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Learning Outcomes

Assessment requirements

To achieve each outcome a learner must demonstrate the ability to:

LO1 Be able to investigate the performance of a selected small business enterprise

1.1 produce a profile of a selected small business identifying its strengths and weaknesses

1.

1.2 carry out an analysis of the business using comparative measures of performance

LO2 Be able to propose changes to improve management and business performance

2.1 recommend with justification, appropriate actions to overcome the identified weaknesses in the business

2.

2.2 analyse ways in which existing performance could be maintained and strengthened

3.

2.3 recommend with justification, new areas in which the business could be expanded

LO3 Be able to revise business objectives and plans to incorporate proposed changes

3.1 produce an assessment of existing business objectives and plans

4.

3.2 revise business plans to incorporate appropriate changes

5.

3.3 prepare an action plan to implement the changes

LO4 Be able to examine the impact of change management on the operations of the business.

4.1 report on the impact of the proposed changes on the business and its personnel

6.

4.2 plan how the changes will be managed in the business

7.

4.3 monitor improvements in the performance of the business over a given timescale.

In addition to the above PASS criteria, this assignment gives you the opportunity to submit evidence in order to achieve the following MERIT and DISTINCTION grades

Grade Descriptor

Indicative characteristic/s

Contextualisation

M1 Identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions

· Effective judgements have been made

To achieve M1, you will identify and use effective judgment in analysing the business performance using appropriate theories/models - SWOT, Porter’s five and PESTLE.

M2 Select / design and apply appropriate methods / techniques

· Relevant theories and techniques have been applied and a range of sources of information has been used to synthesise and process complex information/data

To achieve M2, you will need to use appropriate range, sources and relevant models /theories to support business analysis and proposing changes to the business

M3 Present and communicate appropriate findings

· An appropriate structure and approach has been used which includes the use of technical language, a coherent and logical development of principles/concepts for the intended audience

To achieve M3, you will need to use appropriate technical language and follow a logically structured approached that focuses on the processes involved in change management, reviewing and improving the performance of the named small business enterprise

D1 Use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions

· Conclusions have been arrived at through synthesis of ideas and have been justified and a realistic improvement strategy have been proposed against defined characteristics for success

To achieve D1, you will have used critical but correct business models to reviewing and improving the performance of the named small business enterprise.

D2 Take responsibility for managing and organising activities

· Autonomy/independence has been demonstrated and substantial activities, projects or investigations have been planned, managed and organised recognizing the importance of interdependence

To achieve D2 you will have demonstrated an effective approach to independent research and study and will have met the deadline to submit the tasks and achieve the unit assessment criteria.

D3 Demonstrate convergent /lateral / creative thinking

· Ideas have been generated and decisions taken with an evidence of self-evaluation, convergent and lateral thinking, and the application of innovation and creative thought

To achieve D3 you will produce excellent analysis aided by incredibly innovative relevant pictorial presentation of and accurate identification of relevant business models. Thoughtful conclusions supported by very good theoretical framework.

Assignment title

Performance of Small Business Enterprise.

Purpose of this assignment: Small businesses are vital to the success of any economy. Not only as they provide the success stories of the future, but also because they meet local needs, serves as backbone of creativity and production, stimulates economic growth and serve the requirements of larger businesses. However, small businesses are confronted with a wide range of internally and externally based problems on a daily basis which makes it mandatory for small business managers to understand how to apply effective turnaround strategies to put their firms back to profitability. This module and its corresponding assignment is meant to give learners the opportunity to focus on the processes involved, through change management, of reviewing and improving the performance of a small business enterprise.

Scenario

The scenario is individualistic. Students are expected to approach a small business enterprise that is familiar and accessible to them and from which they can obtain relevant information that will enable them to carry out the tasks.

Task 1: Business Performance of a selected small business enterprise Approach a small business enterprise that is familiar and accessible to you and from which you can obtain relevant information that will enable carry out the following tasks:

· 1a Produce a profile of the selected small business enterprise (SBE), which among many other things should include the inherent weaknesses of the SBE and areas where it demonstrates unique strengths in comaparism to its competitors (AC 1.1)

· 1b Using ‘Porter’s Five Forces’ model, carry out an analysis of the nature of competition which your selected SBE is exposed to, and show by way of a comparative analysis, its performance in comparison to similar SBEs in the same industry (AC 1.2)

1. To achieve M1, you will identify and use effective judgment in analysing the business performance of your SBE using appropriate theories/models - SWOT, Porter’s five and PESTLE.

2. To achieve D1, you will have used critical but correct business models to reviewing and improving the performance of the named small business enterprise.

Task 2: Propose Changes to Improve Management and Business Performance

Based on the information obtained from scenario 1 above, undertake the following tasks

· 2a Recommend with justification, appropriate actions that managers of your selected SBE might undertake in order to overcome the identified weaknesses of the business (AC 2.1)

· 2b Assuming your selected SBE is currently performing well, analyse ways in which its existing performance could be maintained and strengthened (AC 2.2)

· 2c Recommend with justification, new areas in which the business could be expanded with concrete justifications. (AC 2.3)

3. To achieve M2, you will need to use appropriate range, sources and relevant models /theories to support business analysis and proposing changes to the business

4. To achieve D2 you will have received very little support and demonstrated an effective approach to independent research and study and will have met the deadline to submit the tasks and achieve the unit assessment criteria. but

Task 3: Assessment of the business objectives and plans to incorporate proposed changes

Using your selected business enterprise, assess the following

· 3a Produce an assessment of existing business objectives and plans of your selected SBE and determine its viability and profitability (AC 3.1)

· 3b Assuming in your opinion, the viability and profitability of the existing business plans of your selected SBE is in doubts, revise business plans to incorporate appropriate changes that will make the business to be viable and profitable. (AC 3.2)

· 3c Prepare a feasible action plan to implement these suggested changes (AC 3.3)

5. To achieve M3, you will need to use appropriate technical language and follow a logically structured approached that focuses on the processes involved in change management, reviewing and improving the performance of the named small business enterprise

6. To achieve D3 you will produce excellent analysis aided by incredibly innovative relevant pictorial presentation of and accurate identification of relevant business models. Thoughtful conclusions supported by very good theoretical framework.

Task 4: assessment of impact of change management and plausible solutions

· 4a Provide a comprehensive report on the impact of the proposed changes on the business and its personnel (AC 4.1)

· 4b Provide a plan that demonstrates how the changes will be managed in the SBE. (AC 4.2)

· 4c Prepare a time scale to monitor the improvement in the performance of the SBE over a given timescale. (AC 4.3)

Evidence checklist

Summary of evidence required by student

Task 1

Write a report that shows the performance of a selected small business enterprise highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the enterprise

Task 2

Propose changes that will bring improvements to the existing management of the enter[prise which will ultimately lead to business performance

Task 3

Write a report that revises the existing business objectives and plans, incorporating new changes to the enterprise for better performance

Task 4

Write a report on the impact of the proposed change management on the operations of the business.

Please note that task 1, 2, 3, and 4 should all be in one report

Qualification

Pearson BTEC Level 5 HND Diploma in Business

Assessor name

Unit Number and title

Unit No. 33: Small Business Enterprise

Student name

Criteria Reference

To achieve the criteria the evidence must show that the student is able to:

Achieved?

(tick)

LO 1

Be able to investigate the performance of a selected small business enterprise

1.1

Produce a profile of a selected small business identifying its strengths and weaknesses

1.2

Carry out an analysis of the business using comparative measures of performance

LO 2

Be able to propose changes to improve management and business performance

2.1

Recommend with justification, appropriate actions to overcome the identified weaknesses in the business

2.2

Analyse ways in which existing performance could be maintained and strengthened

2.3

Recommend with justification, new areas in which the business could be expanded

LO 3

Be able to revise business objectives and plans to incorporate proposed changes

3.1

Produce an assessment of existing business objectives and plans

3.2

Revise business plans to incorporate appropriate changes

3.3

Prepare an action plan to implement the changes

LO 4

Be able to examine the impact of change management on the operations of the business.

4.1

Report on the impact of the proposed changes on the business and its personnel

4.2

Plan how the changes will be managed in the business

4.3

Monitor improvements in the performance of the business over a given timescale.

Higher Grade achievements (where applicable)

Grade descriptor

Achieved?

(tick)

Grade descriptor

Achieved?

(tick)

M1:

D1:

M2:

D2:

M3:

D3:

Formative Feedback: Assessor to Student

Action Plan

Summative feedback

Assessor Signature

Date