Business Planning and Project Management (Byte Size Skills Course)

Business Planning and Project Management (Byte Size Skills Course)

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.

Modules

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

• All study materials
• Study Guide
• Full Tutor and Admin support

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

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.

All course fees, inclusive of all payment plans including our Premium Credit Limited option, must be settled before certification can be ordered.

*You will have access to the course for 24 months.

On successful completion of your course you will receive the learndirect Certificate of Completion of Training in Business Planning and Project Management (Byte Size Skills Course).

Your course certificate will also state the number of CPD points/hours the course is eligible for.

View a sample of the certificate (opens in new window)

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