BUS5016 Business Start-Up Assignment Brief - 2025 | AU

BUS5016 Assignment Brief

As part of the formal assessment for the programme you are required to submit a Business Start Up assignment. Please refer to your Student Handbook for full details of the programme assessment scheme and general information on preparing and submitting assignments.

Learning Outcomes of BUS5016:

After completing the module, you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts, theories and models that underpin new business start-up in different contexts.
2. Explore the critical aspects of starting and operating a business, including the role of business functions and their interrelationships in the process of new business start-up.
3. Develop a business plan and choice of a business model to realise a business idea.
4. Apply financial/accounting tools and techniques to ascertain the viability and sustainability of a new business venture.
5. Effective communication: students will communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, using a range of media widely used in relevant professional context. They will be IT, digitally and information literate.

BUS5016 Guidance:

Your assignment should include: a title page containing your student number, the module name, the submission deadline and the exact word count of your submitted document; the appendices if relevant; and a reference list in AU Harvard system(s). You should address all the elements of the assignment tasks listed below. Please note that tutors will use the assessment criteria set out below in assessing your work.

You must not include your name in your submission because Arden University operates anonymous marking, which means that markers should not be aware of the identity of the student. However, please do not forget to include your STU number.

Maximum word count: 3000 words

Please refer to the full word count policy which can be found in the Student Policies section here: Arden University | Regulatory Framework

The word count includes everything in the main body of the assessment (including in text citations and references). The word count excludes numerical data in tables, figures, diagrams, footnotes, reference list and appendices. All other printed words ARE included in the word count.

Students who exceed the wordcount up to a 10% margin will not be penalised. Students should note that no marks will be assigned to work exceeding the specified limit once the maximum assessment size limit has been reached.

BUS5016 Assignment Task: 

The assessment is weighted 100% of the overall module grade. Consider the following scenario:

Dear Entrepreneur, Congratulations!

You are now part of the proud new owners of Sneakers Inc., a company trading in sneakers.

Sneakers Inc. is a company selling and developing sneakers for men and women. Under the leadership of the previous owners Sneakers Inc. had a reputation for being a brand that had something for everyone. Not the cheapest but still reasonably priced, not the highest quality but not bad either. This is something the company kept up for a long while, right up until the economic crisis came around. They barely survived that period – many customers chose for either a better-quality sneaker, or one with a lower price.

After the economic crisis the old owners decided to sell their company to you. You have taken over all their customers, staff, and relations and now it is up to you to find the way forward.

Based on the above scenario, you are required to do the following 3 tasks:

• Task 1: Edmundo Simulation Reflection: Play a game on the Edmundo simulation platform and write a reflection on your experience using a reflective model (15 marks, 500 words)
• Task 2: Sneakers Inc. Business Plan: Design a business plan for Sneakers Inc. (60 marks, 2000 words)
• Task 3: Sneakers Inc. Business pitch presentation: Create a 5-minute Business Pitch using a minimum of 5 to a maximum of 10 power point slides (25 marks, 500 words).

You need to complete all tasks to achieve the full range of marks available.

Task 1: Edmundo Simulation Reflection

Log into the Edmundo simulation platform here Edmundo tomorrow's knowledge/#!/account to play a game alongside at least 4 members of your staff (your classmates). The password will be provided by your class tutor/lecturer. Your tutor will be putting you in groups. The game is played through rounds. Every round equals one year of business and might entail multiple themes or events.

Each round you will have to set your targets, take your decisions and search for opportunities. After each round all those decisions will be calculated and translated into both financial results and progress towards your targets. You will only score points when you achieve a set target, and you can keep changing your targets each round. Aiming high when setting your targets and being ambitious will be rewarded if you manage to accomplish such a feat.

Teams that accomplish their ambitious targets will score more points than teams that were a little more careful. A simple risk vs. reward you may want to consider. Once you’re logged in you will be met with further introductory messages, further guiding you through your first steps. Determine your strategy and start taking decisions.

Reflection

Using a model of reflection (choose the model you like best – Gibbs’ reflection model is included as a sample on page 12)

1a. Carefully reflect on your learning from the Edmundo simulation activity with specific reference to the key concepts, theories and models and skills you have learnt.

1b. Also reflect on the feedback that was given to you by your teammates or friends or family members during your oral pitch presentation in Task 3 below. Specifically reflect on the areas of improvement and strengths. The pitch presentation needs to be done during lesson 8 or 9.

Task 2: Sneakers Inc. Business Plan

As you work through the platform/games, each of your team members including you, will need to produce a new business plan individually and independently for Sneakers Inc (with the inclusion of academic references) explaining your business opportunity to the board of directors and group of shareholders. Your business plan must demonstrate the skills required to turn the business into practical applications. Use this to support your 5-minutes Sneakers business pitch in Task 3.

The business plan will include the following main elements of a plan with the inclusion of academic references:

A. Executive Summary

• This should include a short overview of the entire business plan. It should provide a busy reader with everything that needs to be known about the revamp venture distinctive nature including summaries of the problem/gap, solution, target market, competitor analysis, management expertise, sales forecasts, financial highlights and amount of finance needed.

B.The Business Concept/Business Model

• This section should include the vision and mission statements based on the market problem or gap and SMART overall business objectives. It must demonstrate how you meet the requirements for setting up sustainable business model operating within internal and external competitive environments.

C. Management Team Expertise

• Include a brief background profile (educational, industry experience and achievements) of the top management team demonstrating their entrepreneurial capabilities and competences to justify their appointment.
• Explain the role that you play as an entrepreneur/owner. Discuss and justify the legal form of business and ownership structure

D. Market and Industry Analysis (Feasibility)

• This section should present your market research assessment of the external and competitive environments using appropriate tools. Highlight target market, segmentation, targeting and positioning strategy and competitor analysis.

E. Marketing Strategy

• Include overall marketing plan, positioning and differentiating propositions, marketing mix, market entry and sales process.

F. Business Sales and Operations Strategy

• Keep this short and crisp; outline general approach to operations, sales plan, business location, facilities and equipment and key milestones.

G. Financial Strategy and Risks

• This section should include start-up costs, sales forecasts, proforma financial statements (income statement, balance sheet and cashflow statement), sources of funds and financing sought and business risks.

H. Closing Summary

• Summarise key parts of the business plan, draw conclusions from your business plan that are appealing to investors, make it interesting and demonstrate that the proposed business concept will make money.

You must also include:

• References – to be AU Harvard Referencing Standards.
• Appendix – to include a sharable link to the Sneakers Inc. Business Pitch

Task 3: Sneakers Inc. Business pitch presentation

Based on the business plan, devise a 5 - minute Business Pitch using a minimum of 5 to a maximum of 10 power point slides, including the title and reference slides.

The PowerPoint presentation will complement the strategic business plan produced in Task 2 but be creative and daring. This is your opportunity to sell your new business venture to the directors, shareholders and potential investors and it should be concise, exciting and grasp the investors’ attention. You are advised to use more visuals and less text in your PowerPoint pitch. Where your slides need further explanation, make brief notes in the speaker notes section.

Your business pitch should include, as succinctly as possible:

• The market gap or problem in relation to Value proposition
• Market research and feasibility analysis
• The business model (Lean) & minimum viable product
• Competition and Differentiation strategy.
• Marketing Strategy
• The investment/financing and support sought.

Please note that you need to present your 5 minutes pitch to either your tutor, teammates, friends, or family members in person/in class or virtually (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams etc.) and do a reflection on your pitch as shown in Task 1 above. Please let your tutor know if you are doing it via zoom.

Submit a single Microsoft Word document or PDF file containing:

1. Your reflections on Edmundo from Task 1
2. The Sneakers Inc. Business Plan from Task 2. Your appendix to the Business Plan should include a shareable link to your Sneakers Inc. Business Pitch presentation.

How to submit your Sneakers Inc. Business Pitch (Task 3)?

Save your PowerPoint in your Arden One Drive account and create a shareable link. Once done, paste your link in the appendix of your Sneakers Inc. Business Plan and submit the document as a single file.

Assessment Criteria (Learning objectives covered – all.

Level 5 reflects the continuing development in knowledge, understanding and skills from Level 4. At Level 5, students are not expected to be fully autonomous but are able to take responsibility for their own learning with appropriate guidance and direction. Students are expected to further develop their theoretical knowledge within a more intellectual context and to demonstrate this through more complex forms of expression which move beyond the descriptive or imitative domain. Students are expected to demonstrate skills of analysis in
both problem-solving and resolution.

Grade Mark Bands Generic Assessment Criteria

First (1) 80%+: An outstanding information base exploring and analysing the discipline, its theory and any associated ethical considerations. There is sophisticated use and management of learning resources, and a high degree of autonomy is demonstrated. Writing is outstandingly well structured and accurately referenced throughout. Where appropriate, outstanding professional skills are demonstrated. The work is original and with some additional effort could considered for internal publication.

70-79%: An excellent knowledge base within which the discipline is explored and analysed. There is a degree of originality in the approach. The work demonstrates confidence and autonomy and extends to consider ethical issues. Learning resources have been managed confidently. Writing is exceptionally well structured and accurately referenced throughout. Where appropriate, an excellent level of professional skills is demonstrated, and the work demonstrates a high level of intellectual and academic skills.

Upper second (2:1) 60-69%: A very good knowledge base which explores and analyses the discipline, its theory, and any associated ethical issues. There is evidence of some originality and independence of thought. A very good range of learning resources underpin the work and there is evidence of growing confidence and self-direction. The work demonstrates the ability to analyse the subject and apply theory with good academic and intellectual skills. Academic writing skills are very good, expression is accurate overall, and the work is consistently referenced throughout.

Lower second (2:2) 50-59%: A good understanding of the discipline which begins to analyse the subject and apply some underpinning theory. There may be reference to some of the ethical considerations. The work shows a sound level of competence in managing basic sources and materials. Academic writing skills are good and accurate overall, and the work is planned and structured with some
though. Professional skills are good (where appropriate). The work lacks original thought, but academic and intellectual skills are moving into the critical domain. The work is referenced throughout.

Third (3) 40-49%: Satisfactory level of performance in which there are some omissions in understanding the subject, its underpinning theory, and ethical considerations. There is little evidence of independent thought, and the work shows a basic use of sources and materials. Academic and intellectual skills are limited. The work may lack structure overall. There are some difficulties in
developing professional skills (where appropriate). There is an attempt to reference the work.

Marginal Fail 30-39%: A limited piece of work in which there are clear gaps in understanding the subject, its underpinning theory, and ethical considerations. The work shows a limited use of sources and materials. Academic and professional skills are weak and there
are errors in expression and the work may lack structure overall. There are difficulties in developing professional skills (where appropriate). The work lacks original thought and is largely imitative.

Clear Fail 29% and Below: A poor performance in which there are substantial gaps in knowledge and understanding, underpinning theory and ethical considerations. The work shows little evidence in the use of appropriate sources and materials. Academic writing skills are very weak and there are numerous errors in expression. The work lacks structure overall. Professional skills (where appropriate) are not developed. The work is imitative.