Enterprise Development

The mandate of this department, which started operating on 1 April 2010, is documented as follows: To identify and pursue income opportunities within the existing product range of the APD as well as to conceptualise and create new, financially viable, products and business ventures that will generate an income for the association.

The division’s modus operandi involves presenting any ideas to the Director for evaluation. Should the Director agree with the viability of the concept and approve the project, it is developed into a business plan which is then discussed with the Executive Committee-appointed Steering Committee and, if ratified by them, it is implemented by the relevant division of the APD (Commercial Services, Community Services, Support Services or, in exceptional cases – mainly skills development – Enterprise Development).

As Enterprise Development does not physically promote or sell the products it develops, its ability to comply with its mandate to ensure that income is generated for the organisation is therefore largely dependent on the other APD divisions’ ability to effectively explore the anticipated potential of the project/product.

In meeting its mandate, Enterprise Development obviously has to monitor the success of the new products/projects. The relevant divisions therefore have to compile progress reports which will enable Enterprise Development to evaluate the practical viability of the project/product and to analyse and find solutions for problems experienced during implementation which could negatively impact on the projected income/expected results.