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Course Profile   Entrepreneurial Studies: Venture Planning (BDV4C), Grade 12, College Preparation, Public

 

Course Overview

Policy Document:  The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12, Business Studies, 2000.

Prerequisite:  Introduction to Entrepreneurial Studies, Grade 11, College Preparation

Course Description

This course focuses on the application of entrepreneurial characteristics and skills. Students will learn how to develop a venture plan. In making the plan, they will consider available resources, analyse the potential market base, identify legal requirements and available financing, evaluate all aspects of the plan, and identify the management skills and technology that would be required in carrying out their plan.

Course Notes

“College preparation courses are designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to meet the entrance requirements for college programs.” “Teaching and learning strategies will emphasize concrete applications of the theoretical material covered in the courses, and will also emphasize the development of critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. All college preparation courses will be based on rigorous provincial curriculum expectations and will emphasize the development of both independent research skills and independent learning skills. Courses will also require students to demonstrate that they have developed these skills.” (Ontario Secondary Schools, Grades 9 to 12, Program And Diploma Requirements, 1999, p. 17.)

The prerequisite for this course is Introduction to Entrepreneurial Studies, Grade 11, College Preparation.

Many of the strategies use self-assessment tools and help to develop entrepreneurial skills. Small and large group activities are suggested to develop students’ interpersonal skills and encourage teamwork.

This profile mirrors The Ministry of Education Strands (the groupings of expectations). Unit 1 focuses on the strand Challenges of a Venture Start-Up. Unit 2 involves the strand Venture Conception. Unit 3 is based on the Targeting Customers strand. Unit 4 introduces the Preparing for Start-Up strand. Unit 5 deals with the Developing a Venture Plan strand.

Teachers should focus on Canadian examples of successful entrepreneurs, inventors, innovators, and their contributions to Canadian business and the economy. Using business owners from the local community as examples enhances discussion of entrepreneurs’ contributions to the economy.

Teachers identify and gain the participation of local businesses, wherever possible. Teachers are encouraged to develop an in-class display of community businesses and to highlight existing partnerships. Teachers might access a variety of community business links that reflect the diversity of the local school community and complement course content.

Periodic access to computer technology, including standard office productivity tools such as word processors, spreadsheets, databases, e-mail, and the Internet, is a requirement of this course. Student learning benefits from such access by allowing them to perform authentic business tasks on computers, such as generating professional reports, managing data, creating presentations, communicating over the Internet, and doing market research. Ideally, teachers should be able to access computers during class time. If whole-class computer access is not possible on a planned basis, teachers should ensure that the library/resource centre or other Internet access points are available after or before class.

Students are required to work collaboratively throughout the course; therefore, addressing conflict management is important to student success. The teacher should address this issue at the beginning, emphasizing that not all conflicts can be resolved, but that people can always choose how to handle them. Steps to conflict resolution are: define the conflict; state the problem; check your perceptions; generate and evaluate a list of possible decisions/alternatives; reach a mutually acceptable decision; implement and evaluate the decision; if the decision is satisfactory, students continue their work; if the decision is unsatisfactory, students repeat the process. Different cultures perceive conflict differently – what constitutes conflict and how to resolve problems may vary from culture to culture. These issues have a direct bearing on what and how the teacher assesses in the process area. Self-, peer, group, and teacher assessment forms/handouts also help deflect conflict and solve problems. Assessment in this area applies to learning skills.

Units:  Titles and Times

* Unit 1

Challenges of a Venture Start-Up

20 hours

Unit 2

Venture Conception

20 hours

Unit 3

Preparing for Start-Up

20 hours

Unit 4

Targeting Customers

20 hours

Unit 5

The Venture Plan

30 hours

*This unit is fully developed in this Course Profile

Unit Overviews

Unit 1:  Challenges of a Venture Start-Up

Time:  20 hours

Strand(s):  Challenges of a Venture Start-Up

Unit Description

The unit focuses on the challenges and opportunities of the start-up phase of a business life cycle; compares the advantages enjoyed by young entrepreneurs with the challenges they face; and evaluate the key components, appropriate formats, and presentation styles of venture plans.

Cluster 1.1 begins with a teacher-directed investigation that explains the stages in the life cycle of a product. Develop the life cycle of a product to which students can relate, e.g., a cell phone. Brainstorm the life cycle of a product, e.g., the telephone, by placing several pictures, historical to current, along a timeline. Tools for these activities are in the developed unit. The next step is a formative (mix and match) quiz to review key business terms. The key terms relate the life cycle of a product to the life cycle of a Canadian business. Students then research the life cycle of various Canadian businesses and the factors that contribute to their successes and failures along with the conditions facing ventures starting up in various markets. Students use the research to develop a timeline pictorially. The timeline should depict important milestones, goals, and/or inabilities to meet the goals. The groups present their timelines and a large group exercise picks out the important dates. A timeline assessment tool is in the developed unit. Unit 3, Cluster 3 revisits the timeline.

Cluster 1.2 focuses on the advantages and challenges of entrepreneurship related to youth. The teacher introduces the topic with a video outlined in the developed unit. The teacher distributes a handout (see Appendix 1.2.1) depicting comic characters of a young entrepreneur and a mature businessperson along with a list of terms and characteristics to apply. A large group, teacher-directed discussion on the findings helps develop a Venn diagram and covers the concept that the mature businessperson’s advantages are often the youth’s challenges. Each small group brainstorms the solutions to an assigned challenge; thinks of ways the youthful entrepreneur can work with the challenge and take advantage of the opportunities. The developed unit provides a tool for assessing the group process.

Cluster 1.3 starts with a focus on the importance of planning. An interactive activity on planning is provided in the unit. This activity cluster provides an excellent opportunity to link with the business community. The Canadian Bankers Association provides speakers that can explain what a venture plan should look like from a financial point of view (see Resources for website). Guest speakers can provide benchmarks in terms of content, thoroughness, clarity, organization, impact, and utility. The teacher provides a worksheet for notes on the presentation(s) (see Appendix Unit 1). Often speakers arranged by students are most successful. The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF), the Canadian Foundation for Economic Education (CFEE) and the Business Development Bank of Canada all provide alternatives to speakers on their websites. The banking representative can emphasize what the financial institution would be investigating when an entrepreneur applies for a loan (see Resources for web addresses). The teacher should remind students that Unit 3 uses the notes on the presentation. Students talk about possible venture ideas and identify plans to match the venture. A rich performance task requires students to create a checklist/assessment tool to evaluate venture plan formats. Students download a variety of venture plan formats or use the hard copies provided in the Unit 1 Appendices, then apply their developed assessment tool to the various formats. Students describe an exemplary venture and explain why it is exemplary. The venture plan recurs in Cluster 2.5. The checklist/assessment tool becomes part of a working portfolio and is used again in Unit 5.

The teacher should encourage the student to develop a working portfolio. The working portfolio is not just a collection of students’ work. The portfolio should have a clear purpose: to hold student work for subsequent units or the Culminating Project. Students need teacher direction to establish which pieces of work will be used in future units. The unit descriptions outline the links or connections. The teacher and students establish the form that the portfolio will take; decide who selects the contents, and what will go in the portfolio (rough drafts, best work or work that needs revisions, school material or material from outside the school). Another option is a working portfolio that progresses to either a showcase portfolio that might display the best work or an assessment portfolio used to document the achievement of learning expectations. The portfolio process: collect, select, reflect, inspect, is outlined in the OSSTF/FEESO resource Quality Assessment.

Unit Overview Chart

Cluster

Learning Expectations

Assessment Categories

Focus/Time

1.1

VSV.01, VS1.01, VS1.02, VS1.03

Knowledge/Understanding Communication

Start-Up Challenges and Opportunities
(5 hours)

1.2

VSV.02, VS2.01, VS2.02, VS2.03

Knowledge/Understanding Thinking/Inquiry
Communication

Advantages and Challenges Related to Youth
(2 hours)

1.3

VSV.03, VS3.01, VS3.02, VS3.03

Knowledge/Understanding Thinking/Inquiry

Communication
Application

The Venture Plan
(13 hours)

 

Unit 2: Venture Conception

Time:  20 hours

Strand(s):  Venture Conception

Unit Description

Unit 2 focuses on entrepreneurial opportunities in the student’s community. Students evaluate the entrepreneurial opportunities in their community in order to select one well suited to their interests, experiences, and capabilities. Students generate ideas that match their selected entrepreneurial opportunity, assess the ideas to select the one most appropriate to a new venture concept, and analyse the factors that would influence their selection of a specific venture concept.

Cluster 2.1 focuses on developing a community profile. In a teacher-directed lesson, the class brainstorms what is involved in profiling, e.g., a person or place. This leads into profiling a community, the entrepreneurial opportunities and the factors associated with the opportunities, e.g., land use – residential, retail, commercial, industrial, and social; economic features – community needs and wants such as employment opportunities and trends in urban development; and current statistics and local problems. Students can compare the various forms of business ownership using a chart format that illustrates features, advantages, and disadvantages of sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, cooperative, and franchise. Discussion also focuses on addressing problems with not-for-profit ventures and volunteerism. This activity looks at communities in general and how to improve things in the community. After outlining a sample profile, students determine how to gather information to create a local, community profile. Students discuss primary versus secondary research sources. It might be beneficial for students to analyse sample surveys to determine the set-up and structure of survey instruments. Note: Students must be instructed to accept “no comment” as a valid answer to any questions, and to respect that people may choose not to respond at all.

Cluster 2.2 focuses on the local community: its needs, wants, and problems. Students define the boundaries of the “local” community. This may depend on the development level of students in the class. One class may research the school community while another class may go considerably outside the geographic boundaries of the school. Students determine how best to obtain the data outlined in
Cluster 2.1 relative to the defined community, and the opportunities for creating a new venture suited to their particular entrepreneurial abilities. Students construct worksheets to record the research data. The teacher stresses that the research includes both primary and secondary research. Students use the data to analyse opportunities for creating a new venture, assess the potential target market and promising opportunities for a student venture. The teacher establishes a negotiated timeline for the completion of the research on the community. Some at-home work may be necessary. The class self-selects teams in which to work based on geographic area and type of research in the community walkabout. The teacher obtains all necessary permission forms for this type of fieldwork as determined by the school and school board policy. The Grade 11 Profile, BDP3O Public, has a community walkabout in Activity 2.2, and
Appendix 2.2.1 is a Community Walkabout Data Sheet (see www.curriculum.org). On the agreed upon date, have all groups present their findings to the class. In advance, the teacher creates a large outline map of the area and posts it on the bulletin board, “Our Community Profile.” If a suitable bulletin board is not available, dedicate a chalkboard for the purpose. Students/large group create a community profile based on the data presented and analysed on the board.

In Clusters 2.3 and 2.4, the class or teams of students look at all the data collected on the community to determine how best to have a positive impact on the community through student ventures. From the Community Profile presented, students brainstorm all the perceived needs and wants of the community. Remember, this is a brainstorming session for creative ideas – there are no bad ideas and our aim is to generate quantity, not quality at this stage. “Understanding the community profile, what can we do to have a positive impact on the community?” Students describe potential markets; decide if the ideas are feasible. Apply a decision-making model to the task. This helps to focus the thinking of students, thereby establishing, applying, and evaluating criteria for determining the “best” ideas.

In Cluster 2.5, students set up self-selected venture groups to plan their proposed venture. Each group creates a group profile that includes the strengths, skills, interests, and characteristics of the team members. The group profile includes a GAP analysis to point out any skills lacking in the team that might create difficulties later, e.g., lack of computer skills. The teacher should point out to students that the Culminating Project start-up following Cluster 2.5 and Cluster 4.1. uses the GAP analysis again. The group creates an outline of a venture plan before embarking on the venture. This includes the what, where, who, why, when, and how details. The various types of ventures, forms of ownership, and the form of ownership most appropriate for their idea must be considered and/or outlined. There are numerous formats and plans available. Students researched venture plan formats in Cluster 1.3. The teacher/class should determine which format best serves the purpose of this venture project. From this outline, each group creates a venture plan format for their project. Once the class establishes the criteria for a successful venture plan format, have each group share their plan with another group to apply the criteria for peer feedback. At this point, students should have an idea of how they can make a positive impact on their community and have a plan format.

The role of the teacher is to clearly outline the assignment, set and administer the negotiated timelines, and provide the assessment/evaluation tools for the project. Once the ventures begin, the teacher coaches and assesses the groups on a daily basis.

Culminating Project

This course, through its expectations, gives students the business skills to plan and evaluate entrepreneurial ventures. Therefore, having students demonstrate their learning through a culminating project is one option available. For the culminating project in this Course Profile, students apply the skills and competencies in the expectations by researching, planning, and assessing their own entrepreneurial venture. The skills and competencies in each unit are cumulative, so the project can be addressed in sequential parts after each related unit or in its entirety towards the end of the course. This profile presents the project two ways: (1) in sequential parts after each unit, and (2) as a whole in Unit 5. Though the culminating project is introduced in Unit 2 and appears in each unit, the teacher still has the option of doing the Culminating Project in its entirety as Unit 5 at the end of the course. As with the profile as a whole, this project is only one of many ways to present the curriculum to students and address the course expectations. Each phase is found in the appropriate unit description.

Note: While in some cases school and board policies and practices may allow for the actual implementation of the venture plan, most circumstances will dictate that the “plan” will be the focus and the final product of the students’ work. The description in this Course Profile provides for this focus on the plan and the assessment of its viability.

Culminating Project Integration for Unit 2

(Cluster 2.6)

The first activity for the culminating project takes place after the class has completed Unit 2. The unit focuses on venture opportunities in the community. The culminating project utilizes Clusters 2.3 and 2.4 where students created a community profile and Cluster 2.5 where venture groups were established. Students, in their groups, look at the list of community “ideas and opportunities” that were generated, then posted in the community profile, and select one that interests their group. The groups then brainstorm and generate a rough ‘things to do and materials needed’ list. From that list, students are able to assign jobs to group members and judge the scope of their proposed ventures. Groups prepare a report/proposal for their venture. Students may select one of the business plan models presented to them in Unit 1 as a guideline for their project proposal.

Students update the Glossary of Terms.

Unit Overview Chart

Cluster

Learning Expectations

Assessment Categories

Focus/Time

2.1

VCV.01, VC1.01, VC1.02, VC1.03, VC1.04

Thinking/Inquiry
Communication

Identifying Entrepreneurial Opportunities
(3 hours)

2.2

VCV.02, VC2.01, VC2.02, VC2.03, VC2.04

Thinking/Inquiry
Application Communication

Evaluating Opportunities
(5 hours)

2.3

VCV.03, VC3.01, VC3.02, VC3.03

Thinking/Inquiry
Communication

Generating Ideas
(2 hours)

2.4

VCV.04, VC4.01, VC4.02, VC4.03, VC4.04, VC4.05

Knowledge/Understanding
Thinking/Inquiry Communication

Assessing Ideas
(2 hours)

2.5

VCV.05, VC5.01, VC5.02, VC5.03, VC5.04

Knowledge/Understanding Thinking/Inquiry Communication

The Venture Concept
(8 hours)

2.6

Integrated Culminating Project Unit 2

 

Unit 3:  Targeting Customers

Time:  20 hours

Strand(s):  Targeting Customers

Unit Description

Students analyse the size and composition of the potential market for their venture. They develop effective promotional strategies and evaluate effective growth strategies. This unit teaches students the importance of targeting customers; defining, establishing, and maintaining market-share; and forecasting customer sales both in short and long-run economies. Activities within the unit are a consumer survey for Cluster 3.1, the development of a promotional plan in Cluster 3.2, and a company timeline for
Cluster 3.3.

Cluster 3.1 focuses on market research and how it helps a company define who its customers are and other important market data. The teacher discusses the importance of market research, analyses strategies for marketing and the impact of competition, and explains the importance of forecasting sales. The teacher describes how market research is conducted and real life examples of the benefits of good market research and how poor market research can hurt a company. Students in groups select “everyday products” purchased by their age group such as jeans, running shoes, portable personal stereos, and skateboards. Students then design a market research survey for their groups (see Resources for texts that cover primary survey instruments). Sample questions are: “Age range?” “Do you have a job and what is your salary range?” “What brands of jeans do you like and why?” “What is your main reason for purchasing a particular type of jean; colour, fit, brand, or price?” “How often do you buy the product, and is there a particular time of year you purchase it?” “What are your preferred stores for purchasing the product?” “How much would you pay for the product and how would you pay for the product; cash, debit, or credit card?” Students go into the school community and conduct the survey of the product usage based on the questions they designed. After the survey, students bring the raw data back to class. Based on the survey information, students prepare a character sketch of the “average” customer for their products. The sketch takes the form of a report with the primary data (survey results) added as an appendix. Note: Students must be instructed to accept “no comment” as a valid answer to any questions, and to respect that people may choose not to respond at all.

In Cluster 3.2 students create a promotional plan for a new product based on the one studied in
Cluster 3.1. The teacher outlines the importance of good planning, reviews key concepts such as product life cycle, economic factors (what happens when a product enters a competitive environment), and branding. The teacher presents students with examples of promotions at various stages of their life cycle, from launch and creating awareness, to maintaining market share, and finally, dealing with changes and competition in the market. Students in the same groups as Cluster 3.1 create three print ads that address the promotional life cycle: launch and awareness, creating and maintaining consumer loyalty, and dealing with change and competition in the market. For example, the first ad could take the form of a “teaser” or “cliff-hanger,” the second ad showing a family or generation (mother/daughter) of users trusting the product name, and the last ad could be a “taste-test” or competition type ad (e.g., 3 out of 4 jean wearers.) Students present their ads to focus groups, receive assessment feedback, and implement changes.

The final Cluster 3.3 deals with forecasting for a company and its related products. Students again work in the groups assigned in the prior unit activities. The teacher explains how a company forecasts sales and growth using various time units, such as quarters, years, and 5 years. The teacher should review, again, the product life cycle, and the company life cycle as covered in Cluster 1.1. A good resource would be the Boston Consulting Group’s product life cycle model (see Resources for website). Students should be aware of how businesses use established products to help launch and finance new ones. The groups plan the life cycle of the company that produces the product in Cluster 3.2. In Cluster 1.1, students looked at an existing business and historic data. In this activity, students project future events. The group plans the next five years of the business, adding in the promotional plan developed in
Cluster 3.2, the company or product milestones, additional promotions, competitors entering the market, and the creation of new products. Students also forecast sales on a quarterly basis and include this information on the timeline.

Culminating Project Integration for Unit 3

(Cluster 3.4)

The second activity in the culminating project uses skills learned in Unit 3. Students conduct market research for the proposed venture. Students generate a primary research tool in the form of a survey that helps them design and assess the feasibility of their proposed venture. The groups produce final versions of their surveys, go out into the “targeted” community, and conduct primary research. Students look for secondary research on their venture on, similar projects, and on their community. For assessment, students present both their primary and secondary research in a report that summarizes and analyses the raw data generated by the preceding activities. The reports should focus on whom the target market is, what need or want the venture is fulfilling, and finally, how much consumers are willing to pay. Teachers should remind students to use the Oral Presentation Checklist found in BBB4M at www.curriculum.org for formative assessment. Students should review their first assignment for the culminating project. Using the original submission and information gained from the report in Cluster 2.6, students write a formal business plan. The groups revisit the different types of business plans available to entrepreneurs from banks and other institutions, and then select the model that best fits the students’ venture. Students investigate the different types of plans discussed in Unit 1 in detail in Cluster 2.5. Students complete the business plan format for their venture and submit it for assessment. The focus is on assessing the quality of the plan. In a teacher-directed lesson, the class brainstorms a list of criteria for evaluating not only the plan, but also the venture idea itself. The teacher’s role is to have the student review the content of each of the components thereby providing students with the criteria to be used in the assessment. A checklist format provides ease of reference. In addition to the checklist that is very specific, students construct a task-specific rubric based on the Achievement Chart categories, from The Ontario Curriculum, Grade 11 and 12, Business Studies. The rubric should clearly illustrate the assessed value of the plan from levels 1 to 4, allowing students an opportunity to improve the plan before formative evaluation. Students update the Glossary of Terms.

Unit Overview Chart

Cluster

Learning Expectations

Assessment Categories

Focus/Time

3.1

TCV.01, TC1.01, TC1.02, TC1.03, TC1.04

Knowledge/Understanding Thinking/Inquiry Communication

Market Research

(9 hours)

3.2

TCV.02, TC2.01, TC2.02, TC2.03

Knowledge/Understanding Thinking/Inquiry Application

Promotional Strategies

(5 hours)

3.3

TCV.03, TC3.01, TC3.02, TC3.03, TC3.04, TC3.05

Knowledge/Understanding Thinking/Inquiry Communication
Application

Growth Strategies

(6 hours)

3.4

Integrated Culminating Project Unit 3

 

Unit 4:  Preparing for Start-Up

Time:  30 hours

Strand(s):  Preparing for Start-Up

Unit Description

Students organize the information and sources of information needed for the successful start-up of a new venture. They compare the possible sources of financing for the venture, analyse the resource needs for their venture, assess their ability to manage their venture, and determine the ancillary requirements of the new venture.

Cluster 4.1 begins with an activity that builds a class skills inventory. One alternative has students create an index card with their specific skill(s) highlighted and post the card in a designated area. Another alternative is for the teacher to direct an activity that formulates a list of students’ individual skills on chart paper. For example, one student may be able to design a business card or logo for another student’s venture. The teacher leads a discussion on the importance of networking for the development and growth of a venture. The teacher can direct students to the Yellow Pages, local business directories, the Internet, and government reports. Students compile annotated information slips outlining how the organization can assist the entrepreneurs. The teacher can supply students with an information organizer (about four on a page). The organizer might list the website, summarize the information available, and identify its usefulness to an entrepreneur. The titles on the organizer could be: (1) Website, (2) Summary, and (3) Component. Students post the organizer slips on a teacher-created resource centre. Suggested headings for the resource centre are: Finance, Self-Help, and Human Resources.

The next stage, Cluster 4.2, requires the student to identify the various sources for capital and develop an effective strategy to raise the necessary capital. Students are required to identify all possible sources of capital for their venture and analyse the consequences of overestimating or underestimating the capital needed to launch their venture. Students could also refer back to Cluster 4.1 on networking and establishing contacts to identify potential sources of capital. In groups, students can outline the disadvantages and advantages of using each source for raising capital. Students are required to complete a capital request plan and describe an effective strategy to raise the necessary capital.

Cluster 4.3 begins with a creativity exercise. Students (in groups, or individually) compile a list of all employees involved in the daily operation of their school, their part-time workplace, or their parents’/ guardians’ workplace. Students describe the role of all the identified personnel in the day-to-day operation of the chosen organization. Continuing on this theme, students examine the physical resources required for the operation of the organization. A debriefing session takes place. During this debriefing, the teacher introduces the concepts of fixed and variable costs. Students then re-examine their selected organization, and identify the fixed and variable, human, and physical costs. Students identify and explain the human resources, physical resources, and fixed and variable costs for their venture.

Cluster 4.4 focuses on the management component of the venture plan. In the initial activity students identify their short, medium, and long-term plans. After identifying their plans, the student creates an action plan that describes how he/she expects to reach these specific goals. The action plan should include how he/she plans to keep and maintain records, along with how computer software could be used to maintain accurate records for the venture Additionally, the student also devises a method for measuring the effectiveness of these particular goals. In other words, if you do not reach your desired goal, is this a failure or partial success? The teacher follows up this activity with an overhead or discussion on the four functions of management: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. The teacher arranges to bring in a guest speaker who could be the manager of a local business, or the principal or vice-principal of the school. The teacher arranges to have the guest speaker discuss the short and long-term goals of their organization, how he/she empowers people, and organizes tasks. The teacher and students examine leadership styles in the next activity. The teacher prepares a handout or overhead, which reviews types of leaders, e.g., autocratic, democratic, collegial, and laissez-faire. The teacher encourages students to provide examples of each of these leadership styles displayed either in school or at work. Students have an opportunity to develop an appreciation for the complexities of managing an organization, styles of supervision, and the changing nature of the workplace.

Cluster 4.5 deals with the legal requirements of setting up a business. The teacher gathers publications from various public and private organizations that assist in the set-up of a venture, or arranges for class time with the computers in order to gather the necessary information from selected websites. Students research the necessary legal requirements: the process for registering the business name, registration costs, insurance, and municipal requirements. Local business advisory centres, town offices, or city halls can provide the necessary information. A guest speaker from an insurance company is an excellent source for information on employee benefit packages. Students complete a research activity that would describe the process for obtaining a patent, copyright, and trademark.

Culminating Project Integration for Unit 4

(Cluster 4.6)

Cluster 4 in the culminating project is the last step before the groups execute their ventures. In Unit 4 students learn specific skills that will help them with the upcoming launch of their venture. In this activity, students identify areas of need in resources and information. Students create lists of potential allies and mentors they can use to help launch their venture, prepare a budget and secure financing, determine all the jobs that need to be done and assign them, create a charter for the venture group outlining the management goals of the group, and identify any legal requirement or laws that affect their type of venture. Students develop a management plan for their venture. The management charter includes: short and long-term goals; how to empower the people and organize the tasks; employee compensation and motivation; method of record keeping; and utilization of computer software.

These lists form the basis for a report submitted to the teacher for evaluation. Each group should use the checklist and rubric developed in the Unit 3 integrated project to assess the mechanics of their plan as well as the venture idea. Students submit the revised plan to the teacher for assessment and feedback. As a possible final step in this process, have a local financial services officer interview the venture team to provide feedback on areas that might need revision. After all assessment stages have been “signed off,” the venture plan is ready to execute.

Students update the Glossary of Terms.

Unit Overview Chart

Cluster

Learning Expectations

Assessment Categories

Focus/Time

4.1

PRV.01, PR1.01, PR1.02, PR1.03

Knowledge/Understanding
Thinking/Inquiry

Information
(5 hours)

4.2

PRV.02 PR2.01, PR2.02, PR2.03, PR2.04

Knowledge/Understanding
Thinking/Inquiry Communication

Financing
(3 hours)

4.3

PRV.03, PR3.01, PR3.02, PR3.03

Knowledge/Understanding
Thinking/Inquiry

Resources
(4 hours)

4.4

PRV.04, PR4.01, PR4.02, PR4.03, PR4.04, PR4.05, PR4.06

Thinking/Inquiry

Communication

Management
(4 hours)

4.5

PRV.05, PR5.01, PR5.02, PR5.03, PR5.04, PR5.05

Knowledge/Understanding
Thinking/Inquiry Communication

Legal
(4 hours)

4.6

Integrated Culminating Project Unit 4

Unit 5:  The Venture Plan

Time:  30 hours

Time Note: The unit on the Venture Plan is scheduled for 30 hours. Depending on the approach the teacher chooses, the teacher allocates the time throughout the units for the integrated approach or uses it as a block in Unit 5.

Strand(s):  Developing a Venture Plan

Unit Description

Unit 5 focuses on the venture plan. The integrated approach has ensured construction of all the preliminary components. Now assessment and evaluation of both the plan and the venture as a culminating performance task is required.

This unit focuses on the evaluation of the plan and a presentation of the results. The teacher establishes the format for the evaluation and at the same time formalizes the assessment criteria. Students, in retrospect, look at “the good, the bad, and the ugly” of the plan and determine whether or not they could pursue the venture in light of their evaluation. This is the major learning aspect of the course. Students submit this information to the teacher in a reflective journal. Students present the complete venture at a stakeholders meeting. The venue should reflect a business attitude and provide closure for the ventures. The audience could include school board personnel, school administration, community connections, and parents. The formal part of the presentation includes an oral presentation with an electronic supplement (using electronic presentation software) of the plan and the evaluation. A celebratory reception should follow.

Another approach to the culminating performance task is to have students produce a production, marketing, human resources, management, and financial plan that are most appropriate for the proposed venture. Students summarize the responses to their venture plan and assess the probability of the venture’s success.

Implications for Implementation

It should be understood that the expectations for this course do not lead to actual implementation of the venture for which the planning has occurred. Legal and liability implications generally prevent implementation. This does not prevent a detailed analysis of the plan and assessment of its viability.

Unit Overview Chart

Cluster

Learning Expectations

Assessment Categories

Focus

5.1

VPV.01, VPV.02, VP1.01, VP1.02, VP2.01, VP2.02, VP2.03

Thinking/Inquiry
Communication
Application

Assessing the Plan

5.2

VPV.03, VPV.04, VP3.01, VP3.02, VP3.03, VP4.02

Knowledge/Understanding
Thinking/Inquiry

Considering Implications for Implementation

5.3

VPV.04, VP4.01

Thinking/Inquiry
Communication Application

Evaluating the Venture

 

Teaching/Learning Strategies

There is a conscious quest for a balance of traditional modelling of skills and knowledge, together with a blend of small group and individual practise and individual exploration in this profile.

This course presents information that students need to master and apply for the learning activities to be successful. It is important that teachers have a variety of strategies available to them to help students learn the information presented in the course material. These strategies fall into three different categories: teacher-directed, learner-centred, and self-directed. Teachers may also take advantage of learning opportunities outside their classroom and incorporate DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America), OBEA (Ontario Business Educators Association), and Junior Achievement activities into the course work.

The Ontario Curriculum Unit Planner provides extensive descriptions of the strategies listed. The strategies provide a means for teachers to quickly reflect on what they have used in the past and what they can adopt. The Pedagogy Resources section provides detailed explanations of the strategies listed.

Teacher-Directed

Learner-Centred

Self-Directed

Didactic Lesson
Socratic Method
Visual Organizers
Record/task sheet
Demonstration
Group Project
Peer Helping
Video
Overhead
Group Discussion
Guest Speakers
Field Trip
Mnemonics (trigger recall)

Group project

Brainstorming:
Chunking, Carousel, Brainstorming, Graffiti. Reaching Consensus:

Snowball, Listening and Communication: Say and Switch, Three-Step Interview.

Reaction/Opinion:

Reaction Wheel, Agree/Disagree Corners, Roundtable, Connections, Round Robin Reflection, Journaling.

Graphic Organizers:

Future Wheel, Semantic Mapping, Mind Mapping, Flow Chart, Sequence Chart, Ranking Ladder, Tree Diagram, Venn Diagram, The Fish Bone, The Right Angle.

Reflection:

Stems and Starters, Ticket to Leave, Role playing

Sharing
Displays
Research
Electronic Media Research
Computer-Assisted Learning
Text Referencing
Note Taking
Checklists
Questionnaires
Group Projects
Help Files

Assessment & Evaluation of Student Achievement

Teachers should employ assessment strategies frequently and throughout the course in order to communicate the expectations of the course to students, to make appropriate adjustments to teaching and learning strategies as required, and to accommodate the special needs of students. Teachers should welcome and value students’ input to the assessment process itself.

Organize marking schemes and rubrics used for evaluation to include the four Achievement Chart categories as applicable. The teacher might evaluate one student-generated product or process under multiple categories: Knowledge/Understanding, Thinking/Inquiry, Communication, and Application categories. The teacher’s record keeping could require marks recorded in four separate categories, one for each of the assessment/evaluation categories it addresses.

The following chart matches assessment tools and achievement chart categories.

Knowledge/Understanding
Tests
Quizzes
Interviews
Electronic research

Thinking/Inquiry
Interviews
Electronic research
Projects
Assignments

Communication
Portfolio
Projects
Presentations
Assignments
Case study

Application
Production Plan
Marketing Analysis
Financial Plan
Venture Plan
Assignments

Some strategies, which are consistent with the assessment techniques referred to in the activities, are:

·         Share the rubrics for culminating activities at the beginning of the unit, so expectations are clear for students and support the learning in all activities in the unit.

·         Develop rubrics with students, or involve them in translating them into student language.

·         Emphasize the language of assessment and evaluation in your discussions with students.

·         Provide sample work demonstrating achievement at different levels for students.

·         Provide different opportunities to assess the achievement of the expectations.

·         Provide opportunities for formative self- and peer assessment to support and improve student learning.

·         Provide multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate their achievement of expectations.

·         Provide opportunities for students to retry assignments until they can demonstrate their learning.

·         Develop tests that provide opportunities to demonstrate all categories on the Achievement Chart at all levels.

·         Give practice tests as an opportunity for formative assessment.

·         Use assessment tools that are appropriate for the expectations and related to the categories on the Achievement Chart.

·         Provide prompt feedback so that students can use it to improve their learning.

·         Design a variety of assessment tasks to address different learning styles.

·         Provide choice in activities/assessment tasks to accommodate the diverse needs of learners in the classroom.

·         Provide opportunities for students to track their own progress.

Evaluation Strategies

Diagnostic
Informal Observation
Checklists
Quizzes

Formative
Informal and Formal Teacher Observation
Teacher Checklists
Student Checklists
Interviews
Student/Teacher Conferencing
Written Feedback
Graphic Organizers
Presentations
Group Reporting
Individual and Group Assignments
Rubrics

Summative
Assignments
Quizzes
Tests
Rubrics
Projects
Oral Presentations
Electronic Presentations
Case Studies
Research Assignment
Web Page
Venture Plan

Assessment Purposes

Assessment may be diagnostic, formative, and summative. Diagnostic assessment includes informal observation checklists, quizzes, and all class questions and answers. The following strategies and tools are applicable for both formative and summative purposes.

Method

Strategy

Tool

Paper-and-Pencil

Test
- selected response
- true/false
- constructed response

Marking Scheme

Performance Task

Oral Presentation
Community Profile
Resource Bulletin Board
Venture Plan

Rubric
Checklist

Personal Communication

Student-Teacher Conference
Classroom Question and Answer

Rating Scale
Anecdotal Record

Final Course Evaluation

“When planning courses and assessment, teachers should review the required curriculum expectations and link them to the categories to which they relate. Teachers should ensure that all the expectations are accounted for in instruction, and that the achievement of the expectations is assessed within the appropriate categories” (The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12, Business Studies, 2000, p. 125). Teachers must ensure that a student’s most consistent performance level is reflected in his/her final mark. Teachers must also provide a variety of opportunities for students to demonstrate their achievement of the expectations. (Though this suggestion is not prescriptive it provides a focus of assessment directly linked to student experiential learning.) 70% of the grade is based on assessments and evaluations conducted throughout the course. 30% of the grade is based on a final evaluation in the form of an examination, performance, essay, and/or other method of evaluation. The recommended strategy for the final evaluation is a presentation of the Venture Plan. The Venture Plan, in which students research, create, and finally present, incorporates all the criteria and concepts of the course expectations. This allows students to focus on the development of a detailed and extensive venture plan. Students present the Venture Plan at a stakeholders meeting with at least one member of the community to simulate a more realistic situation and to provide students with an added incentive to prepare a professional, multimedia presentation.

Accommodations

Teachers should consult individual student IEPs for specific direction on accommodation for individuals. Teachers have a store of good practices they commonly use to enable the learning for all students in their class. The following are common, frequently used strategies listed by exceptionalities to reaffirm the good teaching practices found in Ontario classrooms.

Reading

·         Read questions first.

·         Modify reading requirements.

·         Use reading partners.

·         Pre-teach concepts/vocabulary.

·         Highlight notes.

·         Use visuals.

Written language

·         Vary assignments.

·         Give explicit instructions.

·         Provide photocopied notes.

·         Allow point-form notes and graphic organizers.

·         Use peer editing.

·         Teach spell/grammar check.

·         Give tests in an alternate learning environment.

·         Allow extra time.

·         Give oral tests.

Enrichment Accommodations

The teacher can challenge the learner through product and process. The expectations cannot be changed or added to. The teacher can enrich the learning experience by:

·         requiring multiple and sophisticated forms of communication;

·         encouraging and reinforcing the application of abstract thinking skills to complex content, resulting in a sophisticated product;

·         fostering in-depth learning of a self-selected topic within the expectation requirements;

·         encouraging and using the DECA and OBEA contests;

·         motivating students to synthesize course content with their own experiences and ideas.

ESL/ELD Accommodations

·         English-speaking students can help their ESL classmates by repeating, rephrasing, and writing words down.

·         Encourage ESL students to use their own language for clarification and explanation.

·         Provide students with a summary sheet at the end of each class (with teacher assistance) to list main terms or concepts that were the focus of the lesson.

·         Make overheads of handouts on which the teacher highlights important terms, explains words, and clarifies instructions, etc., while students do the same on their copy.

·         Provide a glossary of terms for the reading.

·         Encourage the use of first-language dictionaries for assignments and assessments.

·         Pair written instructions with verbal instructions.

·         Prior work may be needed to familiarize ESL students with the process and vocabulary of rubrics.

Resources

Units in this profile refer to the use of specific texts, magazines, films, and videos. Before reproducing materials for student use from books and magazines, teachers need to ensure that their board has a Cancopy licence and that this licence covers resources they wish to use. Before screening videos for their students, teachers need to ensure that their board/school has obtained the appropriate public performance videocassette licence from an authorized distributor, e.g., Audio Cine Films Inc. Teachers are also reminded that much of the material on the Internet is protected by copyright. The person or organization that created the work usually owns that copyright. Reproduction of any work or a substantial part of any work on the Internet is not allowed without the permission of the owner.

Pedagogy Print

Bennett, B., C. Rolheiser-Bennett, and L. Stevahn. Cooperative Learning Where Heart Meets Mind. Toronto: Educational Connections, 1991. ISBN 0-4444-555-6

Gibbs, Jeanne. Tribes: A Process for Social Development and Cooperative Learning. Santa Rosa, 1996.
ISBN 0-932762-08-5

OSSTF/FEESO. Quality Assessment: Fitting The Pieces Together. Toronto: OSSTF Educational Services Committee, 1999. ISBN 0-920930-47-6

Internet

The writers before publication have verified the URLs for the websites. Given the frequency with which these designations change, teachers should always verify the websites before assigning them for student use.

Pedagogy Internet

School Net – http://www.schoolnet.org
This site is dedicated to serving the interests of students, parents, and educators regarding every facet of education

Innovation Teaching – http://www.interserf.net/mcken/teacher.htm

Pedagonet – http://www.pedagonet.com/
This site offers search engine, which facilitates the exchange of learning resources.

Premier Tracks – http://4teachers.org/premier/
A collection of K-12 web-based lessons for a variety of subject areas created by SCR*TEC’s TrackStar.

Teacher Talk – http://www.mightymedia.com/ttalk/index.asp
This site provides a discussion area for teachers related to technology instruction.

Career Resources

Canada’s Biggest Job Site – http://www.workopolis.ca

Canadian Bankers Association – http://www.cba.ca

Canadian Career and Industry Specific Job Sites – http://www.canadajobsearch.com/careerspecific.htm

Canadian Career Page – http://www.canadiancareers.com

Canadian Youth Business Foundation – http://www.i3ds.com/cyba/directory/gov.html

Career Cruising – http://www.careercruising.com/home/index/html

Career Edge, Main Index Page – http://www.careeredge.on.ca

Career Explorer – http://cdn.cx.bridges.com/

Careers in a Package, The Teacher’s Guide. Packaging Association of Canada, 2000.
– http://www.packagingcareers.org

Curriculum Vitae Tips – http://www.cvtips.com

Human Resources Development Canada – http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca

Interest Survey – http://www.jvis.com

Investing in Your Future, Appendix B and Appendix C. Toronto: Canadian Securities Institute and Investor Learning Centre, 2000. ISBN 1-894289-51-X

Job Bank – http://jb-ge.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca

Job Shark – http://www.jobshark.ca/caeng/index.cfm

Rιsumι Dot Com – http://www.pcservices.com

Work Search – http://www.wroksearch.gc.ca

YWCA One Stop Career Shop – http://www.onestopcareershop.bc.ca/dropin.html

Safety

Canadian site for occupational health and safety – http://www.ccohs.ca/

Live Safe! Work Smart! Health And Safety Resources for Ontario Secondary School Teachers. Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2000. ISBN 0-7794-0226-X. Ministry of Labour Publications
Department, 1-416-326-7731

General Interest

The Entrepreneurial Person diagram, from Introduction to Business (BBI1O) Public Course Profile, Appendix A 3.6 and 3.6b.

Print

A Guide to Copyrights. Ottawa: Canada Intellectual Property Office Industry Canada, 2000.
ISBN 0-662-28455-0

A Guide to Industrial Designs. Ottawa: Canada Intellectual Property Office Industry Canada, 1996.

A Guide to Trade Marks. Ottawa: Canada Intellectual Property Office Industry Canada, 2000.
ISBN 0-662-28420-8

Bodell, R. W., G. W. Rabbior, and L. W. Smith. Entrepreneurship, The Spirit of Adventure. Toronto: Harcourt Brace & Company, Canada, 1991. ISBN 0-7747-1325-9

Boone, L. E., D. L. Kurtz, and R. A. Knowles. Business. Toronto: Harcourt Brace & Company, Canada, 1999. ISBN 0-03-922731-6

Burr, B.K. Creating Champions. London Ontario: Ivane Publications, 1992. ISBN 0-9695516-0-6

Canadian Demographics 2001. Toronto: Financial Post Data Group, 2000. ISBN 1-55251-049-2.

Canadian Foundation for Economic Education. Entrepreneurship, A Primer for Canadians, 1985.

Ceolin, David. The Idea Guide. Toronto: Envision Communications Ltd., 1995. ISBN 0-9699498-0-4

Cranson, Lori and Madeline Dennis. Entrepreneurship, Creating a Venture, 2nd Ed. Toronto: Nelson, 2001. ISBN 0-17-620143-2

Culley, Tom. Beating the Odds in Small Business. New York City: Simon and Schuster Inc., 1998.
ISBN 0-684-84183-5

Curran, Anne and Glenn Mullett. Importing A Practical Guide to an Exciting and Rewarding Business. Vancouver: Self-Counsel Press, 1995. ISBN 1-55180-041-1

Curran Anne and Gerhard Kautz. Exporting from Canada A Practical Guide to Finding and Developing Export Markets for Your Product or Service. Vancouver: Self-Counsel Press, 1994. ISBN 0-88908-786-5

Cyr, Donald and Douglas Gray. Marketing Your Product. North Vancouver, British Columbia: Self-Counsel Press, 1998. ISBN 1-55180-145-0

Doman, D., D. Dennison, and M. Doma. Look Before You Leap: Marketing Research Made Easy. Vancouver: Self-Counsel Press, 1993. ISBN 0-88908-292-8

Easto, Larry. How to Succeed in Your Home Business. Toronto: Doubleday Canada Ltd., 1995.

Fletcher, Tana and Julia Rockler. Getting Publicity. North Vancouver, British Columbia: Self-Counsel Press, 1995. ISBN 1-55180-030-6

Foote, David K. Boom Bust and Echo 2000, Profiting from the Demographic Shift in the New Millennium. Toronto: Macfarlane Walter and Ross, 1996. ISBN 1-55199-029-6

Good, Walter S. Building a Dream, A Comprehensive Guide to Starting a Business of Your Own. Whitby: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1997. ISBN 0-07-552 848-7

Gray, Douglas and Diana Gray. The Complete Canadian Small Business Guide. Whitby: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd., 1994. ISBN 0-07-551661-6

Human Resources Development Canada. Minding Your Own Business. 1994. ISBN 0-662-61502-6

Human Resources Development Canada. Venturing Out. 1995. ISBN 0-662-23991-1

Hutt, Roger W. Creating a New Enterprise. Toronto: Gage Publishing Limited, 1984.
ISBN 0-7715-0794-1

James, Jack MBA, LLB. Starting a Successful Business in Canada. Vancouver: Self Counsel Press, 1998. ISBN 1-55180-181-7

Kretchman, M. L., L. Cranson, and B. Jennings. Entrepreneurship, Creating a Venture. Toronto: John Wiley and Sons Canada Ltd., 1991. ISBN 0-471-79565-8

Knowles, Ronald A. and Cliff G. Bilyea. Small Business, An Entrepreneur’s Plan. Toronto: Harcourt Brace & Company, Canada, 1999. ISBN 0-03-922727-8

Lang, Jim. Making Your Own Breaks: Become an Entrepreneur and Create Your Own Future. Toronto: Trifolium Books Inc., 1994. ISBN 1-8955-79-28-7

Liepner, M., H. De Jordy, and M. Schultz. The Entrepreneurial Spirit. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited, 1991. ISBN 0-07-549931-2

Luczkiw, Gene and Kenneth E. Loucks. Creativity in Business, An Entrepreneurial Approach. Toronto: Copp Clark Pitman Ltd., 1992. ISBN 0-7730-5056-6

Ministry of Economic Development and Trade. Starting a Small Business in Ontario. Toronto: Publications Ontario. ISBN 0825–9313

Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism. Young Entrepreneurs Program – Entrepreneurship. Toronto: Publications Ontario.

REALM magazine. Burnaby, British Columbia.

Royal Bank. Starting Out Right, The Source Book, and Royal Bank Financial Planning Guide and Application, 1990.

Schelling, Jeffery M. LLB. Cyber Law Canada. Brampton: Self Counsel Press, 1998.
ISBN 1-55180-268-6

Schincariol, David. Start and Run a Profitable Student Run Business. Vancouver: International Self-Counsel Press, 1995. ISBN 1-55180-026-8

Social & Enterprise Development Innovations (SEDI). The “A” Game.

Withers, Jean and Carol Vipperman. Marketing Your Service. Vancouver: Self-Counsel Press, 1998.
ISBN 1-55180-147-7

Video

Canadian Foundation for Economic Education. Planning For Success, An Interactive Learning

Adventure. Canadian Bankers Association, 1984 (Includes a CD-Rom).

Disney Goes to Haiti. Crowing Rooster Arts, 1995. Orders can be placed via the National Labour Committee (NLC) website, http://www.nlc.org or by calling (212) 242-0986.

Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and AIT, Eyes, Ears and Opportunities; Is This The One? and Could You Do Something Like That? Toronto: Magic Lantern Communications LTD, 1998.

Planning for Success. Toronto ON: Canadian Banking Association and Canadian Foundation for Economic Education, 1994. 20 min.

TV Ontario. Starting Up. 1998.

TV Ontario. Starting Up and Getting There. 1998.

What is Insurance? The Insurance Institute of Canada, 1996.

Websites

Bankers Association – http://www.cba.ca

Business Development Bank Canada – www.bdc.ca

Business Plans – www.businessplans.com

Canadian Youth Business Foundation – www.cybf.ca

Junior Achievement Canada – www.jacan.org

Nelson Thomson Publishing – www.business.nelson.com

Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism – www.ontario-canada.com

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office – http://strategis.ic.gc.ca

The Boston Consulting Group – www.bcg.com

Software

Royal Bank of Canada. The Big Idea, A business planner. 1995.

OSS Considerations

Throughout the course, teachers should refer to and make use of the school’s Guidance and Career Education Program Plan (Choices Into Action). Students can utilize career-access software, e.g., Career Cruising and Career Explorer, listed in Career Resources, to explore job descriptions, working conditions, earnings, education, and career paths for developing and managing ventures. Students should be aware of the dynamic nature of the cooperative learning experience and business career paths available to them.

Workplace safety is a very important topic. The course should stress to students that a successful entrepreneur creates and manages a safe business venture. Students should discuss business ethics and examine the ethical costs involved in creating and running a venture, e.g., profit versus worker, public or environmental safety. Topics of discussion include the environment, workplace safety, and the importance of employment laws and workers’ rights. Teachers should place special emphasis on part-time and summer jobs, as many of the students are either employed or looking for employment. An enthusiastic student employee can also be a safe and informed one. A safety resource produced by The Ontario Ministry of Labour is in the overview Resources section.

The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12, Business Studies, 2000.

The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 to 12, Program Planning and Assessment, 2000.

The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 to 12, Choices Into Action: Guidance and Career Education Program Policy For Ontario Elementary and Secondary Schools, 1999.

Ontario Secondary Schools, Grades 9 to 12, Program and Diploma Requirements, 1999.


Coded Expectations, Entrepreneurial Studies: Venture Planning, Grade 12, College Preparation, BDV4C

Challenges of a Venture Start-up

Overall Expectations

VSV.01 · analyse the challenges and opportunities of the start-up phase of a business life cycle;

VSV.02 · compare the advantages enjoyed by young entrepreneurs with the challenges they face;

VSV.03 · evaluate the key components, appropriate formats, and presentation styles of venture plans.

Specific Expectations

Start-up Challenges and Opportunities

VS1.01 – explain the stages in the life cycle of a business;

VS1.02 – summarize the factors that contribute to the success or failure of a new venture (e.g., adequacy or inadequacy of capitalization, management and risk-management skills, technological skills and equipment; economic conditions; government policies; effects of globalization);

VS1.03 – analyse the conditions (e.g., competitive, economic, demographic) facing ventures starting up in various markets.

Advantages and Challenges Related to Youth

VS2.01 – summarize the advantages and disadvantages experienced by young entrepreneurs because of their youth;

VS2.02 – describe how young entrepreneurs might benefit from specific advantages of youth;

VS2.03 – describe strategies to help entrepreneurs who face challenges because of their youth.

The Venture Plan

VS3.01 – identify and describe the components of a venture plan;

VS3.02 – compare a number of business plans in terms of their content, thoroughness, clarity, organization, impact, and utility;

VS3.03 – describe an exemplary venture plan and explain why it is exemplary.

Venture Conception

Overall Expectations

VCV.01 · summarize entrepreneurial opportunities in their community;

VCV.02 · evaluate entrepreneurial opportunities in their community in order to select one well suited to their interests, experience, and capabilities;

VCV.03 · generate ideas that match their selected entrepreneurial opportunity;

VCV.04 · assess the ideas to select the one most appropriate to a new venture concept;

VCV.05 · analyse the factors that would influence their selection of a specific venture concept.

Specific Expectations

Identifying Entrepreneurial Opportunities

VC1.01 – identify perceived problems in their communities;

VC1.02 – summarize what many people in their community might need or want;

VC1.03 – explain how things in their community could be improved;

VC1.04 – identify community needs, wants, and problems that they think could best be addressed by a not-for-profit venture, and explain why they think so.

Evaluating Opportunities

VC2.01 – relate needs, wants, and problems identified in their community to their own experience, knowledge, and abilities to solve or satisfy them;

VC2.02 – analyse the opportunities for creating a new venture that are most suited to their particular entrepreneurial abilities;

VC2.03 – assess the size of the potential target market for the new venture;

VC2.04 – determine the most promising opportunity for the student venture.

Generating Ideas

VC3.01 – identify ways in which creative ideas can be generated (e.g., mind mapping, brainstorming);

VC3.02 – describe the situations and conditions in which they tend to be most creative;

VC3.03 – list possible ideas for the identified opportunity.

Assessing Ideas

VC4.01 – select one idea for a venture that they believe best addresses the identified opportunity;

VC4.02 – summarize what others think of their idea;

VC4.03 – determine whether others have tried this idea and evaluate the success of those attempts;

VC4.04 – describe the potential market for their idea (e.g., composition, size, degree of acceptance of the product or service);

VC4.05 – decide whether their idea is feasible, is the best among alternatives, and is consistent with their interests and experience.

The Venture Concept

VC5.01 – compare the various types of ventures (e.g., offering a service compared with producing a good, selling retail compared with selling wholesale);

VC5.02 – compare the various forms of business ownership (e.g., sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, cooperative, franchise);

VC5.03 – determine the type of venture and form of business ownership most appropriate to their selected opportunity and idea;

VC5.04 – describe the elements of a mission statement (e.g., business philosophy, vision, goals, objectives).

Preparing for Start-up

Overall Expectations

PRV.01 · organize the information and sources of information needed for the successful start-up of a new venture;

PRV.02 · compare the possible sources of financing for the venture;

PRV.03 · analyse the resource needs of their venture;

PRV.04 · assess their ability to manage their venture;

PRV.05 · determine the ancillary requirements of the new venture.

Specific Expectations

Information

PR1.01 – establish a network of contacts that can help them collect the information they require for their new venture;

PR1.02 – identify public and private secondary sources of useful information (e.g., the Yellow Pages, local business directories, the Internet, government and industry statistical reports);

PR1.03 – summarize the information they gather from primary and secondary sources.

Financing

PR2.01 – analyse the consequences of overestimating or underestimating the capital needed to launch their venture;

PR2.02 – estimate the amount of capital that would be required to launch their venture;

PR2.03 – identify the advantages and disadvantages of various sources of capital for their new venture;

PR2.04 – propose an effective strategy for raising capital for their venture.

Resources

PR3.01 – determine the human resources (e.g., types of employees) and related supports (e.g., benefit plans, training programs) their venture would require;

PR3.02 – specify the physical resources their venture would require (e.g., office or work space, equipment, machinery);

PR3.03 – differentiate between the resources required by their venture that are categorized as fixed costs and those that are variable costs.

Management

PR4.01 – establish clear, measurable, short- and long-term plans for themselves and their venture;

PR4.02 – describe the style of leadership most appropriate for managing their venture;

PR4.03 – propose the most productive way to organize the people and tasks for their new venture;

PR4.04 – describe how people, tasks, and resource use would be supervised effectively;

PR4.05 – determine the records (including financial records) that should be kept and maintained for their venture;

PR4.06 – determine how computer software could be used to maintain accurate business records for their venture.

Legal Requirements

PR5.01 – determine the legal requirements and estimated costs of establishing the form of business ownership for their venture (e.g., sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation);

PR5.02 – describe the process for registering the business name as required by law;

PR5.03 – identify municipal requirements regarding possible sites for their venture (e.g., local zoning regulations, licensing requirements, by-laws);

PR5.04 – describe how they would obtain patent, copyright, and/or trademark protection;

PR5.05 – compare the types and costs of insurance available for their venture.

Targeting Customers

Overall Expectations

TCV.01 · analyse the size and composition of the potential market for their venture;

TCV.02 · develop effective promotional strategies for their venture;

TCV.03 · evaluate effective growth strategies.

Specific Expectations

Market Research

TC1.01 – describe the potential customers for their venture;

TC1.02 – analyse strategies (e.g., pricing, promotion, distribution) for marketing their product or service;

TC1.03 – analyse the impact of competition on their venture (e.g., on new opportunities, on future growth, on pricing policies);

TC1.04 – explain the importance of forecasting sales for various time frames.

Promotional Strategies

C2.01 – develop an initial promotional strategy to launch their venture;

TC2.02 – develop a promotional strategy to help them establish and maintain an identity for their venture;

TC2.03 – evaluate the responses to their strategy in order to determine whether and what changes are necessary.

Growth Strategies

TC3.01 – describe their vision of success for their venture after one year, three years, and five years;

TC3.02 – compare the advantages and disadvantages of pursuing continuous growth as a goal for a business venture;

TC3.03 – describe effective growth strategies used by other entrepreneurs;

TC3.04 – analyse growth strategies that could be incorporated by the new venture (e.g., offering new products or services, developing new pricing policies, finding new channels of distribution);

TC3.05 – prepare a cost/benefit analysis of possible expansion strategies (e.g., franchising, acquisition of a competitor’s business, establishing new branches).

Developing a Venture Plan

Overall Expectations

VPV.01 · produce the production plan, marketing plan, human resources plan, management plan, and financial plan that are most appropriate for a proposed venture;

VPV.02 · incorporate the production plan, marketing plan, human resources plan, management plan, and financial plan in an overall venture plan, using appropriate computer software;

VPV.03 · summarize the responses to their venture plan from peers, teachers, advisers, relatives, community members, potential investors or lenders, and experts in the field;

VPV.04 · assess the probability of the new venture’s success on the basis of a revised and final venture plan.

Specific Expectations

Developing the Plan

VP1.01 – determine the components of their venture plan;

VP1.02 – develop the appropriate production, marketing, human resources, management, and financial components of their venture plan.

Drafting the Plan

VP2.01 – compare models of venture-planning frameworks;

VP2.02 – compare various types of computer software developed to assist venture planning;

VP2.03 – generate a draft version of their venture plan using appropriate software.

Evaluating the Plan

VP3.01 – identify the individuals in their school and community who could assess their venture plan (e.g., peers, teachers, advisers, investors, bankers, relatives);

VP3.02 – organize ways for selected individuals to respond to their venture plan;

VP3.03 – determine the revisions that should be made to their venture plan on the basis of the responses.

Producing the Plan

VP4.01 – produce a revised and final version of their venture plan;

VP4.02 – determine whether or not they will pursue the venture, in light of their evaluation.

 

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