Department of Management, Marketing, and International Business

MGT 585- SEMINAR IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

College of Business, Stephen F. Austin State University

Note: This "standard" course syllabus is only a guide. Actual requirements for a particular course and section of this course are described in the course section syllabus, which should be obtained from the course instructor at the beginning of the respective semester. Requirements listed herein are subject to change without notice.

Catalog Description: Investigates the myths, risks, and rewards of entrepreneurship, defined as wealth creation via new venture startup or business expansion, and explores the entrepreneurial process from opportunity recognition to harvest. The focus will be on the writing of a formal business plan, grounded in current research, to assess the degree to which an idea is an opportunity.

Prerequisites: Completion of MBA leveling courses or their equivalents, or consent of instructor.

Course Objectives: The course objective is to develop the knowledge, thought processes, and the skills and techniques necessary to assess the degree to which an idea, i.e., your new venture startup or business expansion, is a viable opportunity. To this end, a full-scale business plan will be completed to quantify and assesses the opportunity, as objectively as possible, and to ultimately answer a simple question, “Should you proceed with your new idea or are there gaps that need to be addressed?”

The structure of the business plan, i.e., content and form, will follow that used for the International Business Plan Competitions (a copy of a completed plan used in actual competition will be given to each student) with pro-formas being developed using the techniques utilized in the Finforecast template (may be down loaded form the instructors web page).

The development of the business plan will be supplemented and integrated with 1) informal round table discussions of readings from the assigned text and outside readings with the Professor acting as session chair and moderator, 2) instructional tips and techniques for doing research and gathering data, 3) formal lectures on the Industrial Organizational and Resourced-based Perspectives of sources for above-averaged returns, and finally 4) guest speakers.

Proposed Outcomes:

• Gaining knowledge of contemporary Entrepreneurship theory and practice
• Utilizing and integrating basic knowledge from one or more of these areas: accounting, finance, behavioral science, economics, mathematics, or statistics
• Competency in interpersonal, oral, and/or written communication
• Proficiency in analytical thinking, critical analysis, logic, creativity, and/or integrative problem solving
• Quantitative or abstract reasoning
• Ethical awareness and integrity
• Team building skills
• Skills in the use of contemporary information resources and technology
• Capacity and motivation for lifelong learning
• Understanding of global issues
• Awareness of the political, economic, legal, regulatory, environmental, and/or social factors affecting an organization

Current Textbook: William D. Bygrave,The Portable MBA in Entrepreneurship (Latest ed.).

Evaluation: Student performance will be measured through:

• Contribution
• Quizzes
• Two Minute Elevator Ride (Individual)
• Business Plan (Group)
       --Written Plan
       --Oral Presentation
• Other types of evaluation may be used at the instructor's discretion.

College of Business Home SFASU Home Top of this page