Introduction
This final project involves two parts:
Part A involves a reflection upon and summary of learning in this course.
Part B involves the development of the Blueprint for your business idea (steps 1 to 5) and the go or no-go decision (step 6).
Steps and Allocation of Marks
Part A is worth 10% of your total course mark; Part B is worth 40%.
Each part has two sections and is weighted as follows:
Final Project: Part ASelf-Evaluation of Learning
Introduction
In Part A, you will look back at the journalling you have done throughout the course and contemplate the ideas and views you expressed. If you have spent time journalling, doing the extra readings, and reflecting on the ideas and information you have been learning throughout this course, then much of Part A is already done.
Instructions
Part A Section 1: Summary and highlights of your journalling (50 marks)
Prepare a 500750 words (23 pages, double spaced) document that:
Summarizes the key points from your journal entries.
Provides sample highlights from your journal.
Reflect on your journalling experience and describes how journalling influenced your learning in this course
Answers whether journalling was useful or not
Part A Section 2: Self-evaluation of learning (50 marks)
Prepare a 250300 word (12 pages, double spaced) document that:
Identifies which ideas, subjects, and /or experiences (discussed in your journal) had the most impact on you. Describe this impact and how your perception of it influenced your understanding of the course subjects, how it affected your work in this course, and how it affected you in any other way.
Explain if some of your ideas, feelings, or opinions shifted as you progressed through the course, or if you have noticed consistency in your viewpoints, plans, and reactions in the course.
Describe how this course helped you develop your idea for a small business and where you will go from here?
Note on journal entries:
Section 1 may be in paragraph form, but it may also include bullets, images, diagrams, mind-maps, drawings, or other formats that you may have used to express your ideas and reflections throughout this course. Adjust the number of words accordingly if you are using a variety of media.
Final Project: Part BBusiness Blueprint
Introduction
Part B must contain the five steps of a business Blueprint and make the go/no-go decision (the sixth step). Remember, each course module has been designed to give you the theory and skill practice behind each phase of building the Blueprint and to guide you in the application of Canadian business theory to your business concept.
The assignments from each module have walked you through the collection and documentation of the information required to create your Blueprint. After submitting each assignment, you will have received feedback from your Open Learning Faculty Member about your answers related to your business concept.
Now, you will review, revise, and refine the information you have researched and documented in your previous assignments. You will compile the pertinent information to create your Blueprint.
Once you have completed your Blueprint, you will have all you need to evaluate and make a decision about whether or not to proceed with your business conceptThe go/no-go decision!
If you decide to proceed, you will also have the beginning foundations of a complete business plan. The Integrated Model of a Successful Business diagram in your textbook outlines the elements of the Blueprint, broken down by topics.
Final Projects are typically 2025 pages (4,5005,000 words) in length, plus financial exhibits.
Note the following:
The Blueprint will not be marked until all of your assignments have been completed, marked, and returned to you
The Blueprint is not intended to simply be a copy-and-paste exercise in which you put together an exact duplicate of previous assignments. To receive a mark on the Blueprint, you must take into account the suggestions your Open Learning Faculty Member made on your previous assignments. You must reflect on, add to, change, rewrite, and demonstrate an integration of your learning that has taken place through the course.
Part B Section 1:
(70 marks of the 100 for Part B are allocated to your Business Blueprint)
Now, you will revise and add to your previous assignments and where applicable, incorporate the comments you received from your Open Learning Faculty Member.
You have had several weeks to discover new ideas, obtain more information, and compile additional strategies for your business concept. This is the time to incorporate, add to, and enhance the description of your concept, as needed. You also have new information, new learning, and a new perspective to add to what you have completed during your previous assignments.
Look at your concept from a broad perspective so that you can make an informed decision on what your next step should be.
This section must contain steps 16.
Part B Section 2:
You will make a decision accompanied by some rationale about whether or not to proceed with your business ideathe Go/No-Go decision (step 6). (300500 words)
Instructions
Follow these 6 steps for the Blueprint:
Step 1:
Compile, develop, and expand upon the information from Assignment 1 that covers:
Your business idea/concept
Description of the industry
PESTI analysis
Using information technology
Integrated model for a successful business (page 4 of your textbook)
Step 2:
Compile, develop, and expand upon the information from Assignment 2 that covers:
SWOT analysis of your own business idea and the Critical Success Factors (CSFs)
Your decision about your preferred Business ownership format
Applicable Canadian business laws and regulations (see Appendix)
Your role as an entrepreneur or small business owner Customer satisfaction factors with examples
Step 3:
Compile, develop, and expand upon the information from Assignment 3 that covers:
Management, planning, and leadership
Organizational structures
Employee motivation
Step 4:
Compile, develop, and expand upon the information from Assignment 4 that covers:
Human resource management and Labour Relations
Marketing strategyyour customer
Marketing strategydeveloping products/services, pricing, place, and promotion
Production and operations management
Step 5:
Compile, develop, include, and expand upon the information from Assignment 5 that covers:
Accounting components
Creating a start-up budget. Include Final copy of this document
Creating a one-year Cash-Flow spreadsheet. Include Final copy of this document
Financing your businessmoney matters
Step 6:
Make a decision as to the viability (your Go/No-Go decision) of your business idea and include:
What you think are the strengths of your business idea
What you think are the challenges of your business idea
What you think are the reasons your findings in your Business Blueprint will or will not support the viability of your business idea. Give examples to support your decision.
