BA 260 - Intro to Entrepreneurship

BA 260: Entrepreneurship (4 h.)

Spring 2008 Course Syllabus

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Instructor: Geoff Archer, MEM, MBA, PhD Candidate

Office Hours: Tuesday 2pm-4pm, Thursday 10:30am-11:30am 330 Bexell Hall

Contact: geoff.archer@bus.oregonstate.edu, Office Phone (541)737-2616

Pre-requisites: None

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OVERVIEW

This course is a focused introduction to entrepreneurship, designed with the assumption that you have little or no business experience. Throughout the semester, you will be exposed to a variety of business strategy and entrepreneurship concepts while developing the ability to present and pursue an entrepreneurial opportunity.

As individuals you will read a textbook and several business plans, and you will write a weekly journal. Simultaneously, you will be working with a team to deliver and present a complete business plan for a new venture. It is expected that you will use a great many other resources to assist your learning, including primary research with potential customers and partners – ‘real world’ interaction is a must.

To clarify, this venture does not necessarily have to be a for-profit business, but can be built around any idea that brings people together to address an opportunity through economic means, such as a non-profit or volunteer organization. The philosophical assumptions of the class are that we have the option as individuals to create a different and better future, and the act of entrepreneurship is one mechanism to do so.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

BA 260 students will learn to:

· Understand the entrepreneurial start-up process.

· Identify entrepreneurial opportunities

· Assess the feasibility of an entrepreneurial opportunity

· Devise a business model that exploits this opportunity

· Present a business plan

GRADING

I will give plus and minus grades as follows: 94 and above = A, 90-93 = A-, 87-89 = B+, 84-86 = B, 80-83 = B-, 77-79 = C+, 74-76 = C, 70-73 = C-, 67-69 = D+, 64-66 = D, 60-63 = D-, 59 and below= F. The composition of your grade is determined by a mixture of individual and group efforts, specifically:

Individual Grading

1. Class Participation and Engagement in Learning (10%)

Quality class participation is reflected in your insight and contribution to the class discussion. In my eyes, the most important time to speak up is when we are hosting a guest speaker (who could obviously be talking to a customer or an investor, but took the time to speak with our class for your benefit).

2. Your Elevator Pitch (10%)

On the third and fourth days of class each one of you will take the stage and make what is called an “Elevator Pitch.” In 30 seconds or less you will need to describe a business concept, and explain who will buy it and why. You will also submit a hard copy of your elevator pitch which explains your idea in words and images. This is called a "one sheet", and you will hand it in when you are finished talking to the class.

3. Personal Entrepreneurship Journal (10%)

Entrepreneurship is an intensely personal experience. The decision to pursue an entrepreneurial venture is bound within your upbringing, life experiences, societal position, current employment, potential opportunities, and psychological factors. To capture your own thoughts around this journey you will keep a personal weekly journal. The purpose of the journal is to clarify your goals and expectations around entrepreneurship and to track your participation in the class. What you write should concern the concepts we cover in class, the progress of your teams’ efforts, and your own journey in defining your entrepreneurial ambitions. Type-written, Hard-copy, one-page-minimum journal entries will be due to me in class every Thursday at the start of class.

4. Business Planning Peer Evaluation (10%)

Towards the end of the semester you will evaluate yourself and your team-mates. Your grade will be based on a ranking of each of the following factors:

· Great Attendance, Timeliness, Courtesy

· Delivered their Fair Share of the workload

· Delivered Quality Work that didn’t need a lot of edits

· Contributed Important Work that Shaped the project

· Would Team up with this person Again

Group Grades

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS: As I mentioned above, everyone in the class will make an Elevator Pitch early on. Four person teams (with limited exceptions made at my discretion) will then be formed around the business concepts that you choose. Therefore, every person in the class will be on a business plan team. All group grades will be based on both written and/or powerpoint versions of the four team deliverables delineated below. The written version of each deliverable is due in HARD COPY at the beginning of class on the dates indicated below. 3-5 pages are expected for each deliverable. Ideally the completion of each of the first three deliverables will greatly ease the assembly of your final business plan.

PRESENTATIONS: Every group will also present a powerpoint to the class once this semester. Because we have such a large class, and will have between 40 and 50 four-person teams, there is no way that every team could also present a powerpoint of every deliverable. Therefore we will rotate the presentation element. Dates will be open for sign-up shortly after teams are finalized (at the end of the 3^rd week of class). Pick a date for your team’s presentation, and stick to it.

Presentations should be professional with powerpoint slides on a memory stick transferred to the classroom computer before the beginning of class. Presentations should be no longer than 10 minutes. You should come prepared to answer questions from the audience. Note: For both the presenters and the audience this Q&A period is a font of valuable, low-cost information. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are presenting you do not have to submit a word document for that deliverable. The one exception to this rule is the Business Plan. All teams must submit written Business Plans as their final exam.

Marketing Plan (10%) – April 29th

Operations Plan (10%) – May 13th

Financial Plan (10%) – May 27th

Business Plan (30%) – Final exam slot TBD

The business plan is the cumulative effort of the class and takes the place of the final exam. Written business plans are generally between 15 and 25 pages in length. Yours are to be turned in at the beginning of the final exam period (which will be assigned by the university about half way through the term).

Every team must submit a written business plan to complete this course. The teams who will also be presenting their Business Plans in powerpoint will receive the higher of these two grades on their final exam.

Point-of-Clarification: I realize that the rotational aspect can be confusing. I think it is probably best explained with an example: Let’s hypothetically say that you presented your Elevator Pitch on some new business idea you have been dying to start. Three other people love your idea, and you form a team. You run over to my office after the 5^th or 6^th day of class, and sign up for a presentation time slot. You think you are strong in Marketing, but are worried that you might not do so well going first. So you sign up to present your Operations Plan. This means that your group would a) present the Operations Plan for 10 minutes using powerpoint, b) not have to submit a written Operations Plan, c) submit 3-5 page written Marketing and Finance Plans when they are due, and d) submit a complete written Business Plan as your final exam. If this is not clear just raise your hand in class or stop by my office hours. I am happy to clarify.

MATERIALS

Entrepreneurship, Successfully Launching New Ventures by Bruce Barringer and Duane Ireland (referred to as B&I)

LATE ASSIGNMENTS
Unexcused late assignments will lose one point for every day that they are late.

CHEATING

Please refer to the University’s policy on cheating http://oregonstate.edu/admin/stucon/achon.htm

Statement Regarding Students with Disabilities
Accommodations are collaborative efforts between students, faculty and Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). Students with accommodations approved through SSD are responsible for contacting the faculty member in charge of the course prior to or during the first week of the term to discuss accommodations. Students who believe they are eligible for accommodations but who have not yet obtained approval through SSD should contact SSD immediately at 737-4098.

BA 260 ENTREPRENEURSHIP

COURSE SCHEDULE

SPRING, 2008

Class	Day / Date	Class Topic
1	04/01/08	*INTRODUCTION and* THE NATURE OF ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITY**
2	04/03/08	SOURCES OF OPPORTUNITY and ELEVATOR PITCHES EXPLAINED
3	04/08/08	THE ELEVATOR PITCH Part 1
4	04/10/08	THE ELEVATOR PITCH Part 2
5	04/15/08	MARKETING Part 1
6	04/17/08	MARKETING Part 2 & INDUSTRY/COMPETITOR ANALYSIS
7	04/22/08	***NO CLASS – FINALIZE YOUR TEAMS***
8	04/24/08	THE BUSINESS PLAN & BUSINESS FORMS
9	04/29/08	MARKETING PLAN PRESENTATIONS
10	05/01/08	MARKETING PLAN PRESENTATIONS
11	05/06/08	OPERATIONS PLAN Part 1
12	05/08/08	OPERATIONS PLAN Part 2
13	05/13/08	OPERATIONS PLAN PRESENTATIONS
14	05/15/08	OPERATIONS PLAN PRESENTATIONS
15	05/20/08	FINANCE PART 1
16	05/22//08	FINANCE PART 2
17	05/27/08	FINANCE PLAN PRESENTATIONS
18	05/29/08	FINANCE PLAN PRESENTATIONS
19	06/03/08	BIZPLAN PRESENTATIONS
20	06/05/08	BIZPLAN PRESENTATIONS

BA 260 ENTREPRENEURSHIP Daily Assignments

04/01/08

1A. INTRODUCTION and

1B. THE NATURE OF ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITY

Readings:

“Chapter 1: Entrepreneurship, Successfully Launching New Ventures,” (B&I)

One Red Paperclip

http://oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/

Sustainable Skateboards

www.cometskateboards.com

Flocks Sweater

http://www.springwise.com/fashion_beauty/full_provenance_sweaters/index.php

Flying Lawn Chair

http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2007/07/10/828456-lawn-chair-pilot-flies-with-105-balloons

Treasure Dough

http://www.treasuredough.com/treasure.html

iPod Walking Tours of Buenos Aires

http://mptours.com/

Facebook Apps

http://www.smsmallbiz.com/technology/Stanfords_Facebook_Apps_Class_Proves_a_Quick_Hit.html

Row your Bike

http://inventorspot.com/row_your_bike

Dean Kamen

http://www.notablebiographies.com/news/Ge-La/Kamen-Dean.html

Assignment:

Be prepared to introduce yourself including your name, major, inspiration for taking this course, and a suggestion of one thing you are hoping to learn here.

04/03/08

2A. SOURCES OF OPPORTUNITY and

2B. ELEVATOR PITCHES EXPLAINED

Readings:

“Chapter 2: Recognizing Opportunities and Generating Ideas,” (B&I)

Effectuation (www.effectuation.org)

Terracycle

http://www.springwise.com/eco_sustainability/garbage_into_gold_via_worm_poo_1/index.php

Street-Level Billboards

http://www.springwise.com/marketing_advertising/digital_billboards_revive_empt/index.php

S.T. Lawder (!)

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119880875500454651.html?mod=djemSB

Assignment:

Be prepared to describe a venture that you think is really just an idea, and one that you suspect is an actual opportunity.

04/08/08

3. THE ELEVATOR PITCH – Part 1

Readings:

Chapter 3 (B&I)

www.vator.tv

www.raisecapital.com

Assignment:

Business Concept “One-Sheet” due when you present. After you have spoken please hand it in to me. Also please post it onto Blackboard.

Please Include:

YOUR NAME
YOUR EMAIL
YOUR CONCEPT NAME

The rest of the content on the one-sheet is up to you

04/10/08

4. THE ELEVATOR PITCH – Part 2

Readings:

· Elevator Pitches that you see on our class Blackboard page.

Assignment:

Start connecting with classmates (on blackboard and/or in real life) with whom you would like to form a four-person team,

04/15/08

5. MARKETING Part 1

Readings:

· Chapter 11 (B&I)

www.linkedin.com

Assignment:

Connect with classmates (on blackboard and/or in real life) with whom you would like to form a four-person team,

04/17/08

6. MARKETING Part 2

Readings:

· Chapter 5 (B&I)

Assignment:

Connect with classmates (on blackboard and/or in real life) with whom you would like to form a four-person team,

04/22/08

7. *****NO CLASS – FINALIZE YOUR TEAMS*****

Assignment:

· Email me your team roster. Everyone must be on a team at this point.

04/24/08

8A. FEASIBILITY and THE BUSINESS PLAN

8B. BUSINESS FORMS

Readings:

· Chapter 4 (B&I)

· Sample Business Plans I will post to Blackboard

· http://www.unitedkeys.com/

· Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov)

· Oregon’s Secretary of State (http://www.sos.state.or.us/)

Assignment:

Think about these plans as though you were an investor.

04/29/08	9. MARKETING PLAN PRESENTATIONS – Part 1
Readings:	None
Assignment:	Several teams present their Marketing plan in fewer than 10 slides

05/01/08	10. MARKETING PLAN PRESENTATIONS – Part 2
Readings:	None
Assignment:	Several teams present their Marketing plan in fewer than 10 slides

05/06/08

11. OPERATIONS PLAN – Part 1

Readings:

· Chapter 6 (B&I)

· Chapter 12 (B&I)

· Chapter 15 (B&I)

· http://www.franopolis.com/

Assignment:

Come prepared to explain your favorite business model

05/08/08

12. OPERATIONS PLAN – Part 2

Readings:

· Chapter 7 (B&I)

· Chapter 9 (B&I)

· http://www.theonion.com/content/node/75344

Assignment:

Think about how you would handle the criticism that you are too young/have no experience?

What do you think about working with friends?

05/13/08	13. OPERATIONS PLAN PRESENTATIONS – Part 1
Readings:	None
Assignment:	Several teams present their Operations plan in fewer than 10 slides

05/15/08	14. OPERATIONS PLAN PRESENTATIONS – Part 2
Readings:	None
Assignment:	Several teams present their Operations plan in fewer than 10 slides