Course Title: Develop a transport and logistics business plan
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2018
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
Lorraine Hall Lorraine.hall@rmit.edu.au
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 learning activities are planned for this course including self-paced and collaborative classroom based activities.
The collaborative classroom based activities will include group discussion, group problem solving activities and opportunities to practice your skills in a simulated/real workplace environment.
We expect you to participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities.
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 |
5 Feb |
Induction overview Introduction to course |
Assess 1 handed out Assess 2 handed out |
2 |
12 Feb |
Overview Business Plan |
|
3 |
19 Feb |
Product Service & Analysis |
|
4 |
26 Feb |
Logistics Marketing and Logistics Plan |
|
5 |
5 March |
Business Structure Insurance & Legislation |
|
6 |
12 March |
Legal & Manage Risk |
Assess 1 due |
7 |
19 March |
Strategic Logistics Planning |
|
8 |
26 March |
Logistics Channels Products & Services |
|
Mid semester break 28 March – 4 April | |||
9 |
9 April |
Performance Measurement & KPIs |
|
10 |
16 April |
Return on Investment and Financial Planning for Projects |
Assess 2 due |
11 |
23 April |
Contingency Planning |
|
12 |
30 April |
Project Planning and Timelines |
|
13 |
7 May |
Building a Business Case |
|
14 |
14 May |
Report Writing - format and structure |
Assess 3 due |
15 |
21 May |
Presentation |
|
16 |
28 May |
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
You are required to complete all three assessments tasks. You must successfully complete all three tasks to be deemed competent in this course.
Assessment Task 1 – Conduct a Situational Analysis based on a logistics business
Date and time due: Week 4
Group or Individual: individual
Purpose:
In preparation for to complete the business plan, in this assessment students will be required to conduct a situational analysis based on a logistics business to analyse an organization's internal and external environment to understand the organization's capabilities, customers, and business environment.
Assessment Task 2 – Conduct an Analysis of the Organisational Environment on a logistics business
Date and time due: Week 9
Group or Individual: individual
Purpose:
In this assessment students are required to conduct an organizational environment analysis to identify any external and internal elements, which may affect the performance of a logistics business.
Assessment Task 3 - Write and deliver a Transport and Logistics Business Plan
Date and time due: Written Submission: - Week 14 & Verbal Presentation and assessment presentation: Week 15 in class
Group or Individual: Individual
Purpose:
The purpose of this assessment is to gain valuable employability skills in the generation of a business plan for a transport or logistics business. Writing a business plan is an essential skill for the management of any business. These skills are crucial for successfully running a business, obtaining external finance and communicating to the stakeholders about your business venture.
Assessment Matrix
For these assessment tasks you need to draw upon what you have learned throughout the unit.
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix that maps all the assessment is available on CANVAS.
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 the Assessment task document that includes a declaration and statement of authorship.
- 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.
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: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/extensions-of-time-for-submission-of-assessable-work
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:https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/special-consideration
Resubmissions
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
Successful re-submissions will contribute a CAG only (Competency Achieved Grading) result 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:
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 |
CA |
Competency Achieved – Not 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