IT Entrepreneurship

Course
Semester
Spring
Year
2022
General Course Information

Course Lecturer Name(s):  GLENDON LANGAIGNE

Course Director Name:  Senthilkumar Somasundaram

Course Lecturer(s) Contact Information:  4734050149

Course Director Contact Information:  +1 (473) 444-4175 ext. 3311 

Course Lecturer(s) Office Hours:  NA 

Course Lecturer(s) Office Location:  NA

Course Support:   +1 (473) 444-4175 ext. 3311

Course Management tool: To learn to use Sakai, the Course management tool, access the link https://apps.sgu.edu/members.nsf/mycoursesintro.pdf

Course Curriculum Information

Course Description: 

This course is an introduction to IT entrepreneurship with an emphasis on the small business development process which includes the inception of the business concept, developing a feasibility study, and developing a business plan for an actual business. This will be supported by using SGU faculty, guest speakers and possible off-campus visits.   

Course Objectives: 

It is the goal of this course to provide students with a sound understanding of starting and managing the early stages of their own IT-based enterprise. The students will learn the ideation process, how to take an idea to market by prepare a business plan that can be used to guide the enterprise and be submitted to financial institutes for funding the enterprise as required.

Student Learning Outcomes:

  1. Identify and discuss the evolution and definitions of entrepreneurship, marketing research, strategic planning, legal structures, growth management and global opportunities for the new venture.
  2. Demonstrate an appreciation for the elements of developing and managing a small business and how they impact the composition of a business model using a “business model canvas”.
  3. Demonstrate an appreciation for the elements of developing and managing a small business and how they impact the composition of a business plan.
  4. Identify and discuss different elements of the business model/business plan and their relationships to venture initiation.
  5. Students will learn to apply an entrepreneurial approach business model/business plan preparation and presentations.
  6. Demonstrate a mature level of written and oral communication skills, especially the ability to present and defend positions in the face of criticism and skepticism.
  7. Demonstrate sound decision-making and analytical skills, including the ability to define and solve problems and cope with complex environments in completing all course assignments.

Program Outcomes Met By This Course:

  1. Uncover niches in local and international markets that lend themselves to Information Technology entrepreneurship and business development.
  2. Be able to develop a business model for the purposes of developing and managing a successful IT-based enterprise.
  3. Be able to develop a business model for the purposes of requesting funding from a financial institution.
  4. Be able to develop a business plan for the purposes of developing and managing a successful IT-based enterprise.
  5. Be able to develop a business plan for the purposes of requesting funding from a financial institution.

SAS Grading Scale: Grades will be assigned as follows:

A  = 89.5% or better

B+ = 84.5 - 89.4%

B  = 79.5 - 84.4%

C+ = 74.5 - 79.4%

C = 69.5 - 74.4%

D = 64.5 - 69.4%

F = 64.4% or less 

Course Materials:

 This course does not require a textbook.  However, the following books will be used for references during coursework.

Neck, Heidi M.

Neck, Christopher P.

Murray, Emma L.        

Entrepreneurship, the practice and mindset ISBN-13: 978-1544354668

Duening, Thomas N.

Hisrich, Robert D.

Lechter, Michael A. 

Entrepreneurship, taking innovation to market                  ISBN-978-0-12-420175-0

Rossman, John             

Think Like Amazon ISBN-13: 978-1260455496

Alexander Osterwalder, Yves Pigneur

Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers ISBN-978-0470-87561-1

 Course Grading Requirement:

Small enterprise analysis (Individual)            10%

Pitch Deck Complete (Team)                         20%

Business Plan Presentation (Team)      20 % 

Business Plan Written (Team)                        30%

Business Plan Individual Comments     10%

Class Participation (Individual)             10%

Course Requirements:

Attendance Policy

This class meets once a week for 16 weeks. Students will be allowed 1 unexcused absence, after which each unexcused absence will result in 2 grade points being deducted from a possible 10 points for class participation. 

Plagiarism

The Oxford Dictionary (Ninth Edition) defines plagiarism as “taking and using thoughts, writings, inventions, etc. of someone else as one’s own: to pass off thoughts etc. of another person as one’s own. Plagiarise is derived from the Greek “plagion” meaning to kidnap.  Plagiarism is a cardinal offense in any academic institution. The outcome can be failing a course in which material has been plagiarised to dismissal from the university. Any attempt to plagiarise will meet with severe consequences. 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Papers and presentations are expected to be your original work, with appropriate credit given to the sources used as references. 

Sources should be documented using the APA Style Manual.

Plagiarism and other instances of academic dishonesty will result in failing the course along with possible disciplinary action by the Dean of Students’ Office. In some cases TURNITIN will be used to authenticate academic integrity.

Assignment Submission Policy

Please note the due dates on all submissions. Every day that an assignment is late will result in 5 points being deducted per late day from the assignment score.

Classroom Etiquette

Cell phone and pagers policy: Before entering the class, students are required to turn off all cell phones, beepers and any other form of technologies that could disrupt class.

Disruptive Behaviour

Every student is entitled to full participation in class without interruption.  Disruption of class by inconsiderate behaviour is not acceptable. Students are expected to treat the instructor and other students with dignity and respect, especially in cases where differences of opinion arise. Students who engage in disruptive behaviour are subject to disciplinary action by the Dean of Students, as per the Student Manual.

Students with Disabilities and Special Challenges

A student who has a disability or a special challenge that requires some modification of the seating or other class requirements must contact the course director so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Disclaimer: It is your responsibility to read and understand the polices, laws, rules and procedures that while they could affect your grade for course, have not been specifically outlined in the course syllabus.  These are contained in the St. George’s University Student Manual. 

Course Schedule

20-Jan Week 1 Intro  

  • Introduction to syllabus and start of classroom discussion
  • Group work discussed 

27-Jan Week 2

  • Ideation Process
  • Concept Development 
  • Lecture / discussion – concept/strategies
  • Assignment to class - Interview a local business owner (questionnaire provided)

3-Feb     Week 3

  • Progress on Business Owner Interviews
  • Discuss business ideas for class projects                
  • Questions on assignment
  • Assignment - Business Model Canvas
  • Groups Formed, 
  • Discussions commence on business ideas

10-Feb Week 4

  • Business Owner Shares their experiences
  • Discussion with Business Owner
  • Confirm business ideas
  • Assign team member roles
  • Submit assignment - Business Owner Interview

17-Feb Week 5

  • Group Business idea announced in class
  • Class gives feedback to each other’s ideas      
  • Team roles confirmed
  • Access granted to Live Plan
  • Live Plan (Demo)
  • Lecture- Research, Data, Analysis
  • Lecture - Social Entrepreneurship

24-Feb Week 6

  • Research feedback, group discussions on Pitch deck preparations                
  • Lecture - Pitch Deck
  • Lecture - Revenue Models 

3-Mar Week 7

  • Topic: - Financing / Financing Options / Assistance from Government               
  • GIDC Guest Speaker / Loans Officer 

10-Mar Week 8

  • Mid Term Deliverable Pitch Deck Submitted

17-Mar Week 9

  • Product and services of business
  • Target Market
  • Pricing Models
  • Exit Plans             
  • In Class Discussion (Lecture from Guest, Entrepreneurial mindset)

24-Mar Week 10

  • Continued from week 9
  • Groups working on business plan

1-Apr     Week 11    

  • Go to market planning and Implementation
  • Groups working on business plan

7-Apr     Week 12

  • Financials (Balance Sheet, P&L, etc)        
  • Groups working on business plan

14 -Apr Week 13

  • Final Pitch Deck ready for presentation 
  • Each group presents to class

21 -Apr Week 14  

  • Final stages of business plan within live plan 
  • Business Plan Reviewed

28 -Apr Week 15  

  • Presentation to class of final pitch deck 
  •  Final presentation to class and outsider invited guests

5 -May Week 16      

  • Final project submitted by midnight Sakai submission

School of Arts and Sciences Master Syllabi — Info for All Sections

Plagiarism Policy

Academic Integrity

The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:

Plagiarism is regarded as a cardinal offense in academia because it constitutes theft of the work of someone else, which is then purported as the original work of the plagiarist. Plagiarism draws into disrepute the credibility of the Institution, its faculty, and students; therefore, it is not tolerated” (p. 48).

Plagiarism also includes the unintentional copying or false accreditation of work, so double check your assignments BEFORE you hand them in.

Be sure to do good, honest work, credit your sources and reference accordingly and adhere to the University’s Honor Code. Plagiarism and cheating will be dealt with very seriously following the university’s policies on Plagiarism as outlined in the Student Manual.

Your work may be subject to submission to plagiarism detection software, submission to this system means that your work automatically becomes part of that database and can be compared with the work of your classmates.

Attendance Requirement

The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:

Students are expected to attend all classes and or clinical rotations for which they have registered. Although attendance may not be recorded at every academic activity, attendance may be taken randomly. Students’ absence may adversely affect their academic status as specified in the grading policy. If absence from individual classes, examinations, and activities, or from the University itself is anticipated, or occurs spontaneously due to illness or other extenuating circumstances, proper notification procedures must be followed. A particular course may define additional policies regarding specific attendance or participation” (p. 9).

Examination Attendance

The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:

All matriculated students are expected to attend all assigned academic activities for each course currently registered. Medical excuses will be based on self-reporting by students. Students who feel they are too sick to take an examination or other required activity on a specific day must submit the online SAS medical excuse, which is available on Carenage. Students are only allowed two such excuses a year. Upon consultation with the Director of University Health Service, the third excuse will result in a mandatory medical leave of absence. The policies regarding make-up examinations are at the option of the Course Director” (p.46).

For additional specific examination policies and procedures, refer to the St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020), pages 31 through 37.

Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services Policy

The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:

A student with a disability or disabling condition that affects one or more major life activities, who would like to request an accommodation, must submit a completed application form and supporting documentation to the Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services (SAAS) located in the Dean of Students Office. It is highly recommended that students applying for accommodations do so at least one month before classes begin to allow for a more efficient and timely consideration of the request. If a fully completed application is not submitted in a timely fashion, an eligibility determination may not be made, and accommodations, where applicable, may not be granted prior to the commencement of classes and/or examinations” (p. 8).

Disclaimer

It is the responsibility of the student to read and understand the policies, laws, rules and procedures that while they could affect your grade for a course, have not been specifically outlined in the course syllabus. These are contained in the St. George’s University Student Manual.