The document provides guidelines for a business project that requires students to develop a business plan and presentation for a new business idea. Students must conduct feasibility analysis interviews, complete a first screen analysis of the idea, and write a 3500-word business plan following an outlined structure. This includes sections on industry analysis, company description, market analysis, economics, marketing plan, operations plan, management team, schedule, and financial projections. Students will submit their written business plan and presentation slides and present their idea to receive a grade based on their knowledge of concepts and writing skills.
1. 1
Course Learning Outcome(s) Assessed:
2.1 Evaluate factors to be considered in starting a business 25%
2.2 Explain the role of various functional areas in a start-up 25%
3.1 Write a plan for starting a new business 50%
Contents
I. Introduction
II. Requirements
Feasibility Analysis Interviews
First Screen
Business Plan
III. Project Files and Presentations
IV. Overview of the marking scheme for the Project
V. Plagiarism
2. 2
I. INTRODUCTION
Generation of an idea is not enough to set up a new business unless the idea fills a need and
satisfies the criteria for an opportunity. An opportunity embodies the qualities of being
attractive, durable, and timely and is anchored to a product or service that creates value for
customers. A business idea that is viable as a real opportunity must stand the scrutiny of the
four components of feasibility analysis, namely, product/service feasibility, industry/target
market feasibility, organizational feasibility, and financial feasibility.
If a business idea falls short on one or more of these feasibility analyses, it should be dropped or
rethought. After the First Screen, a business plan should be prepared. A business plan is a
written document, typically, 25 to 35 pages long, that serves as a roadmap in the entrepreneur’s
venture from start-up to implementation of the business. It describes what the new business
intends to achieve and how it intends to achieve it. It acts as a dual-purpose document.
Internally, the business plan provides a roadmap to follow to execute the company’s strategies
and plans. Externally, it introduces potential investors and other stakeholders to the business
opportunity the company intends to pursue and how it intends to pursue. The business plan
describes all the relevant elements involved in starting a new business enterprise and is often an
integration of functional plans such as marketing, finance, manufacturing, and human resources.
II. REQUIREMENTS (the more important part)
Think of a new product or service idea that you can turn into a viable business enterprise in
Saudi Arabia.
Feasibility Analysis Interviews
Find successful entrepreneurs who are capable of giving you good quality feedback
regarding your business idea. Prepare an interview script, comprising of effective
feasibility analysis interview questions. Conduct feasibility analysis interviews with your
chosen entrepreneurs. You may find “Appendix 3.1 Tips for Conducting Feasibility
Analysis Interviews” helpful in this regard. You must include the feasibility analysis
interview questions to your final report. (see page 5 in this file)
First Screen
Based on the feedback obtained from the feasibility analysis interviews and the template
presented in “Appendix 3.2 First Screen”, conduct the feasibility analysis for your business
idea. All sections of “Appendix 3.2 First Screen” must be examined and discussed in your
3. 3
justification for the overall assessment of your business idea.
Business Plan (guideline for business plan) see page 5 in this file
(the more important part)
Prepare a business plan and an investor presentation for your new product or service. Use
the guidelines presented in Chapter 6: Writing a Business Plan. Use Table 6.2 for the
Business Plan Outline and Table 6.5 for PowerPoint Slides to include in an Investor
Presentation. (see page 6 in this file) It is need for this project 3500 word
III. PROJECT FILES AND PRESENTATIONS
All project deliverables will be uploaded to Blackboard and students as a group (team leader)
will
upload their final reports into Blackboard on/before the due date. You must follow the APA
Guidelines to prepare all reports. Your submission must also include the presentation slides. The
due dates for the submission of reports and the presentation will be notified in class.
IV. OVERVIEW OF THE MARKING SCHEME FOR THE PROJECT
Pass mark (60%)
Show marginal knowledge of concepts and applications of operations management.
Able to apply some course content in practical situations.
Occasionally active when urged.
Poor writing skills.
C classification
Show acceptable knowledge of concepts and applications of operations management.
Able to apply course content in practical situations.
Active when prompted, contribute to team work reactively.
Acceptable writing skills.
B classification
Show good knowledge of concepts and applications of operations management.
Demonstrate good ability to apply course content in practical situations.
Active, contribute to team work keenly.
4. 4
Good writing skills.
A classification
Show excellent knowledge of concepts and applications of operations management.
Demonstrate excellent ability to apply course content in practical situations
Enthusiastic, contribute to team work proactively.
Excellent writing skills.
V. PLAGIARISM
• Students are expected and encouraged to be honest and maintain the highest standards of
academic integrity in their academic work and assignments at the university. Any act of
academic dishonesty may result in severe consequences for violations. A misconduct form will
be submitted to Students Affaires.
• For a detailed description of academic misconduct please refer to the undergraduate PMU
Student Handbook.
5. 5
Related to the Feasibility Analysis Interviews:
(Outline for a Comprehensive Feasibility Analysis)
Table 3.1 Feasibility Analysis
Part 1: Product/Service Feasibility
A. Product/service desirability
B. Product/service demand
Part 2: Industry/Target Market Feasibility
A. Industry attractiveness
B. Target market attractiveness
Part 3: Organizational Feasibility
A. Management prowess
B. Resource sufficiency
Part 4: Financial Feasibility
A. Total start-up cash needed
B. Financial performance of similar businesses
C. Overall financial attractiveness of the proposed venture
Overall Assessment
6. 6
Related to the Business Plan part in: (Steps for writing a
Business Plan for the project)
(3500 word for this project)
(Outline of Business Plan)
A suggested outline of a business plan is shown on the next several
slides.
Most business plans do not include all the elements introduced in
the sample plan; we include them here for the purpose of
completeness.
Each entrepreneur must decide which elements to include in his or
her plan.
Section 1: Executive Summary
Executive Summary:
• Executive Summary
– The executive summary is a short overview of
the entire business plan.
– It provides a busy reader with everything that
needs to be known about the new venture’s
distinctive nature.
– An executive summary shouldn’t exceed two
single-spaced pages.
– Even though the executive summary appears at
the beginning of the business plan, it should be
written last.
The plan itself will evolve as it’s
written, so not everything is known at
the outset.
Section 2: Industry Analysis:
Industry Analysis
• Industry Analysis
7. 7
– This section should begin by describing the industry the
business will enter in terms of its size, growth rate, and
sales projections.
– Items to include in this section:
Industry size, growth rate, and sales projections.
Industry structure.
Nature of participants.
Key success factors.
Industry trends.
Long-term prospects.
Section 3: Company Description
• Company Description
– This section begins with a general description of the
company.
– Items to include in this section:
Company description.
Company history.
Mission statement.
Products and services.
Current status.
Legal status and ownership.
Key partnerships (if any)
Section 4: Market Analysis:
• Market Analysis
– The market analysis breaks the industry into segments
and zeroes in on the specific segment (or target market)
to which the firm will try to appeal.
– Items to include in this section:
Market segmentation and target market selection.
Buyer behavior.
Competitor analysis.
Estimate of the firm’s annual sales and market
share.
Section 5: The Economics of the Business:
• The Economics of the Business
8. 8
– This section addresses the basic logic of how profits are
earned in the business and how many units of a
business’s profits must be sold for the business to “break
even” and then start earning a profit.
– Items to include in this section:
Revenue drivers and profit margins.
Fixed and variable costs.
Operating leverage and its implications.
Start-up costs.
Break-even chart and calculations.
Section 6: Marketing Plan:
• Marketing Plan
‒ The marketing plan focuses on how the business will
market and sell its product or service.
‒ Items to include in this section:
Overall marketing strategy.
Product, price, promotions, and distribution.
Sales process (or cycle).
Sales tactics.
Section 7: Product (or Service) Design and Development Plan:
• Design and Development Plan
‒ If you’re developing a completely new product or service,
you need to include a section in your business plan that
focuses on the status of your development efforts.
‒ Items to include in this section:
Development status and tasks.
Challenges and risks.
Projected development costs.
Proprietary issues (patents, trademarks, copyrights,
licenses, brand names).
Section 8: Operations Plan:
9. 9
• Operations Plan
‒ Outlines how your business will be run and how
your product or service will be produced.
‒ A useful way to illustrate how your business will
be run is to describe it in terms of “back stage”
(unseen to the customer) and “front stage” (seen
by the customer) activities.
‒ Items to include in this section:
General approach to operations.
Business location.
Facilities and equipment.
Section 9: Management Team and Company Structure:
• Management Team and Company Structure
‒ The management team of a new venture
typically consists of the founder or founders and
a handful of key management personnel.
‒ Items to include in this section:
Management team.
Board of directors (if you have one).
Board of advisors (if you have one).
Company structure.
Section 10: Overall Schedule
• Overall Schedule
‒ A schedule should be prepared that shows the
major events required to launch the business.
‒ The schedule should be in the format of
milestones critical to the business’s success.
‒ Examples of milestones:
Incorporating the venture.
Completion of prototypes.
Rental of facilities.
Obtaining critical financing.
Starting production.
Obtaining the first sale.
10. 10
Section 11: Financial Projections
• Financial Projections
– The final section of a business plan presents a
firm’s pro forma (or projected) financial
projections.
– Items to include in this section:
Sources and uses of funds
statement.
Assumptions sheet.
Pro forma income statements.
Pro forma balance sheets.
Pro forma cash flows.
Ratio analysis
For the power point slide and personation
(Presenting the Business Plan to Investors)
Twelve PowerPoint Slides to Include in an Investor Presentation
1. Title Slide
2. Problem
3. Solution
4. Opportunity and target market
5. Technology
6. Competition
7 Marketing and sales
7. Management team
8. Financial projections
9. Current status
10.Financing sought
11.Summary