Business Planning and Project Management from First Choice Learning

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Business Planning and Project Management

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Business Planning and Project Management

In this course, we look at how to turn the strategic plan into reality. We consider two activities. First, creating the business plan. This is an essential communication document identifying the key issues, costs and benefits of what the organisation is trying to do. Second, project management. This is the management of one-off tasks and requires special techniques.

This will give you some ideas about specific aspects of the implementation of strategy that you will address in detail in further modules on strategy and change. It will also introduce you to some useful techniques. In drawing up a business plan, we develop ideas that have practical application in achieving the strategic direction of the organisation and, in doing this, we highlight key features of the strategy itself.

In the section on project management, we look at an overall technique that can be used in implementing major change, but we also consider a number of other significant techniques that are used in operations management and can be used in other business functions to great effect. We take a very practical approach to some of the concepts that we have discussed from a more theoretical perspective elsewhere in this module.

After participating in this course, you should be able to:

explain what business plans are and their use in different situations
identify the main features of a business plan
draw up a simple plan
explain the roles of the people involved in project management and the information they require
produce a one-page project specification
produce a project work breakdown structure, milestone plan, activity chart and Gantt chart
explain the meaning of baseline, scheduled and actual costs, and earned value
understand how to construct and read project "S" curves
identify the main source of risks in projects and which risks require action.

Entry Requirements

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.

Course Syllabus

Introduction

Objectives

Section 1: Drawing up a Business Plan

Introduction

1.1 What is a business plan?

1.2 Creating the business plan

Summary

Section 2: Implementing the Business Plan

Introduction

2.1 Initial planning

2.2 Creating a project plan

2.3 Management of progress, costs and risks

Review Activity

Summary

References

Recommended Reading

Tutor-marked Question Paper

Tutor Support

With this course you will have unlimited access to your own personal tutor who specialises in their field of study. It is your personal tutor's role to ensure that you receive constructive feedback and to deal with any queries you may have. You are more than welcome to telephone, fax or email your personal tutor.

You will also have access to a dedicated and friendly team of administrators and course advisors who offer sound and professional guidance and advice when you need it. This ensures that you will never feel neglected and that you will always succeed!

Study Hours

This is only an approximate figure and is dependant upon how much time you can dedicate to your studies and how well you grasp the learning concepts in the course material. Furthermore, at the end of each lesson there is a question paper that needs to be completed and returned to your tutor. You should allow at least 1 - 2 hours of study to complete each question paper.

The approximate amount of time required to complete the course is: 20 hrs.

Qualification

Qualification 1: Business Planning and Project Management (Byte Size) Certificate

Business Planning and Project Management (Byte Size) Certificate issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges, entitling you to use the letters SAC Cert after your name.

Additional Information

Assessment Method

After each lesson there will be a question paper, which needs to be completed and submitted to your personal tutor for marking. This method of continual assessment ensures that your personal tutor can consistently monitor your progress and provide you with assistance throughout the duration of the course.

What's Included