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% |
|
Quizzes |
10% |
|
Project |
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 and learning aids. b.) Introduction to small
business issues and trends. |
Read chapter 1. Select one chapter chart
and one "question for discussion" write at least a paragraph
explaining each. 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.. Select one chapter visual
or figure and one "question for discussion" and write at least a
paragraph for each. 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 oral
presentation within small group in response to a specific chapter case. |
Read chapter 3. Select one chapter visual
or figure and one "question for discussion" and write at least a
paragraph about each. . Select 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. Select one chapter visual
or figure and one "question for discussion" and write at least a
paragraph about each. . 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. Select one chapter visual
or figure and one "question for discussion" and write at least a
paragraph about each. 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. Select one chapter visual
or figure and one "question for discussion" and write at least a
paragraph about each. . 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. Select one chapter visual
or figure and one "question for discussion" and write at least a
paragraph about each. . 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. Select one chapter visual
or figure and one "question for discussion" and write at least a
paragraph about each. . 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. Select one chapter visual
or figure and one "question for discussion" and write at least a
paragraph about each. . 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 Select one chapter visual
or figure and one "question for discussion" and write at least a
paragraph about each. . 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 Select one chapter visual
or figure and one "question for discussion" and write at least a
paragraph about each. . Prepare your part of a
small group oral presentation that responds to the questions following one of
the chapter cases. |
|
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 Select one chapter visual
or figure and one "question for discussion" and write at least a
paragraph about each. . Continue to work on small
group presentation. |
|
15 |
Planning for profit: business financial structure;
profit-making activities; planning for profitability. |
Read chapter 13 Select one chapter visual
or figure and one "question for discussion" and write at least a paragraph
about each. . 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 Select one chapter visual
or figure and one "question for discussion" and write at least a
paragraph about each. . 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 Select one chapter visual
or figure and one "question for discussion" and write at least a
paragraph about each. . 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 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 on
a small group oral presentation about 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 Select one chapter visual
or figure and one "question for discussion" and write at least a
paragraph about each. . 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 Select one chapter visual
or figure and one "question for discussion" and write at least a
paragraph about each. . Work with a small group on
a small group oral presentation about 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 and written
reports summarizing business plan. Final exam. |
rev. 2/04, 2/07