JSS Business Education
Project in Ghana
ICSB World Conference
June 2007
Turku, Finland
JSS Business Education
1
An idea unfolds….
Due to lack of educational funding
opportunities and business savvy,
the JSS Business Education and
Scholarship Program was developed
in July 2005
JSS Business Education
2
Determination of Need
Need
for “job” opportunities for
youth to afford SSS
Need to provide “hands-on” training
in business concepts
Need for basic consumer goods and
school supply outlet in community
JSS Business Education
3
Initial steps
Meetings
with young graduates
Meetings with Headmaster
Meetings with chair of the school board
and PTA president
Approval of school board and PTA
Project development planning
Site selection
Funding raised
Procurement of main contractor and
materials
JSS Business Education
4
Three Objectives
1.
2.
3.
Hands on Training in Business
Service needs of Kopeyia
Provide ongoing scholarship funding
JSS Business Education
5
Area on school grounds near road
JSS Business Education
6
Early Challenges
Inflation
African
work ethic
Transportation costs
Realistic contractors
U.S. funding seen as something to exploit
Funding
needs
Skepticism
Communication
JSS Business Education
7
12’-0”
Walk-thru Door
Vending Window
2’-0”
8’-0”
1’-0”
JSS Business Education
16’-0”
3’-0”
2’-0”
8
Mini-Store Front View
JSS Business Education
9
Initial Plan of Action
Month
School Board
August
Select Site
Purchase materials
Establish separate
bank account
Monitor progress of
construction
begin discussions for
scholarship allocation
guidelines
September
October
November
December
Faculty
Students
Chris Schrage
Community
Transfer Funds
Draw plans
construct market research
guidelines
Begin construction
Choose students for
carry out market
begin textbook
answer market research
project course
research surveys
development
questions
provide support to market
determine faculty
research and other issues
advisor for students choose store name
via email
continue construction
consider a fundraising
Monitor progress of
monitor accuracy of
compile data
project to purchase
construction
the data gathered
gathered
support
intitial inventory
plan trips to
continue discussions distributors to set up determine type of
for scholarship
accounts and
products to
allocation guidelines
relationships
inventory
text book development
construction
determine
quantities of
inventory
volunteer to staff minichoose paint color
store during school
scheme and
hours
decoration
meet with product
plan trips to
distributors to
distributors to set up
determine price
accounts and
and order
finalize formula for
relationships
quantities
text book edited for printing complete construction
scholarship guidelines
paint facility
support
paint facility
help procure funds for help procure funds
help procure funds for
help procure funds for
announce program
initial inventory
for initial inventory
initial inventory
initial inventory
help procure funds for
find what suppliers
initial inventory
provide free signs
text book printed
JSS Business Education
10
The early structure
JSS Business Education
11
In-Country Activity
Selection of Instructors
Charles Kwashie
Yao (Bright) Agbeli (later dropped out)
Clearing of the ground for construction
Selection of First student group
Educational level
Desire and commitment
Interview process
Market Research
Guidelines provided
Adapted by a young emissary to Kopeyia
Building Construction
Students select name and color scheme for store
JSS Business Education
12
Students cleaning the grounds
JSS Business Education
13
Market Survey
Question
Would you
buy it at
our store?
What
specific
brand (type)
do you use?
What size
do you buy?
Or how
many would
you buy?
How often
do you
purchase
this item?
What is the
price?
Tin
Tomatoes
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Buy at store
Yes
No
31
13
Type
Pomo
Zario
Jubilee
African
Other
#
6
6
5
3
10
JSS Business Education
How often
Daily
3x week
1x week
Longer
9
6
18
6
14
March 2006
Chris
Schrage and Melinda Hamerlinck
Training of staff and students
Determination of weakness
Initial textbook draft reviewed
Students marked in original drafts
Building painted
Meetings
School leaders
Potential distributors
JSS Business Education
15
Business for Beginners
Training Information
Leadership
Management
Conducting a Focus Group
Product and Promotion
Accounting
Pricing
Customer Service
Customer Service
Inventory Control
Inventory Control
Emily Barrick
Sara Blackstock
Chris Schrage
Shawn Danker
Anne Wylie, Erica Manske
Cody Myers
Melinda Hamerlinck, Angie Watters
Anne Dvorsky
Shawn Danker
Scott Cochran
Students from the International Club
of Business Students wrote specific
topic chapters for the training manual
for students.
JSS Business Education
16
March 13
JSS Business Education
17
Student color choice
JSS Business Education
18
Customer Service Training
Melinda used her expertise in retail
to provide one training leading the
students in the appropriate methods
for taking care of customers.
JSS Business Education
19
First Student Group
Melinda Hamerlinck,
Hamerlinck, Savior Shiki, Philip Agbeli, Akpene Gedzah, Rebekah Tekpah,
Clemence Agbenormadokponu, Josephine Kumi
Chris Schrage, Matthew Nunakpor, Albert Britame, Victoria Woepah,
Woepah, Mama Fechenu, Charles Kwashie Godzor
JSS Business Education
20
Initiatives after March visit
Funds
to fully stock inventory
Currently $1900 in construction/initial inventory
Electrical
service installation
More shelving
Revise / expand Business for Beginners
More training
Set up scholarship fund criteria
Evaluate
Propose program to other school districts
JSS Business Education
21
July 2006
Revised draft of Business for Beginners
Supplement developed and distributed in country
Electrical service with ceiling fan installed
Field trip to Distributors for purchases
Inventory calculations and records developed
Pricing strategy developed
Inventory items organized on shelves
Began operations
Added refrigerator/freezer
Scholarship savings account established
¢200,000 initial amount
Resolution developed and signed for bank
JSS Business Education
22
Staff guidelines
Sell items at only the set price.
The store is for business transactions, not guests for visiting.
Be polite and courteous to everyone.
Keep store clean and tidy.
Keep shelves stocked and in order.
Accurately complete receipts.
Accurately complete daily records.
No returns without receipts.
DO NOT remove any items from store without payment.
DO NOT give cash to anyone without permission or receipt.
Report to the store as scheduled, do not arrive late or depart early.
Have a neat appearance, wear apron on duty.
Any items taken from inventory for business use (for example: a box of matches to burn
trash) must be written up on a sales ticket. The customer is Best of the
Best and the dollar amount of the sale is $0.
If you listen to music, it should be played quietly so it is easy to
communicate with customers.
All receipts should be stamped- Best of the Best.
Always take care of the customers first!
JSS Business Education
23
Store as of July 15, 2006
Shelving, bench, stools and painting completed between
March and July visit.
JSS Business Education
24
Inventory decision-making field trip to distributors
A field trip to product distributors
provided hands-on experience for
determining appropriate products and
order quantities.
JSS Business Education
25
Steps for determining price:
First example- spaghetti:
A box of large packets of spaghetti cost ¢90,000.
There are 20 packets in the box.
To determine cost per packet, divide 90,000 by 20.
90,000/20 = 4,500
¢4,500 is the cost per packet of spaghetti to the store
To make 25% profit on the packet of spaghetti, multiply 4,500 by 1.25
4,500 x 1.25 = 5625
In discussion, it was determined that the product sells for ¢5,000 in the
markets
¢5,000 is more then the cost of ¢4,500 so a profit of ¢500 per packet
will be made. This is only 11% profit for the store.
JSS Business Education
26
Preparing for Store opening
JSS Business Education
27
Opening Ceremony
Dedication included traditional prayers and libation pouring led by
Kokuga Tengey (gentleman who donated the ground)
Assisted by Agusten Agbenorxevi (village elder)
Kwamegah Bedi (Traditional Priest)
Charles Kwashie (in-country instructor)
Christian prayer offered by Joseph Butame
Kwamegah Bedi cuts the
ribbon for the official
opening
JSS Business Education
28
Operations Begin- July 22,2006
One male and one female student staff the store on a rotation basis.
NO Sunday operations. Mini-store open all day.
JSS Business Education
29
Inventory
Purchased
(items for resale)
Monthly
Report
Form
July 2006
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Supplies
Purchased
(for business
operations)
Total Sales
5,000
852,500
41,000
213,500
40,500
1,630,000
38,000
525,600
677,000
3,941,600
90,000
35,000
20,000
25,000
92,000
76,000
419,500
JSS Business Education
10,000
15,800
9,300
54,900
109,900
89,750
119,750
42,750
35,900
83,400
112,400
105,200
80,800
869,850
5% to
Scholarship
Account
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
500
790
465
2,745
5,495
4,488
0
5,988
2,138
1,795
4,170
5,620
5,260
0
4,040
43,493
Initials
Date
Cash left
in drawer
Cash
removed
CRS
CRS
CRS
CRS
CRS
CRS
CRS
CRS
CRS
84,800
130,000
CRS
105,550
100,000
CRS
88,950
60,000
CRS
75,750
60,000
CRS
81,300
70,500
CRS
78,900
116,000
CRS
64,250
120,000
115,500
40,000
696,500
30
Observations
Positive Impacts
Excellent teaching tool
Business concepts
Math applications
Problem solving
Challenges
Construction
Initial inventory
Start-up costs
Asset to community
Product availability
Source of pride
School
Community
Sales volume inadequate
for scholarship needs
Having enough funds
Skilled and devoted incountry instructor
Training
No initial monetary
reward
Time constraints
JSS Business Education
31
Business Concept Education
Customer
Service
Product mix determination
Hours of business
Promotional activities
Professionalism
Basic Book-Keeping
Inventory Control
Price Calculation
JSS Business Education
32
9 months later
Eight Students still active
2 have developed strong leadership skills
Wife of instructor staffs store during school hours
JSS Business Education
33
Second Student Group
Stricter selection process
Less students
Overlap with first group
Gedzah David, Agbeli Wisdom, Sodzedo Godwin, Mr. Kwashie, Godsor Shine, Sodzedo Delali
JSS Business Education
34
Evaluation
Development/training
process
Scholarship
allotment (currently 5% of sales)
Potential to compensate instructors
Store hours and staffing
Audit of operations
Simplified edition of training manual
PATIENCE
Flexible Model
JSS Business Education
35
Akpe!
Chris Schrage
University of Northern Iowa
Schragec@uni.edu
www.uni.edu/~schrage
JSS Business Education
36