WEB COURSE SYLLABUS BBA 480: Business Plan Development Fall 2014 Credit hours: 3 Location: Web delivery Instructor: Sabra Lemmon Email contact: Sabra.Lemmon@nau.edu Prerequisites: BBA 300, 305W, 310, 320, 330, 340, senior status, and admission to BBA program Justification: The focus of this course is to research and write a complete business plan. Students will learn about the content, structure, and preparation of business plans. A business plan integrates the concepts of basic management, accounting, finance, marketing, human resources, MIS, microeconomics, operations, leadership, ethics, strategic planning and business communications. Course description: BBA 480 includes: design, development and evaluation of a business plan for existing and new businesses. BBA 480 includes consideration of marketing, industry, financial, management, competitive, and strategic issues relating to the feasibility and operation of new and on-going businesses. Students will research and write a full business plan (to include a market analysis, sales projections, and a full set of integrated financial projections / estimates of projected profits). Required text: In lieu of a text, students will use a software program (Business Plan Pro Complete-Version 12) and the web site. The BusinessPlanPro software program has no ISBN number. Each student must purchase this software. You may purchase BPP directly at www.paloalto.com, the home page of Palo Alto Software. Be sure to get the current edition. Palo Alto Software will have the correct landing page when you log in (see detailed ordering instructions in the Course Preview ). Be sure to get your own official, licensed copy of this software. Pirated versions or sharing with someone else will not work, because you will be down- loading your business plan to the Palo Alto Web site for corrections and grading. You will be unable to do that without your own serial number /version of the software. Any questions or concerns? Email (Palo Alto) Please note: If you do not have a computer to which you can load the software, email your instructor immediately for other arrangements.
Course Learning Outcomes: 1. Gain an understanding of the principles of defining innovative business opportunities and developing new business ventures. 2. Develop an awareness of the skills and behavioral requirements (and risks) appropriate to new venture evaluation and success. 3. Assist future entrepreneurs to develop company, industry, market, and financial analyses along with strategic planning and development of management teams. 4. Assist other students in assessing realistically and candidly the market potential of their entrepreneurial venture concepts. 5. Gain practice in expressing business-related ideas in writing in a clear, concise, positive, and persuasive manner. BBA480 is a writing course which maintains expectations of excellence, not only in the content of the business, but also in the spelling, grammar, and effectiveness of the written document. 6. Through completion of exercises and the writing of a complete business plan focusing on local and regional opportunities, gain an appreciation for the opportunities and obstacles to starting and running a business successfully (to include consideration of the economic, social, and overall business conditions of your local economic region). Course Structure and Approach: This course will be delivered over the World Wide Web. All assignments and instructions for the course will be posted at the NAU BBLearn site. Each student must check the site daily for announcements, comments, schedule updates, general orientation for the various assignments and activities, interaction with student peers / instructor, corrections of assignments generally applicable to students enrolled, grade progress reports, and guidance on the completion of assignments. Schedule a time each day to check the course BBLearn site to be sure you do not miss any important information. Students are responsible for any instructions or information twenty-four hours after it is posted on the BBLearn site. The excuse that I didn t know is not acceptable. Course Content: All graded work in this course must be completed individually. Students may form informal study groups, but all writing must be done individually. Please note: assignments should be turned in using Microsoft Word formatting. 1) Save your plan with the file name indicated in #1 above. The BPP saves your plan with a BPP file (extension *.bpd or *.bpdx). If you have followed the instruction in #1 above your plan will have the required file name in the format jones_fregosoicecream6. 2) Next, EXPORT THIS FILE TO WORD. Complete the following steps. a) Click file on the top, BPP tool bar. In the drop down menu that appears, click on Export. b) Under Export Options, select Microsoft Word Document. Now click Next. c) On the next screen, be sure that Export all items is selected. d) Save this new Word file to your computer using the same file name but this time as a WORD (extension *.doc or *.docx) file. e) Click Finish to begin exporting. f) When the export is complete, verify that you have saved your plan as a Word document by opening it on your computer from the new file.
3) ATTACH THIS FILE WITH YOUR PLAN IN WORD TO THE SUBMISSION BOX IN ASSIGNMENTS ON BBLEARN. Students will begin by completing three tutorial exercises (Modules 1-3) that will introduce the BPP program and provide instructions for using its many features. Modules 4-13 include tasks explained in the BusinessPlanPro software (BPP Fifteenth Anniversary Ed.). Each of the 10 modules will guide you through the researching, structuring, and writing of your business plan and preparation of your financial projections (pro forma financials). The work for each Module posted to the BBLearn site will be due to the Assignment Drop Box in BBLearn (unless otherwise instructed) as listed in your schedule. Assignments will be graded and scored against a maximum number of points for each module. The BPP disk includes the Hurdle Book, a brief text book on business planning. Students must study assigned chapters from this book in preparation for completing the activities included in each module. The required chapter(s) will be indicated in the instructions for each Module. Course assignments: Each student is free to decide what type of business (product/service) he/she wants to use for the business plan. If you are planning to or have already started a business, you may use it for your assigned work. You may pick a hypothetical business and write a plan for that fictitious business. You must report your decision (type of business) in an email to the instructor. The BPP program disk has many examples of business plans that give you a clear picture of what your final plan should look like. The BPP program also contains a Help feature. Clear, correct writing is required: The purpose of this course is to help you write an outstanding business plan. Correct grammar, spelling, and syntax are fundamental to good written communication skills. All work will be evaluated and graded on correct use of the English language. Points will be deducted for unclear writing (incorrect spelling, grammar and syntax). You may have someone (writing tutors or writing center staff) edit your work before you submit it, but you must inform the instructor you have done so. Your responsibility will be to learn from the editing and try to write the rest of the plan yourself. One helpful hint is to get into the habit of reading your module work out loud and then proofreading it again to catch errors you missed. Credit your sources: In preparing your business plan, you must cite each reference source used, giving proper credit for data, ideas, quotations or findings. Failure to cite the source of referenced data and material is a violation of professional ethics, NAU policy, and/or copyright / intellectual property laws. Direct quotes using the exact words from the source must be enclosed with quotation marks. Your instructor will not accept material that contains plagiarism or lacks proper citations of material drawn from other sources. Any reports failing to meet these standards will be returned with a grade of zero (0). For guidance on proper citation of references, please see "The New McGraw-Hill Handbook, Part 4: pages 373 to 495. You may follow the conventions of the Modern Language Association (MLA) or the American Psychological Association (APA). This is
the standard text used in all AWC English courses. You may also use the textbook you used when you took English 101 & 102. Criteria for evaluation of work: 1. Thorough and creative research used in the business plan (analysis of the market and marketing strategy) 2. Clarity of presentation 3. Effective use of research material to produce sound arguments and accurate documentation. 4. General professionalism with clear presentation using correct grammar, spelling 5. Evidence of understanding of effective business plan structure and presentation 6. Observance of standard procedures for citing sources, etc. You may not lift sections of the sample business plans provided in the BusinessPlanPro program and use them in your plan. Even close paraphrasing must be avoided. Your business plan must be your original work. 7. Any form of dishonesty or cheating will not be tolerated. The activity will be graded with a zero, or in severe cases, the student may be given a failing grade in the course. Extra credit opportunity (optional): Produce an advertising flyer (two-sided flyer) for your business (business used in your plan). You must fill the front and back with copy, headlines, slogans, product/service information (to include pricing) and art work/illustrations (can be photos). Email your flyer to your instructor on or before the scheduled due date. The flyer must target your most preferred customers. (20 points possible) Course grading: Tracking your progress, What is my grade today? Your work on each of the modules will be graded and your points will be posted on the BBLearn site. Therefore, it will be easy for you to calculate your grade at any moment in time during the semester. Simply calculate your point total as a percentage of total possible points to that date in the semester. For example, if after you have received your score for five modules, you see your point total reported on the web site is 145 and the total possible 185 points, your percentage earned is 155/185 or 83.8 percent. Therefore your grade at that date is a B because you have earned 83.8 percent of the total possible points. (See table below.) Extra credit points will not add to the points achieved numbers.
Grade equivalents: GRADE POINTS ACHIEVED A 765-850 B 680-764 C 595-679 D 510-594 F less than 509 Please note: Your official point total is what appears on the site. If you see a discrepancy in your point total, it is your responsibility to request the instructor to correct it within two weeks of the occurrence of the error. You must save your graded work to verify any disputed point totals. If you are unable to produce the graded work, the points posted to the website will stand. Make-up Work: If you are unable to complete a module on time, you must notify the instructor via email prior to the date when the work is due. The only exception is an emergency for which you have a doctor s excuse. NAU Policies SAFE ENVIRONMENT POLICY NAU s Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy seeks to prohibit discrimination and promote the safety of all individuals within the university. The goal of this policy is to prevent the occurrence of discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status and to prevent sexual harassment, sexual assault, or retaliation by anyone at this university. You may obtain a copy of this policy from the college dean s office. If you have concerns about this policy, it is important that you contact the departmental chair, dean s office, the Office of Student Life (520-523-5282), the academic ombudsperson (520-523-9368), or NAU s Office of Affirmative Action (520-523-3312). STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES If you have a learning and/or physical disability, you are encouraged to make arrangements for class assignments/exams so your academic performance will not suffer because of the disability or handicap. If you have questions about special provisions for students with disabilities, contact the Counseling and Testing Center. Application for services should be made at least eight weeks before the start of the semester. If the Counseling and Testing Center verifies your eligibility for special services, you should consult with your instructor during the first week in the semester so appropriate arrangements can be made. Concerns related to noncompliance with appropriate provisions should be direct to the Disability Support Services coordinator in the Counseling and Testing Center.
INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD Any study involving observation of or interaction with human subjects that originates at NAU including a course project, report, or research paper must be reviewed and approved by the institutional Review Board (IRB) for the protection of human subjects in research and research-related activities. The IRB meets once each month. Proposals must be submitted for review at least fifteen working days before the monthly meeting. You should consult with your course instructor early in the course to ascertain if your project needs to be reviewed by the IRB and/or to secure information or appropriate forms and procedures for the IRB review. Your instructor and department chair or college dean must sign the application for approval by the IRB. The IRB categorizes projects into three levels depending on the nature of the project: exempt from further review, expedited review, or full board review. If the IRB certifies that a project is exempt from further review, you need not resubmit the project for continuing IRB review as long as there are no modifications in the exempted procedures. A copy of the IRB Policy and Procedures Manual is available in each department s administrative office and each college dean s office. If you have question, contact Carey Conover, Office of Grant and Contract Services, at 520-523-4889. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY The university takes an extremely serious view of violations of academic integrity. As members of the academic community, NAU s administration, faculty, staff, and students are dedicated to promoting an atmosphere of honesty and are committed to maintaining the academic integrity essential to the educational process. Inherent in this commitment is the belief that academic dishonesty in all forms violates the basic principles of integrity and impedes learning. Students are therefore responsible for conducting themselves in an academically honest manner. Individual students and faculty members are responsible for identifying instances of academic dishonesty. Faculty members then recommend penalties to the department chair or college dean in keeping with the severity of the violation. The complete policy on academic integrity is in Appendix F of NAU s Student Handbook. CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT Membership in the academic community places a special obligation on all members to preserve an atmosphere conducive to a safe and positive learning environment. Part of that obligation implies the responsibility of each member of the NAU community to maintain an environment in which the behavior of any individual is not disruptive. It is the responsibility of each student to behave in a manner that does not interrupt or disrupt the delivery of education by faculty members or receipt of education by students, within or outside the classroom. The determination of whether such interruption or disruption has occurred has to be made by the faculty member at the time the behavior occurs. It becomes the responsibility of the individual faculty member to maintain and enforce the standards of behavior acceptable to preserving an
atmosphere for teaching and learning in accordance with University regulations and the course syllabus. At a minimum, students will be warned if their behavior is evaluated by the faculty member as disruptive. Serious disruptions, as determined by the faculty member, may result in immediate removal of the student from the instructional environment. Significant and/or continued violations may result in an administrative withdrawal from the class. Additional responses by the faculty member to disruptive behavior may include a range of actions from discussing the disruptive behavior with the student to referral to the appropriate academic unit and/or the Office of Student Life for administrative review, with a view to implement corrective action up to and including suspension or expulsion. CREDIT YOUR SOURCES You must cite each reference source used in your written work and give proper credit for an idea, quotation, or finding. Failure to cite the source of referenced material is a violation of professional ethics and NAU policy. Furthermore, it may be a violation of copyright or other intellectual property laws. Therefore, the instructor cannot accept material that contains plagiarism or lacks proper citations of material drawn from other sources. BBA 480 Course Schedule-Assignment Deadlines Please note: The course schedule is subject to change throughout the school term. It is your responsibility to know about the changes and plan your reading/preparation accordingly. Not all due dates fall on the same day. DEADLINES 11:00 p.m. on due date; extra credit work is due 12/2 MODULE 1 ASSIGNMENTS Obtain the BusinessPlanPro Program / load in your computer; Complete Tutorial Exercise #1; Select type of business for your plan- send instructor BBLearn email (25 points possible) DUE DATES 08/28 2 Tutorial Exercise #2 ( 25 points possible) 08/31 3 Tutorial Exercise #3 ( 25 points possible) 09/07 4 Business Plan Step #1: Plan Start-up ( 30 points possible) 09/14 5 Business Plan Step #2 Your Product & Market (55 points possible) 9/21 6 Business Plan Step #3 Industry Analysis ( 65 points possible) 09/28 7 TWO WEEKS TO Work on Step #4 Sales Forecast ( 90 points possible) 10/12 8 Business Plan Step #5 Marketing Plan (75 points possible) 10/19
9 Business Plan Step #6 Management Team (55 points possible) 10/26 10 TWO WEEKS TO WORK on Business Plan Step #7 11/09 The Bottom Line (100 points possible) 11 TWO WEEKS TO WORK on Business Plan Step #8 11/23 Cash is King ( 90 points possible) 12 Business Plan Step #9 Financial Plan ( 85 points possible) 12/07 13 JUST A FEW DAYS for Business Plan Step #10 Finish & Polish ( 130 points possible) 12/12 Please note: All work is due on the dates indicated above. Late work will be penalized. Semester term: 8/25-12/12