Purpose: To allow students to begin to apply the knowledge and skills of the subject to a real world example.
Topic: Students are required to create their own Business Plan on any product or service they wish but no restaurant/coffee business is allowed.
Task Details:
An Entrepreneurial Venture - groups are to develop an entrepreneurial product or service that could be commercialised. The group is to assume it is seeking funding of $100,000 to add to the existing funds of $100,000, and include a financial plan for the use of these funds for the first financial year. The product or service should be original and producible (i.e. no science fiction).
The primary target market should be local, although secondary markets may be reached via the internet. Pricing, distribution and promotion strategies should reflect this. To assist groups in managing their progress, pairs of students should be finalised by week 4 and advise the tutor of their chosen product or service and primary market for approval.
The proposal should be communicated in a 2000 - 2500 word report, containing all relevant detail and supporting evidence (in attachments), and a presentations as if to a potential financer.
The presentation should be a sale pitch for the business venture.
Presentation:
Report: Students should present this idea/venture in a 2500 +/- 10% word report containing:
1) A Title Page (consider the design - it needs to look attractive and professional)
2) Executive Summary
3) Table of Contents
4) Background (to the idea)
5) Mission
6) Product (Service) offering
7) Market analysis a) Industry analysis b) Competition
8) Primary Target market
9) Marketing a) Product (probably similar to section 3 above - additional detail where necessary) b) Pricing c) Distribution d) Promotion (including a 1 page mock-up of a proposed advertisement)
10) Financial plan
11) Critical risks
12) Reference list identifying all sources used - these should also be found in the body of the report where used and referenced using Harvard - Anglia style referencing.
13) Attachments as required. Remember, images of the product, brand and promotions will add value to the report.
Oral Presentation: All group members MUST participate in the presentation. Presentations should be a "sales pitch" covering the main elements as below - detail should be contained in the report. Information can be covered in any order in the presentation, but should contain all main elements of the Report.
While it is not expected that you will "dress" for the presentation, students should make an effort to look clean and tidy at least. You will need to present your product marketing proposal to the class in a presentation lasting NO LONGER THAN 10 minutes.
Research: Students need to support their analysis with reference from the text and a minimum of eight (8) suitable, reliable, current and academically acceptable sources - check with your tutor if unsure of the validity of sources.
Those seeking Credit or above grades should support their analysis with an increased number of reference sources. As a guide 12 for credit and 15 for Distinction. This implies evidence of research is found within your work not merely the cutting and pasting of references to pad out the submission.
Harvard referencing