This seminar focuses on working in groups to come up with a business idea and plan. The groups will discuss: 1) The type of business and organizational structure 2) The roles each group member would take on 3) Understanding the customer need and how the company would satisfy it 4) What was learned about working together to develop a business idea and organizational structure The learning outcomes are to understand how to articulate a business idea and structure, evaluate different business structures, identify organizational roles, and work through group dynamics to develop a robust business plan.

1. Seminar:
Considering the role of business
Topic Number:1
Principles of Business

2. Overview
In this first seminar you are tasked with working in a group to
come up with your own business idea and thereafter formulate a
plan to get it up and running.
It is important to note that you will be working in the same group
and on the same business for a number of weeks and therefore
should come up with a business idea that is exciting and viable.
For todays seminar we will be looking for your group to come up
with:
• The type of business and structure you would go for
• The various roles in the organisation each of you would take on
• Consider what the customer need is and how your company is
going to satisfy it?
• What have you learnt about working together to come up with
a business and organising yourselves into a structure?

3. 3
• Be able to articulate the type of business you would go for
and its implications
• Critically evaluate and discuss the various types of business
structures and hone in on the most appropriate one for
your business
• Identify and describe the various roles in an organisation
• Demonstrate an understanding of what is a customer need
and how you would satisfy them
• Work through group dynamics to come up with a robust
business & structure
Learning outcomes of this seminar

4. Agenda for this seminar
The various roles in the organisation each of you would take on
Consider what the customer need is and how your company is going to
satisfy it?
What have you learnt about working together to come up with a
business and organising yourselves into a structure?
The type of business and structure you would go for

5. Structure for the session
You will have
15 minutes to
discuss each
question
We will have a
de-brief at the
end of each 15
minutes to hear
your thoughts
on each area
Feel free to ask
questions but
please do not
have separate
conversations
‘we are all in
this together’!

6. So if you could start a business what would it
be?
Richard Branson
'Above all, you want to create
something you're proud of.
This has always been my
philosophy of business. I can
honestly say that I have never
gone into any business purely
to make money. If that is the
sole motive, then I believe
you are better off not doing
it.'

7. More importantly ask yourself why?
To develop a
product they
wanted but
couldn't find
To build a
better company
They came up
with a real
breakthrough!

8. What would your vision be for your business?
“An ideal
that…represents or
reflects the shared
values to which the
organisation should
aspire”
Kirkpatrick, Wofford
and Baum,
2002:139
Our vision is a world where
everyone can be connected
We bring good things to life
Be, and be recognised as, the
best consumer products and
services company in the world
Which Company?
Nokia
GE
P&GSource: Palmer, Dunford and Akin, 2009

9. What business
would you
choose ?
What type would
it be?

10. Discussion

11. Consider the
functions of the
organisation-
what would
each of you do?

12. Discussion

13. Consider the
customer need
and how your
company is
going to satisfy
it

14. Discussion

15. What have you
learnt about
teamwork?

16. Discussion

17. End of Seminar
Note: This recording is for your
personal use only and not for further
distribution or wider review.
© Pearson College 2013