1.0 COURSE DESCRIPTION
This is an introductory course oriented towards imparting knowledge of the activities and management concepts and tools  relating to non-farm agricultural business firms engaged in input supply, advisory services, processing, marketing and distribution of food and agricultural commodities. The focus is on agribusiness organization operation, financial management, efficiency, agribusiness policy and strategy development in the Zimbabwe context.

2.0 AIMS OF THE COURSE
Agribusiness management is or introductory course which aims at importing basis management concepts or techniques and their application in the agribusiness sector.

The specific objectives are:
      2.1 To introduce business management principles and concepts to  students who intend
            to pursue management carriers in industries in the agribusiness sector.
      2.2 To create awareness of the linkages between agricultural  producers, processors, distributors,
            consumers, the government, and the global economy.
      2.3 To provide a basis for further training in specialized areas  of agribusiness management be:
            agribusiness finance, agricultural marketing, etc.
      2.4 To provide an insight into factors determining performance and competitiveness of the
            agribusiness sector.
      2.5 To develop an appreciation and understanding of functional area and linkages between these
            areas in the managing of agribusiness organizations.

3.0  TEACHING AND LEARNING STRATEGY

     3.1 Part of the material will be delivered in formal lectures, however, the bulk of the material will be
           delivered through  student centered learning activities, involving guided reading, cae studies, and
           seminars.
     3.2 Students taking this course are expected to read Zimbabwean as well as international
           newspapers and  business journals, and these form the basis of analyzing and studying the
           agribusiness sector in Zimbabwe.
     3.3 Resource persons in management positions in agribusiness  organizations will be invited (wherever
           possible) to give lectures or to discuss specific areas of interest.

4.0  COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION

     4.1 The course will have the following contact hours:

            Lecture hours             50
            Seminars                    30
            Computer laboratory   20
            Total hours               100

      4.2  Students will be evaluated as follows:
            a)  Continuous Assessment:
                  i)  Assignments and case studies  15
                  ii)  Tests                                   10
                  iii)  Seminars and Field Trips        5

            b)  Final Examination                     70

            Total                                             100

5.0 DETAILED COURSE OUTLINE

Module 1

1.0   INTRODUCING MANAGEMENT AND AGRI-BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
       1.1.0 Management principles origin and evolution
       1.1.1 History of management theory
       1.1.2 Approaches to study of management
       1.2.0 Introducing managerial functions
       1.2.1 Functions of managers in agribusiness firms
       1.2.2 Planning, Leading, Controlling and Organizing in    agribusiness management
       1.3.0 Defining Agri-business Management
       1.3.1 Definition of Agri-business
       1.3.2 Origins and evolution of Agri-business management concept
       1.4.0 Scope and Structure of Agri-business industry in Zimbabwe
       1.4.1 Organizational forms of Agri-business firms
       1.4.2 Scope and composition of Agri-business industries
       1.4.3 Importance of the Agri-business in the National Economy
       1.4.4 Contribution the Agri-business sector in the National    Economy
       1.5.0 Factors affecting the Agri-business sector in Zimbabwe

Module 2

2.0  AGRI-BUSINESS FINANCE
       2.1.0 Importance of Financial Management and Account to Agri business Managers
       2.2.0 Financial Statements and Financial Analysis
       2.2.2 Preparation of the Balance Sheet, Income Statement and   the Sources and Application of
               funds statement
       2.2.3 Interpretations of financial statements-liquidity ratios,   activity ratios, leverage rations and
               profitability ratio
       2.2.4 Sources of comparative data for financial management
       2.2.5 Limitations and basis of financial analysis
       2.3.0 Management of Accounts Receivables
       2.3.1 Role of credit in Agri-business management
       2.3.2 Establishing credit policy
       2.3.3 Collecting account receivables
       2.4.0 Managing Inventory and working capital in Agribusiness firms
       2.4.1 Classification of inventory
       2.4.2 Inventory costs
       2.4.3 Optimal order size and re-order points
       2.4.4 Liquidity and cash management
       2.4.5 Managing cash inflow and outflows

2.5  Financial Planning and Budgetary Control
      2.5.1  Budgeting - Use of full and partial budgets, operating   budgets, cash/profit budgets, capital
                budgeting

      2.5.2  Evaluation of the budget
      2.5.3  Variance analysis as a control method
      2.5.4  Short-term and long-term financing
             - Trade Credit, short-term bank credit, funding from current assets, term loans sources and
                characteristics, long-term financing structure and problems, decision criteria for long-term
                financing

Module 3

3.0  MARKETING IN THE AGRI-BUSINESS SECTOR
       3.1.0 Introducing the marketing concepts
       3.1.1 Importance of marketing in Agri-business firms
       3.1.2 The marketing mix elements and their importance
       3.2.0 Marketing Management in Agri-business
       3.2.1 Organizational effectiveness in a changing environment
       3.2.2 Competitive strategies for Agri-business
       3.2.3 Situation and market analysis in the Agri-business sector.
       3.2.4 Strategic aspects of marketing
       3.3.0 Tools for marketing decision in Agri-business management
       3.3.1 Market research
       3.2.2 Forecasting techniques

Module 4
4.0   PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS SYSTEMS IN AGRI-BUSINESS
       MANAGEMENT
       4.1.0 Importance of the production and operations systems in   organizations
       4.1.1 Importance  of  operations  function.  The  impact  of agribusiness on the orations and
               production systems.
       4.1.2 The link between strategic plans and operational planning
       4.2.0 Scheduling and Project Management
       4.2.1 Scheduling techniques for high volume production
       4.2.2 Job ship scheduling
       4.2.3 Project management
       4.3.4 Management science tools and techniques
       4.3.0 Quality Management and Control
       4.3.1 Product quality
       4.3.2 Total quality management approach
       4.3.3 Quality standards. Problems of quality and quality standards  in agribusiness
       4.3.4 Quality 'cultures'
       4.4.0 Special topics in production and operations management
       4.4.1 Capacity management in agribusiness industry and the    agribusiness organization
       4.2.2 MRP
       4.4.3 The concept of JIT
       Production and operations challenges in agribusiness sector.

Module 5
5.0  HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN AGRI-BUSINESS FIRMS
      5.1.0 Introducing the personnel function and human resources management
      5.1.1 Importance of the personnel function in organization
      5.1.2 Emerging patterns of employment in the agribusiness sector.
      5.2.0 Recruitment and Selection in Agri-business Firms
      5.2.1 Staffing policies and procedures
      5.2.2 Selection and assessment of producers
      5.2.3 Appointment and induction
      5.3.0 Appraisal Remuneration and Motivation
      5.3.1 Importance of appraisal employer
      5.3.2 Designing and evaluating appraisal schemes
      5.3.3 Methods of remuneration
      5.3.4 Motivations and communication in organizations
      5.3.5 Discipline handling
      5.4.0 Introduction to Occupational Safety and health
      5.4.1 Introducing safety and health concepts at work
      5.4.2 Accident causing and prevention in the agribusiness sector.
      5.4.3 Housekeeping and safety programs in the work place
      5.4.4 Legal aspects of occupational safety and health in some   Zimbabwean Agri-business
              organizations
      5.4.5 Stress management

Module 6
6.0  BUSINESS STRATEGY IN AGRI-BUSINESS FIRMS
       6.1.0 Introducing the concepts of strategy
       6.1.1 Importance of business strategy
       6.1.2 The strategic making process and its importance in agri   business
       6.1.3 The setting of objectives in organisations and importance   of objective setting
       6.2.0 Environmental and organizational aspects of agri-business   strategy
       6.2.1 Environmental analysis for agri-business
       6.2.2 Internal and external analysis processes
       6.3.0 Strategic choice and options for agri-business firms
       6.3.1 Types of strategic options
       6.3.2 Strategic options within the Zimbabwean agri-business    sector
       6.4.0 Business strategy in specific agribusiness firms
               - Public Sector
               - Co-operatives
               - Small Business Enterprises

7.0 RECOMMENDED READING AND REFERENCES LIST

Armstrong, G. Kotler, P Principles of Marketing Prentice Hall International Ed. 1991

Rrawson R and Nowell D. Introduction to Agricultural Marketing.

Downey D and Trocke J. Agribusiness management New York, McGraw In 1981.
 

Downey, D and Erickson. S. Agribusiness Management, New York McGraw Hill
International Ed. 1980

Kohls, R and Uhl T marketing of Agricultural Products.  New York MacMillan Publishing.
Moyer, C McGraw and Ktetlas, N. Contemporary Financial Management Westeon Publishing Company Minnesotta 184. International and  local Business Management, Agribusiness Management and Agricultural Economics Journals and Periodicals – for  example Financial Gazette, Agribusiness Management

Rawlings, N. O. 1980 Introduction to Agribusiness Management Engelwood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall Inc. New Jersey USA

Taylor, and Tunner T Applied Farm Management London: BSP Professional Books. 1989

Stoner, J and Freeman, E Management. 4th ed. Prentice Hall New Jersey, 1989