Assessment

Part A

Assessment Type: Case Study - Group or individual assessment.

Purpose: To allow students to begin to apply the knowledge and skills of the subject to a real world example. This assessment supports and relates to Learning Outcomes a, b, c and e found in the Subject Outline.

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: Refer back to subject outline but as summarised here.

An Entrepreneurial Venture - Individuals 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..

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.

Research: Students need to support their analysis with reference from the text and a minimum of eight (12) 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 pass ,15 for credit and 17+ 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.

Sources such as Wiki..., scribed.com, docstore, etc. are not considered acceptable sources and should not be used - reliance on such sources will result in a Fail grade. Presentation: Report format - 2300 - 2500 word Word.doc or Word.docx (word count applies to content only, not title page, executive summary, table of contents and reference list).

Responses should have a title page attached reflecting the content and the author, executive summary (not compulsory), table of contents, introduction, suitable headings and sub-headings to cover the relevant content and elements of analysis, conclusion, recommendations, reference list/bibliography, appendices (if relevant).

Part B : Power point presentation

Oral Presentation: Individual members MUST participate in the presentation. Presentations should be a "sales pitch" covering the main elements but highlighted - details of which should be shown in the main 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/service/process marketing proposal to the class in a presentation lasting NO LONGER THAN 10 minutes.

Individua exceeding 10 minutes will be asked to stop. This will improve the presentation overall, and give those involved a chance to improve and time manage their presentation. The class represents the funding source that will authorise funding for your idea to proceed, if they are persuaded by your ideas and that the product marketing proposal will be effective.

TIndividual should use any visual aids they need to "SELL" their idea. More involving (the better) presentations should use more than just a set of power-point slides.

Presentation Marking: Individual members must participate in the presentation. There are no make-up presentations. All presentations must be completed by week 12 of the subject. Individuals or groups must register the date they will present on a calendar of events created during the subject. Presentations need to be spread out from week 9, thus those who do not present on their allotted date, will miss out and forfeit the presentation section of the assignment.

Presentation: Individual members must participate in the presentation. There are no make-up presentations. All presentations must be completed by week 11 of the subject.

Individuals or groups must register the date they will present on a calendar of events created during the subject. Presentations need to be spread out from week 9, thus those advising of a presentation date on a full day will miss out and forfeit the presentation section of the assignment.