Key Learning Areas

Key learning areas throughout the Techistan business awareness project cover customer care & specifications, tendering, supplier management, negotiations, financial awareness, cost & benefits analysis, marketing, risk assessment, planning, problem solving, decision making, time and resource management, team working and effective communications, project control and coordination.

This three to five day research and development business project that is ideal for learning groups in need of enhansed business awareness. The business awareness project covers the process chain from customer specification through to product delivery. They will appreciate the importance of developing relationships with external bodies, e.g. Customer and Supplier, local government, HSE and internal functional heads. They will operate in conditions where time, materials and finance is hard to find but where the demands and expectations of their company is great - failure is not an option!

Participants are an R&D team whose company specialise in the building of portable pontoon bridges using army surplus equipment. The company has been contacted by a developing nation, Techistan, who are offering out to tender the design of a 'quick build' pontoon bridge. Materials used in the bridge have to be cheap and ready accessible to the local economy. The tender has also gone out to other companies, one in particular, being a prime competitor. Initial research has revealed that a major oil exploration company, Yucon, has been in Techistan for a number of years and has stored, in sites around the country, thousands of empty 25 gallon plastic barrels that are surplus to requirements. The research team have been sent to Anglesey where a number of these barrels are also stored to design and build a prototype bridge.

During the teams stay they will be subjected to Risk Assessments, much interference from their Sales, Finance and Managing Directors, the HSE, the Planning Authority and changes in customer requirements (additional product prototypes will be required) and bridge specifications will change including the length and need for rough water trials. Participants will have to design computerised stock and financial management systems, produce detailed drawings and construction plan, profit and loss accounts, marketing plans (and a promotional video), a tender, cost and benefits analysis, full justification for any cost overruns, and negotiate with suppliers and possibly Techistan representatives.

It is recommended that this programme is prefaced by a two day foundation module and followed up by a two day consolidation module to include a detailed presentation to their companies board (i.e. their own managers or other representatives e.g. Training Managers).

A five day business awareness programme could be incorporated using a computerised business simulation developed around the Western European motor manufacturing industry. Teams operate in syndicate groups of three to manage their own car company. Each team will take business decisions regarding model specifications, research and development projects, pricing and promotion, level of production etc. To be successful the groups will need to understand how individual decisions impact on all aspects of the business and how to diagnose problems, develop coping strategies etc. Each team will compete with the other teams and the background market on the host computer. Throughout mini business awareness and financial problem solving studies and presentations will be orchestrated.