Southern State Community College
Curriculum Committee – June 2011
ENTR 1102 – OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS
Page 1 of 6
I.
COURSE TITLE:
OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS
COURSE NUMBER: 1102
II.
PREREQUISITE(S): NONE
III.
CREDIT HOURS: 3
LABORATORY HOURS: 0
IV.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
CATALOG PREFIX: ENTR
LECTURE HOURS: 3
OBSERVATION HOURS: 0
Assessing current economic, social and political climate for small businesses.
Understanding demographic, technological, and social changes which create
opportunities for small business ventures.
V.
ADOPTED TEXT(S):
Opportunity Analysis: Business Ideas: Identification and Evaluation
Revised 2008
M.B. Izard
Acheve Consulting, Inc, 2004
ISBN: 0-9728748-2-8
,-
VI.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this course the student will:
1. Identify opportunities for small business start-up and/or growth
2. Identify and understand significant changes which impact small business
3. Analyze the current environment and make recommendations as to how small
business can best maximize beneficial and minimize negative changes.
4. Conduct an environmental analysis and develop a strategic plan for a specific
small business (idea).
5. Keep a log of opportunities within the current environment
ENTR 1102 – OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS
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6. Evaluate and justify which business opportunities have the greatest possibility
of economic success.
7. Identify types of external information available to assist small businesses.
8. Identify consumer trends affecting business
9. Differentiate between environmental factors which should be monitored
carefully and those which should be assessed casually.
10. Identify unique qualities of small businesses which may enable them to
respond rapidly to business opportunities.
11. Understand how factors having a negative impact on business may, given the
right environment, be minimized or turned into a business opportunity.
12. Identify factors which have the greatest impact on small businesses
13. Understand environmental threats and opportunities
14. Evaluate the “climate” for small businesses within the local economy
15. Identify characteristics that make a business small.
16. Understand a break even analysis.
17. Understand a SWOT analysis
VII.
COURSE METHODOLOGY:
Standard lecture and discussion, case studies, opportunity evaluation,
environmental analysis, and SWOT analysis.
VIII. GRADING:
Grading will follow policy in college catalog.
Grading Scale:
A = 90 - 100
B = 80 - 89
C = 70 - 79
D = 60 - 69
F = 59 - or below
IX.
COURSE OUTLINE:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to assess the current
economic, social and political climate for small businesses. In addition, the
student should be able to explain how demographic, technological and social
ENTR 1102 – OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS
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changes create opportunities for small business ventures. Additional time will be
given to develop a strategic plan, keep a log of current environmental
opportunities, evaluate the economic climate for small business, prepare a
business plan and analyze a business opportunity (see sample).
ENTR 1102 ~ OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS
COURSE OUTLINE
SAMPLE
Week 1
A. Introduction
B. Analyze Skills, Talents, and Work Experience
1) Activity Check Sheet
2) Laddering
C. Discussion / Application
Week 2
D. Sources of Business Ideas
1) Internal
2) External
3) Personal / Financial Influences
E. Discussion / Application
Week 3
F. Pros and Cons of being an Employee / Entrepreneur
G. Entrepreneur Management (team)
H. Discussion / Application
Week 4
I. Discovery by Chance
J. Entrepreneur Frustrations / Problems
K. Discussion / Application
Week 5
L.
Idea / Opportunity Log
M. Evaluate Idea Log
ENTR 1102 – OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS
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Week 6
N.
Product Life Cycle
O.
Networking / Mentoring
P. Discussion / Application
Week 7
Q. Shadowing
R. Discussion / Application
Week 8
S. Discussion / Application
T. Report due on shadowing
U. Choose and Evaluate an Entrepreneur Opportunity (from the idea /
opportunity log)
Week 9
V. Creativity
W. Discussion / Application
Week 10
X. Creativity continued
Y. Discussion / Application
Week 11
Z. Trends
AA.
Environmental Influences
BB.
Political Influences
CC.
Social / Cultural / Technological Influences
DD.
Discussion / Application
Week 12
EE. SWOT Analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats)
FF. Unique Qualities
GG.
Discussion / Application
Week 13
HH.
Micro / Macro Environment / Economics
II. Discussion / Application
Week 14
JJ. Marketplace / Industry Influences
ENTR 1102 – OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS
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KK.
Strategic Analysis
1) Age and consumer identity
2) The youth market
3) The mature market
4) The gray market
LL. Discussion / Application
X.
Week 15
MM.
NN.
Strategic analysis continued
Discussion / Application
Week 16
OO.
Final Evaluation
OTHER REQUIRED TEXTS, SOFTWARE, AND MATERIALS:
As assigned by the instructor.
XI.
EVALUATION:
Case Studies
Opportunity Evaluations
Environmental Analysis
SWOT Analysis
Exam
Total
XII.
20%
20%
20%
20%
20%
100%
SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS:
At the discretion of the instructor
XIII. OTHER INFORMATION:

No Cell phones allowed – must be turned off

Cheating or plagiarism will result in failure of the course

More than three absences may result in a lower grade

Disruptive behavior may result in expulsion from class or a lower grade
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FERPA: Students need to understand that your work may be seen by others.
Others may see your work when being distributed, during group project work, or
if it is chosen for demonstration purposes.
Students also need to know that there is a strong possibility that your work may
be submitted to other entities for the purpose of plagiarism checks.
DISABILITIES: Students with disabilities may contact the Disabilities Service
Office, Central Campus, at 800-628-7722 or 937-393-3431.