Business Venturing

Course Syllabus
A.A. 2010-2011
Course instructor: Simone Ferriani
Office: Dipartimento di Scienze Aziendali, Via Capo di Lucca, 34 (3rd floor)
E-mail: simone.ferriani@unibo.it
Office hours: By appointment
Course overview
The purpose of the course is to explore the many dimensions of new venture creation & growth and
to foster innovation and new business formations in independent and corporate settings. A new
venture is defined as a start-up business, in either an independent or in a corporate setting, with a
high growth potential that distinguishes itself from existing companies through innovation for
example, through an innovative product or service, an innovative production process, a new
business model, or creating a new market. The course thus looks at both process and people
involved in assessing ideas, exploiting opportunities, and converting concepts into businesses. It
allows you to acquire the skill set necessary for crafting a viable business model for your venture,
developing and writing a concise, coherent, effective and complete venturing plan, and prepare you
for launching an entrepreneurial business. The final goal is to enable you to fully appreciate the
process of converting entrepreneurial aspirations into reality.
Course objectives
Important pedagogical objectives of the course are:
Experience the process: identify and pursue a business opportunity in either an independent or
corporate setting with a team of motivated peers
Examine examples of new venture creation
To acquire the knowledge and spirit for venturing
To develop an understanding of entrepreneurship as a business behavior observed across a
variety of people and organizational contexts
Learn the key ingredients for writing a robust business plan for a new venture.
Teaching approach
The course attempts to reach its learning objectives by offering you a balanced menu of cases,
discussions, guest lectures, and project work including regular feedback sessions. It will encompass
the following elements:
-

Lectures by instructor;
Class discussions of the cases and actual venture plans that will be included in the course bulk
pack;
Guest lectures by expert practitioners which are designed to familiarize the students with the
many dimensions of entrepreneurship and new venture development;
The formation and ongoing work of a 4 to 5 person team that will work on specific assignments

Required reading materials

Reading package
Case study package
Venture Creation: Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century, by Jeffry A. Timmons and Stephen
Spinelli. Irwin/McGraw-Hill (2008)

Target audience
The course may appeal to students who have a strong desire to become entrepreneurs, as well as to
those who consider joining start-up companies as employees or are involved in launching new
businesses within established firms. Similarly, students who intend to work in the venture capital
industry or in professional businesses supporting entrepreneurial firms may benefit from the course.
Grading
Class contribution: 10%
Team case analysis an presentation: 40%
Final exam: 50%