MGTK 304 – Spring 2014
MGTK 304 – Small Business Management/ Spring 2014
MW 11:00am-12:15pm in Founder’s Bldg. 303
Instructor: Angela Patrick, PhD.
Cell Phone: 254-681-1416
E-mail: abpatrick@me.com, abpatrick@ct.tamus.edu
Office Hours: Please schedule an Appointment
Mode of instruction and course access: This is a face-to-face course in addition to utilizing the
TAMUCT Blackboard system. Grades, assignment, cases, handouts, activities, and other
resources will be posted on Blackboard (BB) http://tamuct.blackboard.com.
Time/Location Course Meets: We will meet every Monday and Wednesday from 11am to
12:15pm on the TAMUCT Main Campus, Room 303.
Student/Professor Communication: I am readily accessible before/after class, via cell phone,
text, or email. I will respond to an email within 24 hours. If an appointment is needed contact
can be face-to-face, Skype, or phone.
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1.0 Course Overview and Description
This course is oriented toward planning for and managing a small business, starting a business,
and buying a business franchise.
2.0 Overall Course Objective
The study of starting and managing a small business will be centered the business plan. This will
include formulating a business idea, assessing the market potential, selecting a location, selecting
a legal form of organization, arranging financing, securing necessary supplies, meeting
governmental regulations, securing and retaining appropriate employees, instituting accounting
records, establishing appropriate controls, and developing production systems.
2.1 Student Learning Outcomes
MGTK 304 – Spring 2014
Upon the completion of the course, the student will:
1. Apply contemporary management knowledge in small business operations;
2. Articulate a collection of practical considerations involved in managing a small business;
3. Formulate small business marketing.
4. Comprehend financial management principles of small firms;
5. Discuss and recognize the social and legal environment affecting small business;
6. Prepare a business plan.
3. 0 Textbook and Required Materials
Small Business Management: Launching and Growing Entrepreneurial Ventures, Longenecker,
J., Petty, J.W., & Hoy, F., 16th Ed. – ISBN – 978-1-111-53287-1. Note: A student of this
institution is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from a university-affiliated
bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer,
including an online retailer.
If your book is going to be delayed, you might look into at least purchasing e-chapters to stay up
to date. CengageBrain
Valuable Resources:
Small Business Administration (SBA), http://www.sba.gov/content/templates-writing-businessplan
APA Formatting Guidelines, http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01
APA Formatting Citations Video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pbUoNa5tyY
4.0 Course Requirements
4.1. Small Business Management (SBM) Workshop (30% of course evaluation):
Students will be grouped together to complete a 60-minute workshop designed for the small
business owner. Any small business must be able to benefit from your training module. Students
will self-select the team members (2-4 members), but must seek final approval from the
instructor before beginning the project. There will be no overlapping topics, so select your topic
early. Your workshop should include at least the following:
MGTK 304 – Spring 2014
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
A professional portfolio;
A 60 minute in-class professional and engaging seminar;
Pre-preparation materials for the business owner (classmates);
Presentation (PowerPoint, Multimedia, Flip Chart, for example);
Handouts for the audience;
Worksheets for the audience;
Facilitator’s notes;
At least 15 recommended additional annotated resources;
At least 10 short answer questions;
Each student within the group must participate in the in-class as well as out of class portions of
the workshop. The group will be evaluated based on professional completeness of the project,
engagement and participation of the audience, workshop participant’s evaluation, peer
evaluation, and instructor evaluation as well as the thoroughness of the content. Professional
creativity is a bonus and will be rewarded.
*Note: this is a team project. As with any team, conflict might appear within your chosen teams.
It is expected that each team will resolve conflicts amongst itself. If this is not possible, the entire
team must schedule a meeting with the professor to discuss the issue. The professor will act as
the mediator, but the final resolution will need to be reached between the team members. Team
members have the option to fire members of the team if necessary after well-documented
attempts to resolve conflict have occurred. Fired team members will forfeit credit (30% of final
grade) for the workshop assignment.
Possible Small Business Management (SBM) Workshop Training Topics:
(Your group is not limited to the topics listed)
Stress Management
Customer Service
Evaluating Employee Performance Small Business Laws and Regulations for the State of
Texas Business Development
Business Communication
Budgeting
Business Etiquette
Human Resource
Accounting and Financial Training
Employee Retention
Conflict Management
Leadership
Safety
Sales/Marketing Strategies
Time Management
Grading Checklist:
Activity
Overall presentation including all material
Engages audience
Explains and discerns training concept to audience
Main and supporting points are plausible, sophisticated, insightful, and
clear.
All Verbal and written communication is accurate with well-developed
thoughts that convey the overall message.
Total possible points
Possible Points
100
50
50
50
50
300
MGTK 304 – Spring 2014
4.2 Business Plan (30% of course evaluation):
Each student will complete a business plan for a business of his/her choosing (instructor approval
required). The business plan provides students with the ability to develop an idea or business
concept. All students will upload a business plan to BB by the due date listed in the course
calendar. APA (6th ed.) guidelines will be used for formatting. The final body of your business
plan will be 10-12 pages in length. This does not include title pages, exhibits, reference pages,
appendices…..). The audience for your business plan is potential investors. Writing should be
free of spelling and grammar errors that detract for the overall message.
Grading Checklist
Activity
Cover sheet/ table of contents (with page numbers!).
Format using APA 6th ed. (double space, margins, general points neatness
and appearance, grammar, and spelling).
Executive Summary: summarizes business plan; provides an overview of the
practice, motivates and excites the reader; describes business purpose; asks
for specific funding.
General business description/ Mission Statement: An overview of the
company is provided which includes information regarding the reason for
starting, mission statement, basic activity, company focus, goods and/or
services provided, primary customers, and location.
Industry Analysis: Provides complete information regarding industry size
and maturity, opportunities & threats in the industry, overall outlook for the
industry, major competitors. Explains how proposed product/service is
distinct from others.
Management Plan: Form of business ownership was chosen, defined, and
reasoning was given for the choice of ownership. Thorough explanation of
how things will be accomplished.
Marketing Plan: Who are your customers, where are they, what do they
want?
Marketing of the business was thoroughly discussed including the
identification of the target market and how they will be reached, customer
needs and product characteristics, pricing, distribution, promotion.
Operating plan: describes daily operation; general office layout; facilities
and equipment; fee schedule; financial policies.
Financial Management: Start-up Costs, financing strategies and concepts
were discussed.
Other: Resume, references, supporting documents, etc.
Total Possible Points
Possible Points
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
30
300
4.3 Case Study (20% of course evaluation):
Students will be required to expand on the small business management concept through
additional ideation techniques and theories using a business case study that will be provided on
BB. Any document found to be falsified, plagiarized, or otherwise academically fraudulent will
result in the student earning an F for the course. There are no exceptions to this rule!
MGTK 304 – Spring 2014
Case Study Project Requirements:
To achieve a successful project experience and outcome, you are expected to meet the following
requirements:
Length: A minimum of 4-6 pages, excluding references.
Resources: A minimum of at least 5 scholarly resources related to the field of small business
management that is referenced according to APA (6th ed.) guidelines.
Writing: Writing is free of spelling and grammar errors that detract from the overall message.
Critical Thinking: Writing demonstrates evidence of critical thinking, including the ability to
compare, contrast, analyze, and synthesize.
Organization and clarity: Presents logical organized arguments, well supported by appropriate
resources.
Grading Checklist:
Activity
Meets all project requirements.
Explains and analyzes the discussion questions.
Explains and discerns the owners/managers issues within the case.
Main and supporting points are plausible, sophisticated, insightful, and
clear.
Written communication is accurate with well-developed thoughts that
convey the overall message
Total Possible Points
Possible Points
40
40
40
40
40
200
4.4 Participation (10% of course evaluation):
You are expected to have read all assigned readings before you come to class. You are also
expected to participate actively in class discussions, group activities, cases analyses, and
exercises. As a courtesy, please notify me via email, text, or telephone if you will be missing
class or missed a class. No late work will be accepted; please make arrangements to turn your
work in early if you will be missing a class meeting.
Participation includes attending class, participation in online forums, reading assigned chapters,
bringing in requested materials or assignments, and participating in class discussions. If for some
reason a student is unable to attend class, he/she will be responsible for obtaining notes,
assignments, and other relevant course information from other classmates. Please do not ask me
the question “did I miss something important.” Participation (assessed daily) is graded based on
your level of attendance, substantive discussion, demonstration of preparedness for class as well
as overall above and beyond engagement you demonstrate in class. Disruptive behavior will
count negatively on your participation within this course. Disruptive behavior includes, but is
not limited to, talking amongst each other in-class when it is not appropriate, working on other
MGTK 304 – Spring 2014
course work, sleeping in-class, disrupting your fellow classmates’ learning environment. Please
treat our learning environment the way you would treat your employer. The final participation
score will be the sole discretion of the professor.
4.5 Homework/Quiz (10% of course evaluation): There will be a total of four (4)
homework/quiz assignments for this course that will be worth 10% of your total course grade.
Each homework/quiz will cover the information covered in the text, lectures and in class
assignments. See course schedule for dates of each homework/quiz.
5.0 Grading Criteria Rubric
Your grade is determined by the total number of points earned during the semester.
Points
1,000-895
895-795
795-715
715-645
645-below
Letter Grade
A
B
C
D
F
Course Evaluation
SBM Workshop
Business Plan
Case Studies
Participation
Quizzes
Total
Percentage/Points
30% / 300
30% / 300
20% / 200
10% / 100
10%/ 100
100% / 1000
Learning Outcome Evaluation Matrix
Evaluation
Business Plan
Case Studies
SBM
Workshop
Participation
HW/Quizzes
LO1: apply
contemporary
management
knowledge
in small
business
operations;
X
X
X
LO2:
articulate a
collection of
practical
considerations
involved in
managing a
small
business;
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
LO3:
formulate
small
business
marketing
LO4:
comprehend
financial
management
principles of
small firms;
LO5:
discuss and
recognize the
social and
legal
environment
affecting
small
business;
LO6:
prepare
a
business
plan.
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
MGTK 304 – Spring 2014
6.0 Complete Course Calendar
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
WEEK
1
DATES
January 13
January 15
2
Section 1:
Entrepreneurship:
A World of
Opportunity
1
Section 2:
Starting from
Scratch or Joining
an Existing
Business
Syllabus Review
2
MLK Birthday--School Closed on
Monday 1/20/13
3
SBM Workshop Groups & Topics Due
Business for Plan Topic Due
5
1/31--Case Study Due
February 3
6
*Start preliminary research for business
plan.
February 5
7
5
February 10
6
February 12
February 17
7
February 19
February 24
8
February 26
March 3
March 5
March 10
Section3:
Developing the
New Venture
Business Plan
8
Homework/Quiz 1
*General Business Description
9
10
*Industry/ SWOT Analysis
2/19--Group 1 Presentation
11
Section 4:
Focusing on the
Customer:
Marketing Growth
Strategies
12
2/26—Group 2 Presentation
*Management Plan
13
Homework/Quiz 2
SPRING BREAK
9
March 12
March 17
10
March 19
March 24
15
11
March 26
March 31
16
12
ASSIGNMENTS
4
January 27
January 29
4
CHAPTER
January 20
January 22
3
SECTION
April 2
April 7
April 9
14
*Marketing Plan
3/19—Group 3 Presentation
3/26—Group 4 Presentation
Section 5:
Managing Growth
in Small Business
17
4/2 No formal class—Discussion
Forum on BB
*Operating Plan
18
Homework/Quiz 3
MGTK 304 – Spring 2014
13
April 14
19
14
April 16
April 21
20
21
Note--4/19: Graduation Application
Deadline for Summer 2013.
*Financial Plan
15
April 23
April 28
22
23
Homework/Quiz 4
*Executive Summary
16
April 30
May 5
May 7
Guest Speaker
Video Case
*Finish-up plan
Group Discussion
Business Plan due NLT Wednesday, May 7, 2013 @ 6:00pm
Note-- * Are suggested Project Management Dates for your Business Plan
7.0 Drop Policy
If you discover that you need to drop this class, you must go to the Records Office and ask for
the necessary paperwork. Professors cannot drop students; this is always the responsibility of
the student. The record’s office will provide a deadline for which the form must be returned,
completed and signed. Once you return the signed form to the records office and wait 24 hours,
you must go into Duck Trax and confirm that you are no longer enrolled. Should you still be
enrolled, FOLLOW-UP with the records office immediately? You are to attend class until the
procedure is complete to avoid penalty for absence. Should you miss the deadline or fail to
follow the procedure, you will receive an F in the course.
8.0 Academic Integrity
Texas A&M University - Central Texas expects all students to maintain high standards of
personal and scholarly conduct. Students found responsible of academic dishonesty are
subject to disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating
on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource
materials. The faculty member is responsible for initiating action for each case of academic
dishonesty and report the incident to the Director of Student Affairs. More information can
be found at www.ct.tamus.edu/StudentConduct.
9.0 Disability Support Services
Texas A&M University – Central Texas complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. TAMUCT promotes the use of the
Principles of Universal Design to ensure that course design and activities are accessible to the
greatest extent possible. Students who require reasonable accommodations based on the impact
of a disability should contact Gail Johnson, Disability Support Coordinator at (254) 501-5831 in
Student Affairs, Office 114E. The Disability Support Coordinator is responsible for reviewing
documentation provided by students requesting accommodations, determining eligibility for
accommodations, helping students request and use accommodations, and coordinating
accommodations.
MGTK 304 – Spring 2014
10.0 Tutoring
Tutoring is available to all TAMUCT students, both on-campus and online. Subjects tutored
include Accounting, Finance, Statistics, Mathematics, and Writing (APA and MLA). Tutors are
available at the Tutoring Center in Founder’s Hall, Room 204, and also in the Library in the
North Building. Visit www.ct.tamus.edu/AcademicSupport and click “Tutoring Support” for
tutor schedules and contact info. If you have questions or if you’re interested in becoming a
tutor, contact Ryan Thompson at 254-519-5796 or by emailing rthomp8@ct.tamus.edu.
Tutor.com is an online tutoring platform that enables TAMU-CT students to log-in and receive
FREE online tutoring and writing support. This tool provides tutoring in Mathematics, Writing,
Career Writing, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Spanish, Calculus, and Statistics. Chat live with a
tutor 24/7 for any subject on your computer. To access Tutor.com, click on
www.tutor.com/tamuct. If you have trouble logging in, contact Ryan Thompson at 254-5195796 or rthomp8@ct.tamus.edu.
11.0 Library Services
INFORMATION LITERACY focuses on research skills which prepare individuals to live and
work in an information-centered society. Librarians will work with students in the development
of critical reasoning, ethical use of information, and the appropriate use of secondary research
techniques. Help may include, yet is not limited to: exploration of information resources such as
library collections and services, identification of subject databases and scholarly journals, and
execution of effective search strategies. Library Resources are outlined and accessed at.
http://www.tarleton.edu/centraltexas/departments/library/
12.0 Policies/Expectations
12.1 What You Can Expect of Me:
You can expect that I will come to class prepared and ready to engage in active learning. I will
work to create a respectful learning environment where all of us can express our thoughts and
ask questions. While we do not have to agree with each other, we will do so in respectful ways.
I expect to learn from you as we spend the next 16 weeks together! I will be available to answer
your questions and help you be successful in this course.
12.2 I reserve the right to make reasonable alterations to the course calendar and syllabus
as provided here. It is a guide, not a hard and fast rule. Changes will only be made that
benefit the class as a whole.
12.3 All papers must be computer processed or typed. They will be graded both for content,
correct grammar and punctuation. APA style is the format for formal papers. All papers are to
be submitted via BlackBoard. No late work will be accepted unless prior arrangements have
been made with the instructor.
12.4 Attendance is essential in a class of this nature. In order to successfully pass the course
students must attend all sessions and complete all project assignments. 6 or more absences
MGTK 304 – Spring 2014
RESULT IN AN “F” FOR YOUR FINAL GRADE. Class participation is required. Being
late to class is nonprofessional behavior. Consistently being late (3 times or more without prior
notification and approval) will equal 1 absence.