5 CP business plan guidelines (v04 2019) MA3,MB3 2017

- Key value customers & stakeholder groups 2 Economic Environment Identify and describe the economic environment in which the proposed business will operate.. - Market conditions - Econo

BUSINESS RESEARCH – GUIDELINES & RUBRIC

THE REPORT CONTENT

This guideline is in reference to new business start-ups, it is not advised for acquisition and mergers Layout: printed report on one side of A4, 1,5 line-spacing, 12 size fonts (Times New Roman), justified.

Description Information requirement

1 FRONT PAGES

a) Title page Title page

School name, the title of the business plan, student name & ID, and date of submission

b) Attestation of

authorship

Students must state that their Career Project is the product of their own work and that all sources have been fully acknowledged

Standard format available

c) Evaluation from

Tutor

CP Assessment Evaluation To be completed and signed by

tutor/supervisor

d) Marking sheet VATEL form To be completed by marker

e) Executive

Summary

An executive summary of a business plan is an overview Its purpose is to summarize the key points of the business plan, saving the reader time and preparing them for the upcoming content Think of the executive summary as an advance organizer for the reader Above all else, it must be clear and concise

Should not exceed TWO pages and the Italic font should be used It must represent a summary of the key points of the Business Plan, without including tables or figures

f)

Acknowledgement

(Optional)

This page should contain the cognition

of the people whom students would like to thank for their assistance and contribution to the business plan

Refer to previous CPs for examples

g) Table of

h)

List of Tables

i) List of Figures

k) Glossary Explains acronyms, technical terms

and non-English language usage

2 MAIN TEXT (in chapters)

1) Introduction

The introduction provides a sufficient background on the topic and previews major points - Central theme/purpose

is immediately clear - Structure is clear, logical, and easy to follow -Subsequent sections develop/support the central theme

- Business concept

- Products & services

- Business context (vision, mission, value)

- Major technologies & facilities required

- Key value customers & stakeholder groups

2) Economic

Environment

Identify and describe the economic environment in which the proposed business will operate Identify any critical points that may favour, or adversely affect, the proposed business

- Market conditions

- Economic conditions - PESTEL

- Historical & Future trends

- Identify likely competitors

- Inventory supply / suppliers / distributors (key only)

- Rules and regulations (key only) 3) Market

Segmentation and

Research +

Business Strategies/

Models

Using existing market research sourced through literature reviews, and the student’s own research, the expected market segment the proposed business will be targeting is detailed

Student will need to describe and justify their own research methodology for not only identifying

- Identify customers

- Customer survey (profile, behavior, satisfaction)

- Business strategies (identify key strategic factors, key measures -3 years)

2

prospective customers, but also giving insight into their profiles, expected behaviours and satisfactions of needs/wants

Outline business strategies/ models response to the market

4) Sales &

Marketing

Outline the sales and marketing strategy for the proposed business

- Product positioning

- S.W.O.T analysis

- Competitor analysis

- Marketing Mix – 7Ps

5) Operational

Efficiency

Quality control are critical areas to focus with balance This will include any other initiatives proposed to drive incremental revenues and customer loyalty

- Business structure & governance

- Operational plan and management: human resource planning and training, SOPs to ensure quality standard, cash handling,

6) Financial

Overview

This will focus on the key sources of revenue e.g Rooms, F&B, Spa etc

There will need to be assumptions or influences to these results or budgets you are preparing Identify the key assumptions made

- Revenue & Profit forecasting (5 years)

- Cash flow forecast for the number of weeks/months until a positive cash flow

is predicted

- Return on investment (ROI)

- Breakeven analysis

- Payback analysis

- Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) 7) Evaluation of

proposal

Evaluate whether the proposed business will be feasible or not

Identify critical points, whether these

be assumptions made, business environment issues, or key performance indices, and briefly suggest alternative (contingency) plans if these critical points are not met

Critical analysis and contingency plans

Conclusion and overall evaluation follow logically from the body of the paper

3 REFERENCES

SECTION

Cited all the reports and information obtained from sources

4 APPENDICES Includes materials and reports which

can help to support your business plan

REPORT RUBRIC - BUSINESS PLAN

Scale items for Expectations/Requirements

Excellent (5) The section is extremely well developed The student demonstrates

complete understanding of the material and topics required to complete the task The section comprises more than what is required and presents the topic in a logical, organize and concise way

Very Good (4) The section is of high quality The material is presented very well

The student demonstrates understanding of the topic and presents it well Meets expectations/requirements

Good (3) The section is developed satisfactorily The student complies with the

basic requirements of the section The writing is acceptable Demonstrates understanding of basic concepts

Fair (2) The quality of the section is below acceptable expectations Basic

concepts related to the section are confused or vague The student demonstrates poor understanding of the basic concepts

Poor (1) Almost none of the required expectations are elaborated in the

section The writing is disorganized and very difficult to understand

No discussion (0) The student does not elaborate the topic or skips the section

4

PRESENTATION (10%)

1 Format

(5%)

Cover all of the following formatting:

1 Title page included

2 Printed on one side of A4

3 Line-spacing 1.5

4 Font size 12 (Times New Roman)

5 Margin 1 inch

6 Proper page numbering (Title Page should not be numbered)

2 Writing style

(5%)

Paper is laid out effectively uses headings and other reader-friendly tools

Paper is neat/shows attention to detail - Rules of grammar, usage, punctuation are followed

Spelling is correct

Sentences are complete, clear, and concise - Sentences are well-constructed with consistently strong, varied structure

Transitions between sentences/paragraphs/sections help maintain the flow of thought

Words used are precise and unambiguous - The tone is appropriate to the audience, content, and assignment

CONTENT (90%)

Executive

Summary (5%)

Presentation of the summary within length limit

Presentation of the ‘what’, ‘why’, ‘where’ and ‘how’ the proposed business is being undertaken and by ‘whom’, clearly and concisely

Identification of key points and conclusions

1 Introduction

(5%)

The introduction should provide sufficient background on the proposed business and previews major points, where relevant, including:

- Business concept, products & services, business context (vision, mission, value), major technologies, and facilities required, and key value customer & stakeholder groups

Plus, any other points that may be considered appropriate for inclusion

2 Economic

environment

(10%)

Identify and describe the economic environment in which the proposed business will operate, including:

Market conditions, economic conditions, historical trends, competitors, availability

of inventory supply / suppliers / distributors, plus any factors not in this list

(PESTEL)

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Identify any critical points that may favour, or adversely affect, the proposed business, such as rules and regulations that needs to be followed

3 Market

Segmentation

and Research +

business

strategies/

models

(15%)

The expected market segment the proposed business will be targeting is detailed, based upon market research the student and/or others have undertaken

Literature reviews will be needed to identify similar market research methods used

by others for similar businesses Student will need to describe and justify their own research methodology for not only identifying prospective customers, but also giving insight into their profiles, expected behaviours and satisfactions of needs/wants

Business strategies (identify key strategic factors, key measures -3 years)

4 Sales &

Marketing

(15%)

Outline the sales and marketing strategy for the proposed business, including, but not limited to:

Product positioning, competitor analysis, marketing mix (7Ps)

5 Operational

efficiency

(15%)

A coherent plan needs to be outlined including relevant aspects of the following, but not limited to:

Business structure & governance, business operational planning: human resource planning and training, SOPs to ensure quality standard, cash handling, etc

6 Financial

Overview

(15%)

Identifying assumptions the student is expected to produce:

- Five years revenue forecasts

- Cash flow forecasts for such time period until the business starts to show positive cash flows

- ROI – return on investment calculations

- Breakeven analysis and

- Payback analysis

- CAPEX Based on these the student is expected to rationally analyse the business as to whether or not it is feasible, identifying any critical points, or caveats that would contribute to such analysis

7 Evaluation of

proposal

(5%)

A critical evaluation of the business plan identifying critical points, whether these

be assumptions made, business environment issues, or key performance indices, and briefly suggest alternative (contingency) plans if these critical points are not met

6 | P a g e Vatel HCM/ACA/CP/5.CP Business Plan Guildlines/2019.V2

8 References,

citations and

appendices

(5%)

The references are cited using APA style

Proper formatting is used throughout the reference list

Each reference has a matching citation(s)

Citations are formatted correctly

Appendices are included

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