Part 3

Operations Plan Preparation Form

On this form record specific information relating to your company’s operational processes.

SAMPLE PLAN: OPERATIONS

OPERATIONS

A key element of ComputerEase’s operations is its Corporate Training Center, located at 987 South Main Street in Vespucci. The Center currently consists of 20 student computer stations, equipped with all the major business software programs, an instructor’s computer station and projection equipment, and state-of-the-art technology enabling the instructor to monitor exactly what each student is doing.

Describes a key aspect of operations.

The Corporate Training Center is vital because most of ComputerEase’s corporate customers have limited, if any, extra computer facilities on their premises appropriate for conducting on-site corporate classes. Thus, ComputerEase can only grow its in-person training courses to an adequate level of income by having well-equipped training facilities of its own to offer. For its online training courses, ComputerEase decided not to buy and manage its own servers and build its own data center, but to outsource that to a managed hosting vendor who provides a turnkey solution for all hardware/software needs and maintenance, backups, and upgrades.

Corporate Training Centers On August 1, 2014, ComputerEase opened its first Corporate Training Center, along with its company’s headquarters. This Training Center is equipped with 20 personal computer stations. Prior to the opening of the Training Center, ComputerEase was limited to conducting training programs at the clients’ place of business (referred to as on-site programs).

Cost- and Time-Effective Programs These on-site programs produce lower profit margins than Training Center classes or online classes. Generally, fewer students attend each on-site training session; instructors spend additional time for travel and setup, and costs arise from the transportation of equipment and materials and subsequent wear and tear. While ComputerEase charges higher fees per student in these on-site classes, the market will not bear prices that truly absorb the increased costs.

Shows method of increasing profitability.

Moreover, the potential customer base for Training Center classes is substantially larger than that for on-site programs. More businesses can afford to send employees to scheduled classes at ComputerEase’s Corporate Training Center — or have a class developed for them at the Center — than can incur the costs and disruption of an on-site program. Online programs offer even greater flexibility. With the funds now being sought, the company will open a second Corporate Training Center in the city of Whitten Park, where many of its corporate customers are located.

Competitive Advantages In addition to an offshore technical support center, ComputerEase outsources its data center operations. These centers created several key advantages for ComputerEase. First, these strategic operations decisions allow ComputerEase to focus on what it does