Business Planning Seminar - Abstract
This is an abstract of a seminar created by Kim Dolman on the topic of business planning. The scope of the seminar covers the purpose of business planning, the structure of business plans and gives some examples of quality plan content. It explains the part that business plans play in the lifecycle of an organisation and shows how they can be used to add value to a business rather than gather dust. It also covers the business context and the need for regular review and refresh. This seminar is designed to answer questions such as:     What does a business plan look like? Why does it contain? Who reads it? Why do I need more paperwork?

In the seminar Kim takes business planning out of the academic arena to show how plans perform as a crucial business tool. He explains, using real-life examples, the difference between a business proposition evaluation and a business plan, and the application of planning for product-oriented and service-oriented businesses. The seminar describes the key characteristics of a quality business plan. It covers strategy, service offering, legal aspects, marketing, technology, operations, resource analysis, cashflow forecasting, finance and action planning. A business plan can be used for any or all of the following purposes:       Hone the service offering Refine the business model Establish the preferred route to market Mobilise resources Communicate an action plan Secure funding

The seminar shows why it is important to consider the intended audience for the Plan. A Business Plan should deliver a compelling case for the business’ viability and sustainability. Each of the barriers to Planning is recognised and confronted head on. The outcome of the seminar is that the audience has an appreciation of business planning, recognises a quality business plan and is motivated to develop their