BUSN155 - Entrepreneurship      

*Note: If you are enrolled in BUSN155 ONLINE, the classroom can be found at http://blackboard.highline.edu.

Welcome Video

The text is available at the Highline Community College bookstore in building 6, or online at http://www.highlinebookstore.com.

Required Readings: In addition to the text, you will be required to read current articles and web content. You will be expected to apply text and articles to assignments and tests.

Course Overview: Qualifications needed by the entrepreneur and small business manager to develop and manage a small business.  Included will be the development of a comprehensive Business Plan, with a Marketing Plan that articulates product development, pricing, promotion, and distribution strategies.  Accounting activities necessary for a small business will be studied, along with finance, inventory management, production, human resources, and operations management.  The forms of business acquisition and ownership will be examined, along with the requirements for licensing and tax registration.  Business Law and ethics will be reviewed, and insurance requirements for small businesses will be outlined.

Internet resources for small business, including the Small Business Administration, will be detailed in the course.

Term Project – Business Plan:
The Term Project for this course is to prepare a Business Plan.  For this project you are to assume the role of either an aspiring entrepreneur who is writing a Business Plan in order to secure financing for the venture, OR you may adopt the role of a consultant who has been hired to develop a Business Plan for a start-up company.  This Term Project will account for 25% of your final grade.

Learning Outcomes: At the successful completion of this course, students will:

·        Own a basic understanding of small business and the small business environment.

·        Understand the important role small business plays in a free market economy.

·        Be knowledgeable about the components of the Business Plan, and its importance in managing the business and in obtaining financing necessary for small business success.

·        Appreciate how business and technology are integrated in modern business.

Assessment: Grades will be earned through:

·        Homework assignments based on lessons and the text will account for 25% of the final grade.

·        The mid-term exam will account for 25% of the final grade, and the final exam for 25%.  Tests will be composed of multiple choice and true/false questions and problems.

·        A term project based on the sample Business Plan will account for the remaining 25% of the final grade.

Web Access: Access to a computer and the internet are required for this course. Be sure that you schedule time to use the computer lab and/or have access at home.

Late work: Work can be turned in up to one week late, with a late penalty of 20%. No assignments later than one week will be accepted.

Academic Integrity: Education assumes a high level of trust between the instructor and students. You will be expected to communicate with class members and the instructor in a professional and respectful manner. All work on exams and individual assignments must be the product of your own efforts and, if you are referencing outside sources, you must site those sources in your work.

Statements on Accessibility: If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability; please provide the instructor with a Letter of Accommodation from the Office of Access Services. Access Services is located in Building 6 in the Student Development Center.

Class Completion: Students must complete the first 8 weeks of course work with a passing grade (at least 0.7, or 62%) to be eligible for an incomplete grade. Discuss the possibility of earning an incomplete grade with me prior to the last week of instruction.

Class Schedule: (Subject to change)

Week              Topics                                                                         Chapters

1                 Small Business in America                                   Introduction

Ø       Is Small Business for You?                                           1

Ø       The Entrepreneurial Personality

Ø       Your Personal Financial Foundation                              2

Entrepreneurial Example

2                 Back to Business Basics – Things We Need to Know

Ø       The Free Enterprise System                                   Readings

Ø       Supply & Demand   World Gasoline Prices

Ø       The Business Cycle

SWOT Analysis

Interview an Entrepreneur
 

3              Your Business Idea

Ø       Finding Your Niche and Timing Your Start-Up                3

Ø       Getting Advice – Learning from Other’s Experience       12
 

Niche & USP            Trunk Monkey                 Business License

4              The Business Plan                                                               4
                        The Mission Statement (ppt)
                        Mission Statement Assignment
                        Mission Statement Links

5                  Buy an Existing Business, Start from Scratch,
                       or Buy a Franchise?                                                            6
                       Forms of Business Ownership                              5 (pp. 94 – 106)

                       *   MID-TERM EXAMINATION:

6                  Accounting
                        Ø       Income Statement                                                         11
                        Ø       Balance Sheet
      Ø       Breakeven Analysis
      Ø       Intro: Desired Income Approach to Planning  5 (pp. 79 – 88)
                        Assignment - Financial Statement Research

      7                 Accounting                                                                 Readings

Ø       Your Projected Income Statement   Video  Doc  How

Ø       Opening Day Balance Sheet

Ø       Finding the Funds
 

8                  Marketing                                                                           9

Ø       Target Markets

Ø       Marketing Mix

Ø       Products, Promotion, Pricing

9                   Marketing                                                                        10
      Ø       Customer Service
      Ø       E-Commerce

10                 Management and Human Resources

  Ø       Finding, Hiring, Managing, Firing                                  13

  Ø       Choosing a Management System                                  17

        Final Thoughts on Entrepreneurship

                        FINAL
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