Operations, Finance, and HR Essentials

This unit translates early-stage planning into practical systems for running a small business, covering operations (outsourcing, technology, and product/service development), financial management (statements, budgeting, pricing, taxes, and capital), and human resource and regulatory responsibilities. It builds on foundational concepts and prepares students to implement growth, compliance, and scaling strategies in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze operations strategies—outsourcing, technology, AI, and process simplification—to recommend efficiency and scalability improvements aligned with the business’s core competencies
• Evaluate financial statements, budgeting techniques, pricing models, tax implications, and capital options to develop a 12-month financial plan that forecasts cash flow, profitability, and tax obligations
• Apply human resources and legal/regulatory principles—recruiting, training, compensation (including equity decisions), benefits, insurance, and employment laws—to create a compliant staffing and compensation plan
• Demonstrate the ability to synthesize product/service development, customer service protocols, franchising/prepurchase considerations, and advisory structures by producing an actionable executive section of a business plan that outlines go-to-market and risk-mitigation steps