eCommEd™ Lesson Plan 3

Subject: Starting an e-Commerce Business

Overview of Lesson Plan: A Business Plan is the basis of any business. The plan defines the key elements of the business and how the business expects to meet its goals. It serves as a blueprint for business leaders to follow and, in the case of your class, will serve as a guide for the completion of tasks throughout the year. It is a "working" or dynamic document that is constantly modified and updated to reflect new market data and opportunities. While your students will be using their business plan throughout the year, every quarter, when they switch teams, your class will briefly review their plan as a whole and make any changes they see fit.

Suggested Time Allowance: 80 minutes

Objectives:
Students will:

1. Define the term "e-Commerce business plan."
2. Explain the purpose of a business plan.
3. Explain how and when to write a business plan.
4. List the contents of a typical e-Commerce business plan.

Resources:
T03-01 "e-Commerce Business Plan"

Activities:

1. Discuss each item in T03-01 "e-Commerce Business Plan." with the class. Since the students have already read the tutorial, the discussion can be conducted in the form of questions to the students. After discussing each section, have students summarize, in their own words, the main purpose of each section. Also, get students thinking about how this will all apply to the writing of their ScoresUp business plan in the next lesson.
   
   Where applicable, provide examples of small businesses and how they might tailor their business plan to suit their specific needs.



2. Go to www.sbaonline.sba.gov. This is the site of the US Government's Small Business Administration. Click "Starting Your Business" (top blue "button" on left-hand menu) and select "Business Plans" from the brown menu bar on the left-hand side of the page (about halfway down the menu bar). Here, you will find a 27 page, generic (not specialized for e-Commerce in any way) business plan outline to illustrate a more detailed business plan. You will most likely want to prepare for this lesson by visiting the site ahead of time and choosing specific sections that you want to point out to your students. In addition to giving students a broader perspective regarding business plans, this exercise will also serve to illustrate the practical use of the Internet for business research purposes.
   
   What is a business plan?
   
   What is the purpose of a business plan?
   
   What kinds of things can assist you in writing a business plan?
   
   What are some of the elements that your class will need to include in your ScoresUp business plan?

Assignment:

1. Students will complete the quiz following T03-01 "e-Commerce Business Plan."



2. Students will answer the following questions with their ScoresUp.com business in mind:
   • Why is it necessary to create a ScoresUp Business Plan? (What function will it serve for your business?)
   • Why is it necessary to create a business plan before you start your business and then make periodic changes?
   • What are different ways that you can gather necessary information for completing your ScoresUp Business Plan?



3. To prepare for Lesson 4, students will read:
   • SP002 "Ideas for Promoting ScoresUp.com"
   • SP003 "ScoresUp.com Revenue Model"
   • SP004 "Obtaining Site Sponsors"
   • SP005 "Identifying Potential Advertisers"
   • SP006 "Patron Messages at ScoresUp.com"
   • SP007 "Using Your Online Store"
   • SP008 "e-Mail as a Business Tool"
   • SP009 "Creating Booster Club Partnerships"
   • SP010 "Organizing and Protecting Your ScoresUp Site Content"
   • SP011 "On-line Auction Business Plan"
   • SP012 "Overview of Administrative Tools"
   • SP013 "How to Sell e-Coupons"