BUS4001 Small Business Management

BUS4001 Small Business Management
PREREQUISITES:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course introduces small business management and the multitudes of management skills
required for successful operation. Small businesses are unique because they contain most of the
elements found in large corporations, yet they have additional characteristics and peculiarities,
advantages and disadvantages. Over 80% of all businesses are classified as small businesses.
Small business management requires a person who is a generalist and a specialist, an innovator
and a stabilizer. The small business manager can be expected to have knowledge of all aspects –
internal and external – of the business.
NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES: 10
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1.0 - Identify and discuss challenges entrepreneurs encounter in the small business environment.
2.0 - Examine various types of business ownership.
3.0 - Review the major steps in planning and organizing a small business.
4.0 - Apply marketing concepts to grow a small business.
5.0 - Explore management techniques including total quality management.
6.0 - Explain and apply financial planning theories and the management of working capital.
7.0 - Weigh the value of risk management and continuity on business success.
COURSE CONCEPTS:
1. Entrepreneurship and small business management
2. Paths to business ownership
3. Planning and organizing the business
4. Marketing for growth
5. Business process management
6. Financial planning
7. Planning for change
PRIMARY RESOURCES:
These resources are required to complete the course.
Please make sure that you purchase the primary textbook(s) that match the syllabus you
are issued. Please let your assigned Mentor know through the NCU messaging system
what text(s) you have purchased. NCU cannot be responsible for Learner purchase of
books that do not match assigned syllabi.
Book
Allen, K. (2007) Growing and managing a small business: An entrepreneurial perspective
(2nd ed.). Boston: MA: Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN: 9780618705092
You may purchase books at EdMap.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
These resources must be used to complete the assignments.
There are no Additional Resources for this course.
MENTOR RESOURCES
There are no Mentor Resources for this course.
SUPPLEMENTAL REFERENCES & READINGS:
These resources are not required, but may provide assistance in completing your work for this
course. Please copy and paste any web links listed below into your browser to view the websites.
NCU Library Guide:
http://library.ncu.edu/research_help/guide.aspx?guide_id=584
GENERAL INFORMATION:
COURSE PARTICIPATION: Learners are ultimately responsible for participating in a course
through the following academic activities: uploading assignments, posting to discussion folders
and responding to Mentor and Academic Advisor inquiries. Learners are expected to be involved
in ongoing instructional activities based on the recommended schedule for course completion as
detailed in the syllabus. In order to actively participate in a course, Learners must make contact
with their faculty Mentor on a regular basis through one of the following methods:
• Posting of an assignment (e.g., a paper or project) in the Course Work area of the course
web site.
• Posting of an assignment to share with the faculty Mentor and other Learners in the
course web site (e.g., a review of a book or article, a proposal for a research study, a
presentation in the form of a PowerPoint presentation file, reporting on participation in a
research study).
• Participation in a threaded discussion in the course web site (e.g., commenting on a
discussion question posted by the faculty Mentor, providing feedback to another
Learner).
• Viewing instructional materials (e.g., a PowerPoint presentation prepared by the faculty
Mentor, a streaming audio or video presentation).
Learners must use the NCU messaging system on the course web site to contact faculty
Mentors. Learners who are unable to regularly participate in their course should contact
their faculty Mentor.
PRELIMINARIES/PRE-COURSE SURVEY: Review the Learner Area web site
http://learners.ncu.edu. Access and review the Course Catalog, which contains all relevant
policies and procedures applicable to Learners, and complete the Pre-Course Survey. Please read
the entire course syllabus before beginning course work. The survey goes directly to the Mentor
and gives the Mentor information about new Learners entering the course.
ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSIONS: When you "create" new assignments, use headers and footers
to indicate your name, course, assignment number. For instructions about creating headers and
footers, go to the Help file for the word processing program you use. Name the file using this
format: DoeJXXX0000-1. The "1" stands for the assignment number. Save the file in RTF (Rich
Text Format). Open the Learner Area, click on the course code. Find the Course Work area.
Read the Help file by clicking on the "?". When ready, click on the "+" and select your
assignment file by browsing. Your file will be uploaded to the server. Your Mentor will receive a
message that homework has arrived. When the Mentor grades your work, the Mentor will upload
the graded assignment and you will receive a message that course work has arrived. You may
then view your graded assignment in the Assignment area. If you have questions, please contact
your Learner Advisor at 1-888-327-2877. Bulk assignments are not acceptable. Assignment
Cover Sheets are required for all assignments that you upload into the Assignment area. The
NCU Assignment cover sheet can be found under University Documents from your Learner site.
It is suggested that you download and save a copy of this cover sheet.
Learners may submit assignments early, but may not submit the next assignment until they have
received a grade on the previous one. Assignments must not be submitted together. Submitting
assignments in the order assigned will insure that you are progressing according to academic
standards and following the design of the course.
Exceptions to the Rubric

Activities that do not require a written response will be evaluated without use of the rubric.
Certain courses/activities do not warrant a written product. Examples include math courses
involving solving equations or courses that contain multiple choice exams. In these cases,
the writing portion of the rubric does not apply. Scoring for these courses will be based on
how many items were answered correctly out of the total number of items possible.
RECEIVING YOUR FINAL GRADE: The final grade should be posted by your Mentor
within one week following the course end date. The registrar will send you an e-mail notifying
you of your grade and the grade will also appear on your Learner site, under the COURSE
REVIEW section.
POST COURSE SURVEY: Complete the Post Course Survey after you finish your final
assignment. The Post Course Survey goes directly to the University and provides information
used in both course and Mentor evaluation and assessment. The Post Course Survey is located in
the Course Review section of the Learner Website THE RESPONSES ARE ANONYMOUS.
COURSE SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
INSTRUCTIONS FOR RESPONDING TO ACTIVITIES:
For syllabi with an Effective/Approved Date of 1/1/2007 or later, the following

instructions are to be used to respond to Discussion and Course Work Activities.
To respond to each activity in a course with a syllabus dated 1/1/2007 or later, go to your
course page and click the Activities Tab.
For Discussion responses:

1. Click on the corresponding Activity.
2. Enter your discussion response under Add a New Entry Message. Do not load a file in
response to a discussion, unless it is a supporting resource for your discussion
comments that you would like all participants to view.
3. Click Add New Discussion Entry. This will send an alert to your Mentor that your
discussion response is complete.
4. If you want to make a private comment or load a file for your Mentor, please do so
at the bottom of the Activity screen in the Course Work posting area.
For Course Work responses:
1. Click on the corresponding Activity.
2. Go to the bottom of the Activity screen to Course Work posting area, click the +
sign.
3. Type in the Assignment name.
4. Browse for and load your file.
5. Enter any appropriate comments, click the Academic Integrity Agreement, and then
click Send.
For courses with a syllabus Effective/Approved Date prior to 1/1/2007, you will respond
to Discussion Activities in the Course Discussion Forum. If you want to send
comments or supporting files to your Mentor, do so on the Activities Tab, click on the
appropriate discussion Activity, and enter your comments and/or load you file at the bottom
in the Course Work area.
The Effective/Approved Date for every NCU syllabus appears at the bottom of all
web based syllabi, which you can see by clicking on “Display Syllabus on the
Screen” on your Learner Course page.
If you do not have an Activity listed below to provide an introduction in a discussion format,
your first assignment is to send a message to your Mentor via the NCU messaging system
introducing yourself. Include your name, educational background and at least one
expectation you have for this course. You may add other information that will provide
insight into your professional and educational goals. This activity is not graded but provides
valuable information to your Mentor regarding your participation in the course. Please limit
your response to 300 characters or less.
Overview
Section 1: Entrepreneurship and Small Business
Activity 1: Discussion - Identify Entrepreneurial Challenges 5 Points
Activity 2: Paper - Small Business Venture Plan 13 Points
Section 2: Planning, Organizing, and Marketing the Business
Activity 3: Discussion - Planning for Business Success 5 Points
Activity 4: Presentation - Marketing to Business Growth 13 Points
Section 3: Business Process Management and Financial Planning
Activity 5: Discussion - Factors of Management Decision Making 5 Points
Activity 6: Paper - Explain Financial Management Theories 13 Points
Section 4: Planning for Change
Activity 7: Discussion - Weigh Key Decisions in Risk Management 5 Points
Section 5: Small Business Proposal
Activity 8: Paper - Small Business Application 16 Points
Section 6: Signature Assignment and Reflective Summary
Activity 9: Signature Assignment - Business Start-up Advice 20 Points
Activity 10: Paper - Reflective Summary 5 Points
Section 1: Entrepreneurship and Small Business
Since small businesses play a key role in the economy, owners should assess the influence of
proposed legislative policies on the future of their businesses. Entrepreneurial business owners
will face five major challenges over the next few years: (a) the strength of the overall economy,
(b) increased taxes and regulations, (c) availability of health insurance, (d) retaining quality
workforce, and (e) global competition. Small business owners can look forward to four
opportunities: (a) increased technology and innovation, (b) international markets, (c) education
and training, and (d) promoting ownership demographically.
Course Resources
The Resources area for this course contains a variety of reference materials
that may help you to complete the course Activities. It is suggested that you
become familiar with these resources before you begin the Activities.
NCU Library
References used for research need to be peer reviewed/scholarly journals
which can be found by searching the NCU Library databases. These journals
typically have the following characteristics:
- Articles are reviewed by a panel of experts before they are accepted for
publication.
- Articles are written by a scholar or specialist in the field.
- Articles report on original research or experimentation.
- Articles are often published by professional associations.
- Articles utilize terminology associated with the discipline.
NCU Writing Center

NCU values your progress and success as a scholarly writer. Please access
the NCU Writing Center from your Learner home page to see a wide variety
of writing tips and examples to help you as you compose written
submissions for this and other NCU courses.
 -Coursework;  -Discussion
Required Reading:
Growing and Managing a Small Business: 1, 2, 3, 7
Activity 1: Discussion - Identify Entrepreneurial
Challenges 5 Points
 Identify Small Business Challenges
Review the five challenges entrepreneurs might encounter when they start their own small
business. Propose two challenges that you believe to be the greatest challenges in the future for
entrepreneurs. Defend your opinions.
Length: 100-250 words
Your posting should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts that are
presented in the course and provide new thoughts and insights relating directly to the topic. Your
response should reflect scholarly writing and APA standards.
Paste the response into the Discussion area below the Activity screen.
Learning Outcome: (1)

Activity Outcomes
• Identify and discuss challenges entrepreneurs encounter in the small business
environment.
Activity 2: Paper - Small Business Venture Plan 13
Points
 Create a Business Venture Plan
Identify a small business venture you would like to attempt. Is your venture a franchise business,
family-operated business, or would you create your own business? Would e-Commerce be used
to sell your product or service? Discuss the type of legal form you would choose for your
business. In order to examine this idea thoroughly, your paper should include the following
sections:
1. Introduction - an Overview of the selected business, industry, market, plus a description of the
organization
2. Competition - a summary of the types of companies in your selected business and some ideas
on market share
3. Customers - an overview of the segments of customers, who will be using the products and
services and why
4. Goals - Objectives of the business, specific promotional programs, location, pricing, target
sales and revenue
5. Financial - estimated period revenues for first year by quarter, investment in business, cash
needed, profitability
6. Benefits - Overall summary of the best ideas of the new business, why is the business a good
deal, will it succeed
Your writing should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts that are
presented in the course and provide new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your
response should reflect scholarly writing and APA standards. You should reference your
textbooks and other outside scholarly resources. Be sure to include an NCU coversheet as well as
an APA cover sheet at the beginning of your paper.
Submit your document in the Course Work area below the Activity screen.
Learning Outcomes: (1, 2, 3)

Activity Outcomes
environment.
• Examine various types of business ownership.
• Review the major steps in planning and organizing a small business.
Section 2: Planning, Organizing, and Marketing the Business
Successful, growing businesses should maintain a current business plan. You will want to gather
all relevant information that will contribute to the development of your business in the following
essential areas to represent the customer products or services that define your business: (a)
marketing and sales management, (b) business description, (c) organization and management, (d)
service and product line, (e) funding, (f) financials, (g) and executive summary.
You will also want to prepare for marketing growth and acquire information about the critical
needs of your potential customers, the degree of needs that are not being met, and the number of
potential customers. You should constantly compile an estimate of the gain in market sharing,
trends, pricing, purchasing cycle, and market targets for your business.
Required Reading:
Growing and Managing a Small Business: Chapters 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
Activity 3: Discussion - Planning for Business
Success 5 Points
 How to Prepare a Persuasive Business Plan
Discuss how to prepare a persuasive business plan and explain how a management team and
human resource plan help a business to succeed.

Activity Outcomes
Activity 4: Presentation - Marketing to Business
Growth 13 Points
 Create a Marketing Strategy Presentation
Design a PowerPoint that demonstrates a marketing strategy that includes the role of e-
Commerce and the Internet as a means for developing a marketing strategy for a small business’
products and services. Include market tests, lead times, and competitive analysis with regulatory
restrictions.
Length: 8-10 slides with a separate reference slide

Your presentation MUST include notes that contain 50-100 words per slide (this is your script).
Be sure to include citations for quotations and paraphrases with references in APA format and
style. Save the file as a PPT file with the correct course code information in the name.
Submit the completed assignment in the Course work area below the Activity screen.

Activity Outcomes
• Apply marketing concepts to grow a small business.
Section 3: Business Process Management and Financial Planning
The strategic planning process is a business process that assists business owners to plan, make
decisions, and manage their business in uncertain times. It is also a means to obtain accurate and
continuous information about changes in the organization and in the environment. The
information is used to focus direction, derive operational plans, and implement these plans while
continuously evaluating the planning and management activities. The basic elements to begin
developing a strategic plan process are: (a) mission, (b) values, (c) vision, and (d) goals and
strategies.
Required Reading:
Growing and Managing a Small Business: Chapters 14, 15, 16, 18
Activity 5: Discussion - Factors of Management Decision
Making 5 Points
 Basic Business Values
Reflecting on the elements of the strategic plan process, discuss the basic business values that
you would consider when making a decision to target marketing locations.

Activity Outcomes
• Explore management techniques including total quality management.
Activity 6: Paper - Explain Financial Management
Theories 13 Points
 Capital Start-up Calculations
Describe the process for calculating how much capital is needed to start a business. Also, list and
explain the purpose of the three main financial statements.

Activity Outcomes
• Explain and apply financial planning theories and the management of working
capital.
Section 4: Planning for Change
A business system is a network of interdependent components that work together to accomplish
the vision of the business. Leaders and management have a responsibility to plan for change and
govern the future. Preparation for change and the future includes lifelong learning for employees,
scanning of the environment, and preserving the need for innovation.
Required Reading:
Growing and Managing a Small Business: Chapters 19, 20
Activity 7: Discussion - Weigh Key Decisions in Risk
Management 5 Points
 Basic Business Values
Discuss the value of risk management and succession planning to a small business.

Activity Outcomes
• Weigh the value of risk management and continuity on business success.
Section 5: Small Business Proposal
Unlike a business plan, which is written to run your company and raise capital, a business
proposal is an unsolicited or solicited bid for business.
Required Reading:
Growing and Managing a Small Business: Review all chapters
Activity 8: Paper - Small Business Application 16
Points
 Bid for a Business
A proposal is a written description of how one organization can meet the needs of another, for
example, provide products or services or solve problems. Businesses issue “calls for bids” that
present the specifications for major purchases of goods and certain services. Most Governmental
agencies issue “requests for proposals,” or REPs. Potential suppliers prepare proposal reports
telling how they can meet that need. Those preparing the proposal credit a convincing document
that will lead to their obtaining a contract. In our information-intensive society proposal
preparation is a `major activity for many firms. In fact, some companies hire consultants or
designate employees to specialize in proposal writing (Lehman & DuFrene, 2007)
Select a product that you would like to sell, and write a proposal to win a bid for business.
Include the following elements:
• Project objectives
• Solutions your business will provide
• Benefits to be gained from doing business with your company
• Services you will provide and the duration of the project
• Cost of the project
• Third-party endorsements that will build credibility
• Evidence of your ability to deliver product
• Language appropriate to your area of expertise, and the use of appropriate
jargon
Example:
You have received an invitation to bid on selling your product, designer hospital uniforms, to St.
Francis Hospital. They would initially purchase 300 uniforms and more upon acceptance by the
hospital workers. In your bid you have the opportunity to point out the following:
• Your company could provide a range of sizes and patterns.
• The garments are easily washable.
• Describe some of the advantages your company can provide.
• Name one or more companies that have purchased your product in the past
and found it satisfactory.
• Describe previous companies using your product.
• You may have other signs of reliability, such as results of a survey or tests.

Learning Outcomes: (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Activity Outcomes
environment.
Section 6: Signature Assignment and Reflective Summary
The Signature Assignment and reflective essay should show how you: (a) demonstrate mastery
of the course material, and (b) apply this knowledge to the real world.
Required Reading:
Growing and Managing a Small Business: Review all chapters
Activity 9: Signature Assignment - Business Start-up
Advice 20 Points
 Advise Potential Business Owners
Write a paper that addresses the following hypothetical business scenario:
Amanda and Phillip are a newly married couple, both age 30. They live on a modest income and
have $30,000 in a joint bank account. They recently purchased a condo together. Someday, they
would like to have children. She works at a department store and attends art college at night. He
worked as a computer technician until he was laid off last week.
Amanda and Phillip would like to start their own small business and sell art supplies. However,
they are unsure of what it takes to start a new business venture. They have come to you for
advice.
Summarize and explain to Amanda and Phillip the various concepts and ideas discussed in this
course. How would their given circumstances influence the advice you will give them?


Activity Outcomes
environment.
capital.
Activity 10: Paper - Reflective Summary 5 Points
 Final Wrap-up
Write a reflective essay that explains how this course has changed and expanded your thinking in
a professional and academic sense. Share the concepts and issues that were of greatest interest to
you and why. How do you plan to apply this new knowledge in your life or profession?
Your essay should demonstrate your ability to think critically using the terminology, concepts,
and relationships presented in the course material, and should be supported by documentation
from the text and other resource materials following APA style and format guidelines.
Submit the completed assignment in the Course Work area of the Activity screen.

Activity Outcomes
environment.
capital.
Effective Date: 7/8/2009
Copyright (C) 2009 Northcentral University
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Exceptions to the Rubric

For syllabi with an Effective/Approved Date of 1/1/2007 or later, the following

For Discussion responses:

NCU Writing Center

Length: 100-250 words

Learning Outcome: (1)

Length: 1000-1800 words

Learning Outcomes: (1, 2, 3)

Length: 100-250 words

Learning Outcome: (3)

Length: 8-10 slides with a separate reference slide

Learning Outcome: (4)

Length: 100-250 words

Learning Outcome: (5)

Length: 1000-1800 words

Learning Outcome: (6)

Length: 100-250 words

Learning Outcome: (7)

Length: 1000-1800 words

Learning Outcomes: (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Length: 2000-2800 words

Learning Outcomes: (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Length: 350-700 words

Learning Outcomes: (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

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