Syllabus
MGT 103 - Small Business Management
Fall 2010 – Online Class
3 credits
INSTRUCTOR: Judy Emerson
OFFICE: Small Business Development Center 723 Railroad Street Elko – By Appointment
PHONE: 775-753-2245
FAX: 775-753-2242
E-MAIL:
judye@gwmail.gbcnv.edu
TEXT: Small Business Management, 15th Edition, Longenecker, Moore, Petty – ISBN 0-32482783-0
Suggested Additional Readings: The Wall Street Journal; Inc. Magazine; Entrepreneur
Useful Web Sites: www.nsbdc.org; www.sba.gov; www.bizoffice.com; www.score.org;
www.irs.gov; www.BusinessLaw.gov; SBMonline.swlearning.com; www.soyouwanna.com;
www.officedepot.com; www.morebusiness.com; www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/startuptoolkit/
Description:
Environment and management of the small business enterprise, problems in
initiating the business, financial and administrative control, marketing programs,
and policies, management of business operations, legal and governmental
relationships.
Objectives:
1. To provide students with an introduction to small business management and its
basic fundamentals.
2. To give students an opportunity to acquire skills in identifying and analyzing
business problems in marketing, management and finance.
Outcomes:
Students will demonstrate and apply this gained knowledge through the use of
exams, the analysis and discussion of case studies, and the development of a
business plan.
Attendance:
This course is being offered “online”. It is not a self-paced course. It is important
to keep up with the scheduled assignments. If you are not going to be
participating in the class for any length of time (vacation, travel for work, family
problems, etc) please let me know in advance. Anyone not in communication
with me for any two week period (without prior approval) will be dropped from
the class and an F grade will be recorded, unless you have officially dropped the
class through Admissions and Records.
Assignments:
There are 10 assigned cases that correspond with the specific chapter for the day.
You are required to read the case and answer the case end questions by the due
date shown on the Schedule. You are also required to respond and comment on at
least one other student’s case (let’s keep it cordial, please!) by the date following
the due date of the case (i.e.: if the case is due February 3 your response would
be posted by February 4). It doesn’t need to be lengthy, but let’s be constructive
with the comments. Your case answers will be posted to the Discussion Board
section of Web Campus. The Discussion Board provides a good opportunity to
ask any questions you may have regarding the cases, as well. Each case is worth
10 points – 5 points for your case answers and 5 points for comments/discussion.
Business Plan: You will be asked to write a business plan for this class. You may use a business
with which you are already involved, one that you hope to start some day, or just
a business idea you are interested in. It is important to remember that there is not
one right way to write a business plan. You just need to have the relevant
information covered. You may use a purchased business plan program if you
like, such as BusinessPlanPro, but remember to use it only as a guide (and for the
great graphs!), so your plan doesn’t sound “canned”. You will find business plan
outlines on the NSBDC, SBA, SCORE, and Microsoft websites, and also in the
textbook. In an effort to keep you from waiting until the last minute to start your
plan, I am requiring you to turn in drafts of various sections of the plan at
different times during the semester (refer to the syllabus). This gives me an
opportunity to make sure you are on track and for you to get questions answered
as you go along, rather than trying to write the entire plan all at one time. It does
take some time to do research, and by preparing the plan in sections, it is not SO
overwhelming!
Exams:
There will be three exams. The final exam will not be comprehensive.
Each exam will have a number of true/false, multiple-choice, and short
answer questions covering the material from the preceding chapters.
Grading:
3 Exams (100 points each) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Business Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cases/Bulletin Board discussion . . . . . . . . . . .
Total
300 Points
200 Points
100 Points
600 Points
Final grades will be: A, B, C, D, F or W
The grade W will only be given for officially withdrawing from the class by the
13th week. It is your responsibility to withdraw from a course.
Remaining grades will be assigned on the following point scale:
A
600-540 Points
B
539-480 Points
C
479-420 Points
D
419-360 Points
F
359-0 Points
Any student needing assistance outside of class should consult with the instructor for an
appropriate time.
Schedule:
Date Due
August 31
September 3
September 7
September 10
Introduction and Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Assignment Due
Turn In Assignment
Firewire Surfboards; Pg. 628
Business Plan Topic
Discussions
Assignments
September 14
September 17
September 21
September 24
September 28
October 1
Oct 8, midnight
October 12
October 15
October 19
October 22
October 26
November 2
November 5
Nov 12, midnight
November 16
November 19
November 23
November 30
December 3
December 7
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
TEST 1 – Chapters 1-10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
TEST 2 – Chapters 11-17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
December 7
Dec 14, midnight
BUSINESS PLANS DUE
TEST 3 – Chapters 18-23
W.S. Darley & Co; Pg. 632
Business Description Section
Benjapon’s; Pg. 634
Discussions
Assignments
Discussions
Le Travel Store; Pg. 641
Marketing Plan Section
Management/Personnel
My Own Money; Pg. 649
Discussions
Assignments
Assessments
Assignments
Discussions
Operational Plan Section
Country Supply; Pg. 656
Assignments
Discussions
Glidden Point Oyster; Pg. 660
Start-up Cost Estimate
Diamond Wipes; Pg. 664
Financial Projections
Salary Envy; Pg. 666
Discussions
Assessments
Assignments
Discussions
Assignments
Discussions
Pearson Air; Pg. 669
Discussions
Assignments
Assessments
This schedule is also included in the Web Campus calendar, so take a look at that from time to
time. The instructor reserves the right to modify the course requirements, assignments, grading
procedures, and other related policies as circumstances may dictate. I have included addresses to
several web sites on this syllabus. Especially good is the site that accompanies the Longenecker
textbook. It includes links to a variety of sites that correspond with each of the chapters, so I
suggest you access that site often.