Analyze, Critique, Revise, Complete

This week is an important week for our firm.  We must take a look at what we’ve drafted, determine how well we’ve hit all elements of the rubric, make amends to our work, and complete the final draft for our business plan submission.  We’ve worked hard to create the most recent draft; however, without constructive criticism from our peers, our final submission won’t truly allow us to put our best foot forward.  That said, this week, we must first read through our plan, identify what has been well-written and what must be changed, figure out how to change it for the best, and put together the award-winning final draft we are capable of. 

There isn’t a video, magazine article, or image that I can embed in this entry capable of making our final draft a winner.  Only your hard work and determination can make that happen.  Here’s how we’re going to get it done this week:

Monday

Objectives: Read through business plan draft, analyze business plan rubric, assess mastery of each element of plan, devise plan of attack for business plan revision

Clear Target: We can analyze and critique a business plan

**Please refer to the Gotham Enterprises Business Plan for a solid model, along with any previously created business plans for additional assistance.  Also, my blog entries from January 2014 through March 2014 provide a detailed explanation of how I would approach writing each element of the business plan.  Finally, check your Google Drive for PowerPoint presentations that contain additional links and videos to resources that will help you write each element. 

**Remember, all elements of the business plan are measured by this scoring rubric.  Please complete each section according to what is asked by this file.   

CEO and CFO to lead read-through of plan – Here’s what to do:

·      Arrange each department’s submission (without cover page or table of contents)

·      Read through each submission

·      Determine what elements of plan are missing – DON’T BE SURPRISED IF YOU MISSED SOMETHING. THIS IS WHY WE READ THROUGH THE PLAN J

·      Analyze how well each section of  the plan hits the TOP of the rubric

·      Create questionnaire to help achieve top of rubric for sub-standard elements

o   You should have about 10 questions with multiple choice answers

·      Distribute questionnaires to students prior to Tuesday’s class

If you have immediate feedback that can be a quick solution to anything, use Monday’s class period to discuss your ideas.  There WILL be elements that are lacking.  There WILL be elements missing.  This is why we use the entire week for revision.

Tuesday through Friday

Objectives: Analyze data collected from questionnaire, Revise business plan, Report finished drafts to CEO and Spinella

Clear Target: We can revise a business plan

In addition to completing the final draft of the business plan, departments whose revisions are finished early should concentrate on ensuring we close our contracts that are intended to cover 75% of our payroll, following up on receipt of seed money, and completing departmental tasks for our grand opening (deadline: 10/6).

Once our data is collected, we will use this information to complete our final draft of the plan.  When we have all elements finalized, we will organize it so that it is coherent and reads like the models we have in class.  I will work with you to make sure everything is in order, but understand that my obligation as your facilitator is merely to guide you.  It is against the rules for me to re-write or dictate anything for you.

As the week progresses, I may make additional blog entries to help you along the way as I see fit.  Please keep up with your emails daily.