ACADEMIC PROGRAMME 
Business plan course syllabus
Course description
New Business Planning will take students through the process of conceiving, creating, managing, and potentially selling a business. The goal is to provide a sold background with practical application of important concepts for non-business majors that may have limited experience in an entrepreneurial environment. Finance, accounting, marketing and management issues will be addressed from an entrepreneurial perspective. The course relies on classroom discussion, participation, guest speakers, basic case analysis, and the creation of a business plan based on each student's specific area of interest.
Course objectives
- To possess a well grounded understanding of entrepreneurial business principals.
- To develop an understanding of important business issues as they relate to new ventures.
- To identify, appreciate, and assess the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of an entrepreneur.
- To study and observe entrepreneurial settings and entrepreneurial role models through exposure to actual business settings and experiences.
- To have an expanded awareness of the resources available for creating a business plan.
- To establish a level of confidence in creating a business plan for your specific area of study as a tool to assess, create and communicate your business concept.
Course resources
Access to the Internet is required: During the term we will update the web links adding links, contacts, and additional information.
The slides we use during class are available on the web. Click here for those slides.
Entrepreneurship in Action, by Mary Coulter. Prentice Hall.
Hurdle: the Book on Business Planning by Tim Berry. Available for free on the web at www.bplans.com, or for $19.95 at www.paloalto.com or Amazon.com.
Business plan software will be made available to students registered in the class. However, use of software is not required as part of this course. You are welcome to use your own resources instead, as long as the business plan is completed.
Course components
Internet Access
The Internet has become an essential tool for entrepreneuring in the real world. Because of that, we require Internet access as part of this course. You will need to have an email address and be able to use it, and you will need to have Internet access so you can search the web as part of some assignments.
Case Assignments
You will be provided three articles on the Internet to read throughout the term. You will answer basic questions provided in class about each of these articles. The questions will be based on class discussion. The goal is to enable you to apply the information that we have discussed to real-world situations and give us a basis to discuss the concepts and principles further. Each case is worth a total of 20 points each.
Entrepreneurial Interview
You will interview an entrepreneur and follow a general "interview outline" provided in class. This will be a casual and fairly brief interview that will last about 20 minutes. If you need assistance, the instructors will assist you in identifying entrepreneurs that may be a good fit for your interview. The Entrepreneurial Interview is worth 20 points.
Business Plan-Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III
The creation of a business plan will be a tool to assist you to put the concepts we have addressed together. Resources will be provided to help you with the plan, including software that can assist you through the process. You will be able to select the type of business for the business plan and are encourage design the plan based on your area of interest. The objective is to make this a positive, obtainable, and useful experience.
The business plan is worth a total of 90 points and graded in three phases, at 20, 20, and 50 points respectively.
Final Exam
The final exam is worth a total of 50 points.
Outline and Schedule
View a sample outline and schedule for a 10 week class.
Grading
| Points | Percentage | |
| Class Participation | 30 | 11% |
| Case Assignments (3) and Interview (20 points each) | 80 | 30% |
| Phase 1 Business Plan | 20 | 7% |
| Phase 2 Business Plan | 20 | 7% |
| Phase 3 Business Plan | 50 | 18% |
| Business Plan Presentation | 25 | 9% |
| Final Exam | 50 | 18% |
| TOTAL POINTS | 275 | |
| A: 275-247 points | B: 246-220 points | C: 220-193 points | D: 192-165 points |
NOTES:
- Class attendance is expected. Absences will affect your final grade.
- There may be pop quizzes, pass or fail, on reading assignments.
- Participation in class discussion is expected and evaluated.
- Late work will be penalized by 50% unless prearranged with the instructors.
Recomended links
Starting a business
The Bplans.com information site is the one used extensively as support for this class. It includes more than 60 complete sample business plans, more than 2,000 questions and expert answers already posted, the free-online version of the book that we use as reading for this class, the cash calculator on line, starting costs online, etc.
Business Plan Software
The main Palo Alto Software Business Plan Pro information site is really intended to sell the software -- and you can get it free as part of this class -- but it also has a lot of additional information about the software.
Code of Ethics
A Statement of Values
Our values are as important within our college community as within the business community. Our values help define both how we aspire to act and what it means to be a business professional.
INTEGRITY
Members of our community act with integrity and honesty. These qualities are essential in providing a basis for trust and go to the core of what is expected from business professionals.
RESPECT
Our community conveys respect for the dignity of all people. Our relationships are based on mutual respect. Differences of opinion are discussed openly and civilly. These discussions focus on issues and are presented in a courteous manner. We are sensitive to the impacts of both our words and actions on others.
OPENNESS
We encourage all members of our community to exchange ideas freely within the bounds of reasonable behavior. We recognize that learning requires an open environment.
RESPONSIBILITY
We act publicly and accept responsibility for our actions. We understand that the community will keep us accountable for our dealings. We deliver on the commitments and promises we make to others.
TEAMWORK
Our community is stronger when we work as a team. We foster attitudes encouraging members of the community to give and receive criticism, and develop creative solutions to challenges.
