ENTREPRENEURSHIP 

References: Provided by instructor

The purpose of this course is to explore the many dimensions of new venture creation and growth and to foster innovation and new business formations in independent and corporate settings. The course uses and integrates many of the disciplines in the MBA curriculum.  The course appeals to individuals who have an existing strong desire to become an entrepreneur, or work in a startup or early stage or entrepreneurial minded company that may be expressed immediately or later in their careers.  This course is also good for students who considering careers in consulting, venture capital, or investment banking where they are dealing with new or relatively new ventures.

The primary focus of the course is to help students understand the process of analyzing a business opportunity, preparing a business plan, determining feasibility of an idea using research, and developing a plan to organize and promote the business and its products and services. In addition, students understand the capital required, the return on investment desired, and the potential for profit.

- Students will gain the knowledge and skills needed to become an entrepreneur. Students will learn the principles necessary to begin and operate a business.

- The student visits local franchises and obtains franchise information such as pamphlets and brochures.

- The student identifies the importance of a well-written business plan

- The student explains and demonstrates how to meet the needs of the customer  

- The student explains and demonstrates how to meet the needs of a growing organization

- The student identifies financial and accounting terms and forms

- The student is expected to demonstrate and explain financial and accounting terms and forms

- The student uses leadership and teamwork skills in collaborating with others to accomplish organizational goal and objectives. The student is expected to participate in leadership and career development.

- The student knows that offering consumer credit encourages the sale of goods, services, and ideas

- The student knows that international economic factors affect business planning

- The student knows that pricing has policies, objective, and strategies.

- The student knows the effects of credit on price and profit

- The student knows the importance of managing the pricing structure

- The student knows elements and processes of product planning

- The student knows that purchasing usually occurs in a continuous cycle

- The student knows that entrepreneurial risk is the possibility of loss or failure.

- The student knows the importance of environmental concerns.

- The student understands business ethics and legal responsibilities.

- The student acquires foundational knowledge of business laws and regulations to understand their nature and scope

- The student explains the civil foundations of the legal environment of business to demonstrate knowledge of contracts

- The student explores the regulatory environment of business to understand the diversity of regulations.

- The student knows that distribution involves activities associated with the physical movement or transfer of ownership of products from producer to consumer.

- The student knows that marketing research is a specific inquiry to solve a problem.

- The student knows the process of collecting marketing information to facilitate decision making.

A combination of lecture/discussion and demonstration, followed by applied skills activities, is recommended for this course.  Students should prepare for lecture/discussions by reading or viewing appropriate material.  The instructor can then present a lecture covering theories, principles, and concepts relating to the topic in question.  This is followed by demonstrations of the various skills that will be developed.  Students are then given practical application activities.   Once all activities, and/or projects have been completed, students are then evaluated on these activities and/or projects.  

A = 90% - 100%

B = 80% - 89%

C = 75% - 79%

D = 70% - 74%

F = 60% - 69%

Methods of evaluation will be derived from the following:

         Written/Objective Tests                        

         Classwork

         Computer Assignments (Skills tests and Graded Skills Activities)

         Projects

         Six-week Common Assessment 

Obtaining work missed for any reason is the sole responsibility of the student.  Time for make-up will be determined by the teacher.  HISD Policy regarding make-up work will be enforced. (See HISD Student Code of Conduct -- READ IT!)

- Late work is graded in the same manner in all classes however, the student’s grade will be reduced by 15% of actual earned grade (i.e. earned 100 receives an 85). The amount of time allowed for submission of late work is 3 class period.

- Students have five school days after returning from an absence to complete all makeup work

- All computer assignments must be completed in the classroom (under no circumstances should the flash drive be removed from the classroom).

- You will be informed of test dates at least one class period in advance of the test.

Ø  Blue or Black Ink on all typed and written assignments

Ø  2 pocket folder  with filler paper AND Notebook

Ø Storage devices are recommended for all projects where applicable. 

****Any lost or damaged storage device must be replaced by the student. 

****You are still responsible for the work on the lost or damaged storage device.

****Outside storage devices must be approved by the instructor.

Topics covered in the course include:

Professionalism                                         Workplace Skills                                             

General: 

This class is conducted as a business environment.  Therefore, you are expected to adhere to the following workplace policies:

1.      You are responsible for the workstation assigned to you during your allocated time and it is to be used for Entrepreneurship assignments “only”.

2.      You are expected to be prepared to work, stay on task, and on time. 

3.      You are considered tardy if you are not seated at your assigned workstation when the tardy bell rings.

4.      Hall passes are privileges and will be authorized at the teacher’s discretion. Therefore, please take care of all personal matters during your passing time.

5.      Respect peers and the authority of all teachers and staff at all times.

6.      No profanity or offensive comments / behavior.

7.      No talking, singing, personal electronic devices, (cell phones must be turned off during class), or walking around during class unless authorized by the instructor.

8.      No sleeping during class

9.      No eating, chewing gum, or drinking in class

When accessing an HISD computer (any computer in this school) do not expect any privacy during use.  Use of HISD’s network constitutes consent to monitoring, retrieval, and disclosure of any information stored with the network for any purpose including criminal prosecution. 

Violation(s) of the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) guidelines for computer use in the classroom will be strictly enforced resulting in the loss of computer time and/or warrant disciplinary action as determined by your Dean.

The following procedures regarding tardies will be in place. 

Tutorials are Monday - Friday during both lunch periods or by appointment.

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE RULES WILL RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION