Course Syllabus
BUS-2210: Small Business Management
Course Description
This course explores the practical aspects of organizing and managing a small business. It is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge to make informed business decisions. Topics include the basic concepts of accounting, finance, cash management, taxes, business law, government regulations, staffing, and marketing.
Essential Objectives
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Develop a business plan that accounts for market analysis, appraisal of products and services, marketing strategies, organizing and staffing, and financial analysis.
- Compare the advantages and disadvantages of buying an existing business, starting a new business, or acquiring a franchised business.
- Describe and apply techniques of asset management including fixed assets, inventory, accounts receivable, and cash flow.
- Apply marketing practices to product pricing, advertising, and sales promotion for small business.
- Discuss federal and state laws and regulations and taxes affecting small businesses.
- Discuss the ethical considerations inherent in decisions in small business management.
- Describe the opportunities and challenges small businesses face in competing in a global marketplace.
- Illustrate the controlling function of management through the use of financial statement analysis.
Textbooks & Technology
Required Textbooks:
Entrepreneurship: The Art, Science, and Process for Success by Charles Bamford and Gary Bruton (Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education/ISBN: 978-0078023187). You can purchase this online or through the CCV Bookstore . Additional resources will be posted in the Module Readings & Resources pages.
You will also need a computer with Microsoft Office, access to the internet, and a back-up plan for when or if the technology or internet stops working or is not available.
Modular Topics
- Module 0: Course Preparation
- Module 1: Navigating the Online Classroom
- Module 2: Entrepreneurial Small Business Start-up
- Module 3: Risk Tolerance, Personality & Ethics
- Module 4: Assessing and Evaluating Ideas and Opportunities for a Business
- Module 5: Competitive Analysis for Your Business
- Module 6: Business Mission and Strategy
- Module 7: Financial Information
- Module 8: Financing, Accounting, and Financial Analysis
- Module 9: The Legal forms of Business & The Executive Summary
- Module 10: The Human Resources Side of Operating Your Business
- Module 11: Understanding Your Market
- Module 12: Organizing Operations for the Business & Managing Your Time
- Module 13: The Exit, Harvest, and Turnaround in a Business
- Module 14: Franchising or Purchasing an Existing Business
- Module 15: Your Final Project: The Business Plan
Suggested Progression
This is a self-paced asynchronous course which means that students will be starting and progressing at different rates throughout the term. Once you feel like you have a strong handle on the material, and you have completed all of the assignments for the module, you should feel comfortable moving on, regardless of the pace, as long as you complete the course within the semester timeframe. If you are starting at the beginning of the term, you could spend one week on each module to successfully complete the course within the term. If you are starting 7 weeks into the course, you could spend one week covering two modules so that you complete the course successfully within the term.
Grading
Your final grade will be based on the following assessments:
| Assignment Category | Grade Weight Percentage |
|---|---|
| Demonstrate Your Learning Forums | 30% |
| Assignments | 30% |
| Final Project & Papers | 30% |
| Quizzes | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
Assignments Overview
The learning modules will consist of the following learning resources: articles, links to videos, websites and outside sources, demonstrate your learning forums, module assignments, and quizzes.
Many of the assignments will build towards a final Business Plan that you will develop throughout the course.
Assignments are graded by supplying complete and substantive answers usually at least 1 to 2 paragraphs. If the assignment is in the form of a worksheet, maintain the question and the number of the question. If a template is provided follow the format of the template. All assignments will have directions/rubrics provided. All work must be submitted in MS Word, Excel, or PowerPoint format depending on the assignment. Proper college headings are required on all work and “Save As” to include your name and the assignment title. All assignments are uploaded to the Canvas Classroom within the appropriate assignment icon.
Demonstrate Your Learning forums are a part of every learning module and are post-first discussions, which means that you will post your reply before seeing the replies of others. Discussions will be graded based on the following rubric:
| Exceeds Expectations | Meets Expectations | Approaching Expectations | Does Not Meet Expectations | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knowledge | Comprehensive, in-depth and wide-ranging (25 points) |
Up to date and relevant (20 points) |
Relevant but not comprehensive (15 points) |
Limited superficial knowledge/response (10 points) |
25 points |
| Understanding | Outstanding ability to grasp concepts and relate theory to practice (25 points) |
High level of ability to conceptualize essential ideas and relate theory to practice (20 points) |
Some ability to conceptualize essential ideas and relate theory to practice (15 points) |
Limited ability to draw out concepts and relate theory to practice (10 points) |
25 points |
| Writing Skills | Excellent mechanics, sentence structure, and organization (25 points) |
Significant mechanics, structure and organization (20 points) |
Some grammatical lapses, uses emotional response in lieu of relevant points (15 points) |
Poor grammar, weak communication (10 points) |
25 points |
| Application & Analysis | Grasps inner relationship of concepts. Excellent use of a wide range of supporting material (25 points) |
Demonstrates the ability to analyze and synthesize, independent analysis, good use of a range of supportive material (20 points) |
Informed commentary with some evidence of genuine analysis; some supportive materials used (15 points) |
Lacks evidence of critical analysis, poor use of supportive evidence (10 points) |
25 points |
| Total Points: | 20 points |
Papers and your final project will have a complete description provided by the rubrics.
Assessment
Rubrics are attached to each of your discussions and assignments. It’s important to review the grading rubrics before starting your work so that you will know exactly how your work will be assessed. Please review the instructions for viewing assignment rubrics and for viewing discussion rubrics.
Feedback
It is important to review feedback for your assignments and discussions to see where you are meeting expectations and where additional work may be needed. You can review rubric results from the instructor for your assignments and discussions. Your instructor may also leave general comments or annotation feedback within the assignment link.
Student Support & Policies
Please review the following policies and support services:
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|