Final Week of Business Plans and Business Operations

This week, you will have two class periods to complete your business plans.  From there, we will complete the last of our operations for the year.  What will we do with the rest of the year, you ask?  That’s when you will complete final evaluations of your peers, facilitator, and yourself.  I’ll have more on that next week, though.  This week is no much different from next week, and since I wrote pretty comprehensive stuff last week, I’ll simply tweak last week’s blog and re-publish it this week.

Monday and Tuesday:

Clear Target: We can analyze and critique a business plan

Objectives:

Take notes on business plan presentations

Analyze & critique plans in the role of investor/financier

Question presenter on specific elements of plan as they relate to your potential investment

Formulate opinion about whether or not to invest

Submit form for each presenter

While last week’s presentations were much more detailed than previous plans, our business plan presentations have still been below expectation.  Your plans have been very well thought out, but I know that you are capable of thinking at the same level of a true business owner and have the charisma to deliver your plans in a more captivating fashion.  Have an opening, have a goal for your investors in the beginning of the plan, and execute that plan so that the investor’s questions are directed less at the potential flaws of the business (all businesses have flaws) and more on how their investment makes them money.  Your plans are solid and can make money.  Just show how that money is made so you’ll have more willing investors.

Again, I will show you these two great presentations from Shark Tank with the hope that you engage your audience in the same manner that these business owners do.  This will help your presentation.  Please take note

Check out this Shark Tank intro for a solid example of an eye-catching presentation:

Notice how each presenter vividly describes a common problem that many customers would have and then presents his product in such a manner that solves the common problem in an entertaining fashion.  THIS is how you need to present to your investors.

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday:

Clear Target: We can apply concepts to operate a profitable business

Objectives:

Process existing orders from customers: Sales and Finance departments, along with CFO, will search open and unprocessed orders from company email address.  Each order will receive a “Thank You” email and include an invoice for goods purchased.  

Create “Item of the Week” advertisement AND send it to customers: Sales and IT will determine which item or party package we offer is best suited to be promoted to our clients based on the time of year we are in and what our customers need most.  Bulk purchase specials can be offered to entice customers to buy

Follow up on unpaid accounts receivable: Finance and Admin will follow up with customers who have received Thank You emails and request payment for any outstanding unpaid invoices.

Complete weekly newsletter: Human Resources, along with CEO, will complete a 3-4 page weekly newsletter with articles that highlight the following:

Sports at a glance for this week

Upcoming EOC Tests and preparation from teachers and students

Rivers and Spires hits Clarksville, Tn

Human Relations and Conflict Resolution in the workplace (search the net for a good article and use at least three quotes in your article)

Blog Entry: What was done well this week?  What could you have done differently to get your work done more efficiently and effectively?  What do you plan to do next year to make our business better?

Your grades this week will be assessed on completion of your group departmental tasks, your questions/comments to business plan presenters, your business plan presentations, submitting forms for each presentation, and your blog entry.  This may seem like a ton of work, but if you stay on task for each assignment, you’ll have plenty of time to get it all done.  Have a great week.