Set-Up

CONCEPTUALISE	Forming the concept was the first step. The visionaries identified several unmet needs of an underserved stratum of society. After discussions with several other stakeholders and external consultants, an intervention began to take shape and the BOSS concept was born.
SITE IDENTIFICATION	In terms of site identification, certain factors were considered before a final decision was made: centrality, accessibility, rural clientele, needs of community members, and infrastructure.
MARKET RESEARCH AND COMMUNITY AWARENESS	An intervention will only lead to success if it is original, innovative, and, most importantly, demand-driven. The BOSS concept, therefore, was not developed in a bubble. The feasibility of the intervention was tested on the potential target market through the administration of market surveys to approximately 110 participants in the eastern, central and western zones of Chimanimani. The local government, the Chimanimani Rural District Council, was initially consulted and several meetings with community members were set-up over the course of several days. Throughout the awareness campaign, it was, and continues to be, important to let the residents know that the BOSS is for them and that their full participation during the design stage is crucial.
PREPARE A STRATEGY AND DOCUMENT IN A BUSINESS PLAN	After the administration of the market surveys and the analysis of the market data, the needs and demands of the potential clientele become clearer and the interventions become more tailored to the specific target groups. In addition to the market assessment, an analysis of the macroenvironment was also completed in order to fully understand the external factors, which could affect the success and viability of the BOSS. The strategy and findings from the analyses must then be documented and agreed-upon in a business plan.
RECRUIT BOARD MEMBERS AND MANAGEMENT	A competent and experienced board of directors as well as senior management must then be recruited to effectively guide the organisation and ensure that the BOSS’ mission and vision statements are met. Their diverse backgrounds and combined knowledge will bring expertise and leadership to the organisation. They will be key figures in obtaining financial resources.
PLAN FOR RESOURCES	The BOSS will offer 5 different services, each of which will be its own department. Each department must be responsible for creating its own mini business plan; budgeting; financial and operational reporting; and development of their own departmental programme.
BRAND	The BOSS is aiming to be the “beacon of development in the Chimanimani area.” Its long-term goal is to be the beacon throughout the entire country. The BOSS is using the lighthouse to signify guidance, leadership, light and direction. Through its services, the organisation hopes to give every Zimbabwean access to information and in the process improve their lives.
TRAIN	To ensure an exceptional level of customer service and consistently high quality products, personnel of the BOSS at all levels will be trained on a regular basis, so as to keep current. The BOSS will pride itself on experienced, effective and knowledgeable staff and trainers.
MARKET AND PROMOTE	The public, potential donors, all stakeholders and the media should know about the BOSS. Through promotional campaigns and word of mouth, the organisation’s concept will spread and ultimately be embraced by many. The replication of the BOSS nationwide is the goal.
MONITOR AND EVALUATE PROGRESS	An important element of the continued success of the BOSS will be the thoroughness of its monitoring and evaluation processes as well as its follow-up procedures. It is important for the BOSS to know if its services have been effective in positively impacting the lives of its clientele. The BOSS will make every effort to employ such procedures diligently and frequently.
LAUNCH	The launch will be a high profile and well-attended event. It will serve as a promotional tool and effectively advertise the BOSS’ services to its target communities as well as to its potential donors and partners for collaboration.