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AGR375 Agribusiness Planning (16)

Abstract

Agribusiness Planning is a 16 point capstone subject in which students prepare a business plan for an agribusiness. It is a project-based study where students will analyse an existing agribusiness and create a strategy for its improvement; or develop and evaluate a new agribusiness proposal through to a steady state position. In each case, the focus will be on the achievement of pre-defined goals. Analysis and planning will be strategic and holistic, taking account of the multiple contexts in which the agribusiness will operate. Students will also reflect on the development of their capabilities relative to the subjects learning objectives and to the agribusiness planning process, and plan for ongoing personal development. The residential school is composed of 2 x 2 days compulsory schools (One in Autumn and one in Spring) which aims to guide and assist students with the development of their business plan, particularly with the relevant specific disciplines.
This subject commences in session 1 and concludes in session 2 in the calendar year of enrolment and should only be attempted at the end of their course. Students must enrol in both sessions 1 and 2. It is not possible to commence this subject in session 2.

+ Subject Availability Modes and Location

Session 1
InternalCY O'Connor - Muresk Institute
InternalOrange Campus
InternalWagga Wagga Campus
Distance*Orange Campus
Session 2
InternalCY O'Connor - Muresk Institute
InternalOrange Campus
InternalWagga Wagga Campus
Distance*Orange Campus
*This subject offering contains a residential school. Please view following information for further details.
Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: AGR375
Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject information

Duration Grading System School:
Two sessionsHD/FLSchool of Agricultural and Wine Sciences

Assumed Knowledge

It is assumed that students have already completed at least the equivalent of two years full time of their degree studies thus enabling them to examine the following areas:
• strategic and human resource management
• marketing research and planning
• agricultural production systems
• financial planning and performance assessment
• environmental, legal, political and social factors.
If students have not previously studied one or more of these areas they may find, during their study of Agribusiness Planning, that they will have to devote additional time through independent study to acquire appropriate knowledge in one or more of the areas.

Prerequisites exist for students who enrolled in the Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management from 2004 to 2012. Prior to enrolling in Agribusiness Planning students should have successfully completed the equivalent of:
• AGB125 Financial Planning in Agriculture or AGB233 Agribusiness Management
• AGR237 Property Planning and Development
• AGB310 Agricultural Marketing
• AHT274 Industry Practice and/or MGT245 Managing Yourself and Others
• AHT231 Agricultural Finance and/or AGB450 Agricultural Business Risk and Investment

Enrolment restrictions

Incompatible subject(s)
AGB377 AGB575 MGT361

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • Be able to use a holistic model such as 'sustainable agri-management system'(SAMS)(as modified)to analyse financial, human; environmental; and marketing and production issues that need to be factored into holistic and strategic business planning
  • Be able to review the strategic direction of an agribusiness and assess opportunities that can achieve improved financial; human; environmental; and marketing and production outcomes
  • Be able to undertake a situation analysis examining the feasibility of the revised strategic direction by conducting an audit of the external and internal environments for each of the four SAMS influences
  • Be able to review the mission, goals and outcomes by undertaking an issues analysis based on SWOT
  • Be able to review the project outcomes relative to the business mission and goals and suggest changes to the business plan in the light of this review
  • Be able to prepare and present a business plan
  • Be able to reflect on the development of their capabilities and prepare a plan for personal development
  • Be able to develop a marketing, operations and human resource plan based on new opportunities that are tailored to the specific industry context of the agribusiness
  • Be able to prepare and analyse the production and financial forecasts of the business plan
  • Be able to conduct a risk assessment of financial; human; environmental; and marketing and production factors, plan contingency strategies for risk events and undertake scenario analysis from a whole of business perspective.

Syllabus

The subject will cover the following topics:
- Holistic agri-management systems, focusing on the sustainable agri-management systems (SAMS) model
- Review of strategic directions of an existing agribusiness
- Evaluation of potential opportunities including the opportunity of setting up a new agribusiness
- Mission, goals and objectives that balance the four influences of the SAMS model
- Auditing of internal environment of the agribusiness including natural resources
- Auditing of external environment that will impact on the achievement of goals and objectives
- Managing change
- Benchmarking
- Marketing plans
- Physical management plans
- Financial management plans
- Financial, environmental, marketing and production, and human performance indicators
- Risk assessment and contingency planning
- Scenario comparison on whole business performance
- Formatting of the agribusiness plan
- Capability reflection and personal development relative to the agribusiness planning process

Residential School

This subject contains a compulsory 4 day residential school. The residential school is composed of 2 sessions of 2 days (once in Autumn and once in Spring). The purpose of this residential school is to guide and assist students with the development of their business plan, particularly with the relevant specific disciplines.

Specialised Resources

Students are required to attend the compulsory residential school which will involve travel expenses and a time commitment.

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The information contained in the 2016 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: 06 September 2016. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.