BAEP 452: Feasibility Analysis
FALL 2013: Tuesday and Thursday 2:00-3:50 PM
PROFESSOR: Lori Williams
Phone: (310) 473-9064 x 3
E-mail: Lori@BusinessSimplyPut.com Email is the preferred method of communication
Lecture Class
Tues/Thurs 2:00-3:50
Room: HOH 304
Office Hours:
Tuesday 12:30-1:30 at Bridge Hall One
Individual meetings/conference calls offered at various times and scheduled in advance.
Prerequisites: BAEP is a four-unit entrepreneur course for undergraduate students.
Successful enrollment in the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and successful
completion of BAEP 451 is required.
Introduction and Course Objective:
This course entails the development of analytical and conceptual skills required to test the
feasibility of a business concept in the market. Critical thinking and business assessment skills
are required to address the fundamentals of the business concept; including strategy, finance,
sales/marketing, operations and human resource.
Students are required to actively engage in field research, which includes scheduling meetings
with prospective customers to gain market intelligence, vendors to acquire process and pricing
information and business mentors who can provide experience and support.
This course provides an insight into the Entrepreneurial mindset. Entrepreneurs are not risk
takers; they are risk managers. Feasibility is the process by which they assess and manage
risks: market risks, distribution risks, execution risks and financial risks.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion, students will have developed a written comprehensive Feasibility Plan and
have demonstrated the following skills and abilities:
Analytical and Critical Thinking:
 Find and use resources to answer your questions
 Form conclusions and recommendations supported by logic and evidence
 Analyze and critically evaluate alternative courses of action
Oral and Written Communication:
 Write well-structured, clear, and concise documents
 Ask questions and present viewpoints in discussions
 Effectively convey your thoughts and ideas through oral presentations
Time Management:
 Improve your ability to plan and structure multiple tasks
 Learn to effective time management skills
Execution and Implementation:
 An understanding of the processes involved to go from a business idea to a well-defined
concept that can be tested in the marketplace
 Demonstrate primary research skills and ability to engage in effective field contact with
customers, vendors and mentors
 Learn how to cost and price your product /service to meet both market demands and
financial requirements
 Demonstrate an understanding of the financial structure of a business model and what
can be done to adjust the business concept to meet financial requirements
 Develop an understanding of business models and how they evolve over time to meet
the realities of the marketplace
 An ability to build an effective and persuasive case for the feasibility of the business
concept
To achieve these objectives, a combination of methods will be used in the course, including
lectures, case studies, individual projects, student presentations, and guest presenters.
Blackboard:
Course communication will take place through Blackboard (http://blackboard.usc.edu/).
Students are required to have a fully operational Blackboard account with an email address.
All assignments (unless otherwise stated) are to be posted in blackboard. Assignments
must be posted 1 hour prior to class to be considered on time. Copies of lecture slides and
other class information are available through your Blackboard account.
All material posted by the professor in Blackboard will be assumed communicated to students
and they are responsible accordingly.
Required Materials: Textbook: Effectual Entrepreneurship ISBN 978-0-415-58644-3
Posted to blackboard:
 60 Key Essentials to Business Success by Lori Williams
 Discontinuities Where Did My Business Model Go? by Lori Williams
Grading Summary:
Final grades represent how you perform in the class relative to other students. Your grade will
not be based on a mandated target, but on your performance. Historically, the average grade for
this class is about a (B). Three items are considered when assigning final grades:
1. Your average weighted score as a percentage of the available points for all assignments
(the points you receive divided by the number of points possible).
BAEP 452 Feasibility
Spring 2013
Williams
Page 2
2. The overall average percentage score within the class.
3. Your ranking among all students in the class.
The following penalties apply for late submission of the course work:
Submission 24 hours after date due:
10% loss of score
Submission 48 hours after date due:
20% loss of score
Submission 7 days after date due:
NO SCORE
Returned paperwork, unclaimed by a student, will be discarded after four weeks and hence will
not be available should a grade appeal be pursued by a student following receipt of his/her
course grade
Participation and Class Attendance:
The Entrepreneur Program is a real life experience and adheres to what would be expected in a
business environment. Tardiness and absences without advance notice are not acceptable.
Your responsibilities include:
1. Attend the class –arrive on time
2. Complete all assigned projects
3. Participate actively during classroom discussions
Participation is 10% of the total grade and evaluated based on your attendance and level of
involvement in class. Effective class participation consists of analyzing, commenting,
questioning, discussing, and building on others’ contributions. The ability to present one’s ideas
concisely and persuasively and to respond effectively to the ideas of others is a key
entrepreneurial skill. One of the goals of this course is to help you sharpen that ability.
Technology Policy
Unapproved use of technology devices will result in a loss of participation points as it is
disrespectful to the professor as well as the other students.
Laptop and Internet usage is not permitted during academic or professional sessions unless
otherwise stated by the respective professor and/or staff. Use of other personal communication
devices, such as cell phones, is considered unprofessional. ANY e-devices (cell phones, PDAs,
I-Phones, Blackberries, other texting devices, laptops, I-pods) must be completely turned off
during class time. Upon request, you must comply and put your device on the table in off mode
and FACE DOWN. You might also be asked to deposit your devices in a designated area in the
classroom. Videotaping faculty lectures is not permitted, due to copyright infringement
regulations. Audiotaping may be permitted if approved by the professor. Use of any recorded
material is reserved exclusively for USC Marshall students.
ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW
Written papers are graded based on a degree of completeness, which is determined by the level
of detail used when addressing each question/bulleted item as defined. For this reason, it is
recommended that the syllabus be reviewed prior to completing each assignment.
Assignments are to be posted in blackboard (unless otherwise stated). On-time paper delivery
is one hour before the beginning of the class starting time. Papers should be professionally
BAEP 452 Feasibility
Spring 2013
Williams
Page 3
written with proper citations as applicable. Bulleted copy can be used to organize and
emphasize key points but should not constitute the entire paper.
Business Concept Introduction:
This assignment is used to evaluate the status of your concept development and thereby you
preparedness to apply your concept to the course work. There is an allotted time frame for
revisions based on feedback. If approval is not met by final deadline, students will be assigned a
business concept to complete during the course.
Prepare a paper (2 pages in length) briefly describing the business concept you desire to test
during the feasibility course. Include the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Business Concept (brief overview of the business)
Product or Service (brief description)
Customer (brief description based on demographics—age, gender, income)
Benefit (why would the customer buy your product)
Revenue Streams (how you will make money)
Business Concept Test Methods
During the course you will be doing active in field research to determine the feasibility of a
business concept. This includes contacting potential customers/ vendors /influencers
/associates to prove assumptions, learn key information and uncover any "holes" in your
business concept.
Identify a minimum of 5 questions specific to the following five areas below (total 25 questions),
that during the course you will need to answer in order to test the feasibility of your business
concept. Prepare a written paper that answers the following for each question (1) what you need
to know (2) why you need to know it (3) what action steps you can take to find out that
information.
Areas of concentration (based on plan sections):
1. Business Concept
2. Customer Assessment
3. Communications, Selling and Marketing
4. Supply Chain, Distribution and Infrastructure
5. Financial Analysis
Meeting Documentation (5 Assignments)
The ability to contact someone you do not know is a valuable skill for entrepreneurs. You may
want to introduce your company, obtain a referral or ask for key business information/ advice.
This assignment requires you to document the meetings/conversations that allowed you to
obtain the necessary information to test each section of your feasibility plan For each section,
you are required to have met with a minimum of 5 strangers (total 25 strangers).
1. Business Concept
2. Customer Assessment
3. Communications, Selling and Marketing Strategy
BAEP 452 Feasibility
Spring 2013
Williams
Page 4
4. Supply Chain, Distribution and Infrastructure
5. Financial Analysis
To receive full credit the documentation must include:




Meeting Date
Contact Information: Name/Company, Street Address/Email Address, Office/Cell Phone
Purpose of Meeting: Why did you chose to meet with that specific person/company—
what information/outcome were you hoping to obtain (based on Business Concept Test
Method)
Outcome: What did you learn, any “next steps’’ or future actions based on the meeting
(Information that will be inserted in the final feasibility plan)
Feasibility Plan Sections (5 Assignments)
During the course you will complete the main sections of you final feasibility plan. The difference
between these sections and your final plan will be the level of depth (content richness) as your
knowledge and understanding increases throughout the course.
(1) Business Concept: This section provides an overview of your business concept and
prepares the reader for the detailed sections to follow.





Describe in detail your business model.
Describe in detail your product or service including how it works, what it does and
the benefit it provides.
Provide a brief overview of the customer and why your product/service would be
of interest to them? (More detail required in next section)
Revenue Model(s): What is your primary source of revenue--how will you make
money? Define additional revenue models if applicable. Note: It is important to
explain in detail for business concepts that make money in other ways than
through direct sales, such as advertising, subscription, sponsorship.
Supporting evidence or data confirming the statements made above regarding
the customer and revenue model. Explain why you believe your business
concept is feasible (Final paper will require strong statements and supporting
information based on the conclusion derived at the end of the course)
(2) Customer Assessment: This section provides a clear definition of your customer. This
section also includes information about influencers if applicable to your business. For
example, in non-traditional business concepts such as websites where the customer
(purchaser) is the advertiser but their decision to purchase is influenced by the number
or type of site visitors (influencer).
BAEP 452 Feasibility
Spring 2013
Williams
Page 5




Detailed description of the customer (s) including age, demographics, lifestyle
etc.
Detailed description of influencer (if applicable)
Detailed description of the benefit you are providing to your customer (from
customer perspective). What is unique about your product/service that will cause
customers to buy?
Supporting evidence or data confirming the existence of a customer, and their
willingness to purchase in a quantity required to be profitable (How do you know
there are enough customers?)
(3) Communications, Selling and Marketing Strategy: This section details your "bring to
market" strategy including industry size, customer location, and potential for growth. It
addresses how you plan to reach your customer (marketing methods) and what you
intend to say (messaging).






What industry are you in? Is the industry growing, stagnant or declining?
Is there sufficient need in the marketplace? How will grow the business (locate
new customers)?
How will you achieve your goals: define your overall marketing strategy,
competitive strategy, promotion strategy.
Who is your competition? What exists in the market that is similar to your product
or service?
Define your selling strategy: How will you establish and manage sales goals? Will
you hire salespeople or outsource?
Include in the report a special communications section detailing the main
message you plan to communicate to customers in your marketing/advertising
materials. Provide sample copy including a headline and 4-5 paragraphs that
could be used on all materials/website. The copy should address the following:
who we are, what we're selling, why our offer is better and how to
purchase/contact/gain more information.
(4) Supply Chain, Distribution and Infrastructure: This section provides information about the
processes (resources/people/companies) employed in making, ordering, handling and
distribution of your product/service. This would include the production process, the
internal process for ordering and fulfillment (infrastructure) and distribution processes.
(a) Prepare a graph and/or diagram detailing the processes above.
(b) Written commentary describing the processes outlined above, including
 Where/How will you obtain raw materials (or finished good if distributor)?
 Will you produce internally, outsource or any combination therein?
 What is your distribution process? Will you sell direct, use distributors, open retail
stores?
BAEP 452 Feasibility
Spring 2013
Williams
Page 6






What type of positions/skills do you need? How will you obtain those skills--will
you hire employees/contract labor?
Information about the human capital you will need—will you have employees,
contract labor or outsource?
What special skills or expertise is needed? Where will you locate those
individuals? How will you pay for them (contract, salary, equity)?
Will you need any special equipment or facilities? Where will you locate these
resources? Will you rent/lease or buy?
How will those needs change as the business grows?
Supporting evidence or data confirming the ability to produce and distribute as
defined above.
(5) Financial Analysis: This section includes a copy of your financial documents (cost/sales
and production/cash flow) as prepared during the course work and written commentary
addressing the following.
 Overview of cost structure—key cost (working capital, capital investment,
resources and timing of purchases)
 Overview of sales forecast—bases for your assumptions. Logic behind the sales
increases (marketing campaign, brand awareness, customer retention etc.)
 Overview of pricing structure--what will you charge for each product/service
 Overview of production schedule-when will you produce/purchase, time in
inventory
 Overview of cash flow-start up capital needed to remain cash positive.
 Description of payment and collection terms (vendor/customers)
 Premises for cost: Supporting evidence or data such as proposals from vendors,
quotes.
Feasibility: Final Plan
With the additional information and experiences obtained during the semester, a Final
Feasibility Plan is to be completed at the end of the course. The final plan would include the five
sections below, expanded upon in both concept and communication with the inclusion of factual
data and supporting evidence. Moreover, the plan would include additional sections that are
inherent in a comprehensive document.
During the course a plan outline is available on blackboard as a guideline to follow (see
Feasibility Plan Outline). Students are required to review this format and grading is
dependent upon inclusion of all sections.
Upon the due date, final plans must be uploaded to blackboard one hour prior to class and a
professionally bound hard copy submitted at the beginning of class. If unable to attend class
that day, the hard copy must be submitted to the office and time stamped.
BAEP 452 Feasibility
Spring 2013
Williams
Page 7
Readings and In Class Discussions:
There are 6 readings which each require a brief paper and preparation for in class discussions.
Posted on Blackboard:
60 Essential Key to Business Success by Lori Williams
Discontinuities Where Did My Business Model Go? by Lori Williams
Textbook:
Chapter 12 page 105 Financing the Venture
Chapter 15 page 140 The Lemonade Principle: Leverage Surprise
Chapter 16 page 151 Business Plans and Business Models: Make Pitches
Chapter 17 page 163 Venture Identity: Build Brand
Papers must answer the following questions:
1. What was the main message or "take away" you derived from the reader?
2. What did you find most useful from the reading?
3. How can you apply what you learned to your business concept?
Papers are less then one page in length and can be in paragraph or outline form. They must be
uploaded in blackboard to obtain credit.
Guest Presenter: Thank You Letter
Each student will write (1) formal business letter to one of the guest presenters of their choice.
Letters must follow professional writing guidelines and be relevant to the presenters' topic.
Students are responsible for obtaining contact information from the presenter.
Letters are sent directly to the speaker within 5 days of the scheduled lecture. They can be sent
through mail or electronically. To receive full credit the written contents of the letter must be
uploaded in backboard and a copy of either the email sent or stamped envelope (scan and
upload as needed).
Presentations
Presentations are included in the grading process and all students will be required to present
the final plan and an elevator pitch. Students with the highest score at the time of the final
presentations will be allowed to compete for the extra points in the final plan competition..
Students must be present the day of class to receive credit.
ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES
Business Concept Introduction: Must be approved to by deadline Jan 24
Class Reading: 60 Key Essential to Business Success
Reading Assignment: Chapter 15 The Lemonade Principle
Business Concept Test Methods
Meeting Documentation: Field Research relating to (1) Business
Concept: 10 names
BAEP 452 Feasibility
Spring 2013
Williams
GRADE
25
15
15
200
50
DUE DATE
Thurs Jan 17
Thurs Jan 24
Tues Jan 29
Thurs Jan 31
Tues Feb 5
Page 8
Feasibility Plan Section: (1) Business Concept
Reading Assignment: Discontinuities Where Did My Business Model Go?
Meeting Documentation: Field Research relating to (2) Customer
Assessment: 5 names
Feasibility Plan Section: (2) Customer Assessment
Class Reading: Venture Identity: Build Brand
Meeting Documentation: Field Research relating to (3) Communications
and Marketing Strategy: 5 names
Feasibility Plan Section: (3) Communications, Selling and Marketing
Strategy
Class Reading: Financing the Venture
Class Reading: Business Plans and Business Models: Make Pitches
Meeting Documentation: Field Research relating to (4) Supply,
Distribution, Infrastructure: 5 names
Feasibility Plan Section: (4) Supply, Distribution, Infrastructure
Meeting Documentation: Field Research relating to (5) Financial
Analysis: 5 names
Feasibility Plan Section: (5) Financial Analysis
Final Feasibility Plan
200
15
Thurs Feb 7
Tues Feb 12
50
Tues Feb 19
200
15
Thurs Feb 21
Tues Feb 26
50
Tues March 5
200
Thurs March 7
15
15
Tues March 12
Thus March 15
50
Tues March 26
200
Thurs March 28
50
Tues April 9
200
900
Thank you Letter
15
Class Presentation of Plan (all students)
100
Thurs April 11
Thurs April 25
5 days after
Lecture
Scheduled day
Elevator Pitch (all students)
Class Participation
Additional Points for Student(s) with Top Plan
Top Finalist Plan Presentation
Top Final Plan Presentation
25
265
TOTAL POINTS
2920 Scheduled day
35
15
COURSE SCHEUDLE
Types of Class Activities:





Learning: Lecture on various subject matter
Class or Team Interaction
Class Presentations
Guest Presenter
In Class Working Sessions
Note: Class Activity is subject to change in order to accommodate learning and/or
professor/guest presenter schedules.
Areas of Class Concentration:
1. Business Concept
2. Customer Assessment
BAEP 452 Feasibility
Spring 2013
Williams
Page 9
3. Communications, Selling and Marketing
4. Supply Chain, Distribution and Infrastructure
5. Financial Analysis
Tuesday, January 15





Welcome and Introduction
Expectations and Protocol
Overview of Course Goals
Overview of Assignments
Learning/ PPT: The Feasibility Mindset
BUSINESS CONCEPT ________________________________
Thursday, January 17


Learning/ PPT: Communicating your Business Concept
Team Interaction: Business Concept (Presenting)
In assigned groups, each person presents their Business Concept. Others in the group
provide feedback regarding their ability to understand the Business Concept presented
based on how they structured their presentation (description/use of industry jargon).
This is not an exercise to provide advice or suggestions about the business idea.
Feedback is specific to your ability to understand based on presentation. Please refrain
from providing any other feedback at this time.
Tuesday, January 22


Learning/ PPT: Business Concept Critique (Asking Questions)
Class Interaction: Questioning Business Concepts
The purpose of this exercise is to learn how to analyze a Business Concept. Several
business models are presented to the class for review. Students will be required to ask a
question (concern) about the business model from one of the main disciplines:
Sales/Marketing, Finance, Legal, Operations. Students are selected based on a
numbered system thereby all students are required to participate.
Thursday, January 24

Class Presentations and Team Interaction (Presenters, Mentors and Observers)
Each student (presenter) will be provided with 2 minutes to present their Business
Concept to the class. Teams will be assigned to act as mentors, whose responsibility is
to provide feedback to the presenter. Mentors will be required to write down a question
or concern they have about the Business Concept from one of the main disciplines:
Sales/Marketing, Finance, Legal, Operations. The mentor (in combination with
BAEP 452 Feasibility
Spring 2013
Williams
Page 10
observers) will meet to discuss concerns. Observers will be required to provide group
feedback about their observations.
Tuesday, January 29

Class Presentations and Team Interaction (continued)
CUSTOMER ASSESSMENT ________________________________
Thursday, January 31

Guest Speaker: Bryan Lyng
Tuesday, February 5


Learning: Customer Assessment: Defining the Customer
Team Interaction: Who is your customer? How do you know you have enough
customers?
In assigned groups, each person states how they know enough customers exist for their
product/service. Feedback is provided by the other members of the group regarding the
clarity or details of this description.
Thursday, February 7

Learning/ PPT: Obtaining Information about Customers
COMMUNICATIONS, SELLING AND MARKETING ________________________________
Tuesday, February 12


Learning/ PPT: Customer Communications Strategy
Team Interaction: Field Research: Needs, Contacts and ideas
Each team member shares a best practice experienced during the Field Research. This can
include how they approached: locating a person/company, contacting or scheduling
appointments, interviews and/or other helpful advice.
Thursday, February 14

Learning/ PPT: Marketing Strategies
Team Interaction/Class Discussion: Business Concept and Most Valuable
Lesson/Insight to date
Teams are formed to discuss and choose the best answer to the question above. A
person from each team will share the best answer to class.
BAEP 452 Feasibility
Spring 2013
Williams
Page 11
Tuesday, February 19


Learning/PPT: Setting and Managing Sales Goals
Class Interaction: How Business Models change over time
SUPPY, DISTRIBUTION, INFRASTRUCTURE ________________________
Thursday, February 21

Learning/PPT: Developing a Supply Chain
Tuesday, February 26
Guest Presenter: Professor Chris Harrer Feasibility Thinking
Thursday, February 28

Learning/ PPT: Channel Distribution and Infrastructure
FINANCE SECTION________________________________
Tuesday, March 5


Learning/ PPT: Financial Feasibility Overview
Financial Model Price Analysis: Cost/Price and Margins (Prepare for Next Class)
Thursday, March 7

Learning/PPT: Financial Model (Cost)
Determining the cost to produce
Determining a payment schedule to vendors
Sales Forecasting
Tuesday, March 12
Guest Presenter: Anthony Flynn Owner, You Bar
www.YouBars.com
Thursday, March 14


Learning/PPT: Financial Model (Sales and Production)
Forecasting Sales
Forecasting Production Times
Determining a Collection Schedule from Customers
In Class Working Sessions (bring laptops to class)
BAEP 452 Feasibility
Spring 2013
Williams
Page 12
Tuesday, March 26


Learning/PPT: Financial Model (Cash Flow)
Understanding Cash Flow: Payments to Vendors and Collections from Customers
Making adjustments to the Financial Model
In Class Working Sessions (bring laptops to class)
Thursday, March 28


Learning/PPT: Components of a Financial Analysis
In Class Working Sessions (bring laptops to class)
Tuesday, April2

In Class Working Sessions (bring laptops to class)
Thursday, April 4
Special Presentation
___________________________________________________________
Weeks of April 9, 11 April 16, 18 are provided for one-on-one coaching sessions.
No class meetings will take place at this time. Each student will have a prescheduled meeting time with the professor to review progress and address
remaining area/concerns. Students are required to complete a sheet prior to their
meeting which indentifies questions/concerns for each section.
A signup sheet with available times will be provided in class. All meetings will take
place in the classroom. Please be at least 10 minutes early to your meeting. There
will be no makeup meetings.
___________________________________________________________
PRESENTING BUSINESS CONCEPTS ________________________________
Tuesday April 23
Guest Presenter: Brian Sullivan will present a living case
Thursday April 25
Assignment Due: Final Feasibility Plan
BAEP 452 Feasibility
Spring 2013
Williams
Page 13
The feasibility is the culmination of all of your work. The final plan must be submitted in
class in hard copy only. No electronic submissions will be accepted. Simple spiral
bound only. This document is confidential and will never be publically shown.
Feasibility Plan Presentations (all students present)
Note: Students within the top percentile of the class, based on scores to date, will be
eligible to present in final plan.
Tuesday April 30
Feasibility Plan Presentations (all students present)
Thursday May 2
Top (5) Finalist Presentation
Class Presentations: Elevator Pitches
This 60-second pitch will be performed for the class giving a brief overview of your
concept and conditions of feasibility.
BAEP 452 Feasibility
Spring 2013
Williams
Page 14
MARSHALL GUIDELINES
Add/Drop Process In compliance with USC and Marshall’s policies classes are open enrollment (R-clearance)
through the first week of class. All classes are closed (switched to D-clearance) at the end of the
first week. This policy minimizes the complexity of the registration process for students by
standardizing across classes. I can drop you from my class if you don’t attend the first two
sessions. Please note: If you decide to drop, or if you choose not to attend the first two session
and are dropped, you risk being not being able to add to another section this semester, since
they might reach capacity. You can only add a class after the first week of classes if you receive
approval from the instructor. Statement for Students with Disabilities Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register
with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved
accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me (or to
TA) as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 a.m.–
5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.
Statement on Academic Integrity USC seeks to maintain an optimal learning environment. General principles of academic
honesty include the concept of respect for the intellectual property of others, the expectation
that individual work will be submitted unless otherwise allowed by an instructor, and the
obligations both to protect one’s own academic work from misuse by others as well as to avoid
using another’s work as one’s own. All students are expected to understand and abide by these
principles. SCampus, the Student Guidebook, contains the Student Conduct Code in Section
11.00, while the recommended sanctions are located in Appendix A.
http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/SCAMPUS/gov/
Students will be referred to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards for
further review, should there be any suspicion of academic dishonesty. The Review process can
be found at: http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/SJACS/ Failure to adhere to the academic
conduct standards set forth by these guidelines and our programs will not be tolerated by the
USC Marshall community and can lead to dismissal.
Emergency Preparedness/Course Continuity In case of emergency, and travel to campus is difficult, USC executive leadership will announce
an electronic way for instructors to teach students in their residence halls or homes using a
combination of Blackboard, teleconferencing, and other technologies. Instructors should be
prepared to assign students a "Plan B" project that can be completed at a distance. For
additional information about maintaining your classes in an emergency please access:
http://cst.usc.edu/services/emergencyprep.html
Please activate your course in Blackboard with access to the course syllabus. Whether or not
you use Blackboard regularly, these preparations will be crucial in an emergency. USC's
Blackboard learning management system and support information is available at
blackboard.usc.edu.
BAEP 452 Feasibility
Spring 2013
Williams
Page 15
CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY:
Throughout The Entrepreneur Program’s classes and events, students will be exposed to
proprietary information from other students, guest lecturers and faculty. It is the policy of The
Entrepreneur Program that all such information is to be treated as confidential.
By enrolling in and taking part in The Entrepreneur Program’s classes and activities, students
agree not to disclose this information to any third parties without specific written permission from
students, guest lecturers or faculty, as applicable. Students further agree not to utilize any such
proprietary information for their own personal commercial advantage or for the commercial
advantage of any third party.
In addition, students agree that any legal or consulting advice provided without direct fee and in
an academic setting will not be relied upon without the enlisted opinion of an outside attorney or
consultant, without affiliation to The Program.
Any breach of this policy may subject a student to academic integrity proceedings as described
in the University of Southern California University Governance Policies and Procedures as
outlined in SCampus, and to the remedies that may be available at law.
The Entrepreneur Program, the Marshall School of Business and the University of Southern
California disclaim any responsibility for the protection of intellectual property of students, guest
lecturers or faculty who are involved in The Entrepreneur Program classes or events.
Receipt of this policy and registration in our classes is evidence that you understand this policy
and will abide by it.
USC MARSHALL WEP (wireless environment protocol):
Our entrepreneurship program website is http://www.marshall.usc.edu/entrepreneur.
On it, you will find information about the program and bios and photos of the faculty and staff.
You also have your own section where you can find a current schedule of events, bios of guest
speakers, and the latest information and tips for entrepreneurs.
BAEP 452 Feasibility
Spring 2013
Williams
Page 16