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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "BUS 305-1"
COURSE NAME: "Early Stage Entrepreneurship"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2022
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Luigi Nasta
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 1:30 PM 2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Sophomore Standing
OFFICE HOURS: by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course examines the entrepreneurial process, from recognizing opportunity to planning, organizing and growing a new venture. We will highlight innovation and its methods and applications on business opportunity analysis. Topics covered also include significance, status, problems, and requirements of entrepreneurial businesses. Students will have the opportunity to identify a business opportunity and develop the idea to the point of being start-up ready. This course will serve as a foundation for students who might want to own a business, and it is meant to be accessible also for non-business majors.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course emphasizes a hands-on approach, involving students in their learning through a variety of methods. Lectures are used only when necessary, for less than a third of the class encounters. In addition, some of the classes are dedicated to guest speakers, and several classes willbe dedicated to teamwork and case studies analysis.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

At macro level, after successful completion of the course the student will be able to identify new business opportunities and take the first steps towards implementing a business idea.

Specifically, students will apply their learning through a variety of activities designed to test their ability to:

·         Generate innovative business ideas

·         Systematically evaluate business ideas and feasibility studies

·         Understand key elements of a successful strategy

·         Conduct an industry analysis

·         Conduct a PEST analysis

·         Perform a competitive analysis

·         Recognize the importance of business plans and learn what the key building blocks are

·         Define a working business model

·         Strategically position a new venture

·         Formulate and deliver a persuasive elevator pitch

·         Understand the pillars of a good marketing strategy

·         Forecast sales

·         Preparing budgeted financial statements for the first three years of the venture

·         Identify the key legal aspects of starting a new business

·         Understand key aspects of human resource management in new ventures
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers Alexander Osterwalder, Yves Pigneur John Wiley & Sons Inc 9780470876411     
Disciplined Entrepreneurship Bill Aulet Wiley 9781118692288     
Value Proposition Design: How to Create Products and Services Customers Want Osterwalder Pigneur et al N/A 9781118968055      
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Class participationStudents are welcome to contribute to the class discussions by sharing with the classmates contemporary articles, research, opinions, etc. on the management and the entrepreneurship issues.10%
Written individual assignment: Final examWritten assignment composed by open questions, multiple choice questions, true or false questions45%
Written individual assignment: Mid-term examWritten assignment composed by multiple choices questions, true or false questions, open questions15%
Group assignment: Business Idea DevelopmentBusiness Idea Development. Developing the business model and the strategy to enter in a market with a new business30%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course. 94 to 100 A; 90 to 93 A-
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments. 87 to 89 B+; 84 to 86 B; 80 to 83 B-
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings. 77 to 79 C+; 74 to 76 C; 70-73 C-
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail. 67 to 69 D+; 64 to 66 D; 60-63 D-
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant. 0 to 59 F

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

The topics to be learnt and discussed during the course:

  • Introduction to entrepreneurship
  • The exernal environment analysis
  • Business model vs Strategy
  • Business model innovation
  • Competitive Advantage
  • Value proposition Map
  • Positioning Map
  • Market Segmentation
  • Distribution channels
  • Customer relationships
  • Revenue Streams
  • Idea presentation - Teamwork
  • Key Resources and Key activities
  • The role of partnerships in entrepreneurship
  • Cost structure
  • Introduction to Financial Statements and Budgeting