...Ten things to ask yourself before you start a business Step One: The Idea Before you start a business, you need a good idea…Let's face it, the single most important step in creating a business is the idea. After all, a good idea can make a company millions or even billions of dollars, while a bad idea can lead it to bankruptcy. And without an idea, you can't create a business. So it's time to start brainstorming. Think up that next million-dollar idea. If you're stuck and can't think of anything, here are some questions to ask yourself to help you out a little: What are my interests? Get out a sheet of paper and start writing down some things that interest you. Are you good at sports? Do you like managing other people's money? Are you good with computers? Do you like pets? It always helps if you start a business in a field that interests you. That way when you're spending your time working on it, you'll have so much fun that you don't even think of it as work. For example, I enjoy money-related stuff. But once a week, I'm required to mow our lawn since I'm the "man of the house". Some of the neighbours need their lawns mowed too. However, because it doesn't interest me, I probably shouldn't start my own lawn-mowing business. If I had some money, what would I buy? Try to think of something that you think would be cool to buy. It helps if there isn't already something similar out there. If you think something is cool, there is always a chance that...
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...of Independence and Public Safety 25 Unit 3 Journal 1: Car Commercials 26 Unit 3 Journal 2: Personal Narrative 27 Unit 3 Journal 2: Personal Narrative Handout 28 Unit 3 Journal 3: Civic Narrative 31 Unit 3 Journal 3: Civic Narrative Handout 32 Unit 3 Journal 4: Taste vs. Judgment 34 Unit 3 Presentation 1: What Would You Do? 35 Unit 3 Assignment 1: Habits That Hinder Thinking 36 Unit 4 Journal 1: Invention Exercise 37 Unit 4 Journal 1: SWOT Analysis Template 38 Unit 4 Journal 2: Personal Narrative 39 Unit 4 Journal 2: Personal Narrative Handout 41 Unit 4 Journal 3: Civic Narrative 43 Unit 4 Journal 3: Civic Narrative Handout 44 Unit 4 Assignment 1: What Would You Do? 46 Unit 4 Assignment 2: Invention White Paper 47 Unit 5 Journal 1: Personal Narrative 48 Unit 5 Journal 1: Personal Narrative Handout 49 Unit 5 Journal 2: Civic Narrative 51 Unit 5 Journal 2: Civic Narrative Handout 53 Unit 5 Assignment 1: What Would You Do? 55 Unit 6 Journal 1: Errors of Validity 57 Unit 6 Journal 2: Personal Narrative 59 Unit 6 Journal 2: Personal Narrative Handout 60 Unit 6 Journal 3: Civic Narrative 62 Unit 6 Journal 3: Civic Narrative Handout 64 Unit 6 Assignment 1: What Would You Do? 66...
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...Business Case Research Paper IST 7020 Analysis, Modeling and Design Wilmington University Business Case Research Paper Business Case A business case is a document which is used to help in starting a task or a project. It can be in any format of text, presentation or a discussion. A basic justification to implement the given task can also be called as a Business Case. Typically, a Business Case would be documented for future reference or sometimes stated orally for better understanding. It usually depends on the business ideology and its practical implementation(TechTarget, n.d.). Before thinking of building a business case, an individual should understand thoroughly the core of the project. It may take huge efforts in achieving this goal but a rough estimate of the same would be beneficiary(TechTarget, n.d.). Example: If the manager of a sunglasses store notices that the business is very slow in the winter, he can tell the owner by preparing a business case for store renovation in winter with winter stuff along with the sunglasses. It might create some good business(TechTarget, n.d.). Method in developing business case: * Complete Overview and Thorough Analysis: While submitting a business case, the analysis done should be covered all around in order to achieve a better result of the Project and a feasible Solution to overcome the same(TechTarget, n.d.). * Validating if the business case built is actually stating the exact problem and thereby resolving...
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...summary analyzes and summarizes the most important points in the paper or report, and will often make a recommendation based on the analysis. Executive summaries are “stand alone” documents that are almost always read independently of the reports they summarize. When preparing to write an executive summary, ask yourself the following questions: * Who will read your executive summary? Sometimes your executive summary may have an “intended” audience: your professor might require you to write it for a CEO, department head, or supervisor, for example. On other assignments, your audience won’t have a specific identity, but always keep in mind that the reader of an executive summary needs to know all of the important information in the main document without reading the actual document. Even if you know that your instructor will be reading everything that you submit, write the executive summary as a “stand alone” document. * What is the main document’s main topic, theme, or idea? Most reports have a “thesis” or central point that they are seeking to communicate. Try to sum this up in two or three sentences. If you are having trouble with this, imagine that someone has asked you, “what’s this report about?” and that you have to explain it in only a few sentences. Once you’re able to say what the main idea is, it will be easier to write it. * What is the “purpose” of the main document? Most reports and papers have a reason, or a goal (beyond just fulfilling an assignment)....
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...Talent Management The process of determining staffing levels aims to identify the numbers and types of employees needed to be successful in solidifying the business plans and strategies for an organization. Organizations apply several different techniques to accomplish this task. However, there are ways to implement fundamental building blocks to set a baseline for success; but due to numerous variables, a step-by-step concrete solution for determining staffing levels cannot exist. Consistent within any stage of strategic staffing, it is crucial to understand the overall plans and strategies of the business and what factors are driving staffing. As discussed by Heneman, “organization effectiveness and staffing systems exist, and should be used, to contribute to the attainment of organizational goals such as survival, profitability, and growth. A macro view of staffing like this is often lost or ignored because most of the day-to-day operations of staffing systems involve micro activities that are procedural, transactional, and routine in nature. While these micro activities are essential for staffing systems, they must be viewed within the broader macro context of the positive impacts staffing can have on organization effectiveness” (6). Managers and Human Resources must share a common understanding of the business needs and react through implementing corresponding staffing levels. Only with a common perspective between management and human resources can staffing levels...
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...course is designed to help students develop effective written implementation plans for new business ventures. It deals with the critical decisions and actions that entrepreneurs must make in both planning and executing new ventures. Prerequisites: None. Corequisites: None. Other Requirements: Graduate Standing. Primary Learning Outcomes Global Goal. To identify and manage the activity sequences in executing plans for new ventures. Instructional Objectives. Primary learning outcomes are: • Ability to identify, schedule, and execute the activities needed to create a new business • Skill at assembling the human, material, financial, and other resources needed for venture initiation • Capacity to engage in experiential learning and adaptation throughout the venture initiation process • Competence in working well with others, such as peers, team members, and advisors Course Materials Required Materials: Barringer, B. (2009). Preparing effective business plans: An entrepreneurial approach. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education. Subscription to the Wall Street Journal “PERT.” http://www.netmba.com/operations/project/pert/ Detailed instructions and learning aids, available on Blackboard. Grading Activity Points Team Activities: 500 Feasibility Analysis 50 Business Plan 50 Implementation Plan 50 Strategic Plan 50 Investor Business Plan 50 Investor Presentation 50 Individual Contribution 200 Individual...
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...Bus 200 Class Paper Planning I originally was going to write about Leading as my subject matter for the Research Paper. I had been reading articles about Leading for a while and had the two I wanted picked out. Then I was online and read an article about Business Planning. The article was so interesting to me that I switched my topic and found another article on Planning and chose to compare and write about the two. The first article is by Francesca Di Meglio, a reporter for Businessweek.com in Fort Lee, N.J. The article is titled “Real Entrepreneurs Don’t Write Business Plans.” She references a Business School professor, Steve Blank, and talks about his class and what the students are learning about real Entrepreneurship. Professor Blank teaches a class called Lean LaunchPad at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, Columbia Business School and Stanford’s engineering school. He says that Entrepreneurship is about getting out into the world and doing, not simply researching and writing. The premise of the course is that aspiring entrepreneurs need to know their customer and must test their hypotheses to have any chance at success. The teams build a product or service at the beginning of class and immediately go out and talk to 10 to 15 people per week to test their theories about business challenges, such as pricing. I find this to be very interesting because I know the importance of hands on experience. My entire career up to this point has been self taught...
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...violence; ethics; social responsibility; alcohol related disorder; gambling; pub closures; sustainability and the environment LO2 Understand the effective development and operation of on-licensed premises Design: interior and exterior design, ergonomics, customer and workflow, economic use of space, provision for family areas (indoor/outdoor) Regulatory constraints: licensing law; health authorities; the police; planning authorities; licensing justices; weights and measures; safety; risk analysis Profitable product development: food; liquor; games; Amusement with Prizes (AWP) and Amusement with Skills (AWS); profit and loss statement analysis Stock and cash security: Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) systems; associated integrated software and paper systems; the prevention of fraudulent practices; till security; security of cash on premises and transference Staffing: structures; recruitment; training; retention; outstanding performance; best practice and successful units; the role of area management LO3 Be able to develop a merchandising and sales promotion strategy for on-licensed premises Marketing skills application: market research; Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis; trend identification such as changing consumer needs, product/brand life cycle; communication of the value proposition; keeping...
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...“Entrepreneurship and Starting a Small Business” Brian Thompson Everest College Phoenix Online MAN 1030 Introduction to Business Professor Mary Ritter 12/08/2012 Abstract In this paper I will be discussing what contributes it takes to become a successful business owner. I will be going over the characteristics of being a small business owner. I will also be discussing how to go about creating a business plan. In discussing the business plan, I will be giving the purpose of each component. “Entrepreneurship and Starting a Small Business” Eric has already created two successful businesses and is looking to start another. He already has the characteristics of a successful entrepreneur. He is self-directed, committed and willing to work hard. He already has experience in owning a small business and knows what it takes to make a small business successful. Eric seems to have beaten the odds already. What do you think Eric would tell you about success (or failure) and how to learn to be a successful small business owner? There are several characteristics to become an entrepreneur and start a small business and the one is being self-directed. You have to be comfortable being your own boss because you alone will be responsible for its success. Second, you have to believe in yourself when nobody else does, which is being self-nurturing. You also have to be committed and highly energetic by being able to emotionally, mentally and physically work hard, but mostly long...
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...Running Header: Service Request SR-kf-013 Paper Frequent Shopper Program The electronic commerce components of the Frequent Shopper Program are aspects of the Sales and Marketing Department’s strategic objectives to increase the loyalty and profitability of its consumers. Under this program, customer shopping trends are identified and rewarded. This in turn can support the objectives providing an inventory selection of specialty foods that their customers’ desire increasing the favorable of repeat shoppers to the Kudler name. In order for the program to be effective, customers are given a swipe card that contains their information in a bar-code format. The swipe card enables Kudler stores to electronically record the frequency of purchases made by the consumer refiguring the points accumulated during time of checkout. The point system can be explained as so for every one dollar spent with the store one point is accumulated for that transaction. The existing information technology (IT) database the company utilizes is identified as a “customer table” that has each customer’s mailing information regarding the demographics for birthdays and anniversaries. This will need to be revamped to include the points accrued per capita for Frequent Shopper’s cumulative transactions. When the frequent shopper has accumulated the specified range of points determined by Kudler, the reward(s) of their choosing can be redeemed at the nearest store location. The IT department is solely responsible...
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...Opening a Quality Child Care Center A resource guide for starting a business and planning a child care center. Table of Contents: Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 First Steps: Assessment, Market Analysis, Business Plan and Child Care Licensing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Finding Your Facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Design Considerations and Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Program Administration and Curriculum . . . . . . . . . . 17 Appendix A: Timeline for Start-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Appendix B: Agencies and On-line Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Appendix C: Resources for Developing Polices/Procedures . . . . . 22 Appendix D: Classroom Equipment and Materials List . . . . . . . . 23 Appendix E: Care About Childcare Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Appendix F: Structural Rules from Licensing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Appendix G: Accreditation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Appendix H: Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 State of Utah, Department of Workforce Services, Office of Child Care © 2012 Opening a Quality Child Care Center Introduction THE BUSINESS OF CHILD CARE Welcome to the world and work of child care! The purpose of this manual is to provide a prospective child care center...
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...Starting Your Own Business Contents List of illustrations ix Preface xi 1 Getting Started 1 What's holding you back? 1 Learning to handle success 3 Overcoming the mental blocks 3 Fighting back 6 Checking your readiness 12 Case studies 13 Action points 15 2 Finding Ideas 16 Looking right in front of you 16 Cashing in on change 17 Carving a niche 18 Acquiring commercial skills 20 Working on your self-esteem 20 Choosing a trading name 21 Checking your readiness 24 Case studies 24 Action points 26 3 Creating a Winning Business Plan 27 Planning ahead 27 Making sure the plan is yours 30 Your blueprint for success 30 Getting help from the public sector 36 Getting help from the banks 36 Checklist 37 Constructing your 'blueprint for success' 38 Case studies 43 Exercises 45 4 Funding Your Enterprise 46 Getting your hands on some seed money 46 Start-up costs 46 Getting outside finance 49 Approaching the public sector 50 Approaching potential funders 54 The plan that will fix your funding 58 Presenting your case 61 Checklist 62 Case studies 63 Action points 65 5 Planning Ahead 66 Choosing a partner 66 Case studies: going into partnership 69 Measuring the competition 71 Competitive analysis 75 Finding the right premises 77 The systems you will need 79 Deciding your business status 80 Understanding the basics of taxation 81 Preparing to survive - and succeed 84 Case studies 85 Action points 87 6 Marketing Your Enterprise 89 Debunking...
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...MORNING NEWS How to Write a O RM D S ON C Business Plan THE LEADING BUSINESS PLAN BOOK FOR • Write a winning proposal • Prepare cash flow and profit & loss forecasts • Get backers to invest 25 YEARS Mike McKeever Free Legal Updates at Nolo.com R OM - AL L L F F e Story Dear friends, Founded in 1971, and based in an old clock factory in Berkeley, California, Nolo has always strived to offer clear legal information and solutions. Today we are proud to offer a full range of plain-English law books, legal forms, software and an award-winning website. Everything we publish is relentlessly researched and tested by a dedicated group of in-house legal editors, who together have more than 150 years’ experience. And when legal changes occur after publication, we promptly post free updates at Nolo.com. Tens of millions of Americans have looked to Nolo to help solve their legal and business problems. We work every day to be worthy of this trust. Ralph Warner Nolo co-founder Emma Cofod Products Books & Software & Services Get in-depth information. Nolo publishes hundreds of great books and software programs for consumers and business owners. ey’re all available in print or as downloads at Nolo.com. Legal Encyclopedia Free at Nolo.com. Here are more than 1,400 free articles and answers to common questions about everyday legal issues including wills, bankruptcy, small business formation, divorce, patents, employment and much more...
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...final semester in the MBA program at Harvard Business School (HBS), and things were not going as expected. Spring break was about to start, but Henry, like many others in the class of 2002, was feeling the pain of the worst job market in over a decade. Henry recalled the troubled sentiment around campus: Going to business school during the aftermath of the Internet crash changed everything. Before the crash, the feeling was that if you graduated from HBS, you could take on the world. Now people were feeling a lot more insecurity. I was having some doubt about my own capabilities—about what I could accomplish on my own. Anxious to test his abilities and distinguish himself beyond the standard curriculum, Henry had decided to enter the School’s annual business plan contest. About six weeks earlier, in late January, Henry had teamed with HBS classmate Dana Soiman and the founders of start-up company Music Games International (MGI). The MGI founders—an HBS alumnus (MBA ’87) and two professional musicians—later brought two additional students from other institutions onto the team, creating a group composed of diverse views and talents. (See Exhibit 1 for team member bios.) The team was dynamic but very conflicted, and progress on the business plan had been slow. They had a promising product: a CD-ROM music game that children enjoyed playing while learning about music. The team could not agree, however, on a fundamental aspect of the plan—the target market for the product—which made...
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...Diversification Strategies BUS 508 Contemporary Business Professor Lewis Janisa Carter February 1, 2012 Introduction In today’s highly competitive and challenging business environment many variables are to be considered when it comes to the success or failure of a business. Business firms must consider the worlds fast changing societal needs and appropriately employ the diverse strategies needed to flourish. This paper will compare and contrast two businesses, one successful and the other unsuccessful. By doing so, I will take a closer look at diversification strategies and evaluate the reasons that determine a business’s outcome. I will also discuss the importance of business plans, marketing plans, and strategic plans as they are key elements to the success of a business. And finally, I will offer the failed business new diverse strategies that would help with future success. Compare and Contrast Two Businesses and their outcomes Amazon.com Amazon.com was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994, and launched in 1995. Amazon.com is an American multinational electronic commerce company. It was one of the first American Ecommerce companies to sell over the internet. Ecommerce has multiple advantages over “brick and mortar” and order catalogues. With Ecommerce customers can...
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