certification requirements
  • Australian and international regulations, codes of practice and legislative requirements relevant to business operations
  • equipment applications, capacities, configurations, safety hazards and control
  • operational competitor and internal business systems, resources, management and workplace operating systems
  • hazards that may exist in the operation of a transport and logistics business, and ways of controlling the risks involved
  • market and other external environmental factors including the regulatory environment
  • organisational strengths and weaknesses including the competencies of individuals in the team/group
  • problems that may occur during the development of a transport and logistics business plan, and action that can be taken to report or resolve these problems
  • relevant workplace documentation procedures
  • resource availability including the competencies of individuals in the team/group
  • workplace processes for developing a transport and logistics business plan.

Feedback

Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions. You are encouraged to ask and answer questions during class time and online sessions so that you can obtain feedback on your understanding of the concepts and issues being discussed. Finally, you can email or arrange an appointment with your teacher to gain more feedback on your progress.

You should take note of all feedback received and use this information to improve your learning outcomes and final performance in the course.


Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1 – Conduct a Situational Analysis based on a logistics business

Date handed out:  Week 1
Date and time due:  Friday 5.00pm - Week 6
Group or Individual: Individual

Requirements: Writing a business plan for a transport or logistics business requires research, writing, negotiating and planning skills. This assessment involves the writing and presenting of a complete business plan about a logistics type business.

The assessment materials gathered will form part of the assessment task three and contribute to the students’ portfolio of evidence.

Details of Assessment:A situational analysis is a tool for managers to analyse their particular organisation, both from an internal and external perspective. This involves various business tools that can be utilised to change the overall direction of the business or make a small corrections within a business. This situational analysis will focus on 4 aspects of business:

  • Employment situation in the market place
  • Finance availability and costs
  • Product and / or service offerings to the market place
  • Successionalplanning

This assessment will focus on the effects and forces that can and do effect businesses. We will focus on tools such as PESTLE, SWOT, RISK ANALYSIS and PARETO as general tools and work through various analyses in this assessment.

This assessment requires the student to write a situational analysis document of approximately a maximum of 1600 words. This assessment contributes to Assessment three.

Assessment Task 2 – Analyse an Organisational Environment

Date handed out:  Week 1
Date and time due:  Friday 5.00pm - Week 10
Group or Individual: individual

Requirements: This assessment will focus on a selection of business tools that assist managers in analysing information and using these analyses to make appropriate business decisions.

This assessment requires the completion of a Questionnaire to be submitted to Blackboard by the required time and date. This assessment contributes to assessment three.

Details of Assessment:

Written assessments are to be submitted via blackboard 

Assessment Task 3 – Portfolio of Works

Date handed out:  Week 1
Date and time due:  Written Submission: Friday 5.00pm - Week 14
Verbal Presentation and assessment presentation: Week 15 in class

Group or Individual: Individual  

Requirements: In this section you should include a broad summary of the requirements and any technical requirements such as word count -  i.e:  Students are to develop a marketing plan based on a business of their choice.  The report should not exceed 1600 words.

Assessment task three involves the completion of the business plan and will include the information collated from assessment tasks 1 & 2 as well as additional information for assessment 3. This assessment requires the formation of a complete business plan and the presentation of the business plan to the student cohort and other people if available. These other people may be RMIT staff members or representatives of the business community.

 


Assessment Matrix

Submission Requirements

You should:

  • Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date
  • Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (Hard copy and soft copy)
  • When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use a cover sheet that includes a declaration and statement of authorship. You must complete, sign and submit a cover sheet with all work you submit for assessment, whether individual or group work. On the cover sheet you declare that the work you are presenting for assessment is your own work. An assignment cover sheet for submission of each assessment task is available on blackboard.
  • Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers. For example, Julie Macpherson, s34567, Task 2 – Safety Induction Assessment, OHTH5872C Ensure a Safe Workplace, Page 1.

 

Late Submission Procedures

You are required to submit assessment items and/or ensure performance based assessment is completed by the due dates.

 

If you are prevented from submitting an assessment item on time, by circumstances outside your control, you may apply in advance to your teacher for an extension to the due date of up to seven calendar days.

More Information: http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension

Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf

 Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for special consideration.

Applications for special consideration must be submitted no later than two working days after the assessment task deadline or scheduled examination. More Information: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=g43abm17hc9w (unresolved)

 

Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/8a5dgcaqvaes1.pdf

 

Re-submissions (VE Programs)

If you are found to be unsuccessful in a particular Course Assessment Task (or you do not submit/attend) you will be allowed one resubmission.  Your teacher will provide feedback regarding what you need to do to improve and will set a new deadline for the resubmission. 

 

If you are still not meeting the assessment requirements you must apply to your Program Manager in writing outlining the steps you will take to demonstrate competence in your course. Your submission will be considered by the Program Team and you will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.

 

Grading & re-submissions

Re-submissions are not graded and do not contribute to your overall grade for the course.

 

Adjustments to Assessment

In certain circumstances students may be eligible for an assessment adjustment. For more information about the circumstances under which the assessment arrangements might be granted please access the following website:
More Information: http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=7usdbki1fjf31

 

Marking Guide (Competency)

You must demonstrate that you have all the required skills/knowledge/elements in the unit of competency you are studying.

 

You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you about your progress and how well you are performing.

 

Marking Guide (Grading)

After achieving competency we then grade your performance in the unit and you will achieve one of the following grades:

 

Final Grades table

CHD Competent with High Distinction
CDI Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competency Achieved – Graded
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for assessment

 

Further information regarding the application of the grading criteria will be provided by your teacher.

Other Information

Academic Integrity


Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a form of cheating in assessment and may occur in oral, written or visual presentations. It is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person, without appropriate referencing, as though it is your own.


The penalties for cheating in assessment are severe, whether the cheating involves plagiarism, fabrication, falsification of data, copyright infringement or some other method. Penalties can include charges of academic misconduct, cancellation of results and exclusion from your course. It is also a disciplinary offence for you to allow your work to be plagiarised by another student.

 

Referencing
RMIT Business produce their own referencing guidelines entitled written reports and essays: guidelines for referencing and presentation in RMIT Business which all Business students should use.


RMIT Business referencing guidelines (RTF, 1,286 KB, 52 pages); A supporting Referencing website has been developed for the RMIT Business guidelines.You can find out more about Academic Integrity at RMIT’s Academic Integrity webpage.

 

Group Assessment
A number of your assessments will rely upon group work. This is a critical part of your program as in the workplace you will be regularly required to work in a team environment. Teamwork is also one of the key employability skills for this qualification.

 

The key to being successful in group work is getting to know your classmates and finding out what they want to achieve. You should seek to find a team which shares your key interests and drivers.

If you are facing issues with your group, the key is to resolve them quickly well before assessments are due. If you need to you can seek support from your teacher.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview