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Small Business Management
MGT 3806Y – Fall 2013
Tuesdays 6:00 – 8:50 p.m.
Room: S4037
_______________________________________________________________________ Instructor: Greg Marsh
[email protected] [email protected]
Office Hours: Tuesdays 5:00-5:50pm and by appointment
Text: Canadian Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management: (8th Ed.) (D. Wesley Balderson) McGraw Hill–Ryerson
ISBN 978-0070000209
(Order through bookstore.uleth.ca)
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Prerequisites: Third-year standing (a minimum of 60.0 credit hours)
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Course Description
:understanding of skills needed to start and operate a small business; personality traits that are commonly found among successful entrepreneurs; understanding the challenges faced when deciding whether or not to expand the business to a multi-location operation; common pitfalls of failed small business ventures; and key formula to know to help a potential entrepreneur quickly determine the potential viability of a venture; strengths and weaknesses of buying and existing business (including a franchise) vs. starting a new business; and human resources / staffing challenges for the small business owner.
Method of Assessment:
Midterm Exam 25 % Oct. 15
Final Exam 30 % Dec. 10
Business Plan Concept 10 % Oct. 22
Business Plan / Report 35 % Nov. 22
TOTAL 100 %
Examinations
Exams can consist of short answer, essays and / or case questions.
Class Project
This will be a group or individual project that will focus on the creation of a business plan for a specific and viable small business venture.
The purpose of the assignment is to allow students to understand the planning and research required during the conceptual stage of beginning a new business. Students can either a) Create a Business Plan for a hypothetical small business that would likely lead to a successful entrepreneurial venture if put into practice or b) Create a Business Plan for an actual small business concept. In this latter case, an acceptable outcome of the plan could include the student realizing their concept is not viable due to such factors as insufficient expected cash flow, insufficient demand for the goods or services, unacceptable profit margins or an unrealistic break-even sales volume. It is
recommended the small business be one that you would consider forming at one point in your life.
Professionalism:
Students are expected to act in a professional manner. Therefore points will not be awarded for professional behavior. Points however can be lost for
unprofessional behavior.
The following is a list of behaviors that are deemed to be unprofessional:
Poor Attendance:
Missing more than three hours of lecture (one class)
Coming to class late (ten minutes into the class) more than once Leaving class early without acceptable excuse (pre-approved) Poor Attention in Class:
Text messaging
Having your cell phone ring in class (one excuse acceptable)
Speaking on your cell phone in class or leaving class to speak or text Reading non-course-related material in class
Excessive chatting with the person next to you
Grading Scheme:
Percent Mark Letter Grade Grade Points Percent Mark Letter Grade Grade Points
95-100 A+ 4.0 90-94 A 4.0 86-89 A- 3.7 82-85 B+ 3.3 78-81 B 3.0 74-77 B- 2.7 70-73 C+ 2.3 66-69 C 2.0 62-65 C- 1.7 58-61 D+ 1.3 50-57 D 1.0 0-49 F 0
Course Policies:
1. Prerequisites. It is the responsibility of students to check the prerequisites for courses
before registration. If students are found to be registered in a course for which they do not have the prerequisites, and they have not received prior permission from the appropriate program chair, they can be de-registered. If this occurs after the drop/add date, tuition will not be refunded.
Students who fail to write final exams must provide satisfactory evidence of illness or extenuating circumstances AND must have the approval of the Dean for a makeup exam. For missed exams, a grade of F (0 marks) will be given.
Deferred final exams can only be written at times set by the school and instructor. Please note that if a final exam deferral is granted, the date will be set by the instructor and department. Students who fail to write final exams must provide satisfactory evidence of illness or extenuating circumstances AND must have the approval of the Dean for a makeup exam. For missed exams, a grade of F (0 marks) will be given.
3. Exam policies: For security reasons, students may not leave the examination site during
the first thirty (30) minutes nor enter after the first thirty (30) minutes. Data or internet-enabled phones (i.e. Blackberry, I-Phone etc.), laptops or other electronic devices may not be used during examinations without prior approval of the instructor. Students, who are found to have an electronic device on their person or desk during an examination, could be in breach of the electronic devices policy, which could result in a 0 grade on the exam. Please see additional examination policies in the 2013/2014 University Calendar, page 85.
4. Academic Dishonesty. In cases of academic misconduct, you will receive an F on the
assignment and/or you will receive an F in the course. Students can find further information in the 2013-2014 Calendar.
Ethical Conduct: The University’s policies are described in the calendar and all students are expected to read and comply with them. Special care should be taken to understand and avoid the Academic Offenses of Plagiarism and Cheating listed in the Student Discipline Policy.
Students will respect the basic standards of intellectual integrity, including, but not limited to, refraining from plagiarism, cheating or copying someone else’s work. In addition, students are expected to take an active role in encouraging other members of the academic community to refrain from academic dishonesty, and are asked to advise the instructor if they are aware of any such violations. This provision applies to any work submitted as a group project.
Plagiarism: “to steal and pass off the ideas and words of another as one’s own” (Webster’s). Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will automatically result in a zero grade for the submission. Any student caught plagiarizing may also be subject to additional University sanctions. For the current university policy on Cheating and Plagiarism, please consult University of Lethbridge calendar. The University of Lethbridge subscribes to a plagiarism detection service. Students may be required to submit their written work in electronic form for plagiarism checking.
Class Schedule:
Below is merely a tentative outline. Depending on how coverage of various issues progresses, we may spend more time on certain topics and less time on others.
Date Topic Chapters
September 10th
Overview of Small Business Management
September 17th
The Role of Entrepreneurship and Small Business in Canada
Discussion of the Group Project
Chapter 1
September 24th Small Business Decisions
Evaluation of Business Opportunity
Chapter 2 Chapter 3
October 1st Organizing the Business Plan
Buying a Business
Chapter 4 Chapter 5
October 8th Franchising
Financing a Small Business Review - Midterm Exam
Chapter 6 Chapter 7
October 15th
Midterm Exam - Chapters 1 – 7
October 22nd Marketing the Small Business (Part I)
Small Business Plan Concept due (6:05 p.m.)
Chapter 8
October 29th
Marketing the Small Business (Part II) Chapter 8
November 5th
Small Business and Electronic Commerce Financial Management
Chapter 9 Chapter 10
November 12th Operations Management In-Class Time to work on Group Project Chapter 11
November 19th
Human Resources Management
In-Class Time to work on Group Project
Chapter 12
November 26th
Tax Management
Small Business Plan / Report due (6:05 p.m.)
