Homework: Operations, Technology, Management, and Social Responsibility Plan
Overview
In this homework, you will focus on these sections of your business plan:
o Operations.
o Technology.
o Management.
o Social Responsibility.
o Financials.
You will revise the Operations, Social Responsibility, and Financials sections based on the feedback you received in the discussion threads and any changes you want to make to your business plan.
The Technology and Management and Organization sections are new. You have not worked on these sections in your discussion threads.
The homework consists of two parts:
• The business plan (an MS Word document).
• Business plan financials (using the Business Plan Financials Excel Template).
Part I: Business Plan
Write a 4 to 8 pages paper, in MS Word, in which you provide the specified information in each section.
Operations Section (1 to 2 pages)
Instructions:
• Create an operations plan for your selected company expanding on each of these topics:
• Facilities.
o Consider questions such as these regarding facilities:
o Will you rent or buy your facilities, or will you outsource production to an existing company?
o If you are renting or buying your facilities, what utilities will be required to run the operation?
o What will be the costs associated with any necessary utilities?
• Production Process or Description of How Your Business Will Operate If Retail or Service Company.
o Include any equipment you plan to use, if applicable.
o Research needed equipment, such as machines, refrigerators, burners, ovens, and so on.
o Will you rent or buy needed equipment?
o How will you maintain and clean the equipment?
o How will you ensure quality control?
o What capacity do you intend to reach?
o If you have a retail or service business, consider any equipment you might need in your process.
o Explain your approach to inventory, as applicable.
o Where do your supplies come from?
o What is your turnaround time to produce your product once you have received an order?
• Research and Development.
o How will you stay abreast of new developments in the industry?
o What new products or services are in development?
• Personnel Needs in Operations.
o How many operations employees do you plan to have?
o What will their roles be?
• Technology Section (1 to 2 pages)
Instructions:
• Create a technology plan for your selected company expanding on each of these topics:
• Software Needs.
o Examples of software you might need include: graphics, customer relationship management, accounting, inventory, and office suite.
• Hardware Needs.
o Examples of hardware you might need include: computers, monitors, servers, routers, and tablets.
• Telecommunication Needs.
o Examples of telecommunication equipment you might need include: phones, Internet, fax, and mobile phones.
• Personnel Needs in Technology.
o Will your technology personnel be in-house or outsourced?
• Management and Organization Section (1-2 pages)
Instructions:
• Create a management and organization plan for your selected company expanding on each of these topics:
• Key Management Employees.
o List key management team members along with a several sentence description of each person's relevant business background and responsibilities.
• Advisors.
o List any people you will use as advisors for your business; include a several sentence description of these individuals' areas of expertise and their expected contribution to the business.
• Management Hierarchy.
o Outline your company's management hierarchy using the flow charts on page 248 of your text as a guide.
o Import/include all charts or diagrams into the MS Word document.
• Social Responsibility Section (1-2 pages)
Instructions:
• Create a social responsibility plan for your selected company expanding on each of these topics:
• Impact on Stakeholders.
o Describe the ways your chosen company will impact stakeholders, such as employees, customers, suppliers, and the community. This is the people section of the triple bottom line.
o What types of benefits (such as health care, flexible work hours, and opportunities for advancement and education) will your company offer employees?
o What types of opportunities (such as classes, sponsored events, and assistance to causes and charities) will your company offer the community?
• Environmental Impact.
o Explain how your company's activities will affect the environment.
o Identify the steps you will take to mitigate any negative impacts.
o How will you minimize your ecological footprint in your operations? Consider energy usage, waste disposal, recycling, using recycled materials, et cetera.
Part II: Business Plan Financials
Revise the Business Plan Financials Excel Template based on feedback from discussion thread and changes you make to your business plan.
• Be sure the numbers in the Business Plan Financials Excel Template match any numbers included in the Operations, Technology, and Management and Organization sections of your business plan narrative.
• Remember that the guidelines, whether for your own startup company or for the snack food company scenario, provide helpful information on completing the worksheets within the Business Plan Financials Excel Template.
• Snack Food Company Guidelines.
• Company of Your Choice Guidelines.
Format your homework according to the following formatting requirements:
o The answer should be typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), double spaced, with one-inch margins on all sides.
o The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
o Also include a reference page. The Citations and references must follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.
Learning Outcomes
The specific course learning outcome associated with this homework is:
o Create an operations, technology, and management plan for a company, including considerations for ethics and social responsibility and business financials.
o By submitting this paper, you agree: (i) that you are submitting your paper to be used and stored as part of the SafeAssignservices in accordance with the Blackboard Privacy Policy; (ii) that your institution may use your paper in accordance with your institution's policies; and (iii) that your use of SafeAssign will be without recourse against Blackboard Inc. and its affiliates.