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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "BUS 305"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Entrepreneurship"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session I 2015
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Riccardo Maiolini
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MTWTH 11:00AM-12:45PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Sophomore Standing
OFFICE HOURS:
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:

Entrepreneurial Opportunities and Rewards.  Characteristics and Competencies of Entrepreneurs. Creativity, Opportunity, and feasibility. Paths to Full-Time Entrepreneurship. Business Plans for New Businesses. Marketing and Promotion for Entrepreneurs. Distribution and Location. Finance for Entrepreneurs: Cash Management, Capital Structure. Risk Management and Insurance. Legal Issues for Entrepreneurs.

Course content will include materials related to identifying and analyzing market opportunities, evaluating resources required to exploit market opportunities, and launching a new venture. This process will be assessed mainly from the perspective of an individual entrepreneur. 
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

After successful completion of the course the student will be able to:                   

·       Understand the relationship between innovation, business opportunity and entrepreneurship

·       Identify the challenges inherent in innovation and in launching a new business

·       Evaluate business ideas in a systematic manner

·       Draft a business plan for a new venture

·       Recognize the implementation issues that arise from an entrepreneurial business plan

·       Establish measurements to evaluate progress and success
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Entrepreneurial Small BusinessKatz and Green (2009)McGrawHill978-0078029424     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
1. CLASS PARTICIPATION 10%
2. WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS 20%
3. FINAL EXAM 30%
4. FINAL PROJECT 40%

-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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
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.
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

Class

Week

Chapter

Topic

PART I: ENTREPRENEURS AND IDEAS - THE BASIS

1

1

1

Introduction to the courses

2

2

Opportunities and rewards

3

3

Characteristics & competencies of entrepreneur

4

4

Entrepreneurial ideas: Creativity, Opportunity and Feasibility

PART II: PREPARING THE BUSINESS PLAN

5

2

5-6

Paths to part-time entrepreneurship& Paths to full-time entrepreneurship

6

7

Strategies for new businesses

7

8

Business plans

8

 

Business Modeling

PART III: MARKETING FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURES

9

3

 

Intermediate assignment

10

9-10

Entrepreneurial Marketing - Product, Pricing and Promotion

11

11

Placement

12

12

Marketing plan

PART IV: FINANCE FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURES

13

4

13

Projecting and Evaluating Performance

14

13

Projecting and Evaluating Performance

15

14

Cash flow

16

14

Cash flow

17

15

Sources of finance

PART V IN CLASS PRESENTATION

18

5

 

Class presentation

19

 

Class presentation

20

 

Comprehensive Review