Project Information Projek Inligting_40e581d374a25e56239c57a3c041f6ef

Business Management Project Overview

The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management course requires students to conduct a practical group project centered on feasibility analysis to address various challenges faced by South Africa. These challenges include poverty and hunger eradication, improving educational performance, enhancing enrolment and performance in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths), ensuring environmental sustainability, and developing infrastructure. Additionally, issues such as safety and security, access to clean water, and reliable energy supply are critical focuses for this project.

Objectives of the Project

The primary objective is to generate a business idea that effectively addresses at least one of the highlighted local challenges or aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Following the ideation phase, a comprehensive feasibility study must be conducted. This study should encompass the following aspects:

• Market Demand Analysis: Assessing the need for the product or service within the target market.

• Industry and Market Forces: Identifying pertinent industry characteristics and market dynamics that will help shape the business’s approach.

• Management and Resources: Detailing the required skills, management structures, and resources necessary to launch the venture successfully.

• Financial Planning: Crafting a financial plan that considers all relevant financial aspects during the pre-launch, launch, and post-launch phases, including an investment requirement assessment, break-even projections, and sales and cash flow forecasts.

Specific Requirements for the Feasibility Study

The feasibility study must contain a detailed monthly financial analysis for at least one year, along with projections for an additional year. Should the business project no profitability in its first year, projections for up to three years must be included. Importantly, the selected business idea must be new to South Africa and cannot replicate existing businesses to avoid plagiarism.

Approach and Guidelines

This project aims to apply theoretical insights from class while supporting claims with primary and secondary research. Students are advised to ensure proper referencing of any contentious statements. The feasibility analysis should encompass several critical aspects:

• Product/Service Feasibility: Examination of the actual product or service's viability.

• Industry and Market Feasibility: Understanding market needs and competition.

• Organizational Feasibility: Evaluating the operational aspects necessary for the business.

• Financial Feasibility: Thorough financial examination including break-even analysis and project profitability timelines.

Project Registration and Group Dynamics

Students must register for the project by February 24, 2025. Each group should consist of 4-5 members, with a maximum of two international students allowed per group. The diversification of group members based on geography, nationality, gender, and race is highly encouraged. Non-compliance with registration procedures can lead to disqualification of submitted projects.

Technical Requirements and Submission Guidelines

The project must adhere to specific formatting standards including:

• Line Spacing: 1.5

• Margins: 2.5 cm

• Font: Arial, size 11

• Page Count: 13-15 pages excluding cover, references, appendices, and declarations.

• Submission Deadline: The final project must be submitted electronically in PDF format by March 28, 2025, by 23:59. Per day late submissions incur a penalty of 5%, and no submissions will be accepted after April 4, 2025.

Evaluation Metrics

The project will be evaluated based on various criteria, which includes:

• Executive summary

• Introduction

• Feasibility studies covering product/service, industry/market, organizational, and financial aspects

• Conclusion and technical care

Special emphasis should be placed on creating a standard cover page, a design reflecting the business idea’s entrepreneurial spirit, and a comprehensive table of contents.

Conclusion

The feasibility studies will provide a satisfactory foundation on which potential investors can evaluate the business propositions; hence both the introduction and the conclusion of the project ought to mirror each other, highlighting the significance of the proposed solutions to South Africa's pressing issues. This concluding summary should encapsulate the main findings, showcasing the product's potential impact and the reasons for securing investment.