Overview

This module will introduce students to the key tenets of planning, designing, conducting and writing-up an effective feasibility plan (or new venture proposal) and a 3rd year undergraduate business plan for a business/ management/ new venture creation (or related) idea.

Participants will be required to draft a proposal for a short feasibility plan (or new venture proposal) within business/ management/ new venture creation. This will include (but is not limited to) the formulation of a business/ management/ new venture creation (or related) idea, acknowledgement of the problem, proposed solution / outline of approach, timeline, marketing mix, etc

Students will then be supported through the principles involved in new venture creation and be required to develop a sustainable business plan. This will include: the process of establishing a venture from idea generation to the completion of a business plan; following the process of developing a business plan through its various stages, including business description and the market, development and production, sales and marketing, management team and the financial plan. It will include (but not be limited to) Executive Summary (objectives, products and services, target markets, financial projections, investment required); Products and Services (Products summary, pricing, margins, profit per unit); External Analysis (economic indicators, market research and trends) andMarketing Plan.

Students will receive support support via lectures, tutorials and drop-in sessions so that their final submission will provide insight into the nature and generation of business plans.

This module will introduce students to the key tenets of planning, designing, conducting and writing-up an effective feasibility plan (or new venture proposal) and a 3rd year undergraduate business plan for a business/ management/ new venture creation (or related) idea.

Participants will be required to draft a proposal for a short feasibility plan (or new venture proposal) within business/ management/ new venture creation (or related) (etc). This will include (but not limited to) the formulation of a business/ management/ new venture creation (or related) idea, business/ management/ new venture creation (or related) acknowledgement of the problem, Proposed solution / Outline of approach, Timeline. Pricing etc

Students will then be supported through the principles involved in new venture creation and be required to develop a sustainable business plan. This includes the process of establishing a venture from idea generation to the completion of a business plan. To follow the process of developing a business plan through its various stages, including business description and the market, development and production, sales and marketing, management team and the financial plan.This will include (but not limited to) Executive Summary (objectives, products and services, target markets, financial projections, investment required) Products and Services (Products summary, pricing, margins, profit per unit) External Analysis (economic indicators, market research and trends) Marketing Plan.

Students will receive support support via lectures, tutorials and drop-in sessions so that their final submission will provide insight into the nature and generation of business plans.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -D- to D+ (40-49%): Students must show that they have some grasp of the elements contributing towards a business related project. This will include some grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practical elements and some integration of theory/practice/information in pursuit of the assessed work's objectives.

satisfactory level-C- to C+ (50-59%): Students must demonstrate that they have a adequate grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practical elements and adequate integration of theory/practice/information in pursuit of the assessed work's objectives.

-good -B- to B+ (60-69%): Students must show that they have a good grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practical elements and good integration of theory/practice/information in pursuit of the assessed work's objectives.

-excellent -A- to A* (70% +): Students will have shown an excellent grasp of theoretical/conceptual/practice elements and excellent integration of theory/practice/information in pursuit of the assessed work's objectives.

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Learning Outcomes

• An ability to synthesise and critically appraise a body of academic or industrial literature to generate a feasibility proposal.

• An appreciation and application of quality measures for assessing the quality of a credible and sustainable business plan

• An awareness of the issues facing businesses while focusing on a specific knowledge area while choosing across a wide spectrum of management topics, including but not limited by operations, human resources, marketing, entrepreneurship, information, and finance

• Appreciate the purpose of key aspects of planning and carrying out research into business and management

• Demonstrate business industry information and interpretation skills

• Demonstrate key presentation and organisation skills. This through planning, editing and compiling a substantial business plan project report.