Course Description: While developing English language skills, this course introduces students to small business management. Through reading, discussion, and case study analysis, students develop an understanding of small business planning, of marketing and operational strategy development, of legal and financial issues, and of day-to-day supervision and control procedures.
Objectives: By the end of the course,
students should be able:
Instructional Methods:
Students
will read, discuss, and write in English in response to
situations
described in the text; in reponse to quotations, charts, tables, and pictures;
and in response to "cases."
Grading: The final grade is based on the following:
|
Class Participation |
25% |
|
Assignments |
30% |
|
Project |
10% |
|
Quizzes |
10% |
|
Exams |
25% |
|
Total |
100% |
The grading scale is: A=90-100%, B+=85-89%, B=80-84%, C+=75-79%,
C=70-74%, D=65-69%, F=60-64%
|
Week |
Topics |
Assignments and
Tests |
|
1-2 |
a.)
Using the text: parts of the book,
glossaries, profiles, visuals, charts, margin information, objectives,
summaries, cases, and other learning aids. b.)
Vocabulary guidelines: write two
complete sentences for each word, one that describes its meaning and one that
gives an example of its use. c.)
Introduction to small business issues and trends. |
Read
chapter 1. Begin
a vocabulary log, following teacher's instructions. Select
one chapter chart and write at least a paragraph explaining it. Select
one "question for discussion" and write at least a paragraph in
response. Write
a response to the questions following one of the cases at the end of the
chapter. |
|
3 |
Opportunities
and challenges in small business:
reasons people start small business, characteristics of successful
entrepreneurs, opportunities for small businesses, and concerns of small
business owners. |
Read
chapter 2. Continue
entries in your vocabulary log. Select
one chapter visual or figure and write at least a paragraph explaining it. Select
one "question for discussion" and write at least a paragraph in
response. Write
a response to the questions following one of the cases at the end of the
chapter. |
|
4 |
Forms
of ownership: proprietorships, partnerships,
corporations, and others; selecting and evaluating the right legal form. Individual
within small group oral presentations in response to a specific chapter
case. |
Read
chapter 3. Continue
entries in your vocabulary log. Select
one chapter visual or figure and write at least a paragraph explaining it. Select
one "question for discussion" and write at least a paragraph in
response. Work
with a small group to prepare a small group oral presentation that responds
to the questions following one of the cases at the end of the chapter. |
|
5 |
Becoming
a small business owner: identifying a
needed product and a market for it; franchising. |
Read
chapter 4. Continue
entries in your vocabulary log. Select
one chapter visual or figure and write at least a paragraph explaining it. Select
one "question for discussion" and write at least a paragraph in
response. Write
a response to the questions following one of the cases at the end of the
chapter. |
|
6-7 |
Planning
in organizing and managing a small business:
strategic, operational, and financial planning; components of a
business plan; writing, presenting, and implementing the plan; writing a
resume. Brief
individual oral presentations explaining a chapter visual or figure. |
Read
chapter 5. Continue
entries in your vocabulary log. Select
one chapter visual or figure and write at least a paragraph explaining it. Select
one "question for discussion" and write at least a paragraph in
response. Select
one component of the sample business plan and explain why it is important. Using
the models in the sample business plan, write a resume for yourself. Open
book test on material covered so far.
|
|
8 |
Financing
your business: various forms and
sources of financing; presenting yourself to lenders. Review
for exam. |
Read
chapter 6. Continue
entries in your vocabulary log. Select
one chapter visual or figure and write at least a paragraph explaining it. Select
one "question for discussion" and write at least a paragraph in
response. Write
a response to the questions following one of the cases at the end of the
chapter. Exam. |
|
9 |
Marketing
strategies: marketing concepts; using
research; packaging, pricing, and other aspects of marketing; implementing
and evaluating a marketing strategy. Individual
within small group oral presentations in response to a specific chapter case |
Read
chapter 7. Continue
entries in your vocabulary log. Select
one chapter visual or figure and write at least a paragraph explaining it. Select
one "question for discussion" and write at least a paragraph in
response. Work
with a small group to prepare a small group oral presentation that responds
to the questions following one of the cases at the end of the chapter. |
|
10 |
Promoting
and distributing a product: choosing
a distribution channel; advertising, merchandizing, and promoting the
product; managing credit. |
Read
chapter 8. Continue
entries in your vocabulary log. Select
one chapter visual or figure and write at least a paragraph explaining it. Select
one "question for discussion" and write at least a paragraph in
response. Write
a response to the questions following one of the cases at the end of the
chapter. |
|
11 |
Human
resources: recruiting, selecting,
training, and developing employees; complying with Equal Employment
Opportunity laws and regulations; compensating employees and providing
benefits; protecting their health and safety. Individual
within small group oral presentations in response to a specific chapter case |
Read
chapter 9. Continue
entries in your vocabulary log. Select
one chapter visual or figure and write at least a paragraph explaining it. Select
one "question for discussion" and write at least a paragraph in
response. Work
with a small group to prepare a small group oral presentation that responds
to the questions following one of the cases at the end of the chapter. |
|
12 |
Maintaining
good employee relationships: defining
an organizational structure; exercising effective leadership; communicating
with and motivating employees; evaluating employee's performance; imposing
structure and discipline; terminating employees. |
Read
chapter 10 Continue
entries in your vocabulary log. Select
one chapter visual or figure and write at least a paragraph explaining it. Select
one "question for discussion" and write at least a paragraph in
response. Write
a response to the questions following one of the cases at the end of the
chapter. |
|
13 |
Locating
and laying out facilities: developing
operating systems; locating facilities; planning the physical facility;
improving operations. |
Read
chapter 11 Continue
entries in your vocabulary log. Select
one chapter visual or figure and write at least a paragraph explaining it. Select
one "question for discussion" and write at least a paragraph in
response. Work
with a small group to prepare a small group oral presentation that responds
to the questions following one of the cases at the end of the chapter |
|
14 |
Purchasing,
inventory, and quality control:
selecting suppliers and establishing purchasing procedures;
controlling inventory; assuring quality control. Individual
within small group oral presentations in response to a specific chapter case |
Read
chapter 12 Continue
entries in your vocabulary log. Select
one chapter visual or figure and write at least a paragraph explaining it. Select
one "question for discussion" and write at least a paragraph in
response. Work
with a small group to prepare a small group oral presentation that responds
to the questions following one of the cases at the end of the chapter |
|
15 |
Planning
for profit: business financial
structure; profit-making activities; planning for profitability. |
Read
chapter 13 Continue
entries in your vocabulary log. Select
one chapter visual or figure and write at least a paragraph explaining it. Select
one "question for discussion" and write at least a paragraph in
response. Write
a response to the questions following one of the cases at the end of the
chapter. |
|
16 |
Budgeting
and taxes: controlling operations and
using budgetary control; evaluating financial conditions; local, state, and
federal taxes; employment and personal owner taxes; record keeping for tax
purposes. Review
for exam. |
Read
chapter 14 Continue
entries in your vocabulary log. Select
one chapter visual or figure and write at least a paragraph explaining it. Select
one "question for discussion" and write at least a paragraph in
response. Work
with a small group to prepare a small group oral presentation that responds
to the questions following one of the cases at the end of the chapter Exam. |
|
17 |
Information
technology: role of information in
small business; creating appropriate management information systems; using
information technology to promote your business. |
Read
chapter 15 Continue
entries in your vocabulary log. Select
one chapter visual or figure and write at least a paragraph explaining it. Select
one "question for discussion" and write at least a paragraph in
response. Write
a response to the questions following one of the cases at the end of the
chapter. |
|
18 |
Risk
management, insurance, and crime prevention:
types of risk, minimizing loss with insurance, and preventing crime;
safeguarding employees. |
Read
chapter 16 Continue
entries in your vocabulary log. Select
one chapter visual or figure and write at least a paragraph explaining it. Select
one "question for discussion" and write at least a paragraph in
response. Work
with a small group to prepare a small group oral presentation that responds
to the questions following one of the cases at the end of the chapter |
|
19-20 |
Business-government
relations and business ethics: basic
laws affecting small business; government help for small business; government
regulations and paperwork; social and ethically responsible behavior. |
Read
chapter 17 Continue
entries in your vocabulary log. Select
one chapter visual or figure and write at least a paragraph explaining it. Select
one "question for discussion" and write at least a paragraph in
response. Write
a response to the questions following one of the cases at the end of the
chapter. |
|
21 |
Planning
for the future: preparing the next
generation and preparing for management succession; tax and estate
planning. |
Read
chapter 18 Continue
entries in your vocabulary log. Select
one chapter visual or figure and write at least a paragraph explaining it. Select
one "question for discussion" and write at least a paragraph in
response. Work
with a small group to prepare a small group oral presentation that responds
to the questions following one of the cases at the end of the chapter |
|
22-23 |
Individual
Project: Developing a successful
business plan. |
Read
"Workbook for Developing a Successful Business Plan" Follow
instructor guidelines for developing an individual business plan for written
and oral presentation next week. |
|
24 |
Individual
project oral reports. Review
for exam. |
Individual
oral reports summarizing business plan.
Hand
in written plan. Final
exam. |
rev. 2/04