Faculty Syllabus

BUSG 1315

This course provides students with an introduction to operating and managing a small business. Emphasis is placed on key management functions, including planning, leading, organizing, staffing, and managing daily business operations. Students will explore topics such as entrepreneurship, the Business Model Canvas, forms of business ownership, marketing, human resources, finance, and other small business-related topics. Students will also learn important startup preparation steps before launching a business, including developing an entrepreneurial mindset and completing a SWOT analysis. This course is designed to help students build the foundational skills needed to begin the process of starting, managing, and growing a successful small business.

Exam # 1 - 100 points - 20%

Exam # 2 - 100 points - 20%

Exam # 3 - 100 points - 20%

SWOT Analysis - 100 points - 20%

Business Model Canvas - 100 points - 20%

Grading: The 

Orientation Quiz is worth 10 extra points, each of the three exams (Exam 1, Exam 2, and Exam 3) is worth 100 points, and the SWOT Analysis and Business Model Canvas are worth 100 points. All exams must be taken, and no exam may be taken over.  Each exam must be taken on Blackboard by the date stated on the syllabus.  The last exam is not comprehensive.

Grading Scale: 450-500 =A, 400-449 =B, 350-399 =C, 300-349 =D, and below 300 =F.

Essentials of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
10th Edition

Norman M. Scarborough
Pearson

This textbook will support course topics related to entrepreneurship, small business management, business planning, marketing, finance, operations, and other key areas involved in starting and managing a successful small business.

This course introduces students to the following subjects:

Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management; Entrepreneurial Mindset; Startup Preparation Steps; Business Model Canvas; SWOT Analysis; Forms of Business Ownership; Planning and Managing Daily Business Operations; Leadership, Organization, and Staffing; Marketing and Customer Identification; Human Resources in Small Business; Managing Business Growth; and Developing a Successful Small Business Foundation.

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

• Identify the key aspects of operating and managing a small business.
• Explain the management functions used in small business operations, including planning, leading, organizing, staffing, and managing/controlling operations.
• Describe the startup preparation steps needed before launching a business.
• Develop an understanding of the entrepreneurial mindset and how it supports small business success.
• Complete a basic SWOT analysis to evaluate business strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
• Use the Business Model Canvas to organize and explain the major parts of a business idea.
• Explore basic small business topics such as ownership, marketing, human resources, finance, and daily operations.