"Building on the first operational business module this course delves into the prominent legal aspects of the horticulture industry in terms of contract and employment law as well as sound financial practices. In addition, man management techniques designed to improve productivity are discussed. Ideal for anyone in a horticultural management position." - Gavin Cole B.Sc., Psych.Cert., Cert.Garden Design, MACA.

Learn the business of horticulture with this module from the prestigious and world-renowned Royal Horticultural Society. This is a module from the RHS M.Hort (based on curriculum developed by the Royal Horticultural Society); this can be taken either as part of the M.Hort Program, as a module in one of our other qualifications or as a stand alone course (Ideal for use as a Professional Development program for persons working in the horticulture industry anywhere in the world).

There are 9 lessons in this course:

1. The Economic Environment
2. External Influences on Horticultural Enterprise
3. Information Management for Horticulture
4. Strategic Planning in Horticulture
5. Implementing Strategies
6. PBL Project:Developing a Business Plan
7. Business Control Systems for Horticulture
8. Evaluating Horticultural Marketing
9. Marketing Strategies for Horticulture

Each lesson should require around 10 hours of work, except for Lesson 6, which will require around 20 hours

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

• Explain the economic environment in which horticultural business operates.
• Appraise the impact of external influences.
• Establish the type of information required for operations in both commercial businesses and service organisations.
• Examine the process and analyse approaches to strategic planning.
• Examine the process and analyse approaches to strategy formation and implementation.
• Prepare a business plan.
• Assess the importance of business control systems utilising IT integration into financial management; prepare, read and interpret annual statements, appreciate the importance of budgetary control.
• Identify the benefits involved when preparing marketing plans; analyse organisational strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
• Formulate customer-orientated and realisable strategies for selected markets