BA 460 Entrepreneurship

Eastern Oregon University Course Syllabus Number of Course: BA 460 Name of Course: Entrepreneurship Catalog Description: The pursuit of new product/venture ideas is the cornerstone of global economic growth. This activity is essential for creating new ventures (entrepreneurship) and sustaining the vitality of existing ventures (intrapreneurship). Entrepreneurship is also the single greatest source of social change and personal wealth. This course will explore common sources of new ideas and innovation, techniques for evaluating opportunities, and the legal principles that guide selection of structure and protection of intellectual property. This course will also examine tools and techniques used to identify required resources, pull together a team, and organize/operate effectively. Credit Hours: 4 hours Required Texts or Suggested Materials: EOU Bookstore Link Prerequisites: BA 321 and junior standing Learning Outcomes: After completing this course, students will be able to demonstrate the following outcomes: (1)

Understand the concepts, tools, practices, and processes associated with entrepreneurship (external ventures) and intrapreneurship (internal ventures)

(2)

Outline the value that entrepreneurship brings to the community and the economy

(3)

Recognize the skills, traits, and characteristics of successful entrepreneurs

(4)

Identify and assess new entrepreneurial opportunities (venture ideas)

(5)

Consider and select the proper form of business and legal entity

(6)

Write a concise and well-integrated pre-business plan

(7)

Create realistic financial projections for a venture

(8)

Select appropriate sources of startup capital

(9)

Launch and grow the new venture

Course Requirements: Quizzes: 30% of Final Grade (30 points/quiz) There is an online quiz for every chapter that we cover in class. The exams are “generally” due the Sunday of the week the material is assigned for reading. Class discussions are designed to follow the same flow as the readings – although we sometimes depart from this schedule for class discussion purposes. The dates are all published on Canvas – when in doubt, check Canvas. These are open book exams and there is no time limit for completion as long as the

exam is submitted before the deadline. Each exam will consist of 15 multiple choice, true/false, or short answer questions covering material from class discussion, the textbook, assigned articles, discussion questions, videos, or guest lectures. Each student is offered one “Mulligan” for the term. This Mulligan will allow you to retake one quiz for the course. This may be a quiz that was not completed by the deadline or an attempt to improve the score that was originally earned. There is only one per student, per term, and it can only be applied to the online quizzes, so use it wisely. Response Briefs: 20% of Final Grade (50 points/brief) There will be a number of response briefs on noteworthy entrepreneurs or other “hot topics” assigned over the course of the term. The assignments will be posted in your weekly module on Canvas. The assignment will usually consist of a video clip or article with questions that explore the topic in more detail. You will review the information presented and then prepare a response brief (maximum of 2 pages, 1.5 spaced, 12 point font) that responds to the questions. The Response Briefs will be graded based on the sophistication of the written contribution and the quality of the information presented. We are looking for insightful analysis – not just a summary of what was included in the video/press clip. Please be certain that you address the question(s) posed. Additionally, please use appropriate grammar and “proof read” your document. Points will be deducted for poorly prepared written assignments. Papers that do not address the assigned question, or are “off-topic”, will receive no credit. Papers must be submitted before the due date posted on Canvas. Response briefs will only be accepted on Canvas and late briefs will not be accepted. Investor Pitch: 10% of Final Grade (100 points) Outside capital is often required to fund a venture of any scale that requires significant up-front investment in people, facilities, or intellectual property. Raising capital from outside investors (angels, venture funds, strategic investors …) usually requires a business plan and an investor pitch. The investor “pitch” is a brief presentation that takes the potential investor through the opportunity, the value proposition, the team, the investment required, and the return/upside. The class will be broken into teams which will each plan a new business venture over the course of the team. Each team will present their investor “pitch” the final week of class. Additional information on this project and scoring criteria will be presented on Canvas. Business Plan: 20% of Final Grade (200 points) The business plan is a document that describes the details of a business venture. The business plan serves a number of purposes for new ventures. First, it helps the team systematically think through the attractiveness and feasibility of the opportunity. Second, it can help communicate the offering and operational details to internal and external stakeholders. Finally, the business plan is pivotal to raising funds from sophisticated external investors (when required). The business plan should answer critical questions such as: what is the opportunity and the offering; how large is the opportunity; what is the window of opportunity; what type of skills or resources (land, labor, capital) are required; what is the business model; and what do the

operational details look like? A complete business plan with financials can be more than 40+ single spaced pages + appendices. In this class you will prepare a “condensed” business plan that covers just the essential elements of the opportunity. Additional information on the exact form of the business plan and scoring will be provided on Canvas. The class will be broken into teams which will each plan a new business venture over the course of the term. The teams will be formed the second week of class and each team will select a new business venture from a list supplied by your instructor. Teams will each be responsible for creating a business plan and an investor pitch over the course of the term. The investor pitch is due the final week of class and the business plan is due Monday of finals week. Peer Evaluation: 5% of Final Grade (50 points) A peer evaluation form is required from each team member. It is up to the team to determine in advance the division of labor and the contributions required of each member. If the team members all participated equally, or met/exceeded the expectations of the group, then all team members should be given an equal amount of points. In cases where there is an unequal contribution, which was not anticipated by the group (as shown by the evaluation), individual business plan grades may be adjusted to reflect the actual level of participation/contribution. Attendance and Participation: 10% of Final Grade Working successfully in business requires collaboration, communication, and teamwork. This class will give you the opportunity to learn in a highly active and collaborative environment. 10% of your grade will be based on your regular attendance and positive participation in class. This portion of your grade will not only be based on attendance, but it will also be based on your active and insightful participation on various discussion questions that will be debated and analyzed in class. In order to successfully participate in the class discussion you will be required to have read all the assigned material and thought through the issues prior to the class. The expectation is that you will be prepared to discuss the assigned topics in a spirited but respectful manner. The quantity of your participation is not as important as the quality of your participation. Your participation will be evaluated based on your ability to provide in-depth analysis on the discussion questions versus simply reciting theory and facts. It may be necessary to miss a class due to illness, family emergency, or personal matters. Please send me an email in advance of these absences. If you are an athlete and you have games/events that conflict with class sessions provide a list of these events at the beginning of the term. Be sure to submit any assignments due on those days the class session before the one you will miss. Your first assignment with respect to attendance and participation is to make sure that you have a current picture uploaded in Canvas. This will help your instructor and classmates more quickly associate a name with a face and aid in class discussion. Grading Policies: A summary of the total points possible for this class by assignment is provided below. The final course grade assigned will be based on the percentage of total points earned by the student as outlined in the table below.

Grade A AB+ B BC+ C CD F

Minimum % 95 90 87 84 80 77 74 70 60 <60

Means of Assessment: All learning outcomes are assessed with discussion questions, quizzes, response briefs, and a (condensed) business plan + investor pitch. Brief Outline of Course:

Assignment Quizzes Response Briefs Investor Pitch Business Plan Peer Review Attendance & Participation Course Total

Due date weekly as assigned final class session Mon finals week Mon finals week

Max score 300 200

Percentage of total grade 30% 20%

150

10%

250

25%

50

5%

entire course

100

10%

1,000

100%

Learning Outcome s 1-9 2, 3 6-9 6-9 6-9 1-9

General Education Category and Outcomes: This is an upper division core course in the Business Administration degree program. University Writing Requirement (UWR) Outcomes: Does not qualify as a UWR For on-campus courses The Writing Center provides a place — physical or virtual — where every EOU writer can find an interested, responsive reader. Writing tutorials are free of charge for EOU’s undergraduate and graduate students who are writing for any course at any level, or who are writing resumes, job letters, graduate applications, and more. Go to eou.mywconline.com to schedule an appointment in the Writing Center (Loso Hall 234).

For online or on-site courses The Writing Center provides a place — physical or virtual — where every EOU writer can find an interested, responsive reader. Writing tutorials are free of charge for EOU students writing for any undergraduate course. Go to EOU’s eTutoring page to submit a paper to a writing tutor. Academic Misconduct Policy: Eastern Oregon University places a high value upon the integrity of its student scholars. Any student found responsible for an act of academic misconduct (including but not limited to cheating, unauthorized collaboration, fabrication, facilitation, plagiarism or tampering) may be subject to having his or her grade reduced in the course in question, being placed on probation or suspended from the University, or a combination of these. (Please see the Student Handbook online at http://www.eou.edu/sse/student-handbook/). Accommodations/Students with Disabilities policy: Any student who feels he or she may need an accommodation for any type of disability, must contact the Disability Services Office in Loso Hall, Room 234. Phone: 541-962-3081.

Date: January 1, 2018 "This standard syllabus provides only general information on the course. A detailed syllabus will be provided by the Instructor. Please keep in mind that not all courses are offered every year. Consult Webster for scheduling information."