SYLLABUS
BCN 4753: Construction Administration and Economics
Fall (2008) 8/26 – 12/12 Updated 8/25/2008
Instructor:
Office:
Class Hours:
Office Hours:
James J. Sorce, MBA
Building 50, Room 2304
4:30pm – 5:45 pm TR
3:30pm – 4:30 pm TR
Telephone: (904) 620-2759
Fax: (904) 620-2573
Cell: (904) 703-5189
Email: James.Sorce@unf.edu
I. Textbooks And Other Readings
Required: Florida Contractor’s Manual 2004 edition
The textbook should be available at the UNF bookstore, College Book Rack or the other one.
Recommended background readings:
The Wall Street Journal
ENR the Construction Weekly
Useful and highly recommended websites:
http://www.hoovers.com/free
http://finance.yahoo.com/
http://finance.google.com/finance
http://www.enr.com/
http://www.construction.com/
http://enr.construction.com/people/topLists/topContractor/topCont_1-50.asp
http://www.unf.edu/library/guides/basesconstruction.html
http://www.unf.edu/library/guides/baseseconomics.html
II. Course Objectives:
 Provide an understanding of the Business Plan preparation.
 Provide an introduction to the current economic context of the construction industry.
 Provide practice in written and oral communications, and a group project administration.
 Provide an opportunity for participation in the design/delivery of a community service project.
 Enhance Internet literacy.
 Provide an understanding of the importance of effective resource allocation.
III. Expected Outcomes: The student will gain:
 An understanding of how to prepare a Business Plan for a construction enterprise.
 Knowledge of the relevant terminology and the resources available to aid in an effective preparation of a
business plan for a construction enterprise.
 An understanding of the current economic context of the construction industry.
 An understanding of the allocation of resources in the context of a construction enterprise.
 An understanding of the environment and conditions that construction companies operate under.
 The ability to locate market opportunity and an understanding of competitive advantage.
 Experience in working with others through team projects and presentations.
 An awareness of the role and importance of community service.
 Enhanced skills related to using the Internet as a reliable reference source.
 Enhance personal communication skills, both written and oral.
IV. Course Requirements
Prerequisites: Principles of Macroeconomics and, Principles of Microeconomics, or Equivalent.
Marketing (not required but recommended).
1
V. Evaluation and Grading
Learning Methods:
This course will include instructor-led discussions, guest industry lectures, oral presentations and written reports
of research by both individual and group efforts.
Students will earn grades according to the following scheme:
Points
10
20
Company Overview
Mid-term
Business Plan/Scenario
Idea/Feasibility Research
Strategic Plan
Nature of Business
Financials and Sources of Money
Marketing Strategy
Location and Other Issues
Peer Evaluation
Individual Presentation
Final Group Business Plan
Final Exam
Total Points
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
20
20
150
Note: Student’s final grades will be assigned based on the plus/minus system. Also, all grades
given pertaining to the Business Plan/Scenario will be multiplied by the peer evaluation percentage to
determine final grades.
Attendance policy:
BCM Departmental Class Attendance policy (effective date January 9, 2006): “Attendance of classes
is mandatory. Students must attend 86% of all classes in order to receive a passing grade.” BCM
classes meeting once a week cannot be missed more than two times in order to receive a passing
grade. If you are going to miss class you must notify me in advance of the class by telephone or email to
receive an “excused absence.” An “excused absence” will only be given for an illness or family
emergency, which is supported by written documentation. Attendance will be noted at the beginning of the
class period. Two late arrivals will be recorded as an unexcused absence. Continued tardiness will result
in a reduction of final grade.
VI.
Assignments:
Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the day that they are due. Late assignments will
not be accepted and the student/s will receive no points for that assignment.
Construction Company Profile and Industry Environment Overview
This is an individual assignment. Each student will choose a construction company listed on the
ENR top 400. This list can be found on the Internet. I have provided the link above. Each student will
be required to submit an 6-8 pages (double spaced) overview. You will need to Include financial data
and ratios, history, industry overview, market potential, leadership information, and economic
environment. This will also include a detailed recommendation as to where company efforts should be
focused and where resources should be cut. You will need to include a complete evaluation of the
environment that your company operates in. This will also include, but not be limited to, looking at the
company’s competition, the nature of the resources utilized by your company, and how governmental
regulations affect the industry. Special attention should be focused on what drives the cost in the
industry that your company operates in. You must include references at least 6 viable sources.
These sources must be cited in the text or a reduction in grade will result.
2
Business Plan Development & Presentation
This will be a group assignment.
Your management team has been given the task to develop a subsidiary of your company to capture a new
opportunity in the construction industry. The opportunity will be your choice. The opportunity will need to be
outside of the realm of the main company’s current operations. You will need to develop this company in a location
outside the current service area of your company. Each student team will develop a complete company plan
including all aspects of setting up a business and make a 30-minute oral presentation to a panel of industry
professionals. Treat this as a development of an entirely new company. The teams will need to develop a Mission,
Vision, and Goals, identify and research the opportunity, select a business strategy and develop a complete business
plan. This company will be separate from the main company. However, all funding for the venture can come from
the main company. All numbers in financials must include references. Your team will be required to handout a
summary of the plan to your classmates on the day of your presentation. You will choose a company that someone in
your group did a profile on for the last assignment. Please contain all information in an orderly fashion in some kind
of folder to turn in for a final business plan.
Documents due:
Idea/Feasibility Research
Strategic Plan
Nature of Business, Market and Competition
Financials, Projections, Employment and Sources of Money
Marketing Strategy
Location/Legal Issues, Insurance
Final Business Plan
Due dates for each document are located in the Fall 2008 Tentative Schedule on the next page.
There will be a sign-up sheet passed around in class to establish groups.
VII.
Academic Integrity:
UNF places high priority on, and strives to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity while
protecting the rights of students and faculty. Should any instructor find evidence of cheating,
plagiarism, or other inappropriate assistance in work presented by a student, the instructor should
inform the student of the action to be taken" (UNF current Catalog). At minimum, the action I will take
for any incidence of violation of academic integrity will be an F (failing grade) in the course and
dismissal of the student committing the violation from the class.
IX.
Students With Disabilities
If you have a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which may require
any accommodations or auxiliary aid(s), please contact and register with the UNF Disability Resource
Center (located in Honors Hall 10/1201; phone: 620-2769). Please refer to UNF's Disabled Services
Program Student Handbook for more details about the Disability Resource Center.
X.
Classroom Etiquette
Students are expected to remain polite during classroom discussions. Even during heated debates, you
must treat your instructor and classmates with respect. Violation of this policy will result in a reduction
of your class participation grade that, if the violation is significant enough, could result in a failing
grade for the class. For example, you should not make derogatory remarks about your classmates’
ideas. Instead, explain why you think they are wrong, backing up your viewpoint with sound analysis
and refraining from personal attacks. Another example is being quiet while someone else (including
your instructor) has the floor.
3
BCN 4753 Fall 2007 Tentative Schedule
8-26-06 Tuesday
8-28-08 Thursday
Syllabus, projects, papers, goals, and expectations
Dubai
9-2-08 Tuesday
9-4-08 Thursday
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
9-9-08 Tuesday
9-11-08 Thursday
Chapter 3 Financial Management
Chapter 3 Financial Management
9-16-08 Tuesday
9-18-08 Thursday
Chapter 3 Financial Management
Chapter 3 Financial Management, Individual Company Overview Due
9-23-08 Tuesday
9-25-08 Thursday
Construction Environment
Construction Environment, Idea/Feasibility Research
9-30-08 Tuesday
10-2-08 Thursday
Chapter 4 Risk Management
Chapter 4 Risk Management
10-7-08 Tuesday
10-9-08 Thursday
Chapter 4 Risk Management Strategic Plan
Mid-term review
10-14-08 Tuesday
10-16-08 Thursday
Mid-term Exam
Wal~mart
10-21-08 Tuesday
10-23-08 Thursday
Chapter 5 Labor and Employment
Chapter 5 (cont’d) Nature of Business, Market and Competition
10-28-08 Tuesday
10-30-08 Thursday
Chapter 5 (cont’d)
Guest Speaker, Financials, Projections, Employment and Sources of Money
11-4-08 Tuesday
11-6-08 Thursday
Chapter 2 Licensing
Chapter 2 Licensing Marketing Strategy
11-11-08 Tuesday
11-13-08 Thursday
Holiday
Chapter 6 Workman’s Compensation, Location/Legal Issues, Insurance
11-18-08 Tuesday
10-20-08 Thursday
Chapter 6 Workman’s Compensation
Guest Speaker
11-25-08 Tuesday
11-27-08 Thursday
Presentations
Holiday
12-2-08 Tuesday
12-4-08 Thursday
Presentations
Presentations, Final Business Plan Due
12-11-08 Thursday
Final Exam 3:00 – 4:50
4