Session 10-101
Getting Started and Managing the Future
This final session is dedicated to strategies that, if undertaken conscientiously, will improve
your ability to manage and grow a profitable business. Answer the following questions, and
if necessary, go back and revise the parts of the business plan to which they apply.
A. Negotiations and Contract Management
1. List your main negotiating partners, prioritize the issues that are important to you,
and explain your idea of a win-win outcome.
_[Click Here and enter your response]_________________________________________
2. Describe the tools you’ll use to manage contracts.
_[Click Here and enter your response]_________________________________________
3. List the methods you’ll use to keep in touch with contract partners.
_[Click Here and enter your response]_________________________________________
Session 10-101
B. Materials Substitution
4. Choose three products or materials you currently use in your business
Materials Substitution Worksheet
This is a simple, optional exercise that you can complete on your own time, as necessary. You
should follow this process whenever you are considering switching to a greener product, whether
it’s a production input, or an office or cleaning supply. When you’re finished with the research
suggested here, consider whether you need to update your business plan to reflect what you’ve
learned.
1. Choose three products or materials you currently use in your business (raw materials, office
equipment, cleaning supplies, packing materials, etc.) and use the chart below to research
greener substitutes. Note the source and cost of each material, and use the checklist provided to
compare their green or sustainable characteristics.
Current Material
Name
Deth-Grip Adhesive
Source and Cost
Toxico, Inc.
$1 per oz
Name
Source and Cost
Name
Source and Cost
Name
Source and Cost
Green Features
□Sustainable
□Recyclable
□Reusable
□Nontoxic
□Biodegradable
□Energy efficient
□Organic
□Sustainable
□Recyclable
□Reusable
□Nontoxic
□Biodegradable
□Energy efficient
□Organic
□Sustainable
□Recyclable
□Reusable
□Nontoxic
□Biodegradable
□Energy efficient
□Organic
□Sustainable
□Recyclable
□Reusable
□Nontoxic
□Biodegradable
□Energy efficient
□Organic
Alternative Material
Hold-Tite Eco-Flue
Green Glues, LLC
$1.25 per oz
Green Features
□Sustainable
□Recyclable
□Reusable
□Nontoxic
□Biodegradable
□Energy efficient
□Organic
□Sustainable
□Recyclable
□Reusable
□Nontoxic
□Biodegradable
□Energy efficient
□Organic
□Sustainable
□Recyclable
□Reusable
□Nontoxic
□Biodegradable
□Energy efficient
□Organic
□Sustainable
□Recyclable
□Reusable
□Nontoxic
□Biodegradable
□Energy efficient
□Organic
5. Next, pick one of the green materials or products, and do whatever research is necessary to
answer the following questions.
a. What are the pros and cons of the current material?
_[Click Here and enter your response]_________________________________________
b. What are the pros and cons of the substitute material?
_[Click Here and enter your response]_________________________________________
c. Which material offers greater value in use? Why?
_[Click Here and enter your response]_________________________________________
d. Which is easier to transport, store and use?
_[Click Here and enter your response]_________________________________________
e. How long has the manufacturer been around? Who are their distributors? What’s the average
turnaround time on orders of your size?
_[Click Here and enter your response]_________________________________________
f. What performance standards and specifications must be met? How will you test the product for
compliance?
_[Click Here and enter your response]_________________________________________
g. What aspects of your production process will change if you use the substitute materials?
_[Click Here and enter your response]_________________________________________
h. How will using the substitute material change your packaging?
_[Click Here and enter your response]_________________________________________
i. How will it change your price?
_[Click Here and enter your response]_________________________________________
j. How will it change your promotional message?
_[Click Here and enter your response]_________________________________________
k. How will it affect your distribution strategy?
_[Click Here and enter your response]_________________________________________
l. List any other changes that will result from substitution.
_[Click Here and enter your response]_________________________________________
Session 10-105
C. Supply Chain Management
6. Supply chain management, especially green practices can have a huge effect on your
bottom line and customer perceptions. Review your business plan in light of what you’ve
learned about your supply chain, and make any changes necessary to reflect this new
information.
_[Click Here and enter your response]_______________________________
D. Profitable Growth and Project Management
7. Make a list of the items you consider most important to you when planning for profitable
growth.
_[Click Here and enter your response]_______________________________
8. Which of your projects are large or complex enough to require using project management
software? (For simpler projects, you can use the NxLeveL® Action Plan introduced in
Session 9.)
_[Click Here and enter your response]_______________________________
9. Which type and brand of project management software will you use, and why?
_[Click Here and enter your response]_______________________________
Session 10-107
E. Go or No Go?
At this point, you have summarized the feasibility of your project, and should be ready to
discuss whether you want to move forward with your project, or have decided not to pursue
your business idea.
If you have decided not to move forward, please consider the following:
•
Deciding not to move forward doesn’t mean you’re a failure, nor does it mean your
business idea is a bad one. And saving yourself from investing time, energy, and
money in a non-feasible idea is a true success!
•
“Non-feasible” may include several meanings:
• Not the right place, or the right time, but it’s still a good idea
• Not enough information yet to decide to move forward
• Doesn’t fit with my personal goals, family matters, income requirements
• Idea doesn’t work the way it is, but might after some re-working, which means
revising my business plan.
1. Define “feasible” in your own words as it relates to your project.
_[Click Here and enter your response]_________________________________________
F. Overcoming Barriers and Pitfalls
If you intend to move forward with your idea, you know there will be some barriers and
pitfalls along the way. Taking the time to think about those things before they happen can
save you a lot of stress!
2. What barriers and pitfalls do you expect to face in implementing your business idea?
_[Click Here and enter your response]_________________________________________
Congratulate yourself on completing this course! You have taken a
significant step toward making informed decisions
about your business future.
Additional Notes:
_[Click Here and enter your response]_________________________________________