EEE 3023 Entrepreneurial Thinking and Behavior Spring 2015

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1 EEE 3023 Entrepreneurial Thinking and Behavior Spring 2015 Instructor: Professor Blakley C. Davis Office: Cordell 006 Office hours: By appointment Distance learning support: Technical assistance for video lectures: Required text: cepdsupport.wikispaces.com or Entrepreneurship: Successfully Launching New Venture, 4 th Edition. Bruce R. Barringer and R. Duane Ireland Course objective To introduce students, in a substantive and exciting manner, to the entrepreneurial mindset and the entrepreneurial process. Course Description This course is designed to introduce you to the entrepreneurial mindset and the entrepreneurial process. The entrepreneurial mindset refers to a state of mind that orientates a person s thinking and behavior towards entrepreneurial activities and outcomes. Individuals with an entrepreneurial mindset are drawn to opportunities, innovation and new value creation, regardless of whether it s in a new business context, a traditional job, a person s family or in volunteer activities. The course also introduces you to the entrepreneurial process, which is the process of launching a business. The process of launching a business is divided into four sections: Decision to become an entrepreneur Developing successful business ideas Moving from an idea to an entrepreneurial firm Managing and growing an entrepreneurial firm We ll work through each of these sections and their accompanying chapters. You ll leave the course with a much better understanding of what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur and how to go about launching a new business. 1

2 Learning Objectives Offer students an overview of entrepreneurial thinking and behavior Instruct students how to identify and develop successful business ideas Opportunity Recognition Equip students with an understanding of how a business idea is transformed into an entrepreneurial firm Functional Integration Provide students an understanding of how to manage and grow an entrepreneurial firm, including how to properly accumulate and leverage resources Resource Leveraging Provide an introduction to the development of effective business models and business plans Business Planning Provide students an opportunity to strengthen both their written and oral communication skills through class projects and the final business model project C om m unications Teach students how to effectively work in teams Interpersonal Skills, Teamwork and Leadership Class Structure Students will work on their own and in teams. The individual assignments and team assignments are explained in the syllabus, and will be further explained in additional handouts. EEE 3023 is not an easy course. It is demanding in that you ll be challenged to think like an entrepreneur. A high degree of professionalism will also be expected of the students in the class. Entrepreneurs must often work harder and behave in a more professional manner than their counterparts in traditional firms, because they re trying to establish their legitimacy and build a positive brand. Individual Assignments and Exams There are two individual assignments and a midterm and a final. They are described below. Interview of an Entrepreneur o Each of you will be asked to identify a successful entrepreneur, interview the entrepreneur, and submit a comprehensive assessment of the interview and what you learned from the entrepreneur s experiences. A separate handout will be distributed which provides details about the assignment. Individual Elevator Speech o Each of you will be assigned an existing new venture, and will be required to develop a written version of an elevator speech (or elevator pitch) for 2

3 the venture. A separate handout will be distributed which provides details about the assignment. Discussion Board o Active conversations will take place on the discussion board through the course of the semester. You will be graded on the quality and quantity or your contributions to the discussion board. Midterm and Final o Both a midterm and a final exam will be administered. The midterm will carry equal weight as compared to the final. The exams will be multiple choice and short answer questions. Group Assignments Each of you will be placed in a group that you will work with throughout the semester. The following are the assignments that you will be required to complete as a group. Entrepreneurial Exercises o There are three entrepreneurial exercises that you will be required to complete as a group. The exercises will be based on class material and the conversations that will take place on the discussion board. A separate handout will be distributed which provides details about this set of assignments. Business Model Project o The class will cumulate with a major project. The project will be the completion of a business model for an existing new venture. The new venture (which is a real startup) will be assigned by your professor midway through the semester. The completed business model will be submitted in written form. A separate handout will be distributed which provides details about this assignment. It will take everything you learn in the class to complete the assignment successfully. Many students find this assignment to be extremely helpful in regard to their understanding of the entrepreneurial process. You ll learn how to put a new business together in a manner that maximizes its chances for success. 3

4 Grading The grades for the course will be distributed as follows: Interview of an entrepreneur 50 points Individual elevator pitch 50 points Discussion board contribution 125 points Entrepreneurial exercises 75 points 3 exercises X 25pts each Business model project 200 points Midterm exam 100 points Final exam 100 points Total points 700 DROP POLICY Information about Oklahoma State University s Drop Policy and Dates is provided at the following website: Click on class schedules, and short, internet, and outreach course. To drop this course, contact the Registrar s office, (405) , or drop through SIS (Student Information Service) ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Oklahoma State University has adopted an academic policy emphasizing that honesty, integrity, and respect for others are fundamental expectations in our University. The Spears School of Business requires all students who take Spears courses to certify that they have read, understand, and agree to comply with the University's Academic Integrity Policy. Spears students should have already completed a certification statement. All other students enrolled in this course, business school minors, are also required to complete a certification statement available in the Undergraduate Office. Completed statements will be kept on file in the Undergraduate Office. For other important information concerning important dates, holidays, dropping/ withdrawing from a course, the integrity policy, class attendance, and other general expectations, you may visit: STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES/SPECIAL NEEDS If you are a student with accommodation needs, please be sure to register with the Office of Disability Services. Contact me at the beginning of the semester so that I am aware of your specific accommodations. This will help you achieve success in the course and at the university. 4

5 Class Schedule: Spring 2015 Date Topic Assigned reading Week 1, January 12 Introduction to Class Introduction to Entrepreneurship Introduction Chapter 1 Week 2, January 19 Recognizing Opportunities and Generating Ideas Chapter 2 Week 3, January 26 Feasibility Analysis Individual Elevator Speech Due at Noon Wednesday, January 28 (Central Time) Chapter 3 Week 4, February 2 Writing a Business Plan Group Entrepreneurial Exercise #1 Distributed on Wednesday, February 4 at Noon and Due on Wednesday, February 11 at Noon (Central Chapter 4 Time) Week 5, February 9 Industry and Competitor Analysis Chapter 5 Week 6, February 16 Business Models Handouts Week 7, February 23 Preparing the Proper Ethical and Legal Foundation Group Entrepreneurial Exercise #2 Distributed on Wednesday, February 25 at Noon and Due on Wednesday, March 4 at Noon (Central Chapter 7 Time) Week 8, March 2 Assessing a New Venture s Financial Strength and Viability Midterm Exam Distributed at 8:00 am on Monday, March 2 and Due at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, March 4 (Central Time) Chapter 8 Week 9, March 9 Building a New Venture Team Chapter 9 Week 10, March 16 Spring Break Week 11, March 23 Getting Financing or Funding Interview of an Entrepreneur Due at Noon Wednesday, March 25 (Central Time) Chapter 10 Week 12, March 30 Unique Marketing Issues Group Entrepreneurial Exercise #3 Distributed on Wednesday, April 1 at Noon and Due on Wednesday, April 8 at Noon (Central Time) Chapter 11 Week 13, April 6 The Importance of Intellectual Property Chapter 12 Week 14, April 13 Preparing for and Evaluating the Challenges of Growth Chapter 13 Week 15, April 20 Strategies for Firm Growth Business Model Group Project Due at Noon Wed, April 22 (Central Time) Chapter 14 Week 16, April 27 Review Week 17, May 4 Final Week Final Exam Distributed at 8:00 am on Monday, May 4 and Due at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, May 6 (Central Time) 5