Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range of Variables explains the contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this standard may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in training and assessment requirements may depend on the work situations available.

What may be meant by enterprise sectors?
Sectors may include various forms of productions carried on by the enterprise, such as livestock or cropping and also different functional areas of the enterprise such as human resource management and infrastructure.

What interactions between enterprises may be identified?
Interactions will include those with are complementary, supplementary, competitive, and/or have a by-product or joint-product relationship.

What resources may be impacted by interactions between the enterprises?
They include land resources such as soil, water and natural vegetation, as well as improvements to land such as soil and water conservation works, trees, shrubs and improved plant species, land forming, irrigation and drainage structures, laneways, roads and tracks, and all structures.

What might be encompassed in the production system?
The product, the production processes, the infrastructure and the land resource of each enterprise within the business, as well as the interactions and relationships between them.

What kind of innovations might be considered for use in the organisation?
Innovations to equipment, machinery, materials, practices, and systems - including those relating to environmental, OHS, and animal welfare practices and/or related equipment.

What innovations might be considered?
Those that relate to improved ways of working, new systems, new machinery and equipment, and/or new materials.

How might any threats to, or opportunities to improve, sustainability arise for the business?
They may arise from fluctuations in weather conditions, production processes, and market conditions.

What aspects of sustainability might be threatened?
The sustainability of both the business and the resources.

What preventative and reactive contingency plans might be put in place?
They might include preventative measures such as considering and adjusting the resourcing, investment or product balance for the business, or putting systems in place for unplanned events - e.g. insurance programs, emergency management plans.

Where might areas of risk be, and how might contingency plans mitigate them?
Risks may present in areas such as the market, production, resourcing, financing, management and personal risks.
Strategies such as insurance policies, diversified investment, training and development programs, vital records strategies, or recruitment programs could mitigate such risks.

What financial data might be analysed?
Data relating to cash flow, profit, debt history, equity, gross margin, cost of production, target prices, and net worth figures.

Who are the colleagues with whom issues will be discussed?
They might be family members, fellow managers, employees, professional advisors, partners, allies, mentors, or people in businesses with similar issues.

What may be meant by enterprise sectors?
Sectors may include various forms of productions carried on by the enterprise, such as livestock or cropping and also different functional areas of the enterprise such as human resource management and infrastructure.

What interactions between enterprises may be identified?
Interactions will include those with are complementary, supplementary, competitive, and/or have a by-product or joint-product relationship.

What resources may be impacted by interactions between the enterprises?
They include land resources such as soil, water and natural vegetation, as well as improvements to land such as soil and water conservation works, trees, shrubs and improved plant species, land forming, irrigation and drainage structures, laneways, roads and tracks, and all structures.

What might be encompassed in the production system?
The product, the production processes, the infrastructure and the land resource of each enterprise within the business, as well as the interactions and relationships between them.

What kind of innovations might be considered for use in the organisation?
Innovations to equipment, machinery, materials, practices, and systems - including those relating to environmental, OHS, and animal welfare practices and/or related equipment.

What innovations might be considered?
Those that relate to improved ways of working, new systems, new machinery and equipment, and/or new materials.

How might any threats to, or opportunities to improve, sustainability arise for the business?
They may arise from fluctuations in weather conditions, production processes, and market conditions.

What aspects of sustainability might be threatened?
The sustainability of both the business and the resources.

What preventative and reactive contingency plans might be put in place?
They might include preventative measures such as considering and adjusting the resourcing, investment or product balance for the business, or putting systems in place for unplanned events - e.g. insurance programs, emergency management plans.

Where might areas of risk be, and how might contingency plans mitigate them?
Risks may present in areas such as the market, production, resourcing, financing, management and personal risks.
Strategies such as insurance policies, diversified investment, training and development programs, vital records strategies, or recruitment programs could mitigate such risks.

What financial data might be analysed?
Data relating to cash flow, profit, debt history, equity, gross margin, cost of production, target prices, and net worth figures.

Who are the colleagues with whom issues will be discussed?
They might be family members, fellow managers, employees, professional advisors, partners, allies, mentors, or people in businesses with similar issues.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in managing the production system requires evidence that all aspects of the operational plans are integrated to gain economic efficiencies, and that the performance of the production system is analysed and assessed against appropriate profitability figures.
The skills and knowledge required to manage the production system must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, across a range of product types and organisation sizes.
What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:

marketplace in which the organisation operates
property planning, financial management and enterprise budgeting systems and procedures
relevant State/Territory legislation, regulations and codes of practice with regard to OHS and the use and control of hazardous substances
methods of measuring and implementing business and environmental sustainability
financial analysis tools and techniques for land based businesses
sources of information to assist in analysis of operational plans, resourcing and financial analysis
monitoring strategies for a range of operational plans
the value and methods of risk assessment.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to:

integrate plans for different enterprises into sustainable land management and production systems
interpret historical data in relation to production, finances, environmental issues, staffing and land use
recognise potential opportunities to use or install more environmentally efficient systems or equipment
assess, then adopt profitable innovations
interpret, analyse and extract information from a range of sources such as professional literature, legal documents, discussions and workshops
assess financial strategies and prepare budgets
prepare enterprise budgets and calculate financial returns
converse and liaise with industry contacts, colleagues and family regarding the land/farm based business
write reports to be understood by all levels of the organisation
communicating detailed and complex information in written and oral form with people both inside and outside the organisation.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard

Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:

marketplace in which the organisation operates
property planning, financial management and enterprise budgeting systems and procedures
relevant State/Territory legislation, regulations and codes of practice with regard to OHS and the use and control of hazardous substances
methods of measuring and implementing business and environmental sustainability
financial analysis tools and techniques for land based businesses
sources of information to assist in analysis of operational plans, resourcing and financial analysis
monitoring strategies for a range of operational plans
the value and methods of risk assessment.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to:

integrate plans for different enterprises into sustainable land management and production systems
interpret historical data in relation to production, finances, environmental issues, staffing and land use
recognise potential opportunities to use or install more environmentally efficient systems or equipment
assess, then adopt profitable innovations
interpret, analyse and extract information from a range of sources such as professional literature, legal documents, discussions and workshops
assess financial strategies and prepare budgets
prepare enterprise budgets and calculate financial returns
converse and liaise with industry contacts, colleagues and family regarding the land/farm based business
write reports to be understood by all levels of the organisation
communicating detailed and complex information in written and oral form with people both inside and outside the organisation.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard

Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life, which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.
Communicating ideas and information
In sharing, analysing and discussing information about research and innovations with a range of colleagues and researchers. (3)

Communicating ideas and information
In sharing, analysing and discussing information about research and innovations with a range of colleagues and researchers. (3)

Collecting analysing and organising information
In using a variety of available sources and information for input to business analyses. (3)

Collecting analysing and organising information
In using a variety of available sources and information for input to business analyses. (3)

Planning and organising activities
In preparing comprehensive contingency plans for the organisation. (3)

Planning and organising activities
In preparing comprehensive contingency plans for the organisation. (3)

Working with others and in teams
In working with colleagues and employees to provide and gain information on research needs and innovations. (3)

Working with others and in teams
In working with colleagues and employees to provide and gain information on research needs and innovations. (3)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
In conducting business analyses including the input of data from production, financial and performance figures. (3)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
In conducting business analyses including the input of data from production, financial and performance figures. (3)

Solving problems
When considering how to maximise beneficial interactions between business enterprises. (3)

Solving problems
When considering how to maximise beneficial interactions between business enterprises. (3)

Using technology
In operating equipment necessary for analysis and communication communication technology, calculating equipment, word processing and spreadsheeting software, and specialist financial/accounting software. (2)

Using technology
In operating equipment necessary for analysis and communication communication technology, calculating equipment, word processing and spreadsheeting software, and specialist financial/accounting software. (2)