Course Title: Develop and implement a business plan

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2013

Course Code: BUSM6247C

Course Title: Develop and implement a business plan

School: 650T TAFE Business

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6092 - Advanced Diploma of Marketing

Course Contact : Tim Wallis

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5423

Course Contact Email:timothy.wallis@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Marina Cook

marina.cook@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 60

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 required

Course Description

This unit applies to individuals who are running an organisation or who take a senior role in determining the effective functioning and success of the organisation. As such, they may oversee the work of a number of teams and other managers.

Business plans are critical tools for business growth and development. They will vary depending on the needs of the organisation. This unit covers the typical elements of a business plan and the standard approaches to be used in implementing a business plan.
 


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

BSBMGT617A Develop and implement a business plan

Element:

(1) Develop a business plan (2) Monitor performance (3) Respond to performance data

 

Performance Criteria:

see below

Element:

1.Develop business plan

1.1. Review and evaluate pre-existing strategic, business and operational plan, if available
1.2. Analyse and interpret business vision, mission, values and objectives
1.3. Consult with key stakeholders
1.4. Review market requirements for the product or service, profile customer needs and research pricing options
1.5. Develop performance objectives and measures through consultation with key stakeholders
1.6. Identify financial, human and physical resource requirements for the business
1.7. Consider any permits or licences that may be required for new activity
1.8. Write business plan
 

Performance Criteria:

See below

Element:

3.Respond to performance data

3.1. Analyse performance reports against planned objectives
3.2. Review performance indicators and refine if necessary
3.3. Ensure groups and individuals contributing to under-performance are coached, and provide training where appropriate
3.4. Review system processes and work methods regularly as part of continuous improvement
 

Performance Criteria:

See below

Element:

2. Monitor performance

2.1. Communicate business plan to all relevant parties and ensure understanding of performance requirements and timeframes
2.2. Ensure skilled labour is available to implement plan
2.3. Test performance measurement systems and refine, if necessary
2.4. Ensure timely reports on all key aspects of the business are available, user-friendly and balanced in terms of financial and non-financial performance
2.5. Report system failures, product failures and variances to the business plan as they occur
 

Performance Criteria:

See below


Learning Outcomes


This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to run a business operation and covers the steps required to develop and implement a business plan.


Details of Learning Activities

A range of learning activities are planned for this course including self-paced and collaborative classroom based activities.
The self-paced activities will be delivered through various technology platforms and include your contribution to tutorial activities and interactive sessions.
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

This schedule may vary during the semester

 

 Week Week Commencing  Topics  Assessment 
 1  8 Jul  (1) Course Induction
• Course delivery and assessment details
• Course support documents
• Online learning environment
• Grading
• Plagiarism
• Appeals
• Extensions
• Feedback
• Privacy
• Submission requirements
• Resubmission policy
• Where to get support
• Student responsibilities
(2) Pre-Training Review
• Includes skills analysis and Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfers
(3) Course Overview & Business Profile 
 
 2 15 Jul  Introduction to business plan  
 3  22 Jul  Understanding the business#1  
 4 29 Jul  Understanding the business#2  
 5  5 Aug  External micro-environmental analysis  
 6  12 Aug  • Business strategies for leaders and followers
• Industry analysis , organization’s strategic capabilities
 
 7  19 Aug  Functional/operational plans & strategies#1
 8 26 Aug Functional/operational plans & strategies#2  
   2 - 6 Sep  Mid semester break  
 9 9 sep Logistics  Assessment Task 1 due
10 16 Sep  Services business planning  
 11 23 Sep Implementation
(Monitor and measure performance)

 

 
12 30 Sep  Finalisation of client project  
 13 7 Oct  In class assessment activity
 
 Task 3
14 14 Oct  Presentation preparation
 
 Assessment Task 2 Due
15 21 Oct  Internal practice presentations
 
 
 16 28 Oct  Oral presentation to client  


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Prescribed Text – TBA


References

• Monger, B. (2007); marketing in black and white, 1st ed., Pearson Education, Australia
• Reed, P. (2006): Strategic Marketing Planning, 2nd ed., Thomson
• Walker, Mullins, Boyd, Larreche (2006); Marketing Strategy, 5th ed., McGraw-Hill
• Healy, G. (2004); Strategic Marketing Analysis, 1st ed., Thomson
 


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Students must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of a particular competency to be deemed competent. Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks.

Assessment will incorporate a variety of methods including assignments, journals, presentation and written or test. Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.


Assessment Tasks

 

Task 1 – Business Plan draft : (Due week 9)

 

Working in groups of NO MORE THAN 4

Note that that assessment tasks 2 and 3 will be completed in conjunction with tasks required for MKTG5841C Develop a Marketing Plan.

Students are to assume the role of management consultant to the chosen WIL client for this semester. They have been engaged by this organisation to identify business and marketing opportunities and prepare comprehensive business plans and tactics to address the problem identified in the client brief which will be distributed in the first week of semester 2 .

To be deemed competent in this task, students must prepare a comprehensive business plan draft see notes below


Submission Requirements: Students are required to provide a written document by the due date uploaded into blackboard. Please note that submissions are not to be emailed.


Task 2. Business Plan Final Report (Due week 14)

To be deemed competent in this task, students must prepare a comprehensive business plan draft see notes below


Submission Requirements: Students are required to provide a written document by the due date uploaded into blackboard. Please note that submissions are not to be emailed.

This assessment task also incorporates an engaging client presentation of the key findings and recommendations. Details will be discussed during the semester

Note that once the assessment has been handed in client presentations will be held in week 16.

1. Marking Guide for competency for assessment tasks 1 and 2 as follows:

 

 Report presentation
i. Use of specified format outlined in the assignment document:
Headings and sub-headings, Use Arial font type and size 11pt.,Minimum one
and a half line spacing, Use only black font colour, The assignment must be
typed print (not hand written), Pages must be numbered, Spelling and
grammar checked, Title page, RMIT assignment cover sheet, A bibliography
page and all information used or cited in your major assignment must be
referenced where applicable, Information must be well presented in a clear,
concise, logical and business-like manner, using clear English expression
ii. Based on the client’s project brief requirements

Title page
Evidence of:
Course code, course name, project name, brief description,
prepared for, prepared by, date of completion

Executive summary
Evidence of:
Summary of main issues. Not to exceed 1 ½ page

Content page
Evidence of:
Topic headings and sub-headings with accompanying page numbers
 

Strategy – Business direction
Evidence of:
Current Vision statement (Long term goals, 5-10 years); Mission statement (within 3-5 years); Value/purpose statement; Business objectives (list 3-5 goals); Action plans for short term goals; Action plans for long term goals

Business and industry assessment
Evidence of:
Strengths of the business; Weaknesses of the business; Opportunities in the industry; Threats in the industry

2.0 Industry overview
The Organization’s industry
Evidence of:
Industry size; Sectors in the industry; Markets and customers in the industry; Industry’s estimated sales: Current year, Last year, The year before; What past and present trends (e.g. national & economic) have affected the industry? How?; What future trends (e.g. national & economic) might affect the industry? How?; Long-term outlook (5-10 years) for the industry

Organization’s Position in the industry
Evidence of:
Organization’s business products and/or services; The business unique selling proposition; Barriers to entry in the industry and how to overcome these barriers

Current Business Strategy
Evidence of:
Organization’s current business strategy, business value proposition

3.0 Market Analysis
Evidence of:
Demographic & psychographic factors such as - Age, Gender, Where they live?, Family structure, income, Occupation, Lifestyle, Hobbies, What motivates them?, Size of the target market, Percentage of repeat customers, Effects of economic events on target market, Effects of government policies on target market, Effects of socio-economic trends on target market; Market requirements for the product or service; Profile customer needs; Research pricing options

4.0 Competitive Analysis
Evidence of:
Direct and indirect competitors-Their market share, Their competitive advantages, Their market or market segments they serve, Benefits offered by competitors, Reasons customers buy from them.
*Use of a competitive analysis matrix accompanied by a summary of the matrix

5.0 Marketing Plan
Specific details provided in course MKTG5841C


Management Plan
Evidence of:
Ownership structure, Internal Management team, External Management
Resources, Human Resources Needs


Operating Plan – Development stage
Evidence of:
1a. Describe how the organization’s product or service processes will
be made (future), 1b. Identify likely problems in the production process,
2a. Explanation of the organization’s suppliers, their prices, terms and conditions,
2b. If suppliers let them down, what are their ‘Plan B’ arrangements
(contingency plan)
3. Quality control measures – current and future
Operating Plan – Production Process
Evidence of:
Details of the organization’s business operation. General – Business
day to day operations, The physical plant, Equipment, Assets, Special
requirements, Materials, Production, Inventory, Feasibility, Cost


8.0 Financial Plan
Evidence of:
Income statement, Cash flow projection, The Balance Sheet (pro-forma)


 Implement, Monitor and measure performance
Evidence of:
Analyze performance reports against planned objectives, Monitor
performance report system, failures, product failures and variances to the
business plan as they occur

10.0 Conclusion
Evidence of:
A conclusion section

11.0 References
Evidence of:
References used in the assignment and a separate reference page
12.0 List of appendices
Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C, Appendix D, and so on.
Evidence of:
appropriate use of appendices as listed in the major assignment.
May add other appendices where required


2. Submission Requirements
3a. A hard and soft copy of your Business Plan assignment to your teacher, Chris Lee and the Marketing
Plan to your teacher, Elaine Holstein
3b. Your soft copy must be uploaded onto Blackboard for both teachers respectively


Task 3. In class activities

During class time students will be expected to participate in a range of activities. Two of these will be selected throughout the semester for assessment.

Guidelines will be discussed during the first weeks of classes.


Assessment Matrix

Course Overview: Access Course Overview