MGT 489

1. BROAD PURPOSE OF COURSE Multiple sections of the same course must have the same purpose.

To apply the skills learned in the specialized courses of finance, marketing, organizational behavior and quantitative methods, to the creation of a new venture business plan and request for funding. Using a set of complex methodologies, the student will analyze the market, determine the unmet need, and make a compelling case for their vision in meeting that need, through oral and written communications.

Throughout the semester students will identify, develop, and validate business ideas that offer innovative market solutions and promise sound commercial feasibility. The venture creation process will be addressed from a systems perspective in order to better cope with market complexity, identify promising opportunities, and visualize enduring sources of competitive advantage. Principled management and virtue ethics will ensure that venture process decisions are consistent at the individual, firm, and society level.

The course is structured around four pillars:

· Business Value Creation : Opportunity recognition, product – market fit, value creation, customer development, business model, and financials

· Effective Project Management : Goals setting, business process analysis, activity sequencing, costing, communications, and quality assurance.

· High Performing Teams : Coordination, motivation, accountability, effectiveness, participation, creativity, and conflict management

· Practical Business Research : Identification of assumptions, research methods, information management, market contact, and validation of business hypothesis.

2. COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Upon successful completion of this course students will be expected to:

· Exhibit in discussions and on exams a thorough knowledge of the components of a business (including business plans, financial plans, organizational behavior, strategic planning, etc).

· Develop a professional quality, comprehensive business plan.

· Develop experience with presentation skills

· Understand and describe during class discussions and on exams some of the current trends in contemporary business thinking.

· Promote team and communication skills, be able to function effectively within a team

· Have fun! Share knowledge.

3. TEACHING METHOD

The teaching method format is Activity-based Learning using the “Business Studio Charette Methodology” in a “high performance team” environment. This course will consist of, but be limited to, the following: group discussions, multimedia and social media methods, case analysis, and business plan development. Students will be expected to engage fully in the learning process. Students (individually or as a member of a team) will be asked to lead the class in discussions and presentations. Additionally, students MUST be aware of current business issues facing us all today.

THIS IS A WRITING INTENSIVE (WI) COURSE . Students MUST complete reading and writing assignments, peer reviews and any or all WI requirements as identified by the instructor throughout the semester in order to PASS the course.. As a Writing Intensive Course, MGT 489 requires that the students demonstrate mastery of the following writing guidelines:

· Students will produce written work appropriate to the discipline through a process that involves drafting and revision based on feedback.

· Students will produce focused and coherent texts that address a specific audience, move effectively between generalizations and details, make honest use of sources, and engage complex ideas without distortion.

· Students will produce texts that show careful attention to fluent sentence structure, grammatical correctness, and proper documentation.

· Students will identify a suitable subject for scholarly inquiry in the discipline, analyze appropriate primary and secondary source materials, and support a focused thesis or argument in a clear and coherent product.

· Each student will submit an Individual WI paper that will be double-spaced totaling 4000 to 4500 words to be completed by mid-semester (DRAFT) with an end–of-semester (FINAL). The papers will be peered reviewed by students and instructor. The paper may also contribute in part to a Team’s final project. The student must complete the WI portion of the course by achieving a 75% grade/score in order to PASS the course.

4. GRADING POLICY

*NOTE: ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO PREPARE, ATTEND, PRESENT AND PARTICIPATE IN THE DEAN’S REVIEW PANEL. ANY STUDENT THAT DOES NOT ATTEND OR PARTICIPATE IN THE FINAL PRESENATION

WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL WILL HAVE THEIR TEAM’S FINAL GRADE REDUCED A FULL LETTER GRADE.

**NOTE: ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE THE ETS EXAM. STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE THE ETS EXAM DURING THE SCHEDULED CLASS TIME IN ORDER TO PASS THE COURSE.

ATTENDANCE AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN CLASS – (Team Work, Class Discussions, Business Studio Critiques, etc.) - It is expected that each student will attend all of the classes on time and participate often in ALL class activities including being an ACTIVE TEAM MEMBER on an assigned team. Teams will complete a TEAM FEEDBACK of their respective team members. The early weeks will focus on the individual leadership style and aid in the collaboration, cooperation and communication skill sets. Subsequent weeks will focus heavily on the business planning process with the application of the Business Studio Charette Methodology.

FINAL EXAM – A final exam will be issued at the end of the semester and will be take-home. Greater detail will be provided as the exam period nears. Grades will be substantially reduced if assignments do not comply with requirements. NO EXAM will be accepted after the specified due date and time.

INDIVIDUAL WI PAPER– As noted above, every student will submit a Writing Intensive (WI) paper that will be comprised of various subject matter topics related to a business plan. THE INSTRUCTOR WILL PROVIDE DIRECTION ON TOPICS AND APPROACH. The paper will be double-spaced with a word count totaling 4000-4500 words. The first draft of the paper will be peer reviewed at mid-semester with the FINAL DRAFT DUE AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER. A student’s research, data and information used for the paper may become subsequently part of their “Team’s” final business plan project. The WI Paper first and final drafts are required to pass the course. The paper must be satisfactorily written and completed to PASS the course with a score/grade of 75% or better. Plagiarized work will be dealt with as per University policy.

TEAM ENGAGEMENT W/ TEAM MATE FEEDBACK – Each student will be assigned a team by the instructor. The team assignments are absolute and will not change (given extenuating circumstances as determined by the instructor). Working on and with a team is critical to the success of each student. While the instructor throughout the semester will observe a student’s work on a team each student will also be evaluated by their teammates. This student evaluation or feedback will be blind and the information identified will be used to aid in determining a student’s final grade. Therefore, it is strongly urged that a student work in a manner that is collaborative, cooperative, and communicative so as to exhibit a productive, balanced and responsible outcome by each member of the team. NOTE: TEAM WORK WILL IMPACT YOUR FINAL INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM GRADE.

PROJECT WORK SESSIONS & BUSINESS STUDIO CRITIQUES – Each team will be expected to contribute to their team by working in work session with the instructor. This interactive critique is a focused session that aids in guiding and coaching a team on their business plan project. Each student is expected to attend and participate in a manner that is both positive and productive.

FINAL TEAM BUSINESS PLAN PRESENTATION AND DOCUMENTS - The final team project will be a Comprehensive Business Plan for a new or existing company, division, or major project; in a profit seeking, non-profit, or government organization to be written and presented by each team. Written instructions for the development of this Business Plan will be provided and further verbal instructions will be delivered in class. Format style and content will be researched, discussed, developed, prepared and evaluated throughout the semester using Business Studio Critique approach methodology. The actual FINAL formal presentation of the business plan will be presented to a Review Panel (as determined by the instructor) along with a detailed business plan report.

Tuesday, September 5, 2017 is the last day to late register

Friday, September 29, 2017 is the last day to withdraw from a class without academic record

Friday, November 3, 2017 is the last day to withdraw from a class with a grade of W

5. CLASS SCHEDULE

* NOTE: ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND THIS CLASS SESSION TO TAKE THE ETS EXAM. ANY STUDENT THAT DOES NOT TAKE THE ETS EXAM DURING THIS SCHEDULED TIME WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL ONE WEEK BEFORE THE DATE OF THE EXAM WILL HAVE THEIR FINAL GRADE REDUCED A FULL LETTER GRADE.

**NOTE: ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THE DEAN’S REVIEW PANEL. ANY STUDENT THAT DOES NOT ATTEND OR PARTICIPATE IN THE FINAL PRESENATION WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL ONE WEEK FROM THE DATE OF THE PRESENTATION WILL HAVE THEIR FINAL GRADE REDUCED A FULL LETTER GRADE.

6. REQUIRED TEXT

Preparing Effective Business Plans – An Entrepreneurial Approach , Second Edition. Barringer, Bruce R.

7. COURSE AND IN-CLASS POLICIES

a. NO FOOD (i.e., Meals) IN CLASS AT ALL…DRINKS ARE PERMITTED. Eat outside the classroom!

b. The Classroom Code of Conduct states that 'during class, all electronic devices--pagers, cell phones, players, and computers--should be shut off unless required in a class activity. In this class, laptop computers, smart phones, or iPads may only be used with permission of the instructor. Permission will be withdrawn from any student who is found to be using the device for activities other than class work.

c. Work is due AS scheduled. Failure to meet deadlines will result in reduced grades.

d. Class attendance and participation are mandatory. IT’S THE STUDENT’S responsibility to obtain the handouts or materials from a class- or teammate.

e. If a student desires to get any materials back, the student must provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope of the appropriate size to the instructor prior to the last class.

f. The class operates within the restriction of a non - attribution policy. Everything discussed in class will have a measure of confidentiality. Each person including the students, guest speakers, panelists and the instructor is free to comment without attribution or penalty. Violation of this principle constitutes infringement of academic freedom.

g. Do NOT FAX assignments.

h. E-mail assignments only after coordinating with instructor!

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MGT 489 A – August 28, 2017v.1