Pre-requisites:

Restricted to business students or dept permission; strong personal motivation; required course specific fee of $20.00.

Goals & Objectives:

This entrepreneurship course will focus on three aspects of small and entrepreneurial business. First, on understanding how owner-entrepreneurs think about business, second, on understanding the world that entrepreneurs must survive in, and third, on understanding the diverse challenges of developing and evaluating product and service ideas for launching an entrepreneurial business. Our goal is not to create entrepreneurs. One cannot create an entrepreneur any more than one can create a world-class singer. Instead the goal is to help students interested in entrepreneurial ventures to better understand how entrepreneurs identify and respond to the challenges and critical questions they will likely encounter in starting a new business. Equally important, for those who choose an entrepreneurial career this course will get you started in developing the professional strategies and entrepreneurial techniques that you will need.

The course will feature extensive class discussions and exercises, real-world information gathering, and preparation of an integrated market and financial evaluation for a new venture idea. The course is the result of careful thought and planning by faculty, students and entrepreneurs. The course is itself entrepreneurial. We welcome student feedback to make the course even better. Welcome!

Learning goals:

Understand how entrepreneurs think about business and their processes for developing and evaluating ideas for new ventures.

Understand how to ask the right types of questions in evaluating new business ideas.

Develop the ability to acquire and integrate vital business information (market, financial and environmental) from diverse sources in evaluating new business ideas.

Course Content:

Entrepreneurial mind-set vs. large business mind-set.

Who are entrepreneurs?

How does their business world differ from that of a large company?

What factors are involved in deciding to become an entrepreneur?

Evaluating new venture ideas:

Creative approaches to developing business ideas.

Market evaluation and assessment (including evaluations of

customers, competitors and the external business environment)

for new products or services.

Financial planning: Cost and revenue estimating techniques for

start-ups.

Legal and regulatory issues for new ventures.

Investigating franchise opportunities and pitfalls.

Books & Materials

Essentials of Entrepreneurship, 5th Edition

Thomas Zimmerer and Norman Scarborough

Course Pack for BSAD 137: Entrepreneurship

Grading:

Grading Comments:

1. All graded material must be the students own work. All students are assumed to be familiar with the Universitys policies on academic honesty.

2. Extensions on due dates will be given only in extreme circumstances such as a medical emergency. Except in case of immediate emergency, arrangements must be made with me in advance. Otherwise (as noted above) ten (10) points will be deducted per day for assignments that are submitted late.

Exam Comments:

No exams in this course.

Attendance Policy:

Class attendance is required. Participation in class discussions is very important in developing an understanding of all materials and for your success in this course. This not only makes classes much more interesting for all but is an important way to develop your understanding of the course materials and improve your entrepreneurial capabilities.

Academic Honesty

The principal objective of the policy on academic honesty is to promote an intellectual climate and support the academic integrity of the University of Vermont. Academic dishonesty or an offense against academic honesty includes acts that may subvert or compromise the integrity of the educational process. Such acts are serious offenses that insult the integrity of the entire academic community.

Offenses against academic honesty are any acts that would have the effect of unfairly promoting or enhancing one's academic standing within the entire community of learners which includes, but is not limited to, the faculty and students of the University of Vermont. Academic dishonesty includes knowingly permitting or assisting any person in the committing of an act of academic dishonesty.

The policy distinguishes between minor and major offenses. Offenses purely technical in nature or in which the instructor does not perceive intent to achieve advantage are deemed minor and handled by the instructor. Major offenses are those in which intent to achieve academic advantages is perceived. A full statement of the policy can be found in the Cat's Tale. Each student is responsible for knowing and observing this policy.

Classroom Code of Conduct

Faculty and students will at all times conduct themselves in a manner that serves to maintain, promote, and enhance the high quality academic environment befitting the University of Vermont. To this end, it is expected that all members of the learning community will adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Faculty and students will attend all regularly scheduled classes, except for those occasions warranting an excused absence under the policy detailed in the catalogue (e.g., religious, athletic, medical).
2. Students and faculty will arrive prepared for class and on time, and they will remain in class until the class is dismissed.
3. Faculty and students will treat all members of the learning community with respect. Toward this end, they will promote academic discourse and the free exchange of ideas by listening with civil attention to the comments made by all individuals.
4. Students and faculty will maintain an appropriate academic climate by refraining from all actions which disrupt the learning environment (e.g., making noise, ostentatiously not paying attention, and leaving and reentering the classroom inappropriately).
5. Food and drink are not allowed in classrooms.

Instructors will inform students of any special/additional expectations.