Business Planning For Success

Unit 1 – Introduction to Business Planning

• Business plans
• Objectives
• Strategic planning
• Documenting the strategy
• Operational planning
• Documenting the operational plan
• The key components of the business plan
• Action plans
• RACI matrix

Unit 2 – Focus and Direction

• Planning for direction
• Vision: how do you want to be remembered?
• Examples of vision statements:
• The mission statement
• Smart objectives
• Swot analysis
• Strategic planning

Unit 3 – Legal and Administrative Requirements

• Determine the most appropriate legal structure
• Types of business ownership
• Sole traders
• Partnerships
• Deed of partnership
• Advantages of partnerships:
• Disadvantages of partnerships:
• Companies
• The memorandum of association
• Proprietary limited companies (pty ltd)
• Private ltd companies
• Trusts
• Business name
• Taxation
• Other compulsory taxes/insurance following specifically Australian legislation
• Regulations, licences and permits

Unit 4 – Developing Objectives and Strategies

• Developing objectives & goals
• SWOT analysis
• Pestel analysis
• Gap analysis
• The connection between strategy and objectives
• The process of strategizing
• Responsibilities, tasks and timeline
• Gather information about the business and its market-place
• Corporate objectives and developing strategic policy

Unit 5 – Planning for Growth

• Growth is essential to the well-being of your business
• Three main problems linked to growth
• Internal causes and external causes
• Fluctuations in demand
• Options for growth: increasing market share
• Options for growth: diversification
• Options for growth: partnerships, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions
• Partnerships and joint ventures
• Mergers and acquisitions

Unit 6 – Risk Management and Contingencies

• Risk management
• Risks to consider
• Insurances
• Risk analysis
• Identify threats to the business for example:
• Estimate risk
• Managing risk
• Review risk
• A simple contingency plan

Unit 7 – Systems

• Quality management
• Benchmarking
• How to benchmark:
• Innovation
• Protecting your business
• Information technology
• Systems control

Unit 8 – Marketing Plans

• What is marketing?
• The marketing process
• Market research
• The marketing mix
• Product,price and place and promotion
• Where does the marketing mix fit into marketing planning?
• Swot analysis
• Strategic response through marketing mix
• Market analysis
• Military inspired strategies for marketing and sales
• The internet
• Social media

Unit 9 – Operation Plans

• Factors that need to be considered
• The fast track to an operating plan and strategy
• Developing a business strategy
• Techniques
• Pert (program evaluation and reviewtechnique
• CPA (critical path analysis)
• Network diagrams
• Gantt charts
• Fastest and slowest completion times
• Nine steps to successful planning
• Planning to reduce disruptions due to staff changes

Unit 10 – Human Resource Plans

• What human resource plans involve
• Managing human resources legislation
• Duty of care
• Workplace safety
• Safeguarding
• Responsibilities for managing the workplace
• The hr planning process
• Organisational design

Unit 11 – Financial Plans

• The importance of financial plans
• The fast track to financial basics
• Three views of financial transactions
• Sales
• Capital outlays
• Operating costs
• Financial statements
• The balance sheet
• The income or the profit & loss (P&L) account
• The cash flow statement
• Budgets
• Basic start-up costs
• Finding funding
• Start-up equity
• Later equity
• Debt
• Comparing debt and equity
• Performance measures and ratios used for financial planning
• Ratio analysis
• Indicators of profitability and efficiency