Small Business Management – Entrepreneurship Syllabus for 2016-2017
Return to Syllabus List

Instructor Information

Office Location

Byrd Business Building – Office 358

Office Hours

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Student Service Center office 112. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a class must:

  • consult with their instructor to obtain a signed academic withdrawal request form to submit to the AskAC department for processing
  • consult with the financial aid office if receiving financial aid
  • consult with the Veterans Benefit Coordinator if receiving veteran benefits
  • consult with their academic advisor to determine how withdrawing may affect their enrollment in future semesters
    • NOTE:  The Texas Education Code stipulates that students attending Texas institutions of higher education for the first time fall 2007 and later may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career, including courses from which transfer students have withdrawn at other Texas institutions of higher education. (Senate Bill 1231) Rule 4.10.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

BUSG-2309-001 Small Business Management – Entrepreneurship

Prerequisites

Course Description

A course in how to start and operate a small business. Topics include facts about a small business, essential management skills, how to prepare a business plan, financial needs, marketing strategies and legal issues.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Product Details

Small Business Management 17th ed, Longenecker, Petty Palich, Hoy

ISBN: 978-1-133-94775-2

Supplies

  • Note taking supplies
  • Textbook:  Small Business Management 17th ed, Longenecker, Petty Palich, Hoy
  • Computer/tablet    (Be aware: not all class objectives can be accessed on tablets or smartphones)
  • Ability to access the course in Blackboard through AC Connect to submit assignments. Students MUST have the ability to access the course in Blackboard through AC Connect to submit assignments, take exams, participate in discussion boards and team projects (www.actx.edu)

 *If you don't have computer and printer access as home, make sure you locate the computer lab of your choice on campus to complete your assignments on time.

Technical support and assistance to log on to the course:

Student Performance

Course Learning Outcomes:

  1. The student will describe important issues about small businesses and the entrepreneurial process.  SCANS* Information C5-C7; Thinking Skills F7, F9, F12
  2. Student will discuss and identify essential management skills required of a successful entrepreneur, including the comparison of the traditional entrepreneurial personality with the traditional managerial personality.  SCANS* Resources C1-C4; Information C5-C8; Thinking Skills F7-F12; Interpersonal C9-C14
  3. Student will list the basic steps involved in preparing a business plan including:
    a.  Analyzing the Industry and the Market
    b.  Analyzing the Product/Service
    c.  Protecting Intellectual Property
    d.  Building a Founding Team
    e.  Calculating start-up capital requirements
         SCANS* Information C5-C8; Systems C15-C17 Resources C1-C4
  4. Student will identify and discuss the five stages of growth of a business and discuss the concept of harvesting@. SCANS* Information C5-C8; Thinking Skills F7-F12

*Meets Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS)

Information:  Acquires and uses information.

Interpersonal:  Works with others, serves clients, exercises leadership.

Systems:  Understands complex interrelationships.  (evaluates, monitors, improves social organizational and technological systems)

Thinking Skills:  Thinks creatively, makes decisions, solves problems, visualizes, knows how to learn and reason.

Resources:  Identifies, organizes, plans, and allocates resources (time, money, materials, facilities and human resources)

 

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Be on time and prepared for classroom discussion.

Cell phones and pagers must be in silent mode while class is in session. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM TEXTING and USAGE DURING CLASS.  Excessive cell phone use will be call for dismissal from the class.   

You are expected to behave in the classroom, in a manner that is supportive of the learning environment. Behaviors that are not supportive include, but are not limited to: tardiness/leaving early; electronic device noises, electronic usage, texting, working on homework in class, sleeping and talking during lectures; abusive, offensive, or disrespectful language; abusive, offensive, or disrespectful demeanor toward AC faculty, staff, students and/or property are grounds for immediate dismissal. 

BEST PRACTICES:

  • If this is your first class with Blackboard, get into Blackboard and "get lost"
  • Log into Blackboard on Monday to see what is due for the week (check the college email several times a week to stay informed)  Communication will be through class announcements and college email. 
  • Plan ahead if you have limited internet access
  • Communicate, communicate, communicate with your instructor
  • USE SPELL CHECK  (What do you think about the person or an articles with incorrect spelling?)
  • Know your resources, (student help, library hours, tutoring locations, etc.) if you don't know and need help....ask!!

DISCUSSION BOARDS:

  • Use complete sentences in discussion boards.  DO NOT use abbreviated language used in text messaging. 
  • Use spell check. 
  • Address classmates in a non-threatening tone of voice; refrain from insults, slurs, insensitive comments and slang. 
  • Please be respectful or classmates on the discussion boards.

EXAMINATIONS:

Exams are to be taken INDIVIDUALLY.  If at student is caught participating in group testing, he/she will automatically receive a "0" and will be subject to further disciplinary actions as outlines in the AC Students Rights & Responsibilities. 

Plagiarism, Cheating and Individual Work Ethic

Amarillo College policies and Code of Student Conduct is strictly adhered to when dealing with plagiarism, cheating, and duplication of work product. Any evidence of plagiarism, cheating, or duplication of work product will result in a zero on the work in question.

A complete statement regarding scholastic dishonesty can be found in the Student Code of Conduct in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook at http://catalog.actx.edu/content.php?catoid=12&navoid=426

Grading Criteria

GRADING SCALE:

            90 - 100%         =          A          Excellent

            80 -   89%         =          B          Above Average, Very Good

            70 -   79%         =          C          Average, Good

            60 -   69%         =          D          Poor, but passing

            Below 60%        =          F          Failing

Instructor reserves the right to subjectively influence the final grade relative to class attendance, participation, and attitude.

Weighted Total:

10% Quizzes

10% Peer Evaluations

20% Activities & Assignments

30% Final Exam

30% Business Plan 

100% Total Grade

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

Assignments MUST be typed and submitted into Blackboard.  Assignments are due by midnight on Mondays. Late assignments not accepted. Extenuating circumstances will be considered, if communicated BEFORE the due date. 

EXAMINATIONS:

Examinations will consist of essay, true-false, multiple choice, matching or short answer questions. Final Examination will be comprehensive.  Should you have an emergency, contact me in ADVANCE!  You are allowed 7 days to take an exam. There are no make-up exams

 

WITHDRAWAL POLICY: 

It is the responsibility of the student to initiate drop or withdrawal procedures through Instructor of the course. Students who stop attending class but do not officially drop or withdraw from this course will receive a grade of F if their average falls below a 60.   PLEASE communicate with the instructor to discuss options before considering dropping the class!  Once the class is dropped, all grade records are deleted in Blackboard and can not be accessed again. 

***If after four weeks of coursework, a student’s grade is under a 70, an academic retention alert will be sent to advisor and financial aid department.

Accessing Grades Online:

To view your current course grades:

  • Go to www.actx.edu, click on AC Connect anf log in using your ACNetID and password
  • Click on BUSG-2309
  • Click on My Grades on the menu to the left.

Final grade will be determined by dividing total number of points by the number of tests and projects. Instructor reserves the right to subjectively influence the final grade relative to class attendance, participation and attitude.

To view your Final course grades:

  • Go to www.actx.edu, click on AC Connect and log in using your ACNetID and password
  • Scroll down to Self Service on bottom right of the page, and click on Current Student.
  • Under current student, click on Academic Profile and click on Grades.

Be aware that the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (as amended) does not permit instructors to disclose information regarding grades over the phone, via email, or to a third party. Therefore, if you need to discuss your grades, you must do so in person.

Attendance

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

"90% of success is just showing up."  ~ Woody Allen 

In order to be successful in this class, students are expected to attend all regularly scheduled class meetings.  Should you miss a class, it is your responsibility to determine what you have missed and take appropriate actions. Please obtain the names and phone numbers of at least two of your fellow classmates and contact them about anything you have missed.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Attendance will be taken at the beginning of class.  Complete attendance is considered attending the whole class, coming to class late or leaving early is not considered full attendance. 

WITHDRAWAL POLICY:
It is the responsibility of the student to initiate drop or withdrawal procedures through the Instructor of the course.  Students who stop attending class but do not officially drop or withdraw from this course will receive a letter grade at the end of the semester. 
PLEASE communicate with the instructor to discuss options before considering dropping the class!

EXAMINATIONS:

Exams will be open for 7 days. Students are expected to take the exam by the due date.  NO make-up exams are allowed except for extenuating circumstances. 

Calendar

BUSG 2309 Small Business Management – Entrepreneurship

Instructor reserves the right to modify this schedule as needed during the semester.

WEEK

ASSIGNMENT

TESTS

Week 1

 

Chp. 1 The Entrepreneurial Life

Chp. 2 Integrity and Ethics:  Foundations for Success in Small Business

 

Week 2

 

Chp. 3 Starting a Small Business

Chp. 4 Franchises and Buyouts

 

Week 3

 

Chp. 5 The Family Business

Chp. 6 The Business Plan

 

Week 4

 

Chp. 7 The Marketing Plan

Chp 8 The Organizational Plan: Teams, Legal Structures, Alliances

 

Week 5

 

Chp 9 The Location Plan

Chp 10 Understanding a Firm’s Financial Statements

 

Week 6

 

Chp 11 Forecasting Financial Requirements

Chp 12 A Firm’s Sources of Financing

 

Week 7

 

Presentations and feedback

 

Week 8

    Final and final business plan due  

Additional Information

Syllabus Created on:

08/22/16 4:00 PM

Last Edited on:

08/30/16 9:44 PM