Description
Detailed description pertaining to georgia webmba entrepreneurship spring semester 2015.
1
Georgia WebMBA
WMBA 6070: Entrepreneurship
Spring Semester 2015
Instructor: Kim Green, Ph.D., CFA Office phone: 678-839-4831
Office: Miller Hall 2319 E-mail address: Through Brightspace/D2L
Richards College of Business or [email protected]
University of West Georgia campus
Office hours: Monday & Tuesday: 8:30 am – 1:30 pm, or by appointment or email at other times
PREREQUISITES: Admission to WebMBA and assignment to a cohort.
CREDIT HOURS: 3
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is intended to expose graduate business students to both the
spirit and mechanics of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial thinking and action. The course takes the
perspective of both the needs of the would-be entrepreneur as well as the manager of creative and
entrepreneurial activity within established organizations. This course is designed to offer insight for
students seeking entrepreneurial careers in new or established businesses. It describes the new venture
startup process and strategies for increasing the likelihood of successful venture launch. Topics covered
include models of new venture formation, strategic resource acquisition and deployment, marketing,
operations, and financial strategies for successful ventures, and the leadership skills and behaviors
required for venture success. Participants will learn how to write a business plan and assess business
plans written by others.
COURSE FORMAT: This is a fully online course. Students are required to use Brightspace/D2L
throughout the semester to support faculty-to-student and student-to-student interaction, including but not
limited to discussion boards, announcements, email, individual/group work, submitting assignments, etc.
The following technology will be needed for completing this class successfully:
? Access to a personal computer (PC or MAC) with speakers
? High-speed internet service (DSL, Cable, etc.) is strongly recommended. If high-speed internet is
not available in your area, contact your instructor immediately. Completion of course
requirements will be difficult and cumbersome without high-speed internet service.
? Software requirements: Microsoft Office 2007 or higher, Adobe Reader, and other potentially
required downloads listed in Brightspace/D2L.
This course will be delivered entirely at a distance and requires the online equivalent of 2250 minutes of
instruction (seat-time). Additionally, it is anticipated that students will need to work independently for
twice the number of instruction minutes to complete the coursework (i.e., 4500 minutes of supporting
activities).
COURSE OBJECTIVES: The major objective of this course is to give students the opportunity to
examine entrepreneurial activities for both new and established businesses. The course helps students
to investigate the start-up process that can be applied to new, stand-alone businesses or to new product
development or new venture subsidiaries of established businesses. The course examines the concepts
and issues associated with entrepreneurship and the analytical skills of an entrepreneur or manager of
corporate innovation. While the course is practically oriented, theory is used as the basis for good
practice. Specific learning objectives for the course include:
1. Choosing the processes, strategies, and systems needed to guide the overall organization by
conducting SWOT analysis; conducting competitive analysis; forecasting income/sales; conducting
break-even analysis; developing action plans; using budgets to control operations; analyzing cash-
flow patterns; and tracking performance of business plans or feasibility studies.
2. Integrating general business knowledge to formulate a business plan or a venture feasibility
analysis.
3. Constructing a comprehensive, written business plan.
2
4. Assessing the multiple impacts (e.g., financial, economic, and behavioral) of introducing a new
product or service, or making a significant change to an existing product or service.
The course will use a combination of textbook content, explanations and exercises posted on-line, case
studies of actual corporations, class discussion boards, team project, and examinations to accomplish
these objectives.
COURSE MATERIALS:
Required Textbook: Either the 3
rd
or 4
th
edition is acceptable. Both are available through Amazon.com.
(The 4
th
edition was available for about $100 and the 3
rd
edition was available for about $12 as of
December 2014.)
Entrepreneurship: Successfully Launching New Ventures. 2010. Third edition. Bruce R. Barringer and
R. Duane Ireland. Pearson. ISBN 13: 978-0-13-608353-5. ISBN 10: 0-13-608353-6.
OR
Entrepreneurship: Successfully Launching New Ventures. 2012. Fourth edition. Bruce R. Barringer and
R. Duane Ireland. Pearson. ISBN 13: 978-0-13-255552-4. ISBN 10: 0-13-255552-2.
Articles and Cases: Cases and articles available from your professor are posted on Brightspace/D2L.
Brightspace/D2L: Throughout the semester, announcements and assignments may be posted on
Brightspace/D2L. Students should check Brightspace/D2L frequently.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR COURSE MATERIALS: Technical support is available for the systems
you will use in this course.
For assistance with Brightspace/D2L, you can access the University System of Georgia’s help site or
receive phone support.
Online:https://d2lhelp.view.usg.edu/home.do
Call: To speak with a DHC Help Center agent, 24x7x365, call the University System of Georgia Support
Hotline:
TOLL FREE 1-855-772-0423
TOLL FREE FOR HEARING IMPAIRED 1-800-892-4315
Appropriate adaptive technology (hardware) is necessary to use this number.
COURSE STRUCTURE
The content material for the course is organized into five modules or units. The first unit will get you
started with the set-up of the course. The textbook chapters that we will cover are distributed across the
modules as follows:
Module 1: Getting Started in the Study of Entrepreneurship (Chapter 1)
Module 2: Opportunity Recognition and Plan Formulation (Chapters 2, 3, and 4)
Module 3: Market Analysis and Marketing Plans (Chapters 5, 6, and 11)
Module 4: Financing and Staffing (Chapters 8, 9, and 10)
Module 5: Ethical and Legal Issues and Growth of the Business (Chapters 7, 12, and 13)
There is a separate folder on CourseDen for each module. Each folder contains a checklist for the
module that identifies the work you should complete for that module. The PowerPoint files, cases,
articles, and any videos posted for you will be included in the appropriate module folder.
Additionally, there are separate folders posted for the case assignment and for the business plan project
(instructions and drop boxes).
3
COURSE EVALUATION
COURSE EVALUATION CRITERIA
Discussion Boards (4 boards for 5% each) 20%
[Modules 1, 2, 3, and 5]
Learning Module Quizzes (4 quizzes for 6.25% each) 25%
[Modules 2, 3, 4, and 5]
Case Analysis 20%
Business Plan Project 35%
Total Course 100%
DETAILS ABOUT ASSIGNMENTS
DISCUSSION BOARD CONTRIBUTIONS (4 sessions, 5% points each): There will be four discussion
board sessions during the semester. Each session will be weighted 5% of your semester grade. All
boards will be open from the beginning of the semester, and you can post any time before the deadline.
Your syllabus schedule indicates recommended due dates for the discussion boards to pace your work
through the semester. The deadline for all discussion posts is Monday, April 20, at noon. No late posts
will be accepted after that deadline.
During the discussion board posting period, students are required to (a) post comments, analysis,
thoughts, and reactions to questions specific to the unit and (b) post a response, reaction to, or comment
about at least one post made by another student. You may need to return to the discussion board more
than once during the open window in order to post your comment about another student’s ideas. The
questions that will begin each module’s discussion are included in the checklists that accompany each
module.
These posts will be graded for (a) participation, accuracy and detail in your answers, and (b) the
thoroughness, depth of insight, courtesy, and professionalism of your response to posts made by other
students. The highest scores will be earned by students who identify important themes in the discussion,
tie together several comments, and connect the discussion directly to the content material either covered
in the current unit or building on previous units.
QUIZZES (4 quizzes, 6.25% each): There are quizzes associated with four of the learning modules (2,
3, 4, and 5). These quizzes are taken online and students may use their textbook and notes in
completing the quizzes. Each quiz will consist of approximately 25 – 30 questions, primarily multiple
choice format.
Students will be permitted to take each quiz up to four times. The highest score for each module’s quiz
will be counted as the graded score for that module’s quiz. The questions for each iteration of the quiz
will be drawn from a test bank, so you will see some different questions each time you take the quiz.
The quizzes can be completed any time before the deadline, Monday, April 20 at noon. No quizzes will
be accepted after that deadline.
CASE ASSIGNMENT (20% of semester grade): Each student will analyze one case chosen from a set
of cases provided by the instructor and will submit an original analysis of the case. The analysis should
be approximately two single-spaced pages in length (or four double-spaced pages if you prefer to double
space the document).
The analysis requires that you identify key issues facing the main character company in the case – these
questions and issues may be specified in the case or may be inferred by the student as important from
4
the content of the case. Then, evaluate alternative courses of action. Finally, choose a course of action
to recommend and support that recommendation.
More instructions, a grading rubric, and the cases available for analysis are posted in the Case
Assignment folder in Brightspace/D2L.
BUSINESS PLAN GROUP PROJECT (35% of semester grade): Working in their cohort-defined groups,
students will prepare a written business plan for a business or product of their choice. The group will
write an original, comprehensive business plan. The information in the business plan must be accurate
and realistic. Do not make up any relationships, agreements, or assets owned to enhance your plan.
You must use the resources actually available to your team.
The group is expected to submit the sections of the plan in draft form at specified times throughout the
semester (see Course Schedule for due dates for section drafts). The instructor will provide feedback on
the drafts to aid in revising the plan for final submission, but the drafts will not be graded. Only the final
submission will be graded.
Chapter 4 of the textbook explains the sections of a business plan, and Table 4.2 outlines those sections.
The drafts you submit will group these sections as follows:
Draft Part 1 Explanation of the Opportunity and
Description of the Company
Industry and Market Analysis
Draft Part 2 Marketing Plan
Operations Plan
Product/Service Design
Draft Part 3 Management Team
Financials
Risks
Final Paper Executive Summary
Revised/Completed/Finalized parts previously submitted
Note that the executive summary is not written until you are submitting the final paper. As noted in your
textbook, although the executive summary appears at the beginning of the plan, it should be written last.
The plan may evolve as it is being written, and the executive summary should reflect the most accurate
overview of the completed plan.
More detailed guidelines and suggestions for approaching the assignment are presented in the Business
Plan Assignment folder in Brightspace/D2L.
ASSIGNMENT GRADES AND FINAL GRADE FOR THE COURSE
Grades for individual assignments are letter grades worth the following points:
A = 4.0 B = 3.0 C = 2.0 D = 1.0
B+ = 3.4 C+ = 2.4 D+ = 1.4 F = 0.0
The final grade for this course is based on the average of grades for each assignment, using the weights
specified in the course evaluation criteria above. There is no adjustment for trends over time (either
positively or negatively). Final Grades will be assigned based on the following distribution:
A 3.01 to 4.0 average
B 2.01 to 3.0 average
C 1.01 to 2.0 average
D 0.50 to 1.0 average
F 0.00 to 0.49 average
5
COURSE POLICIES
STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Carefully review the information at this link:http://www.westga.edu/assetsDept/vpaa/Common_Language_for_Course_Syllabi.pdf
It contains important material pertaining to your rights and responsibilities in this class. Because these
statements are updated as federal, state, university, and accreditation standards change, you should
review this information each semester. Information available through this link includes policies regarding
the Americans with Disabilities Act, UWG e-mail, credit hours, and the honor code.
ATTENDANCE VERIFICATION: In order to distribute Title IV funding (federal student aid), student
attendance verification is required. Therefore, all students must verify their attendance by submitting the
Student Data Form (which is used to form groups for the Glo-Bus simulation) (see CourseDen for
instructions) by Sunday, August 31, 2014, at 11.59pm EST. Students who do not submit the data form
may be dropped from the class for non-attendance and may not receive credit or a grade for the class. It
is the responsibility of the student who adds classes during drop/add to make sure that they are verified
as being in attendance by contacting the course instructor and submitting the data form.
DEADLINES: No late assignment will be accepted unless the student notifies the professor in advance
or, in the event of an unforeseen emergency, immediately after the assignment was due and provides a
legitimate reason (as determined by the instructor). The instructor follows university policy regarding
approved absences and late submissions with university-accepted reasons including, but not limited to,
illness and travel for university-sponsored teams or events.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: The basic principle of academic integrity is that students take credit only for
ideas and efforts that are their own. Behavior outside that guideline is prohibited. Without truthfulness,
honor, and responsibility we cannot earn the trust and respect of others. Furthermore, we recognize that
academic dishonesty detracts from the value of the college degree. Therefore, we shall not tolerate
academic dishonesty.
Penalties for Breach of Academic Integrity: Each incidence of academic dishonesty is subject to
review and consideration by the instructor, and is subject to a range of penalties including but not limited
to failing the assignment, failing the course, and referral to Office of the Vice President for Academic
Affairs.
NOTE: Violations of the academic honesty policy may result in expulsion from
the University.
DISPUTES: If you feel your grade on an assignment is inaccurate, you are encouraged to return the
assignment or exam for re-grading. Please employ the following process: Type all comments on another
sheet and turn it in to me within three days of the assignment’s return to you. Your request for re-grading
must clearly indicate why you believe you deserve a higher grade. I will not discuss the problem with you
until it is put into a written request. Reviews can lead to either an increase or decrease in total points
PROPRIETARY MATERIAL AGREEMENT: The materials on this course website are only for the use of
students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course and may not be retained or
further disseminated.
ONLINE PRIVACY: This course may require you to work with other sites and entities beyond WebMBA
and Brightspace/D2L where some personal information (e.g. your name, affiliation with WebMBA, or
current employment) may be displayed. You have the right to regulate the displaying of information
pertaining to yourself on the Internet. If you are uncomfortable displaying information that you deem
overly personal, you may take steps to post more anonymous manner (such as posting online your first
name and last initial only or other pseudonym). You also agree to respect other people’s wishes to remain
anonymous.
LINKS TO AND FROM THIRD-PARTY SITES: There may be links established between this course and
other entities and sites on the World Wide Web, Internet or other areas that are not under the control of,
nor maintained by your professor or the University of West Georgia (UWG). These links do not
6
necessarily constitute an endorsement by your professor or UWG, and UWG has no obligation to monitor
such sites, and the user agrees that neither your professor nor UWG is responsible for the content of
such sites or for any technical or other problems associated with any such third-party site, links, or usage.
COURSE COMMUNICATION & GRADING: Instructor response time to email is 24 – 48 hours M – F.
There may be a delay on weekends. Grades for activities and assignments will be posted within 7 – 10
days in CourseDen. However, some grading may take longer than 7 – 10 days depending upon the
assignment. Students will be notified in CourseDen if an assignment’s grade will not be posted within the
7 – 10 day window.
SYLLABUS CHANGES: This syllabus provides a general plan for the course. The instructor reserves
the right to make changes to the syllabus plan as necessary. Changes will be announced through
CourseDen.
7
CLASS SCHEDULE: WMBA 6070 ENTREPRENEURSHIP
[NOTE: Schedule is subject to change at discretion of instructor.]
Week
[Sun to Sat]
Modules
(estimated dates)
Discussions and
Quizzes
[final deadline for all
discussions and
quizzes Mon, Apr 20,
12 noon]
Case
Business Plan
Components
1
Jan 11 to 17
1
2
Jan 18 to 24
1/2
Module 1
Discussion Board
3
Jan 25 to 31
2
4
Feb 1 – 7
2/3
Module 2
Discussion Board;
Module 2 Quiz
5
Feb 8 – 14
3
Business Plan Part 1:
Industry, Market, and
Opportunity Assessment
[draft submitted by Mon,
Feb 16, 12 noon]
6
Feb 15 – 21
3
7
Feb 22- 28
3
Module 3
Discussion Board;
Module 3 Quiz
8
Mar 1 – 7
4
Business Plan Part 2:
Business Model, Mktg
Plan, and Operations
[draft submitted by Mon,
Mar 9, 12 noon]
9
Mar 8 – 14
4
10
Mar 15-21
SPRING BREAK
11
Mar 22 to 28
4 Module 4 Quiz
Business Plan Part 3:
Management Team,
Financials, and Risks
[draft submitted by Mon,
Mar 30, 12 noon]
12
Mar 29 to Apr
4
5
Case Analysis
deadline Mon,
Apr 6, 12 noon
13
Apr 5 to 11
5
14
Apr 12 to 18
5
Module 5
Discussion Board;
Module 5 quiz
FINAL Business Plan
(with Executive
Summary) [deadline
Thursday, Apr 16, 12 noon]
Finals
Apr 19 – 21
Deadline for all
discussion boards
and quizzes,
Monday, April 20,
12 noon
8
WMBA PROGRAM GOALS
Program-level assessment has become an important component of assuring program quality and in
maintaining professional accreditations with organizations such as the Association to Advance
Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) and the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools (SACS). Some of the assignments in this course may be used to assess student learning at
the program level. When a course assignment is used in this manner, we will follow Federal
guidelines to protect the confidentiality of student information.
This table indicates how major components of this course support the WMBA program-level goals
and, thus, contribute to your opportunities to realize these objectives through your participation in the
WMBA program.
? Analyze and evaluate alternative courses of action
using appropriate qualitative and quantitative tools in
order to create value.
Business Plan;
Case Analysis
? Recognize and evaluate the impact on business
decisions of the ethical and social dimensions of
business activities.
Business Plan
? Formulate and assess integrated technology
solutions to influence structures, processes, and
techniques of management.
(Not directly assessed in this
course)
? Analyze global economic environments, integrate
multiple business components, and assess impact
using a risk analysis.
Business Plan
? Integrate multiple business functions across a
broad range of situations by solving problems
and making strategic decisions.
Business Plan;
Case Analysis
? Apply team-development and leadership skills in
group settings to produce, evaluate and present
business decisions.
Group Participation
doc_720120260.pdf
Detailed description pertaining to georgia webmba entrepreneurship spring semester 2015.
1
Georgia WebMBA
WMBA 6070: Entrepreneurship
Spring Semester 2015
Instructor: Kim Green, Ph.D., CFA Office phone: 678-839-4831
Office: Miller Hall 2319 E-mail address: Through Brightspace/D2L
Richards College of Business or [email protected]
University of West Georgia campus
Office hours: Monday & Tuesday: 8:30 am – 1:30 pm, or by appointment or email at other times
PREREQUISITES: Admission to WebMBA and assignment to a cohort.
CREDIT HOURS: 3
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is intended to expose graduate business students to both the
spirit and mechanics of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial thinking and action. The course takes the
perspective of both the needs of the would-be entrepreneur as well as the manager of creative and
entrepreneurial activity within established organizations. This course is designed to offer insight for
students seeking entrepreneurial careers in new or established businesses. It describes the new venture
startup process and strategies for increasing the likelihood of successful venture launch. Topics covered
include models of new venture formation, strategic resource acquisition and deployment, marketing,
operations, and financial strategies for successful ventures, and the leadership skills and behaviors
required for venture success. Participants will learn how to write a business plan and assess business
plans written by others.
COURSE FORMAT: This is a fully online course. Students are required to use Brightspace/D2L
throughout the semester to support faculty-to-student and student-to-student interaction, including but not
limited to discussion boards, announcements, email, individual/group work, submitting assignments, etc.
The following technology will be needed for completing this class successfully:
? Access to a personal computer (PC or MAC) with speakers
? High-speed internet service (DSL, Cable, etc.) is strongly recommended. If high-speed internet is
not available in your area, contact your instructor immediately. Completion of course
requirements will be difficult and cumbersome without high-speed internet service.
? Software requirements: Microsoft Office 2007 or higher, Adobe Reader, and other potentially
required downloads listed in Brightspace/D2L.
This course will be delivered entirely at a distance and requires the online equivalent of 2250 minutes of
instruction (seat-time). Additionally, it is anticipated that students will need to work independently for
twice the number of instruction minutes to complete the coursework (i.e., 4500 minutes of supporting
activities).
COURSE OBJECTIVES: The major objective of this course is to give students the opportunity to
examine entrepreneurial activities for both new and established businesses. The course helps students
to investigate the start-up process that can be applied to new, stand-alone businesses or to new product
development or new venture subsidiaries of established businesses. The course examines the concepts
and issues associated with entrepreneurship and the analytical skills of an entrepreneur or manager of
corporate innovation. While the course is practically oriented, theory is used as the basis for good
practice. Specific learning objectives for the course include:
1. Choosing the processes, strategies, and systems needed to guide the overall organization by
conducting SWOT analysis; conducting competitive analysis; forecasting income/sales; conducting
break-even analysis; developing action plans; using budgets to control operations; analyzing cash-
flow patterns; and tracking performance of business plans or feasibility studies.
2. Integrating general business knowledge to formulate a business plan or a venture feasibility
analysis.
3. Constructing a comprehensive, written business plan.
2
4. Assessing the multiple impacts (e.g., financial, economic, and behavioral) of introducing a new
product or service, or making a significant change to an existing product or service.
The course will use a combination of textbook content, explanations and exercises posted on-line, case
studies of actual corporations, class discussion boards, team project, and examinations to accomplish
these objectives.
COURSE MATERIALS:
Required Textbook: Either the 3
rd
or 4
th
edition is acceptable. Both are available through Amazon.com.
(The 4
th
edition was available for about $100 and the 3
rd
edition was available for about $12 as of
December 2014.)
Entrepreneurship: Successfully Launching New Ventures. 2010. Third edition. Bruce R. Barringer and
R. Duane Ireland. Pearson. ISBN 13: 978-0-13-608353-5. ISBN 10: 0-13-608353-6.
OR
Entrepreneurship: Successfully Launching New Ventures. 2012. Fourth edition. Bruce R. Barringer and
R. Duane Ireland. Pearson. ISBN 13: 978-0-13-255552-4. ISBN 10: 0-13-255552-2.
Articles and Cases: Cases and articles available from your professor are posted on Brightspace/D2L.
Brightspace/D2L: Throughout the semester, announcements and assignments may be posted on
Brightspace/D2L. Students should check Brightspace/D2L frequently.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR COURSE MATERIALS: Technical support is available for the systems
you will use in this course.
For assistance with Brightspace/D2L, you can access the University System of Georgia’s help site or
receive phone support.
Online:https://d2lhelp.view.usg.edu/home.do
Call: To speak with a DHC Help Center agent, 24x7x365, call the University System of Georgia Support
Hotline:
TOLL FREE 1-855-772-0423
TOLL FREE FOR HEARING IMPAIRED 1-800-892-4315
Appropriate adaptive technology (hardware) is necessary to use this number.
COURSE STRUCTURE
The content material for the course is organized into five modules or units. The first unit will get you
started with the set-up of the course. The textbook chapters that we will cover are distributed across the
modules as follows:
Module 1: Getting Started in the Study of Entrepreneurship (Chapter 1)
Module 2: Opportunity Recognition and Plan Formulation (Chapters 2, 3, and 4)
Module 3: Market Analysis and Marketing Plans (Chapters 5, 6, and 11)
Module 4: Financing and Staffing (Chapters 8, 9, and 10)
Module 5: Ethical and Legal Issues and Growth of the Business (Chapters 7, 12, and 13)
There is a separate folder on CourseDen for each module. Each folder contains a checklist for the
module that identifies the work you should complete for that module. The PowerPoint files, cases,
articles, and any videos posted for you will be included in the appropriate module folder.
Additionally, there are separate folders posted for the case assignment and for the business plan project
(instructions and drop boxes).
3
COURSE EVALUATION
COURSE EVALUATION CRITERIA
Discussion Boards (4 boards for 5% each) 20%
[Modules 1, 2, 3, and 5]
Learning Module Quizzes (4 quizzes for 6.25% each) 25%
[Modules 2, 3, 4, and 5]
Case Analysis 20%
Business Plan Project 35%
Total Course 100%
DETAILS ABOUT ASSIGNMENTS
DISCUSSION BOARD CONTRIBUTIONS (4 sessions, 5% points each): There will be four discussion
board sessions during the semester. Each session will be weighted 5% of your semester grade. All
boards will be open from the beginning of the semester, and you can post any time before the deadline.
Your syllabus schedule indicates recommended due dates for the discussion boards to pace your work
through the semester. The deadline for all discussion posts is Monday, April 20, at noon. No late posts
will be accepted after that deadline.
During the discussion board posting period, students are required to (a) post comments, analysis,
thoughts, and reactions to questions specific to the unit and (b) post a response, reaction to, or comment
about at least one post made by another student. You may need to return to the discussion board more
than once during the open window in order to post your comment about another student’s ideas. The
questions that will begin each module’s discussion are included in the checklists that accompany each
module.
These posts will be graded for (a) participation, accuracy and detail in your answers, and (b) the
thoroughness, depth of insight, courtesy, and professionalism of your response to posts made by other
students. The highest scores will be earned by students who identify important themes in the discussion,
tie together several comments, and connect the discussion directly to the content material either covered
in the current unit or building on previous units.
QUIZZES (4 quizzes, 6.25% each): There are quizzes associated with four of the learning modules (2,
3, 4, and 5). These quizzes are taken online and students may use their textbook and notes in
completing the quizzes. Each quiz will consist of approximately 25 – 30 questions, primarily multiple
choice format.
Students will be permitted to take each quiz up to four times. The highest score for each module’s quiz
will be counted as the graded score for that module’s quiz. The questions for each iteration of the quiz
will be drawn from a test bank, so you will see some different questions each time you take the quiz.
The quizzes can be completed any time before the deadline, Monday, April 20 at noon. No quizzes will
be accepted after that deadline.
CASE ASSIGNMENT (20% of semester grade): Each student will analyze one case chosen from a set
of cases provided by the instructor and will submit an original analysis of the case. The analysis should
be approximately two single-spaced pages in length (or four double-spaced pages if you prefer to double
space the document).
The analysis requires that you identify key issues facing the main character company in the case – these
questions and issues may be specified in the case or may be inferred by the student as important from
4
the content of the case. Then, evaluate alternative courses of action. Finally, choose a course of action
to recommend and support that recommendation.
More instructions, a grading rubric, and the cases available for analysis are posted in the Case
Assignment folder in Brightspace/D2L.
BUSINESS PLAN GROUP PROJECT (35% of semester grade): Working in their cohort-defined groups,
students will prepare a written business plan for a business or product of their choice. The group will
write an original, comprehensive business plan. The information in the business plan must be accurate
and realistic. Do not make up any relationships, agreements, or assets owned to enhance your plan.
You must use the resources actually available to your team.
The group is expected to submit the sections of the plan in draft form at specified times throughout the
semester (see Course Schedule for due dates for section drafts). The instructor will provide feedback on
the drafts to aid in revising the plan for final submission, but the drafts will not be graded. Only the final
submission will be graded.
Chapter 4 of the textbook explains the sections of a business plan, and Table 4.2 outlines those sections.
The drafts you submit will group these sections as follows:
Draft Part 1 Explanation of the Opportunity and
Description of the Company
Industry and Market Analysis
Draft Part 2 Marketing Plan
Operations Plan
Product/Service Design
Draft Part 3 Management Team
Financials
Risks
Final Paper Executive Summary
Revised/Completed/Finalized parts previously submitted
Note that the executive summary is not written until you are submitting the final paper. As noted in your
textbook, although the executive summary appears at the beginning of the plan, it should be written last.
The plan may evolve as it is being written, and the executive summary should reflect the most accurate
overview of the completed plan.
More detailed guidelines and suggestions for approaching the assignment are presented in the Business
Plan Assignment folder in Brightspace/D2L.
ASSIGNMENT GRADES AND FINAL GRADE FOR THE COURSE
Grades for individual assignments are letter grades worth the following points:
A = 4.0 B = 3.0 C = 2.0 D = 1.0
B+ = 3.4 C+ = 2.4 D+ = 1.4 F = 0.0
The final grade for this course is based on the average of grades for each assignment, using the weights
specified in the course evaluation criteria above. There is no adjustment for trends over time (either
positively or negatively). Final Grades will be assigned based on the following distribution:
A 3.01 to 4.0 average
B 2.01 to 3.0 average
C 1.01 to 2.0 average
D 0.50 to 1.0 average
F 0.00 to 0.49 average
5
COURSE POLICIES
STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Carefully review the information at this link:http://www.westga.edu/assetsDept/vpaa/Common_Language_for_Course_Syllabi.pdf
It contains important material pertaining to your rights and responsibilities in this class. Because these
statements are updated as federal, state, university, and accreditation standards change, you should
review this information each semester. Information available through this link includes policies regarding
the Americans with Disabilities Act, UWG e-mail, credit hours, and the honor code.
ATTENDANCE VERIFICATION: In order to distribute Title IV funding (federal student aid), student
attendance verification is required. Therefore, all students must verify their attendance by submitting the
Student Data Form (which is used to form groups for the Glo-Bus simulation) (see CourseDen for
instructions) by Sunday, August 31, 2014, at 11.59pm EST. Students who do not submit the data form
may be dropped from the class for non-attendance and may not receive credit or a grade for the class. It
is the responsibility of the student who adds classes during drop/add to make sure that they are verified
as being in attendance by contacting the course instructor and submitting the data form.
DEADLINES: No late assignment will be accepted unless the student notifies the professor in advance
or, in the event of an unforeseen emergency, immediately after the assignment was due and provides a
legitimate reason (as determined by the instructor). The instructor follows university policy regarding
approved absences and late submissions with university-accepted reasons including, but not limited to,
illness and travel for university-sponsored teams or events.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: The basic principle of academic integrity is that students take credit only for
ideas and efforts that are their own. Behavior outside that guideline is prohibited. Without truthfulness,
honor, and responsibility we cannot earn the trust and respect of others. Furthermore, we recognize that
academic dishonesty detracts from the value of the college degree. Therefore, we shall not tolerate
academic dishonesty.
Penalties for Breach of Academic Integrity: Each incidence of academic dishonesty is subject to
review and consideration by the instructor, and is subject to a range of penalties including but not limited
to failing the assignment, failing the course, and referral to Office of the Vice President for Academic
Affairs.
NOTE: Violations of the academic honesty policy may result in expulsion from
the University.
DISPUTES: If you feel your grade on an assignment is inaccurate, you are encouraged to return the
assignment or exam for re-grading. Please employ the following process: Type all comments on another
sheet and turn it in to me within three days of the assignment’s return to you. Your request for re-grading
must clearly indicate why you believe you deserve a higher grade. I will not discuss the problem with you
until it is put into a written request. Reviews can lead to either an increase or decrease in total points
PROPRIETARY MATERIAL AGREEMENT: The materials on this course website are only for the use of
students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course and may not be retained or
further disseminated.
ONLINE PRIVACY: This course may require you to work with other sites and entities beyond WebMBA
and Brightspace/D2L where some personal information (e.g. your name, affiliation with WebMBA, or
current employment) may be displayed. You have the right to regulate the displaying of information
pertaining to yourself on the Internet. If you are uncomfortable displaying information that you deem
overly personal, you may take steps to post more anonymous manner (such as posting online your first
name and last initial only or other pseudonym). You also agree to respect other people’s wishes to remain
anonymous.
LINKS TO AND FROM THIRD-PARTY SITES: There may be links established between this course and
other entities and sites on the World Wide Web, Internet or other areas that are not under the control of,
nor maintained by your professor or the University of West Georgia (UWG). These links do not
6
necessarily constitute an endorsement by your professor or UWG, and UWG has no obligation to monitor
such sites, and the user agrees that neither your professor nor UWG is responsible for the content of
such sites or for any technical or other problems associated with any such third-party site, links, or usage.
COURSE COMMUNICATION & GRADING: Instructor response time to email is 24 – 48 hours M – F.
There may be a delay on weekends. Grades for activities and assignments will be posted within 7 – 10
days in CourseDen. However, some grading may take longer than 7 – 10 days depending upon the
assignment. Students will be notified in CourseDen if an assignment’s grade will not be posted within the
7 – 10 day window.
SYLLABUS CHANGES: This syllabus provides a general plan for the course. The instructor reserves
the right to make changes to the syllabus plan as necessary. Changes will be announced through
CourseDen.
7
CLASS SCHEDULE: WMBA 6070 ENTREPRENEURSHIP
[NOTE: Schedule is subject to change at discretion of instructor.]
Week
[Sun to Sat]
Modules
(estimated dates)
Discussions and
Quizzes
[final deadline for all
discussions and
quizzes Mon, Apr 20,
12 noon]
Case
Business Plan
Components
1
Jan 11 to 17
1
2
Jan 18 to 24
1/2
Module 1
Discussion Board
3
Jan 25 to 31
2
4
Feb 1 – 7
2/3
Module 2
Discussion Board;
Module 2 Quiz
5
Feb 8 – 14
3
Business Plan Part 1:
Industry, Market, and
Opportunity Assessment
[draft submitted by Mon,
Feb 16, 12 noon]
6
Feb 15 – 21
3
7
Feb 22- 28
3
Module 3
Discussion Board;
Module 3 Quiz
8
Mar 1 – 7
4
Business Plan Part 2:
Business Model, Mktg
Plan, and Operations
[draft submitted by Mon,
Mar 9, 12 noon]
9
Mar 8 – 14
4
10
Mar 15-21
SPRING BREAK
11
Mar 22 to 28
4 Module 4 Quiz
Business Plan Part 3:
Management Team,
Financials, and Risks
[draft submitted by Mon,
Mar 30, 12 noon]
12
Mar 29 to Apr
4
5
Case Analysis
deadline Mon,
Apr 6, 12 noon
13
Apr 5 to 11
5
14
Apr 12 to 18
5
Module 5
Discussion Board;
Module 5 quiz
FINAL Business Plan
(with Executive
Summary) [deadline
Thursday, Apr 16, 12 noon]
Finals
Apr 19 – 21
Deadline for all
discussion boards
and quizzes,
Monday, April 20,
12 noon
8
WMBA PROGRAM GOALS
Program-level assessment has become an important component of assuring program quality and in
maintaining professional accreditations with organizations such as the Association to Advance
Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) and the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools (SACS). Some of the assignments in this course may be used to assess student learning at
the program level. When a course assignment is used in this manner, we will follow Federal
guidelines to protect the confidentiality of student information.
This table indicates how major components of this course support the WMBA program-level goals
and, thus, contribute to your opportunities to realize these objectives through your participation in the
WMBA program.
? Analyze and evaluate alternative courses of action
using appropriate qualitative and quantitative tools in
order to create value.
Business Plan;
Case Analysis
? Recognize and evaluate the impact on business
decisions of the ethical and social dimensions of
business activities.
Business Plan
? Formulate and assess integrated technology
solutions to influence structures, processes, and
techniques of management.
(Not directly assessed in this
course)
? Analyze global economic environments, integrate
multiple business components, and assess impact
using a risk analysis.
Business Plan
? Integrate multiple business functions across a
broad range of situations by solving problems
and making strategic decisions.
Business Plan;
Case Analysis
? Apply team-development and leadership skills in
group settings to produce, evaluate and present
business decisions.
Group Participation
doc_720120260.pdf