BACKGROUND STORY

You are a professional business practitioner; you have been working in a company/business/enterprise for more than 10 years. You have a good salary and your partner is also a working professional. You also have financial commitments for bank loans, personal loans, car loan, and others.

Your position at the company looks promising but you always felt that you have more potential as well as creative ideas which you always demonstrated during project developments in the company as well as coming up with new initiatives which were sometime disregarded and others were taken seriously. Having said that, you always felt that you were not happy with your work because of the limitations in your contribution to the decision-making process in the company. You had many thoughts about “What I am doing here???” and you always had the wish that you can be making decisive decisions because of your confidence that your ideas will influence the overall productivity and profitability of the company. You also felt that you have considerable experience in leadership as you have successfully been leading a small group of people in the business development department at the company.

Lately, you have been discussing with your partner (who also is a professional working in an accounting company in the city) your “dream” of starting your own entrepreneurial business. You spent many hours discussing and assessing the pros and cons of you leaving your job and start your own venture. You realized during these discussions that you have only $35,000 as a start-up sum as well as what will happen to the entire financial obligation that you currently have.

You finally decided with your partner that you will go ahead with your plan. This means you leave your secure job, or both of you will leave your secure jobs or any other decision.

Overview of the Assignment

Length: Approximately 4000 words, including charts, pictures or tables (but excluding references).

– The formal assignment is to produce a complete business plan based on the story above.

– Choose any relatively small product/service company, but it is suggested that you should make your selection carefully and check that there is plenty of information in the public domain on your selected business before commencing (It is recommended that you consult with the lecturer if you are in doubt)

– It will be in your best interest to choose a business that has only a few products so that you do not have to expend too much time on product descriptions.

– Research information on the web, in books, financial newspapers (the library has a collection) and biographies (think about famous contemporary manufacturing leaders such as Richard Branson and Bill Gates).

– You may wish to use a Business Plan structure to address the relevant issues

– Marks will be given for presentation, clarity and demonstration of a breadth of study through suitable referencing, as well as information content.

• Final Report will attract a 10% penalty out of 100% per working day late.

You might need to consider the below structure:

The Venture
• The history of the business and its major products or services.
• The main successes factors of the business (you might want to look at competitors' success/failure ventures).
• What the major failures of the business would be and why.
• What kind of organisation it is and how it will be managed.
• What are your services/products?
• Who are the competitors to the business?
• How you see the business developing in the future.
• What are the main strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats of your venture?
• How the business might be developed to maintain good management and leadership style.
• Why would this new product/service be needed?
• What is the approach by which the product/service could be brought into the market (for example through collaboration with other businesses)?
• What are the benefits of the product/service over other competitive products and of the selected approach?
• What is the major competition to the product/service and the key risks associated with launching it?
• Apply financials where relevant.

IMPORTANT: You must make sure that you include the followings in your final report:

1- How did you reach the decision with your partner?
2- What were the considerations you had to take in making your decision?
3- What financial help you got? How? From where? How much? And why?
4- Your business plan and marketing plan?
5- Your financial plan?
6- Finally, make sure that you submit a complete business venture which is ready to start

Report Proposal

Company

Author

Date

Abstract
State company selected, come up with an organisational structure and describe the key products. State any overarching issues and-or most significant points in your report.

Body of Report
Decide how you will organise this – there are many ways in which you might present the information you are being asked for. It will include your literature survey/background, your research methodology, your results and a discussion of your results including any omissions.

Conclusion
Remember your employer will be using this document both to help through the interview process and later as a spring-board for change management. Include comments on further or future work, for example other services you might offer or other research you might do on related topics which would be useful.

Timeline
Your proposed timeline for completing the project

A few helpful hints for bringing product/service to the market

Given a product or a service, Kotler suggests the STP framework (segmentation, targeting and positioning process) which includes the following procedure for bringing the product/service to the market (note that Kotler assumes the market exists).
1. Analyse long-run opportunities in the market
2. Research and select target markets
3. Identify segmentation variables and segment the market
4. Develop profiles of resulting segments
5. Evaluate the attractiveness of each segment
6. Select the target segment(s)
7. Identify possible positing concepts for each target segment
8. Select, develop, and communicate the chosen positing concept
9. Design marketing strategies
10. Plan marketing programs
11. Organise, implement and control marketing effort

Structure for the Project

You must adhere to the following structure when preparing your project

1. Introduction
a) Executive summary – complete this after you has finished your report. This should end up being about 1-2 pages (double spaced) with only a bare minimum of historical and product/service information. It should summarize your suggested objectives and strategy.
b) Scope of discussion – what you will be addressing and what you won't be addressing
c) Research Approach – what methods will you be employing to gather your information (annual reports, articles, journals, etc.)

2. Company
a) Brief overview of company and the relevant products
• Try to keep this as brief as possible as the strategic operatives are more important than the founding fathers (for this paper.)
b) Potential competitors historically relevant initiatives
• Successful initiatives
• Failed initiatives
c) Goals and Objectives
• State the company's goals and objectives – at some point in the paper where you feel it is appropriate (possibly prior to the conclusion) you will need to review each point with your opinion of whether or not these objectives are realistic and/or how they will/can be achieved

3. SWOT, PEST and DEMAND Analysis
• This should be as detailed as possible as it can be the impetus for further dialogue. I suggest that you bullet point this in a grid then address the larger points in a narrative form.
• The PEST analysis is a good way in which to address Industry Trends.

4. Business Strategy
a) What market are you addressing?
b) Who are your potential customers?
c) What will you use as your selling points? Will you try to be the cost leader? Focus on your uniqueness? Or a combination of both?

5. Competitors
• Look at the competitors the same way you would look at your own company. This will give you an indication of where you may have a competitive advantage.

6. International Strategy
• Is an international move feasible? If so, how? (Strategic alliances, joint ventures, etc.)

7. Available Options (e-commerce, traditional business, brick and click etc.)
• After reviewing the above, you should have a few strategies in mind:
i. State these strategies
ii. List advantages & disadvantages of each
iii. State benefits and “costs” of each option
iv. State which strategy/strategies that you recommend and what the next course of action should be.

Attachment:- Project Report Format.rar

BUSINESS PROCESS ANALYTICS AND CHANGE ASSIGNMENT

Case Study – Ballarat Dentistry

Requirements – In this assignment, you will be required to form learns of approximately four (4) people. One team member is to be elected the learn leader for the duration of the assignment Teams will prepare a business report based on a process -case study and should use their own initiative regarding arty assumptions and cycle times if needed.

The report should contain details of the following tasks:

a) Provide a description and application of a process categorisation model (e.g. Porter or Earl).

b) Provide a description and application of the Capability Maturity Model (CMM).

c) Apply Dijkman et al's (2011) technique discussed in lectures to prepare a case function matrix and identify all associated processes.

d) Using appropriate software, model any two (2) of the processes identified in part (c).

e) Provide an explanation of how each of the models created in part (d), adhere to Mendling el al's (2010) 7PMG guidelines discussed in lectures.

f) Consider each model produced in part (d), calculate the process cycle time for each of the two (2) processes modelled. Any assumptions made should be documented in the report.

g) Use redesign techniques by Reljers and Mansar (2005) discussed in lectures, to identify any two (2) design flaws in the as-is models created in pert (d). Use heuristics and any appropriate product-based design approaches and display the Impact of any heuristic measures on the Devil's Quadrangle. Any assumptions made should be documented in the report.

h) Draw the architecture of your BPMS. Identify and describe all it components.

A suggested template for the above report is provided. You can use it as a guideline for presenting your business report.

A suggested report structure is as follows:

Title page

Executive summary

Table of contents

1. Introduction

2. Business Process Modelling Report for: [insert case study name]

2.1 Process categorisation model

2.2 Capability maturity model

2.3 Case function matrix

2.4 Process Model for: [insert process name 1]

2.5 Process Model for: [insert. process name 2]

2.6 7PGM discussion for: [insert process name 1]

2.7 7PGM discussion for: [insert process name 2]

2.8 Cycle time for: [Insert process name 1]

2.9 Cycle time for: [insert process name 2]

2.10 Redesign for: [insert process name 1]

2.11 Redesign for: [insert process name 2] *

2.12 BPMS architecture

3. Conclusion

4. References

Learning Outcomes

This assessment addresses the following subject learning outcomes:

a) critically evaluate the effect of the external environment on firms
b) select and apply appropriate frameworks to resolve the challenges faced by firms

Instructions:

This assessment serves to collect data about a firm's environment in one place. You will work individually to identify any relevant information about the environment of a chosen organisation. You must choose an Australian firm of appropriate size and view it through the lens of theories and frameworks identified in this subject. The development of the environmental scan must incorporate the following elements:

– Use materials from this subject-both in the prescribed materials and those that you collected in your private study-to identify the types of factors that influence firms

– Analyse those environmental factors, making reference to an appropriate volume of external sources (i.e. articles from your private study), to explore challenges to firms

– Present your chosen case study firm, making reference to several external sources. Catalogue the factors in its environment that exert pressure on it

– Discuss these factors in the context of the subject theories and frameworks. The structure of the assignment should follow standard report structure:
– Introduction and background information
– Body of information and discussion of relevant topics
– Conclusion and summary
– Referencing in the APA style

Data and Information Management – Data model development and implementation

Purpose of the assessment (with ULO Mapping)

The  purpose of this assignment is to develop data models and map Database  System into a standard development environment to gain understanding of  data model development. Then implement the data model using a  commercially available database management system development tool.

On completion of this assignment students will be able to:
a. Understand the fundamental principles of the networking and data requirements of a network.
b. Identify organisational information requirements.
c. Model organisational information requirements using conceptual data modelling techniques.
d.  Convert the conceptual data models into relational data models and  verify their structural characteristics with normalisation techniques.
e. Implement and utilise a relational database using a database system.

Description  of this assignment: This assignment is to develop a data models, map  and implement a Database System in a standard development environment to  gain understanding of data model development and implementation.

Assignment Description

1. The  organisers of the GreenID2018 international multi-conference need to  keep track of a large collection of workshops associated with the event.  Initial requirements analysis brings out the following User view  requirements / business rules about what needs to be recorded.Assume  that you are given a task to model the database by using these business  rules.

Complete  the information-level design of the database that satisfies the  following constraints and user view requirements. In order to complete  this information-level design you are required to answer questions 1(a)  to1(f).

User view 1 requirement / business rule
• There are several participants, each of which may sign up to one or more workshops.

User view 2 requirement / business rule
• Each workshop has a name, ID and an identified organizer .
•  Some workshops happen on a particular date and some workshops last more  than one day. You may need separate entity to store days.

User view 3 requirement / business rule
•  For each participant, it is important to record their name, email  address, state (VIC, QLD,..) and the workshopswhich they wish to attend.
• Every participant must register for at least one workshop.

User view 4 requirement / business rule
•  There are a number of meeting rooms at the conference venue, each of a  fixed capacity. Meetingsrooms are identified by a floor and room number.
• Every workshop needs an allocated meeting room; where a workshop lasts for two days, it willuse the same room on both days

Questions:

a. Analyse the all user requirements given above, identify and list all entities described in each user requirement.

b. Add  attributes to these entities and representthese entities (or Tables) and  attributesas a collection of Tables and attributes/ database schema.  You are required to arrange them as given in the example below.
Note:Select suitable primary key for each table and underlineit.
Eg.Participant(Participant_ID, P_name, email, W_name.)

c. Outline all business rules that describe relationships between entities.
Note: You can make assumptions to create certain relationships, if it is not specifically mentioned in the given business rules.
Eg. Every workshop needs an allocated meeting room

d. Determine the functional dependences.

Eg.Participant_ID → name, address, ……

e. Then  normalise these tables. Make the normalization to 3NF. State for every  step in the normalization, which functional dependency causes it.

f.  Represent the structure of your database visually by using the  entity-relationship (E-R) diagram. If you make any assumptions about  data that doesn't show from the problem, they must be described.

Note: Youare required to use Visio or any other software tool to create the ER diagram.

2.  Build this model using MS Access by creating these tables and  Relationships. Populate these tables with appropriate data, at least 3  records in each table.

3. Write SQL queries for the following questions and execute themon the database you created in Question 4.

Include  screen shots of the outputs and all SQL statements you used to answer  following questions this model using MS Accessby creating these tables  and Relationships. Populate these tables with appropriate data, at least  3 records in each table.

a. List details of all workshops.

b. The  management is interested in knowing names and email addressesof  participantsoutside of Victoria who have already registered for the  workshops.

c. Explain how to formulate a query to print details of workshop name, room number, floor number and room capacity

Hint : You need to join tables using a suitable query.

Assignment – Develop an electronic Web portfolio, using a plain text editor (Notepad++)

1. Task Description

Develop an electronic work portfolio for yourself, which demonstrates your skills in as many relevant areas (of your degree) as possible. The portfolio should contain:

– Homepage that introduces you to possible employers.
– Resume – listing personal details, education, experience (work), qualifications, hobbies, other relevant information (these could be shown on separate pages if desired)
– Examples of your work/skills in four (4) different areas. Some examples:
o Design examples
o Graphics production and preparation
o Written and spoken communication skills
o The ability to work as part of a team and independently
o Project management
o Skills required by employers in your field of study.

Each skill area should include examples of your work which may be in the form of text, graphics, links to working projects or screen shots of projects.
Deliverables:
– Functioning web site (digital). Uploaded to your website on infotech (our Linux server).
o IBS students check with your local tutor about this requirement (as it may not be required).
– The University marker must have access to the source code, so you will also be required to provide a zip file containing the entire website (and design documentation as a single word document). For all Internal/External/Sydney/Melbourne and GXUST students this will be via MySCU (see the Submit Assignments folder) site.

2. Length

There should be at least six (6) pages in the website. There should be – at minimum – a Home page (index.html), a Resume page, and at least 4 pages with examples of your skills. One of these skills pages must detail your Web Development skills page.

In addition to the six (6) pages already mentioned, topics 9, 10, 11 and 12 contain continuous assessments that will add an additional two pages to your site. These additional pages should be linked to the Web Development skills page only – as they are related to these skills. For your convenience I have included all of the continuous assessments as an appendix of this document.

Remember that prospective employers have to read your portfolio, so keep it informative and intuitive. Typically students lose marks as a result of a content poor site (including lack of information, bad spelling and grammar) – don't make this mistake!