BUSI 338 Developing Entrepreneurial Opportunities

A course that expands on the principles of how to develop a business opportunity that brings value to the marketspace.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

The ability of a company to test and evaluate the main building blocks of its launch plans in a contained environment help it improve the opportunities for success. This is a nurturing and learning stage, when the entrepreneur can make errors without jeopardizing the whole venture.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to post a thread of at least 350 – 400 words to the provided prompt. Each thread must be supported by a minimum of 1 source. A list of references in current APA format is required. The student must also reply to at least 2 other classmates’ threads. Replies must contribute a substantive response, amplify, or otherwise positively critique classmates’ scholarship. Each reply must be at least 150 – 200 words. 

New Venture Project Paper Assignments (3)

The three papers will address specific areas of the research and learning conducted to update the student’s plans during the incubation phase. These papers will help:

• Reaffirm Market Conditions and Demand
• Update the Marketing Plan
• Update Personnel and Financial Plans

Market Demand and Competition Assignment

In this paper, the student will conduct new research about the market in which their venture will compete. The paper should include: the market conditions; the technological conditions; the competitive conditions; etc. The paper should be 800 words in length.

Marketing Channels and Communications Assignment

In this paper, the student will conduct new research to help gain: a better understanding of the distribution network to use reach your ultimate customers; the relationships you will develop with your distribution channels and network, including the criteria you would use to select them; the marketing tools you will evaluate as part of the incubation stage; etc. The paper should be 800 words in length. 

Human and Financial Resources Assignment

By this point, the student will have revalidated the market opportunity, assessed the changes in market conditions, developed their distribution and marketing strategies, and gained an understanding of their supply chain. In this paper the student will include: a summary of the personnel needed to operate the venture; an organizational chart (if applicable); the compensation to be offered to staff and the highlights of the payroll; a 3-year projection of the business revenues and expenses, summarized in a Profit and Loss statement; a projection of the amount of capital needed and the sources of that capital; a 3-year trend of the cash flow, based on the capital generated and the P&L statements; etc. The paper should be 800 words in length. 

This presentation provides a recap of the class learning, including the contents of the discussions and papers.  The purpose is to present the project to an investor or banker. In addition to the slide content, speaker notes and references are required.

Quizzes (7)

Each exam will be open-book/open-notes, contain 30 questions, and have a time limit of 30 minutes.