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Syllabus [PDF]
Course Outline
and Schedule
Harvard Business
Online
Book Presentation
Assignments
Business
Presentation
Assignments
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Tech Management
UCSB
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Class Time: Wednesdays 6:00 - 10:00 pm
Classroom: HSSB 1210 or ESB 2001
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Office: Building 937, Room 1008
Office Hours: by appointment
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This is a course about conceiving, creating and implementing business plans. We will focus on the business plans needed for start-up companies or for new ventures within existing businesses. But, this course is not about simply writing of a lengthy formal “plan”; rather it is about first developing solid business ideas rooted in identifiable business principles, creating a viable business model, and finally communicating that model through a written document to acquire critical tangible and intangible resources. We will include non-traditional planning topics such as the theory of constraints, franchising, just-in-time management, innovation “S” curves, tipping points, leadership and other topics of operational excellence that need to be addressed in the planning phase.
The course has three elements. First, every participant must have a business idea that has passed some initial screening of viability so that a business plan can be developed and improved each week of the course. Goal 1: To develop a fundable business plan by early June.
Second, each participant will be expected to present to the class each week the current status of his/her plan and to propose the next critical tasks in its development. The class will then take on the role of “consultants” and practice finding solutions to each other’s “current” planning issues.
Goal 2: To practice presenting business issues, plans and solutions in real time, to be exposed to common planning problems, and to develop protocols for finding solutions.
Third, in order to create viable business models, one must be current in the business literature and language. In order to accomplish this, we will read several of the most respected works on strategic thinking, marketing, and planning and invite business leaders to join us in the discussion of these works. Goal 3: To become familiar with the leading business literature relevant to current new venture planning, to gain a familiarity with how executives and key decision makers think and act, and to build our individual “strategic business perspective.”
Grading will be determined by the progress and completeness of the business plan, the quality and extent of ones’ participation in helping others solve their business planning issues, and the quality and extent of knowledge demonstrated from the readings/discussions. In addition to the business plan, there will be one individual paper, drawing from the readings and discussions about how best to develop a dynamic, current, useful business plan.
(I strongly suggest that you buy these immediately either at your local book store or at Amazon. Don’t delay. They will not be at the UCSAB bookstore.)
The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to do about it; Michael E. Gerber, Harper Business, 2nd Edition, 2001.
Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling High-Tech Products to Mainstream Customers; Moore, Harper Perennial, 1991.
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference; Malcom Gladwell, Little Brown and Company, 2002.
Good to Great, Collins, Harper, 2001.
The Leadership Challenge; James M. Kouzes & Barry Z. Posner, 2003.
Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most; Stone, Patton, Heen, 2000.
Principles of Marketing, 9th Edition, Philip Kotler and Gary Armstrong, Prentice Hall.
Analysis for Financial Management, Robert Higgins, 6th Edition, Irwin McGraw Hill.
Class Participation: 30%
Paper on New Venture Planning: 30%
Business Plan: 30%
Leading class discussion: 10%
In addition to attending and actively participating in each class, you need to turn in two written documents. The first is a business plan. Even if you won the B-Plan competition, the plan must be an updated version of anything I or any judges have seen. I expect full financials, executive summary, and a fully developed business model consistent with the readings of this course. Put a cover page on the plan and telling me the strengths and weaknesses of the document (your chance to set expectations).
The second document is a paper between 5 and 10 pages. It is to be written by each student independently. It should provide a summary and an integration of all the readings for this course and how they apply to the process of creating, presenting and implementing a new venture business plan.
Participants will also be expected to have fun! |
