University of Miami
School of Business Administration
CIS 496 – CIS 689 AB –
Entrepreneurship: Launching a High Tech Venture – Fall 2010
Section AB (MW 8:00-10:00 p.m.)
Instructor: Dr. Robert Plant, Ph.D.
Instructor’s E-mail Address: rplant@miami.edu
Instructor’s Office Address:
421C Jenkins Building, School of Business Administration, University of
Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA.
Instructor’s Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Instructor’s Office Telephone: (305) 284–1963
Learning Objectives
On completing the course the student should be able to:
o Understand the basic building blocks of the Entrepreneurship process.
o Understand the components and issues facing an Entrepreneur in development
of a business plan.
o Understand the options and issues in the capitalization of a new high-risk start
up venture.
o Understand the issues surrounding the creation of a new business venture with
a simulation multi-media model in which a real world case is simulated and
executed computationally.
o To analyze and effectively prepare reports on entrepreneurship cases
o To analyze and effectively be able to discuss entrepreneurship cases
CIS 689 AB – Entrepreneurship: Launching a High Tech Venture
Summary of Lectures
Lecture 1: Introduction to Venturing: Strategy
The lecture aims to provide the basics building blocks of the Entrepreneurship process, and consider the
motivational issues as well as the basic mechanics of the business modeling process. Start points, exit
strategies and other issues are considered along with case studies.
Harvard Text:
The questions every entrepreneur must answer (pages 1-28)
Harvard Case:
How I did it…. Zappos’s CEO on Going to Extremes for Customers (R1007A) [July-Aug 2010]
Mini-Cases:
Moonpig.com
Internet Trouser Seller
Ecotricity
Lecture 2: Commercializing technology: Execution
The lecture aims to provide the basics of strategy formulation and execution. This examines the
commercialization Imperative, measuring commercialization capability, range of markets, number of
products, breadth of technologies, and building commercialization capabilities.
Harvard Text:
Commercializing technology: What the best companies do (p175-203)
Harvard Case:
Funding Eureka (R1003A)
Research Paper:
The Patent Holder’s Dilemma: Buy, Sell or Troll By Abril & Plant
Mini-Cases:
Fuel Additives
Ethanol
Wood Chips to BioFuel
Lecture 3: The Anatomy of a B-Plan
The lecture focuses upon the basic components that comprise a business plan, what is it, who are we
aiming it, what are the environmental issues, what are the financing issues. The lecture also considers
some of the issues around remaining creative during the start-up, growth and organizational building
phases. The lecture also considers the issues facing new business venturists in terms of their hiring style
and Barron’s paper will be used as a basis of discussion.
California Management Review:
Organizational Blueprints for Success in High-Tech Start-Ups. Baron, James N.; Hannan,
Michael T. California Management Review, Spring2002, Vol. 44 Issue 3, p8-36, 29p
Harvard Text:
How to write a great business plan (pages 29-56)
Mini-Cases:
Giant
Ugobe
Cloky
Lecture 4: Topic: Milestones in Venturing
The lecture also examines the first 12 stages of business evolution.
Harvard Text:
Milestones for Successful Venture planning (pages 117-133)
Harvard Case:
Beading the Odds When you Launch a New Venture (R1005G)
Mini-Cases:
Q-Cells
Wurth: Nuts and Bolts
IT Factory
Lecture 5: Case Study: Brooktrout Technologies & Th!nk Electric Car Company
This lecture considers Brooktrout Technologies, a start up composed of young graduates and with fresh
ideas that entered the world of fax machines and devised the method for putting voice onto a computer ~
voice mail. The case looks at growth issues, partnership issues, timing issues, OEM customer issues,
customer selection issues, cash flow issues, IP issues, employee selection issues and other problems
typically faced by start- up technology companies.
Case Study:
Brooktrout Technologies (Northeastern University case)
Harvard Case:
Th!nk: The Norwegian Electric Car Company (9-808-070) [March 2008]
The Electric Car: The Major Players (SM-175) [September 2008]
Mini-Cases:
Pure Digital Technologies
Etsy: A Business Crafted for Artisans
Trial Pay
Lecture 6: Topic: Creativity. Case Study: Apple, Inc 2010
Harvard Business Review:
Amabile, T. M. "How to Kill Creativity." Harvard Business Review 76, no. 5
(September-October 1998): 76-87.
Enterprise 2.0 How a connected workforce Innovates (R0912H)
Create Three Distinct Career Paths for Innovators (R0912G)
Harvard Case:
Apple Inc., 2010 (9-710-467)
Mini-Cases:
Marriage at the click of a button
Peter Keller
A pioneer of Chinese animation
Lecture 7: Topic: Case Study: Fluent
The lecture examines the Fluent Company, who created the first method for pushing video over a network.
They start an organization that without a clear product in mind at the outset but who through a creative
process and an environmental scanning method managed to develop a ‘useful’ product. The case looks at
timing issues, partner selection issues, cash flow issues and other problems typically faced by startup
companies.
Case Study:
Fluent Inc. (Northeastern University case)
Harvard Case:
Linden Lab: Crossing the Chasm (809147-pdf-eng)
Mini-Cases:
Irish Whiskey
Aer Arann
Bionade
Lecture 8: Case Studies: e-Ink in 2008
This lecture introduces the topic introducing a revolutionary product. E Ink is a high-technology start-up
attempting to revolutionize print communication through electronic ink displays. The founders and top
managers of this two-year-old firm are striving to translate a technological breakthrough into a working
prototype, move from prototype to full-scale manufacturing, and maintain market excitement about the
company. At the same time, they are dealing with a fundamental organizational concern: How to retain E
Ink's creativity, drive, and sense of fun while focusing the company on growth and the demands of a firstproduct introduction.
Harvard Case:
e-Ink in 2008 (9-709-443) [April 2009]
e-Ink (9-800-143) [May 2000]
Mini-Cases:
Buggy Maker
Two Men and a Baby Business
The Father of Spanish e-commerce revolution
Lecture 9: Venture Capital & Case Study: TiVo 2007: DVRs and Beyond
This lecture introduces the topic of venture capital, angel investing and technology transfer. We will look at
the virtual vineyards case and the multiple funding rounds that the company undertook and the TiVo Case
to examine the development of a new technology.
Harvard Cases:
TiVo 2007: DVRs and Beyond (9-708-401)
Harvard Case
How I did it… Google’s CEO on the Enduring Lessons of a Quirky IPO (R1005J)
Mini-Cases:
Pinkberry
Wise to the ways of the street
Sniper or Shotgun Strategies
Lecture 10: Execution of Strategy: The Balanced Scorecard
This lecture introduces the methodology for considering an organizations strategy from a holistic
approach, the aim is to create a unified approach to the formulation of strategy in a high tech start up.
Harvard Business Review:
The Balanced Scorecard – Measures that Drive Performance (92105)
Putting the Balanced Scorecard to Work (September – October 1993, Pages 134 - 142)
Harvard Simulation
Balancing the Corporate Scorecard Part 1: Statement of Problem
Mini-Cases:
Brooklyn Industries
Sula Vineyards
Vapiano
Lecture 11: Topic: Crafting Strategies that Work
The lecture also looks at the planning process for companies and how ventures need to walk a fine line
between action and analysis paralysis. We will look at the issue of screening out the looser ideas, gauging
attractiveness, picking a business partner and how to develop a parsimonious management style.
Harvard Text:
How Entrepreneurs craft strategies that work (pages 57-88)
Harvard Case:
CASE: Nuway Software (909E05) [April 2009]
Mini-Cases:
A High Speed Empire Builder
The factory hand who put the big brands online
Wizzit
Lecture 12: Case Study Keurig
In this Case Nick Lazaris becomes Keurig's third CEO in three years, after one founder was fired and the
other decided to leave the company. He inherits a company that has made several abortive attempts to
launch its new coffee brewing system. Now, problems with crucial suppliers threaten the next proposed
launch plan.
Harvard Case Study:
Keurig (899180-PDF-ENG)
Mini-Cases:
Taybeh Beer
A Chinese Wine Venture
DIY fanatics find a cyber showcase
CIS 689 AB – Entrepreneurship: Launching a High Tech Venture
Materials
Course Text
"The Harvard Business Review on Entrepreneurship"
HBSP 0-87584-910-5
Case Information
The following list contains all the HBR articles that students need to acquire for the course.
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How I did it…. Zappos’s CEO on Going to Extremes for Customers (R1007A)
Funding Eureka (R1003A)
Beading the Odds When you Launch a New Venture (R1005G)
Th!nk: The Norwegian Electric Car Company (9-808-070) [March 2008]
The Electric Car: The Major Players (SM-175) [September 2008]
How to Kill Creativity."
Enterprise 2.0 How a connected workforce Innovates (R0912H)
Create Three Distinct Career Paths for Innovators (R0912G)
Apple Inc., 2010 (9-710-467)
Linden Lab: Crossing the Chasm (809147-pdf-eng)
e-Ink in 2008 (9-709-443) [April 2009]
e-Ink (9-800-143) [May 2000]
TiVo 2007: DVRs and Beyond (9-708-401)
How I did it… Google’s CEO on the Enduring Lessons of a Quirky IPO (R1005J)
CASE: Nuway Software (909E05) [April 2009]
Keurig (899180-PDF-ENG)
These can be acquired through Harvard Business School Publishing. See the link on the assignments
section of Blackboard.
If you want a paper version you must order the cases from Harvard Press directly
CIS 689 AB – Entrepreneurship: Launching a High Tech Venture
Assessments
CASES
Students are expected to contribute to class discussion and add to debate. An important feature of
the class will be the case material. Students must read the cases in advance of the class and be
prepared to present the arguments of the case to the class and instructor if called upon either
individually or in-groups. This will form the basis of the participation grade. A one-page solution of
the case is to be prepared and will be collected by the instructor. This solution is based upon the
selection of a question related to the case as provided by the instructor and located on blackboard.
This is intended to assist student preparation prior to discussion in class. The solution will be
graded on a three point scale. Case solutions should be written up in a one page solution.
Margins should be no smaller than 1" all around. Fonts should be no smaller than 10pts. All
references should be as footnotes, font may be 8pt. All exhibits must fit in the one page.
Three of the following cases are to be undertaken in groups of between 3 and 5 students:
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Th!nk: The Norwegian Electric Car Company (9-808-070) & The Electric Car: The Major Players
Apple Inc., 2008 (9-708-480)
Linden Lab: Crossing the Chasm (809147-pdf-eng)
e-Ink in 2008 (9-709-443) [April 2009] & e-Ink (9-800-143)
Each is worth 10 points (Total = 30pts)
For the following two cases no write up is required. Case discussion grades will be assigned.
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Nuway Software (909E05)
Keurig (899180-PDF-ENG)
Participation points 5 each, Total = 10 points
SIMULATIONS
SIMULATION I
The grading will also consist of examining the students’ ability to maximize the profit potential of
a case study simulation (CD-ROMs). The grading scale will be based upon performance level
achieved
Simulation launching a high-risk business 20pts
SIMULATION II
The grading will consist of examining the students’ ability to maximize the profit potential of the
case study simulation (CD-ROMs). The grading scale will be based upon performance level
achieved
Simulation Analysis: Balanced Scorecard 40pts
Total number of points: 100pts
CIS 689 AB – Entrepreneurship: Launching a High Tech Venture
Faculty Information:
Dr. Plant: Office: 421F Jenkins Building
Phone (Dept): (305) 284-6105
Phone (Direct): 284-1963 Fax: (305) 284-5161
email: rplant@miami.edu
Office Hours: By Appointment
Faculty Background
Robert T. Plant, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Information Systems at The
University of Miami, and Research Director of The Intelligent Computer Systems Research Institute. Dr.
Plant obtained his Ph.D. in Computer Science at The University of Liverpool, England. Previously having
studied Computation at The Programming Research Group, Oxford University, England, and Wadham
College, Oxford.
His research interests are in Strategy and Information Systems, Software Methodology and Artificial
Intelligence, having recently published "The Disappearing Data Center” in Harvard Business Review and
“When will you outgrow your data Center” in Harvard Business Review. He has also published over 60
articles in academic publications and at conferences around the world.
Dr. Plant is on the editorial board of IEEE Intelligent Systems, a Chartered Engineer (U.K.), a European
Engineer, a Senior Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a Fellow of the
British Computer Society. Dr. Plant and is a Research Affiliate of Templeton College, Oxford University,
England, Visiting Professor of Information Systems and Strategy at Universidad Gabriela Mistral, Santiago
de Chile, and Visiting Fellow at Victoria University, New Zealand, as well as Visiting Professor Wuhan
University, P.R. China. Dr Plant was received the 2003 teaching excellence award for the school of
business.
CIS 689 AB – Entrepreneurship: Launching a High Tech Venture
Learning Objective
Outcome Measure
1.1

Understand the basic building blocks of the
entrepreneurship process
1.1

Consideration of the motivational factors for
adopting a business path
1.2

Understand the components and issues facing
an Entrepreneur in development of a
business plan
1.2

3.1

Understand the options and issues in the
capitalization of a new high-risk start up
venture.
Understand the issues surrounding the creation
of a new business venture through the use of a
simulation multi-media model in which a real
world case is simulated and executed
computationally
Case analysis solutions, class
participation
and
final
examination
Case analysis solutions and final
examination
5.2

To analyze and effectively prepare
reports on ecommerce cases
Detailed
phased
project
deliverables and presentations.
5.3

To analyze and effectively be able to
discuss ecommerce cases
Case analysis
participation
examination
Case analysis
participation
examination
Case analysis
participation
examination
solutions, class
and
final
solutions, class
and
midterm
solutions, class
and
final