This document outlines the syllabus for an entrepreneurship course at Texas Tech University. The course will provide an introduction to entrepreneurship and the venture creation process, with a focus on opportunity identification and evaluation. It will meet three times a week for 50 minutes. Students will complete individual and team assignments involving case studies and developing a feasibility plan for a business opportunity. Evaluation will be based on participation, assignments, and exams.
1. TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
Rawls College of Business Administration
MGT 3375 – ENT I: New Value Creation
Tentative Syllabus
Spring 2011
Instructor: Angela Randolph
RCOBA E351
Phone : 806 – 834-4777
E-mail: angela.peace@ttu.edu
Office Hours: Wednesdays 1:00 – 3:00 pm
and by appointment
Class Time and Location: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 11:00-11:50 AM
RCOBA 101
Required Text & Readings: Entrepreneurship: Successfully Launching New Ventures, 4th Ed.
By Barringer, B.R. & Ireland, R.D.
Other required readings
You will also need a clicker to participation in class activities.
Course Overview
The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the entrepreneurship. The emphasis
of this course is on the idea generation, opportunity identification, and evaluation phase of the
venture creation process. This course is designed to integrate knowledge learned from several
disciplines, including but not limited to management, marketing, and finance, and apply this
knowledge to the new venture creation process. We will also explore how entrepreneurship
relates to your career goals. This course may be enriched by guest speakers who will bring the
material to life by sharing their experience and expertise.
Learning Objectives
The objectives of this course are to provide the opportunity to:
1. Explore the entrepreneurial process, with an emphasis on the early stage process before
and during start-up.
2. Understand the opportunity identification and evaluation process.
3. Gain knowledge about the process of starting a new venture.
4. Develop the ability to analyze and communicate the potential performance of an
opportunity.
5. Learn how to apply entrepreneurial practices in work settings.
2. a. Develop and improve written and verbal communication skills.
b. Develop and improve the ability to work in teams.
c. Develop and improve project management skills.
6. Explore entrepreneurship as a career option.
Course Requirements and Evaluation Criteria
Class sessions will be a combination of discussions, lectures, case studies, and group exercises.
To be successful in this course, you are expected to:
1. Read all assigned readings and be prepared to discuss the reading material on the day it is
assigned.
2. Actively participate in class.
3. Prepare an individually written analysis of a case study. Be prepared to discuss the case
in class.
4. Prepare a written analysis of a case study with your team.
5. Prepare and present a written company report with your team.
6. Prepare, write, and present an analysis of a business opportunity (either individually or
with a team).
7. Prepare for tests that evaluate your understanding of key concepts from the assigned
reading and lectures.
Evaluation Criteria
Class Participation 200
Individual Case Study 100
Team Case Study Analysis 50
Team Company Report 50
Feasibility Study (Individual or Team) 200
4 Multiple Choice Exams (100 points each) 400
1000 pts
Grades will be evaluated using the following formula:
90% and above = A
80% and above = B
70% and above = C
60% and above = D
Below 60% = F
3. Description of Assignments
1. Class participation
I envision a fun class where we learn through discussion and activities. As such, it is necessary
for you to read the assigned reading and cases before class. Class participation credit will be
given for participating in class discussion, writing one-page memos as assigned for case studies,
and participating in class polls. I will also call on individuals to answer questions or kick off the
discussion as being able to answer on the spot is an important skill to develop.
2. Individual Case Study
The purpose of this study is to understand the opportunity evaluation process and gain an
appreciation for the variation in ideas. This exercise will require your active participation in
evaluating three new ideas of your choice on Quirky’s website- www.quirky.com. Write a brief
(2-3 pages) on your experience. Describe the three products, comment on why you liked or
disliked the product, whether you think the product is feasible and/or desirable, and the
comments of others on the same products. Be prepared to present your findings in class.
3. Team Case Analysis
The purpose of this assignment is to understand the venture creation process. In this case
analysis, the team will evaluate the business opportunity for feasibility and marketability. This
paper should include a market and industry analysis, financial analysis, and an analysis of the
entrepreneur’s resources.
4. Team Company Report
Exploring how a company handles entrepreneurial challenges will provide you with information
on how others evaluate business opportunities. The emphasis on this 2-3 page report should be
on how the founders used the steps and techniques outlined in this course to identify an
opportunity and develop the opportunity into firm. The focus of the paper will be on how the
founders overcame obstacles in the entrepreneurial process. Please include your references in
APA format. The company needs to be picked by February 6th.
The organization must meet the following criteria:
The organization you select can be a business or non-profit organization.
It must be younger than 10 years old
It must be currently operating (not sold or closed)
It must be privately held
It cannot be one that your family owns
It cannot be founded by an existing corporation or be a franchise
No two teams can have the same company.
4. 5. Feasibility Project
The feasibility project is a way to practice the techniques we learn in this class. Feasibility plans
can be used by entrepreneurs as they evaluate opportunities, but they are also used in
corporations to evaluate new major projects or products or services, the purchase of new
equipment or real estate, and to evaluate expansion decisions.
This team project will require project management skills as this project will take the entire
semester to complete. The first presentation and one-page memo describing the concept will be
Feb 27-29. The final presentation and paper will be due at the end of April. Date to be
announced.
COURSE POLICIES
PROFESSIONALISM: The purpose of this class is to help prepare you for a successful career.
As such, assignments that are not typed will not be accepted. All assignments should be written
in a professional manner. Points will be deducted for informal language, grammatical and
spelling errors, and not including your name. You can gain additional points for creative work
that exceeds minimum requirements.
LATE WORK: Late work is unprofessional. Unexcused late assignments will be marked
down one letter grade per day. Notify me in advance if you expect to turn in an assignment
late. I am more sympathetic to an explanation offered ahead of time.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: (from the Texas Tech Student Handbook, 2005-2006, Code of
Student Conduct, Part IX, Section B, item number 3) “Academic dishonesty includes, but is not
limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, falsifying academic records, misrepresenting facts,
and any act designed to give unfair academic advantage to the student (such as, but not limited
to, submission of essentially the same written assignment for two courses without the prior
permission of the instructor) or the attempt to commit such an act.” Academic honesty is an
important standard of every academic institution and is expected of every student in this class.
As academic dishonesty is also a crime against the university, violators will be reported and
adjudicated as prescribed by the Student Code of Texas Tech University. Should you have any
doubt as to whether or not an action of yours constitutes academic dishonesty, consult your
professor before engaging in it. Bottom Line – don’t cheat!
CIVILITY IN THE CLASSROOM: Students are expected to assist in maintaining a classroom
environment that is conducive to learning. In order to assure that all students have an opportunity
to gain from time spent in class, unless otherwise approved by the instructor, students are
prohibited from using cellular phones or beepers, making offensive remarks, reading
5. newspapers, sleeping, or engaging in any other form of distraction. In particular, I consider late
arrival to class, early departure from class, ringing cell phones or beepers, and talking with your
neighbor out of turn as classroom incivilities. Please be respectful of others who are trying to get
the most from their college experience.
ADA STATEMENT: The University is committed to the principle that in no aspect of its
programs, shall there be differences in the treatment of persons because of race, creed, national
origin, age, sex, or disability, and that equal opportunity and access to facilities shall be available
to all. If you require special accommodations in order to participate, please contact me at
b.randolph-seng@ttu.edu or come by my office during the first two weeks of the semester.
Students should present appropriate verification from the AccessTECH office (335 West Hall,
806-742-2405). No requirement exists that accommodations be made prior to completion of this
approved university process.
CHANGES TO SYLLABUS: This syllabus is subject to change. Announcements in class take
precedence over any other communication. “You must have mentioned that on the day I was
absent,” will not be acceptable as an excuse for missed assignments, not knowing about changes
in assignments, etc. I may also update Blackboard with any changes so you should check this
periodically.
FINALLY: This syllabus is a contract between you and me. If you disagree with the policies set
forth in this syllabus, you have the right to withdraw within the timeframe indicated in the
University calendar. By staying enrolled in this class, you agree to adhere to all policies stated in
this syllabus.
Tentative Course Schedule
Reading
# Date Scheduled Course Topic
Assignments
1 Jan 20 (F) Introduction/Overview
2 Jan 23 (M) What is entrepreneurship Chapter 1
International entrepreneurship & Social
3 Jan 25 (W) Assigned reading
Entrepreneurship
4 Jan 27 (F) Opportunity identification Chapter 2
5 Jan 30 (M) Entrepreneurship and creativity Assigned reading
6 Feb 1 (W) Brainstorming Assigned reading
Chapter
7 Feb 3 (F) Assessing opportunities - Feasibility & Desirability
3/Assigned reading
8 Feb 6 (M) Case Study – Turn in Individual Case Study Page 71 in text
9 Feb 8 (W) Developing an entrepreneurial orientation Chapter 3
10 Feb 10 (F) Feasibility Analysis Chapter 3
11 Feb 13 (M) Feasibility Analysis Chapter 3
6. 12 Feb 15 (W) Exam 1
13 Feb 17 (F) Entrepreneurial Goals
14 Feb 20 (M) Desirability Analysis Reading
15 Feb 22 (W) Business Plans Chapter 4
16 Feb 24 (F) Industry and competitor analysis Chapter 5
17 Feb 27 (M) Feasibility presentations
18 Feb 29 (W) Feasibility presentations
19 Mar 2 (F) Developing an effective business model Chap 6
20 Mar 5 (M) Case Study
21 Mar 7 (W) Exam 2
22 Mar 9 (F) Preparing the proper ethical and legal foundation Chapter 7
23 Mar 10 -18 Spring Break
24 Mar 19 (M) Building a new venture team Chapter 9
25 Mar 21 (W) Venture financial analysis Chapter 8
26 Mar 23 (F) Venture financial analysis Handout
27 Mar 26 (M) Venture financial analysis
28 Mar 28 (W) Getting Financing or Funding Chapter 10
29 Mar 30 (F) Getting Financing or Funding Chapter 10
30 Apr 2 (M) Speaker/Case Study
31 Apr 4 (W) Exam 3
32 Apr 6 (F) No class
33 Apr 9 (M) Marketing Chapter 11
34 Apr 11 (W) The importance of intellectual property Chapter 12
Preparing for and evaluating the challenges of
35 Apr 13 (F) Chapter 13
growth
36 Apr 16 (M) Strategies for Firm Growth Chapter 14
37 Apr 18 (W) Franchising Chapter 15
38 Apr 20 (F) Feasibility Plan Presentations
39 Apr 23 (M) Feasibility Plan Presentations
40 Apr 25 (W) Feasibility Plan Presentations
41 Apr 27 (F) Feasibility Plan Presentations
42 Apr 30 (M) Feasibility Plan Presentations
43 May 2 (W) Feasibility Plan Presentations
44 May 4 (F) Case Study
45 May 7 (M) Exam 4