This innovative program covers areas such as: capturing and packaging breakthrough ideas, identifying target markets and marketing strategies, determining the best complement of staff to design and launch the new product or service, running financials to make sure the new product or service is viable, identifying indicators that will measure impact on communities and the environment.
The BPP helps organizations navigate the financial aspects of a business plan, projecting both social and financial return on investment. The tools, techniques and worksheets supplied during this learning experience simplify the complexities of business planning, while helping participants balance their enthusiasm with market realities.
Blended Learning Model
The BPP starts with a one-week face-to-face orientation, after which participants return to their work places, where they draft sections of their business plans while consulting via e-mail with an assigned reviewer. Further instruction is delivered via six self-contained modules housed on a CD-ROM. Each module contains questions, assignments, and reference materials, and culminates in the completion of one section of the business plan. A team of three to six people from each organization authors the business plan, soliciting help from others in the organization as needed. The reviewers coach the participants and address any questions and concerns before the final version of each section is completed. A team captain oversees the completion of the assignments. By the end of the BPP, participants have a complete draft of a business plan—and the ability to sell their new product or service to investors.
In addition, they would have acquired the skill to:
- Describe the unique features of their organization to engage a prospective funder or investor
- Generate and articulate a breakthrough idea
- Assess a potential market and develop a marketing plan
- Assemble a design and implementation team
- Estimate financial needs
- Project social and financial return on investment
Worldwide Demand
Demand for the BPP is strong and continues to grow. With versions in Spanish, English, and French, the BPP is poised to deliver this most needed service to most corners of the globe. GSMF International has been commissioned as a partner of this venture, to deliver this service to both English and French-speaking countries in Africa.
West Africa faces many problems, including HIV/AIDS and other health-related problems, problems stemming from poverty and large-scale unemployment, cultural issues such as female genital mutilation, and the management of small to medium-scale business. The BPP, as a tool, can equally be employed to turn these problems around; thereby creating solutions that would go a long way to improve the quality of life of the underprivileged.
New Thinking, New Funding Options
In the past, donors and external parties that provide funding have shaped many of the ideas carried out by organizations such as NGOs. The BPP encourages organizations to generate breakthrough ideas based on market research and client needs instead of only adapting ideas to correspond to donor priorities. It helps organizations think outside the box. This blended learning program can help organizations significantly expand their funding base, while improving their ability to make a difference in the health of their target communities.
All investors want to see a return on their investment. A well-crafted business plan can open the door to the foundations, corporate-giving programs, philanthropists and agencies seeking to achieve both social and business objectives through their investments.
Program Requirements Organizational- The BPP is suitable for all types of private and commercial sector organizations, including capacity-building organizations, faith-based organizations health-related organizations and cooperatives. It is also appropriate for public sector entities, which are competing for limited resources.
Technical- A computer with reliable Internet access (Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or higher), a CD-ROM drive, and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Powerpoint).
