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Agribusiness Planning and Evaluation of Investment Projects

Course abstract

Agribusiness planning and evaluation of investment projects is a subject in which students prepare and evaluate a business plan of investment project for an agribusiness. It is a project-based study where students will analyze an existing agribusiness and create a strategy for its improvement; or develop and evaluate a new agribusiness investment project. In each case, the focus will be on the achievement of pre-defined goals. Planning and evaluation will be strategic and holistic, taking account of the multiple contexts in which the agribusiness operating. Students will also reflect on the development of their capabilities relative to the subjects learning objectives and to the agribusiness profits planning and evaluating process, for ongoing personal development.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge
• Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary theory and techniques of economics and business administration – discussions, tests, exam
• Utilize scientific research in business administration – group work, discussions, tests, exam
Skills
• Evaluate competitive situation in their field of operation to design management and marketing strategies for improvement of the competitive position of their organisation in global marketplace – discussion, individual and group work
• Demonstrate effective communication and networking skills in modern society - Teamwork on tasks, managerial situation analysis, brainstorming
• Organize and participate in joint decision making process - discussion, presentations, individual and group work
• Demonstrate ethical and socially responsible leadership and management skills in the context of global marketplace, complex organisations and multinational teams - discussion, presentations, individual and group work
• Demonstrate understanding of the ethical consequences of their business decisions - discussion, presentations, individual and group work
• Demonstrate understanding of global issues in context of agricultural business - discussion, presentations, individual and group work
Competencies:
• the ability to plan and evaluate of investment projects in agriculture
• the ability to present their knowledge on preparation and evaluation of agribusiness investment projects.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Business planning goals and objectives;
2. Business planning levels, principles and methods;
3. Business plan content: structure and quality requirements;
4. Business development ideas;
5. Factors influencing business development and their analysis (SWOT);
6. Crop production and results planning;
7. Livestock production and results planning;
8. Additional (alternative) business activities and its results planning;
9. Business development financing;
10. Investment needs for the development of business activities planning;
11. Assessment of investments funding and choice of sources;
12. General financial indicators;
13. The indicators of economic viability of the business plan;
14. Assessment of results and the risk of economic activities development.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Students' achievements are evaluated using cumulative ten-point criteria-based assessment structure.
Assessment type:
1. Individual task on literature
2. Written test
3. Group task of case study of cooperatives
4. Final exam
During the exam the knowledge and self-diagnostic knowledge verification test is filled.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Individual task on literature Individual task is assessed according to general methodological requirements for the preparation of written work.
Group task of case study of cooperatives

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

1. Individual task on literature – 10%
2. Written test – 20%
3. Group task of case study of cooperatives- 20%
4. Final exam – 50%

Compulsory reading

1. NICHOLAS, J. M., STEYN H. 2011. Project management for business, engineering, and technology: principles and practice. Amsterdam, London: Elsevier Butterworth Heinemann.
2. Agribusiness planning. Providing Directions for Agriculture farms. http://extension.psu.edu/publications/ua371
3. Agribusiness planning &Analysis: Selecting a business Structure. http://msscottsagclass.weebly.com/uploads/2/2/1/3/22134988/
types_of_buisnesses_reading_and_worksheets.pdf

Further reading

1. Preparing an Agri-Business Plan.
https://novascotia.ca/farmloan/documents/flb-AgriBusinessPlan.pdf
2. Agribusiness management. Preparing an Agribusiness Plan.
http://www.agribusiness-mgmt.wsu.edu/ExtensionNewsletters/performance/ABPlan.pdf

Periodicals and other sources

1. Marketing theories – SWOT analysis. http://www.professionalacademy.com/blogs-and-advice/marketing-theories---swot-analysis
2. Marketing theories. http://www.professionalacademy.com/cim-marketing-courses/marketing-theories
3. 20 business ideas in agriculture for young entrepreneurs. http://www.slideshare.net/darokoblog/20-business-ideas-in-agriculture-for-young-entrepreneursbusiness-ideas-kenya-2014nigeria-2014ghana-2014
4. Starting a Business. http://www.agmrc.org/business-development/starting-a-business/