This assignment consists of two (2) sections: a written executive summary, and a slide presentation consisting of twelve (12) slides. Note: You must submit both sections as separate files for the completion of this assignment.
Now that you have completed a draft for all primary sections of your business plan, you will complete the executive summary. The executive summary is the section of your plan that is often read first, especially by investors. Your executive summary must persuade a reader to spend the time to find out about your product, market, and techniques. For this reason, it’s best to prepare your summary last—after you have thought through all the issues.
Like the executive summary, only after you have fleshed out your business plan will you have the information you will need for a slide presentation (e.g., PowerPoint). This 12-slide presentation conveys the most important aspects of your business in a short time. More sophisticated investors, such as angel investors and venture capitalists, will typically not look at your written business plan until they have seen your slide presentation.
Section 1: Written Executive Summary (MS Word or equivalent)
Read Chapters 4 and 18 of the course text: Successful Business Plan. Use the plan preparation worksheets on pp. 58–61 and the sample executive summaries on pp. 62–66 to help guide you, choose to write either a synopsis summary or a narrative summary, and include highlights from the each section of your business plan.
Write a one to three (1–3) page executive summary for your business plan, in which you justify: A clear and concise business concept. A thoroughly planned business concept. A capable management structure. A clear-cut market need. Significant competitive advantages for your business. Realistic financial projections. That investors have an excellent chance to make money. A realistic and developed exit plan.
Format your assignment according to these formatting requirements: Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required page length. Cite the resources you have used to complete the exercise. Note: There is no minimum requirement for the number of resources used in the exercise. Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Section 2: Presentation (MS PowerPoint or equivalent)
Create a 12-slide presentation. Follow the outline on pp. 343–346 for the critical slides of your presentation and their placement. Hints: Include the highlights of your elevator pitch, which shows that you understand your business. The elevator pitch is a concise description of your company—its product, market, competitive advantages, and so on. Whether pitching your business to an investor or describing it to a potential connection at a networking event, you need to be able explain your business succinctly to someone in the amount of time it would take to ride up a few floors in an elevator. Use the worksheet in the text (p. 362 | Your “Elevator Pitch”) to develop your elevator pitch. Hints: You must limit your presentation to twelve (12) slides. You do not want to overwhelm your audience with too many slides or bore them with information they already know.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
Describe strategic planning techniques used to formulate alternative strategies designed to achieve stated business goals. Create a plan to implement a firm’s strategy and manage the change from current operations. Analyze strategies for exerting the internal leadership needed to drive the implementation of strategic initiatives and improve operating excellence. Use technology and information resources to research issues in strategic management. Write clearly and concisely about strategic management using proper writing mechanics.