Visualizing Business Operations: A Short Guide to Gantt Charts and Critical Path

The assignment content discusses the importance of Gantt charts and critical path analysis in small-scale enterprises. A Gantt chart is a visual representation of multiple tasks and timelines, which helps clarify doubts and serves as a good source of communication among team members. The critical path determines the actual time duration required to complete a project, presented visually through network diagrams. The assignment also highlights the benefits of internal and external analysis in assessing weaknesses and recommending improvements.

SMALL BUSINESS
ENTERPRISE

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................3
TASK 1.......................................................................................................................................................3
1.1............................................................................................................................................................3
1.2............................................................................................................................................................4
TASK 2.......................................................................................................................................................6
2.1............................................................................................................................................................6
2.2............................................................................................................................................................7
2.3............................................................................................................................................................8
TASK 3.....................................................................................................................................................10
3.1..........................................................................................................................................................10
3.2..........................................................................................................................................................11
3.3..........................................................................................................................................................11
TASK 4.....................................................................................................................................................13
4.1..........................................................................................................................................................13
4.2..........................................................................................................................................................13
4.3..........................................................................................................................................................14
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................................17
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................18

INTRODUCTION
Small scale and cottage industries has higher enthusiasm to handle complex future
uncertainties which will help an entity to transform the domestic level on a global level. The
market share of an entity can increases their external share in the overall hospitality industry.
This cottage type of industries will provide wide range of services as the establishment of this
enterprise has started in initial costs. It is good source of employment level in the whole
economy as combination of this form of entity is enthusiastic peoples who aspire to earn bigger
share in the market. Generation of higher level of employment will certain sense of responsibility
which drives innovation and competition among various economic sectors. The government
developed new schemes in order to provide financial support to this small based entity in order to
promote their hidden talent. The financial support provided by the government with a clear
motive to reduce the heavy imposition of taxation. It is help an individual to protect the interest
of short enterprises which will bring higher change in the overall society. Oakwood Heathrow
guest house has been selected in the present project report in order to signifies the importance of
small based enterprise. This project is all about projecting strengths and weaknesses of this entity
and also presenting the financial performance indicators of the business.
TASK 1
1.1
Oakwood Heathrow is guest house which is cottage home style guest house located in England
which provides all kinds of accommodation services to its customers. The services provided here
at this place will be afford by all kinds of customers as services are designed as per their budget.
It is easy to attract the interest of travelers who came here for any reasons as it is situated on 5
minute away from Heathrow airport (Zimmerer, Scarborough and Wilson, 2012). Famous tourist
attractions are near this place which facilitates their customers in terms of entertainment services
as famous rugby stadium situated near this guest house. The prospective customers of this place
in London is due to several reasons like person who visit for another country for business
meetings, attending wedding or organizing destination wedding, education, pilgrimage centre’s,
medical emergency. The primary objective of providing quality oriented services to all the
customers according to their budget without compromising with the quality factor.
Business Profile
Location
It is located in the England near Heathrow airport which is located 3 miles away from United
Kingdom.

Contact information
Company website- www.bedandbreakfast.com
Strengths

 The basic strength of this entity is to provide luxurious accommodation services to all
different set of customers in affordable ranges.
 The rooms are designed as per the budgets and income level of an individual.

 The divisions of rooms are not in relation with the prices charged by them as the basic
and standard room contains all kinds of basic amenities.
 Sightseeing services are provided by this guest house as a inclusive services in the price
to be charged for accommodation services.
 It gives greater importance to the hygiene factors as customers of this place are agreed
with the services as the blankets of the room are changed daily.
Weakness
 Apart from providing best efficiency of services the short space to cater the needs of wide
number of customers under same roof will spoil the image of an entity.
 Less number of workers will not able to satisfy the needs and expectations of all kinds of
customers at the same time.
1.2
Financial performance
Profitability
Oakwood Heathrow
￡'000
Apple house guest
￡'000
Year PBT Taxation PAT PBT Taxation
2016 40 8 32 45 18 27
2015 38 7.6 30.4 32 6.4 25.6
2014 25 5 20 30 6 24
2013 20 4 16 22 4.4 17.6
2012 10 0 10 15 3.0 12
Interpretations
Oakwood and apple house guest uses the given below taxation band rate which is dependent on
their profit generated by them in a given particular years. The calculation tax rates of UK as both
the guest houses are located in UK.
Taxable income Tax rate
Up to ￡11000 0%

￡11001 To ￡43000 20%
￡43001 To ￡150,000 40%
It has been observed from the above figure that the profitability of Oakwood guest house
has increasing before taking into considerations the important taxation factor. The ratio of profit
before tax is increasing from one period to another (Bordum, 2010). The taxation has decreased
the profit of the Oakwood guest house. The taxation doesn't create greater impact on the profit
generated by an enterprise. On the contrary, Apple house guest house is largely affected by the
taxation as the higher profit will attract higher tax rates.
Price comparative analysis
Table 1: Price comparative analysis
Room type Apple house guest house Oakwood Heathrow
Standard single En suite ￡39-￡49
Family room option ￡122-￡142
Double bed En suite ￡45 To ￡85 ￡62-￡72
Shared Bedroom ￡39 To ￡60 ￡34-￡39
Family En suite ￡45 To ￡75 ￡52-￡59
Single Bedroom ￡35 To ￡49 ￡20-￡39
Interpretations
From the above price comparison both the guest houses which is both operating on small
scale business enterprise (Audretsch, 2011). It is clearly observed that Oakwood has higher
accommodation options as compared to Apple house guest house. The price range of Oakwood
are less expensive and within the ranges to be easily affordable by normal person.

TASK 2
2.1
Oakwood guest house is that place which offers lavishness wrapped in simple box which
means that all the facilities and services provided by this hospitality in a affordable pricing
(Small bone and Welter, 2011). It offers different facilities like badminton court, cycling,
football field, gym, playground, shopping outlet, theatre, water-skiing, bird watching, dart board,
golf, horse riding, sailing, sightseeing tours, walking, bowling alley, fine dining, Golf diving, Jet
ski, shopping skydiving, Water activities. There are different measures which need to be taken
by an enterprise in order to overcome the deficiency of an enterprise which are mention as
below:
Short space- This is one of the weaknesses of this guest house as due to lack of space it is
unable to cater wide number of customers under the same roof. This limitation can be improved
by utilizing the waste and ideal spaces all round the guest houses. The garden can be used as one
of the garden homes which will create additional facilities and one of the amenities to attract
large number of all kinds of the customers. The backyard of the place can be used to build
outside homes with plywood and waste woods to be cost beneficial.

2.2
The services offered to the variety of customers are architecture by Oakwood guest house
exist in the United Kingdom. The core competency of this entity is their attractive services
presented in innovative form in order to capture higher market share. Unique features provided
by this place are affordable pricing which wrapped with attractive services (Quiescent, 2006).
This place emphasizes on providing comfortable environment where feel like their home which
decreases home sickness of guests guest. The unique point of this place is that it is located on
the Heathrow airport (Longenecker, 2013).
Parameters Oakwood Apple house

Attractive features 3 2
Quality of service 3 1
Affordable pricing 2 1
Number of competitors 3 2
Interpretations
The consent of all the customers will be recorded by applying scale evaluation technique
which determines the feedback of customers. This scale has three specific three criteria’s in
which 1 is for satisfactory, 2 is for good performance and 3 is given for outstanding performance
of these two guest house. The above table which reflects that ability of the business which beaten
its biggest competitor Apple house guest house. The current results show that an entity will gain
higher opportunity for expanding their current business in the future.
2.3
Target audience of this place is covering all kinds of age groups who will enjoy the
services provided by Oakwood guest house. Services are offered in lower prices than all other
guest houses located in the London. The higher market share will be gained by an enterprise by
attracting wide number of customers by reducing prices without compromising with the quality.
This place stresses on providing good quality accommodation services along with food and
beverage services. The lodging services are in the front end and food and beverage are ancillary
services in supporting the overall place in attracting customers (Landstrom, 2007). The existing
business of Oakwood guest house will be expanded by applying Ansoff matrix adopting four
stages which re-defines their existing situations.
Market penetration strategy- This stage reflecting performance of Oakwood guest house in
which current products offered by an enterprise in the existing market. In this particular stage,
lodging services are provided by the owner to their regular as well as potential customers. Open
garden restaurant will be offered by the Oakwood guest house who provides this new services in
order to utilise their idle garden as a new opportunity.
Product Development- An enterprise would redefine their existing market segment by
launching new product in the same market. The opportunity for this entity is to capture higher
interest of customers by launching new services. The club services are offered to all the existing

customers of this guest house in which regular customers can utilise the club services by paying
membership fees.
Market Development- This phase of the business of Oakwood guest house in which current
products offered by this place are entered in the new market. The current business will be
expanded their business into another country. The suppliers of the food and accommodation
services are link up on different websites like make my trip.

Illustration 1: Ansoff Matrix
(Source:Hanlon, 2013)
TASK 3
3.1
Setting of aims and targets will help an enterprise in order to direct their overall business.
The opportunities will be gained by an individual by improving the existing resources of the
business enterprise (Bordum, 2010).

 This emphasizes on the quality of products and affordable services provided by this
enterprise to its variety of customers.
 Target audience of Oakwood guest house is majorly on the bachelor young individual
who is in need of accommodation.
 Gaining higher market share by boosting the efficiency of the existing resources held by
an entity.
Brand image- The brand image of this place will be enhances by gaining higher market
opportunities. The market position will be maintained by an individual by beating their
competitors. The business plan framed by an entity by developing three different kinds of goal
such as short term, medium and long term goal framed by an entity.
Competition- The current ability of an enterprise will inspired an individual in order to handle
high level of business complexities. The higher niche of market will be achieved by an enterprise
by increasing their online visibility through websites and blogs created on social media. The
current brand image created by an entity to gain higher market share.
3.2
The rigid regulations imposed on the business enterprise as the business environment will needs
to require clear understanding about the internal and external business (Tassabehji, 2010). The
future risks can be curtailed by reducing their overall impact on their own business which will
help an entity in turn to operate their business operations without any turbulence in their path.
Due to lack of things taken into considerations or due to future market changes the organization
needs to change its business plan. Every business plan strategically made with high amount of
flexibility so that any uncertain future turbulence doesn't stop the business operations of an
enterprise.
Market trends- The current focus of Oakwood guest house is on gaining information regarding
the external market trends and buying patterns of all the buyers. The Hospitality industry is prone
to rapid change which enforces regulations on enterprise which arises needs to develop the
effective system of producing the products as per the changing scenario. Moreover, the company
must also carry out the effective competitive analysis in order to gain the information regarding
competitor's strategies. This will help in creating fruitful business strategies. To implement the
mentioned changes The Apple house guest house must carry out the environmental analysis
(Blackburn, Hart and Wainwright, 2013). This will help the company in analyzing the internal
strengths and weaknesses.
Environmental Scanning- It is that analysis which helps in identifying all the strengths and
weaknesses of an entity in order to cover all it deficiency with its own strengths. It is also known
as macro analysis which helps an enterprise in monitoring all the external market changes.

Changes in the external environment involves changes takes place in the political structure by
amendment in the rules and regulations framed by the local and state government which helps in
taking licensing for opening new hotel cum restaurant (Carlisle and Flynn, 2005). The current
focus of an enterprise is on social factors which involves all its customers and competitors and
their nature and complexities.
Gaining information- The external environment is properly assessed in comparison with the
internal business organizations whose efficiency is identified by addressing all the internal
problems. It helps the company in gaining the information of opportunities and threats of the
market (Bordum, 2010). The changes in tastes and preferences of the customers could be easily
incorporated in the business plan. The success of the business plan without the efficient support
of its workforce thus the organization must create the effective plan of employee involvement
and development.
3.3
This action plan is that effective tool which has prepared in the small scale business in
order to make significant changes in the current business. An entity owner can make different
modifications by nurturing the existing skills of an individual as the primary objective of this
form of the business is to consider each and every factor under one roof which may affect an
entity’s overall business operations (Soufani, 2013).
This act as a forecasting tool that helps in analysing the present facts and figures of the
business in order to gain opportunities. The core competencies are identified by an enterprise in
order to remove their weaknesses by gaining higher market share. The completion analysis will
be conducted in which all the situations are predicted in advance which helps in taking right
decisions in the existing business.
The existing business efficiency of Oakwood guest house can increases after taken into
considerations all the feedback and suggestion of the visitors who visits this place. It is also used
for increasing the performance of the firm by taking into considerations all the suggestions and
feedbacks of experts who exist in the same industry and have personal experience of handling
complex difficulties. This action plan will also provide competitive advantage to an entity by
keeping pace with the external market. The organisation also conduct competitive analysis in
which all the prospective rivals are identified which may poses barriers in the performance of an
entity in near future (Longenecker, 2013). Entrepreneur is required to develop strategic
objectives as per the current situations faced by an enterprise in form of challenges that creates
barriers in accomplishing all the tasks and duties of the entity. This also helps in improving

existing skills by targeting more customers to broaden their overall scope according to the
complex nature of an enterprise.
Action plan have some unique qualities of an organisation which helps an organisation to take
future business decisions are:
 Quality of products or services
 Loyalty among customers
 Affordable pricing
 Customers are welcomed with their children
 Clean environment
TASK 4
4.1
The home based guest house that is the Oakwood which is located in the centre of UK
that is London in order to provide efficient accommodation services. The unique concept
selected by an enterprise which needs to develop effective attractive designed hotel cum
restaurant along with accommodation and food services to its customers. The major objective of
this business plan is to gain effective profitability along with delivering excellent quality of
services to customers. The offering of wide variety of services is just to gain important tool in the
business to fight against their competitors is to gain high level of satisfaction. There are some
users that may involved in the business such as employees, managers or business owner can
highly affect by this business plan (Arend and Wisner, 2015). In this small scale enterprise, there
are few numbers of employees which can be converted as per the reformed business situation.
There are some positive effects of changes takes place in the business which are mention as
below:
Innovation- In the small scale enterprise innovation is the basic element which can uplift the
existing working conditions of an entrepreneur. This quality of new comers in the business entity
can lead an entity owner in order to deal with all kinds of external challenges in form of
competitors. The technology can be applied as one of the strong tool by making changes in the
products or services offered to an enterprise (Kelly, 2013). Sudden changes can bring new
creativity in the existing business by amending the current products by changing their technique
or packaging of the products to lure wide number of visitors. For instance, Oakwood can provide
free coupons while booking rooms for any day in this place on the website to attract web traffic
towards their website.
Bring opportunity- Entrepreneurs are the risk takers who seek opportunities in the normal
suuroundings as they have capabilities to identify all kinds of future chances that other hesitate to

take up. The Opportunity of an entrepreneur is selecting business idea in less time period and
adopting it without taking second opinion as they love taking risks
4.2
The positive changes brings by this business has been ascertained that Oakwood
Heathrow can bring various changes and innovation. In order to manage these changes in the
organization, company needs to considered the various aspects which are as follows- Training and development of personnel’s- The hospitality industry demands offering of
wide range of services to all its customers with a clear motive cater their needs and
expectations. In hospitality streams the training to workers are important as qualified
employee and staff member will be able to gain highly qualified services to gain
customers satisfaction. The need of personnel is essential in this place as it is integral part
of this organization which assists in developing effective success and growth. This entity
will ensure to implement various measures to reduce the resistance to change with the
existing system (Bordum, 2010). Therefore, company should provide an effective
training and development programs to its employees so as they can adopt the changes in
their activities. Financial resources- Arranging finance and funds is important thing for an entrepreneur
who will not easily grant by the existing market players as they have no collateral
security or any business connections (Lim, 2010). The small scale enterprise can take
help of their original country government which will help an entity in order to get
financial support. Financial resource assists in carry the market research and product
development as build. Thus, corporation must make the arrangement for the effective
used of financial resources so as it can stable and survive in the changing situation of
business. Setting short time plan- Planning is another important factor in the business enterprise
which will assist an entity by making short term plan. It will assist the company to adopt
the changes in the management and business. Setting up of a short term plans will
encourage all personnel to break their traditional records and encourage then for effective
performance in the cited venture (Botha, and Solms, 2014).

4.3
An enterprise can utilize different project management tools and techniques in order to
manage their overall business project till its completion. It is also regarded as one of the
commonly used controlling measure technique for monitoring the overall business performance.
This tool is highly recognized approach in time management as the goals and objectives of
organizations are determined by assigning tasks and duties (Landstrom, 2007). It is beneficial for
an enterprise as it helps in allocating each and every tasks of the business with specific time
allotted to each task. An entity owner can measure their business efficiency by measuring their
own performance the success of a plan is depended on their overall performance and tactics
utilized by the business by completing overall tasks and duties in systematic format for complete
review of business performance.
Illustration 1: Monitoring plan
Gantt chart
This form of project management is widely used technique which is used for scheduling the
work as to facilitate the business concern to monitor their performance (Small bone and Welter,
2011). It is one of the most popular and useful ways of showing activities displayed against time.
Benefits of Gantt chart
 This will clarifies all kinds of doubts comes in the minds of the business as this Gantt
chart is that tool which bills down multiple tasks and timelines into a single document.
 It is a good source of communication as in teams it used as to replace meetings and
enhance other business updates.

Illustration 1: Gantt chart
Illustration 1: Critical path
The critical path will determine the actual time duration in which the overall business will
be completed by an enterprise which is further shown by preparing network diagrams (Kelly,
2013). This will determine the actual time involved in completing the overall project which is
visually presented in the form of network diagram.

CONCLUSION
It can be summarized from the above project report that small scale enterprise needs to ascertain
their internal business efficiency in order to cater the specific needs of all their customers. The
Internal and external analysis proves beneficial for this entity in assessing their weaknesses
which can be covered by using recommendations. The steps taken by an enterprise by using two
basic tools such as innovation and creativity as one of the essential tools and techniques.

REFERENCES
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