BA 4992
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES I I
SPRING 2014
Instructor Information:
• Course Instructors:
Dr. Saurav Pathak, PhD
Telephone:
906-231-0229
Email:
sauravp@mtu.edu
Office Hours:
Mr. Jonathan Leinonen, MBA
Telephone:
(906) 370-7002
Email:
jeleinon@mtu.edu
Office Hours: 6:00 to 7:00pm Tuesdays by appointment
Course Meeting Times: Tuesday, 7:05 – 9:35 pm; Chemical Science Building, Room 108. Students are
expected to attend all course meetings in order to participate in weekly coaching, presentations and
discussions. Communicate absence requests with the course instructor prior to class.
Course Description:
This course designed to refine and enhance the business feasibility research, analysis and
recommendations developed in BA4991. This course is intended to focus on further development,
validation and implementation of the recommendations previously identified with incorporation of new
considerations that are encountered along the way. In many instances, external resources will be engaged
for strategic planning, technical validation, customer discovery, business model refinement, funding
development, and related facets of commercialization.
Course Overview:
Where applicable, projects for the course may align with the following: Senior Design project or
Enterprise project, further development of private ventures, the Michigan Collegiate Innovation Prize
(MCIP) program, or the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance E-Team. Ultimately,
business plans will be brought to the actionable stage, whereby the student team, in conjunction will the
project sponsor and principal lead will demonstrate commercially significant progress, measured by
customer involvement, market development, capital identification/formation, strategic partnerships, or
other related business aspects that are necessary to establish and grow a business enterprise according to
the recommended approach.
Objectives:
Throughout the course, teams will develop strategies and actions including:
• Reassess and prioritize the opportunities and risks identified previously
• Develop a specific scope of work for the semester along with commercialization milestones
• Maintain a detailed business development project plan
• Maintain effective communication between all involved individuals/parties related to the project
• Engage each team member with specific responsibilities toward the final deliverables
• Produce a well-composed business development action plan for implementation with the client
Required Resources:
Information will be provided by the course instructors. No specific textbook is required for
purchase. Students are expected to maintain close contact with the course information through Canvas.
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BA 4992
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES I I
SPRING 2014
Course Website:
Canvas will be used extensively in this course (https://mtu.instructure.com/). The Canvas calendar will
reflect assignment deadlines, and many assignments will be submitted through Canvas. Additional course
material will be posted as pertinent to each week.
Course Methodology and Structure:
The course is meant to be a highly interactive, developmental experience requiring extensive exploratory
inquiry, opportunity assessment, data gathering and analysis, problem solving, information synthesis and
communication. Weekly take-home and in-class assignments will exercise business coursework,
teamwork and communication skills other students, instructors, entrepreneurs, engineers, business
professionals, potential customers and other stakeholders to the assigned projects.
Assessment:
Weekly written assignments, discussion and presentations are a significant part of the course
requirements. Please come prepared to discuss the relevant aspects of your project in class each
week. Along with required assignments, a project plan and communication log must be
maintained for instructor review on a weekly basis. Please maintain these in your group discussion
area in Canvas.
Student Evaluation:
Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be based on the following:
In-class activities; discussions, updates, etc. (Team participation)
Team project management & communication (Weekly documentation)
Individual Responsibility/Achievement (Individual per project plan)
Team Achievement of Actionable Milestones (Team outcomes)
Final Presentation (Team)
Final Business Development Action Plan (Team)
Instructor discretionary (Individual, such as for non-participation)
TOTAL FOR COURSE:
100 points
50 points
75 points
75 points
25 points
50 points
25 points
400 points
All assignments and graded materials must be submitted by the due date and time. Make-up and
extra credit is not available.
Grading Policy:
Letter
Grade
A
AB
B
BC
C
CD
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Minimum
Percentage
93%
88%
82%
76%
70%
65%
Grade
points/credit
4.00
3.50
3.00
2.50
2.00
1.50
Rating
Excellent
Very good
Good
Above average
Average
Below average
BA 4992
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES I I
SPRING 2014
D
F
I
60%
1.00
Inferior
59% and below
0.00
Failure
Incomplete; given only when a student is unable to complete a segment
of the course because of circumstances beyond the student’s control. A
grade of incomplete may be given only when approved in writing by the
department chair or school dean.
Conditional, with no grade points per credit; given only when the student
is at fault in failing to complete a minor segment of a course, but in the
judgment of the instructor does not need to repeat the course. It must be
made up within the next semester in residence or the grade becomes a
failure (F). A (X) grade is computed into the grade point average as a
(F) grade.
X
High Level Course Schedule:
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Date
Jan. 14
Jan. 21
Jan. 28
Feb. 4
Feb. 11
Feb. 18
Feb. 25
Mar. 2
Mar. 11
Mar. 18
Mar. 25
Apr. 1
Apr. 8
Apr. 15
Apr. 22
Apr. 29
Discussion topics/Assignments
Review Course Requirements; Discuss SOW & Project Plan
Discuss Draft SOW and Project Plans
Finalize SOW; Project Plans
Team coaching/project management/actions
Team coaching/project management/actions
Team coaching/project management/actions
Team coaching/project management/actions
Team coaching/project management/actions
No Class – Spring Break
Team coaching/project management/actions
Team coaching/project management/actions
Team coaching/project management/actions
Team coaching/presentation draft review
Final presentations
Final presentations
All final reports and updated document deliverables due
PLEASE NOTE: This is designed to be a highly interactive course. The above course schedule is
subject to ongoing development including dates of presentations and assignments as appropriate.
Please deliver graded material as it is scheduled during the course on time and let the course
instructor know if you anticipate any interruptions concerning your attendance. Thank you.
Course Policy:
Any activity that could compromise your legitimate performance in this course is strongly discouraged.
University Policy:
Academic regulations and procedures are governed by University policy. Academic dishonesty cases
will be handled in accordance the University's policies.
If you have a disability that could affect your performance in this class or that requires an
accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please see me as soon as possible so that we
can make appropriate arrangements. The Affirmative Action Office has asked that you be made aware of
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BA 4992
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES I I
SPRING 2014
the following: Michigan Tech complies with all federal and state laws and regulations regarding
discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you have a disability and need a
reasonable accommodation for equal access to education or services at Michigan Tech, please call the
Dean of Students Office, at 487-2212. For other concerns about discrimination, you may contact your
advisor, department head or the Affirmative Action Office, at 487-3310
Academic Integrity: http://www.studentaffairs.mtu.edu/dean/judicial/policies/academic_integrity.html
Affirmative Action: http://www.admin.mtu.edu/aao/
Disability Services: http://www.admin.mtu.edu/urel/studenthandbook/student_services.html#disability
Equal Opportunity Statement:
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http://www.admin.mtu.edu/admin/boc/policy/ch3/ch3p7.htm