BUSI 707 Entrepreneurship: From Startup to Exit Strategy

This course provides a detailed overview of the entrepreneurial perspective and process. Topics include moving from an idea to developing a business opportunity, further developing the business opportunity into a clear business plan, obtaining funding for the business, and finally, successfully launching, growing, and potentially exiting the new business venture.

The majority of businesses, globally, in operation today began as an entrepreneurial pursuit. As such, these entities now underpin the bulk of economic activity that affects modern society and modern business. It is also this core of the global economy that drives value creation, employment, and innovation and heavily influences geo-political actions around the world. Entrepreneurs come from many different backgrounds including technology, finance, sales, operations and other areas of the business spectrum where they have been able to identify “needs” of markets and then have been able to capitalize on these. Statistically, the bulk of new entrepreneurial ventures fail, and this failure is typically due to the lack of a formalized planning, analysis, and structured approach to the development of the potential business venture. A structured approach to concept analysis and operational plan development, including capitalization, is critical to any successful entrepreneurial venture.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

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Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Case Study Analysis Assignments (4)

Case study analysis is a learning process which attempts to bridge theory and/or concepts with real world situations. Therefore, the student is required to read the assigned weekly case studies and provide responses to the provided focused questions. All parts of the responses must be written in current APA format, must be at least 100 words per question, and must demonstrate course-related knowledge. Any sources utilized must be cited in current APA format.

Biblical Application Analysis Assignment

Application analysis is a learning process which attempts to bridge theory and/or concepts with real or past applications. Therefore, the student is required to search the Bible for at least 4 verses that would guide individuals as they seek to become entrepreneurs and provide detailed answers to the required questions. All parts of the responses must be written in current APA format, must be at least 500 words per question, and must demonstrate course-related knowledge as well as clear biblical applications. The assignment must include a title page formatted in current APA style.

Integrated Business Plan Development Project Assignments (7)

The Integrated Business Plan Development Project Assignments will consist of 7 parts. The student will research and submit a business concept paper, business concept rationalization, sales & marketing plan, operational plan, financial plan, capitalization plan, and business plan PowerPoint presentation. The final component of the project, the Integrated Business Plan Development Project: Business Plan PowerPoint Presentation Assignment, must include at least 10 scholarly sources from peer-reviewed sources. All parts of the project must be written in current APA format.

Integrated Business Plan Development Project: Business Concept Development Assignment

Every entrepreneurial activity or concept begins with a novel or unique way of approaching a need. Therefore, the initial concept is the baseline of innovation and the start of the Integrated Business Plan Development Project. In at least 3 pages, the student will describe a project, service, or non-profit business application that will become the basis of their Integrated Business Plan Development Project Assignments. The student will include the mission statement, base concept, a general explanation of the market and customers, an explanation of the gaps or weaknesses, applications of the product/service/non-profit, the role of the individual, and the role  Christianity plays in the organization. 

Integrated Business Plan Development Project: Business Concept Rationalization Assignment

The assignment is designed to evaluate the “alignment” of the business concept developed in the Integrated Business Plan Development Project: Business Concept Development Assignment. In at least 4 pages, the student will analyze and develop a value proposition for the prospective business, product, or non-profit that will include the prospective customer profile, the value map of the prospective company that aligns the fit of the product/service with market needs, and the elements that create the value proposition.  

Integrated Business Plan Development Project: Sales and Market Plan Development Assignment

The third part of the Integrated Business Plan Development Project focuses on understanding the potential customer base and how many of the offerings may be sold and at what price range. In at least 4 pages, the student will create a sales and marketing plan for the new business venture that will provide an industry overview in which the business will operate and an analysis of the regions or areas where the prospective customers exist or operate. The analysis should include an examination of competitors, potential threats, and opportunities in the market as well as a distribution an delivery plan. Finally, the student will provide potential pricing of the offering/service and a monthly and annualized volume strategy based on comparative product analysis. The sales plan should be extrapolated to include the 1-year (short-term), 3-year (mid-term), and 5-year (long-term) plans. 

Integrated Business Plan Development Project: Operational Plan Development Assignment

Every business must have an operating structure that is attuned to the strategic and tactical needs of the business. Therefore, the student will develop an operating structure to support the successful and efficient output of the developed sales and marketing plan. In at least 3 pages, the student will describe the legal structure of the business and the rationale in choosing that structure type. The student will also describe the planned leadership operating structure, human resource structure, and the physical environment that the planned entity will operate in.

Integrated Business Plan Development Project: Financial Plan Development Assignment

At the core of any business plan is the financial element of the plan. In at least 5 pages, the student will develop the key short-term, mid-term, and long-term pro forma financial statements needed to support the business concept. These should include the profit and loss statements, cash flow statements, balance sheet statements, and overall breakeven analysis for all subject periods. This assignment should be primarily presented through use of spreadsheets or numerical charts. 

Integrated Business Plan Development Project: Capitalization Plan Development Assignment

The last step in the development process is the determination of a capital stack or capitalization approach to the business. In at least 2 pages, the student will develop a business capitalization plan that will describe the various sources of capital investments available to the business, the advantages and disadvantages of each source, and a capitalization recommendation for the business plan including a rationalization of the recommendation. It is recommended to use a combination of elements such as tables/charts and supporting narrative. 

Integrated Business Plan Development Project: Business Plan PowerPoint Presentation Assignment

After completing the first six development components of the project, the student will prepare a PowerPoint presentation of at least 10 slides of content, excluding the cover, appendix, and reference slides, that will include an introduction and summarization of the key areas of the previously developed business planning elements along with a conclusion supporting the need and justification of the business entity. All business elements that have been developed in the previous assignments and modules must be included. The presentation must follow current APA formatting guidelines and be presented in a business formal format. The student must utilize at least 10 peer-reviewed sources within their PowerPoint presentation.

Quizzes (4)

Each quiz will cover the Learn material for the assigned modules: weeks. 3 quizzes will be open-book/open-notes, will contain 10 multiple choice and true/false questions, will allow for 3 attempts, and will have a 1-hour time limit. 1 quiz will be open-book/open-notes, will contain 10 multiple choice questions, will allow for 3 attempts, and will have a 1-hour time limit.