Institute of Business Administration

Small Business Management – Course Outline – Fall 2018

Instructor: Dr. Najam A. Anjum

Introduction
Small Business Management for BBA is a course designed to give a brief introduction to all the
entrepreneurial and managerial aspects of small businesses. It aims to build a foundation of relevant
topics which will further be built upon in the courses to follow in a BBA degree.

Objectives and Deliverables of the course

The main objectives of this course are:

1. Introduction to all foundation entrepreneurship and business concepts

2. Helping students develop an understanding of business dynamics by practically involving them
in a real business
3. Introducing students to issues that may arise during the management of small businesses
4. Training students on researching on small businesses
5. Introduction to export businesses

Deliverables of this course will be the students trained to:

1. Initiate and run a small business

2. Take on further specialized courses in business administration, and
3. Pursue research on issues in small business management in Pakistan

Teaching and Learning Methodology

Textbooks to be followed are listed in the end of the outline. The reason why these books are chosen is
that they are relatively new and cover the latest trends and managerial issues in small businesses. These
books also have links to video cases that can enhance students’ learning through a more interesting
way.

The course will have many classroom activities and games to maintain the interest of students in the
course. At least three guest speakers will also be arranged for the students to gain firsthand knowledge
from the people who practically implement the theories that students study in the books. A few cases
will also be discussed in the class to introduce students to the case learning methodology.
Grading and Evaluation

Category Impact Assessment

Mid Term Exams 15% Individual
Final Exam 15% Individual
Class participation 15% Individual
Research Project 15% Group
E-commerce project 15% Group
Quizzes 7% Individual
Final Presentations/Viva 5% Group
Assignments 5% Group
Discipline 5% Individual
Bonus Marks 4% Individual
Inventory Management
2%
Activity Group
Supply Chain Activity 2% Group

Detailed Course Outline

Session Topic Pre-reading

1 Introduction to the course and small
businesses
2 Importance of small businesses
3 E-commerce businesses
4 Entrepreneurship models
5 Effectual Entrepreneurship and
bootstrapping
6 Case discussion
7 Value creation and Business Model
Canvas
8 Marketing the value proposition
9 Business Model Canvas continued
10 Guest speaking session
11 Business Planning
Express Tribune article: Small Business Big
Impact
The future of e-commerce: The road to 2026
What makes entrepreneurs entrepreneurial?
The Entrepreneurial Method
Mr. Garments - After The Fire
AirBnB: Business Model Development and
future challenges
Ask the instructor
Come prepared with a business idea
Ajmeri / Buyon
Ask the instructor
 12 Case discussion Oritech
13 Issues in growing businesses Chapter # 19: Effectual Entrepreneurship
14 Case discussion ID Fresh
15 Supply Chain Management Ask the instructor
16 Supply Chain Management activity Ask the instructor
17 Inventory Management Ask the instructor
18 Inventory Management activity Ask the instructor
19 Guest speaking session
20 Innovation in small businesses Forbes article: Innovation Lessons From Small
Business
21 Dealing with employees
22 SMEDA and SME policy SME Policy, SMEDA website
23 Small and medium export businesses Herald article: What has caused Pakistan’s
alarming trade deficit?
24 Case discussion Rifat’s entrepreneurial temptations
25 Disasters and ethics in small businesses Chapter # 21: ESBM
26 Guest speaking session
27 Final Presentations
28 Final Presentations

Reading list
Text Book:

1. ‘Effectual Entrepreneurship’ by Stuart Read, Saras Sarasvathy, Nick Dew, Robert Wiltbank, and
Anne-Valerie Ohlsson (SAR)
2. ‘Modern Management of Small Businesses’ by David T. Cadden, and Sandra L. Lueder (MMSB)
3. ‘Effective Small Business Management: An Entrepreneurial Aproach’ by Norman M. Scarborough
(ESBM)

Others:

Business Plan Template by the Small Business Association of America. The template is available online
and is also uploaded on LMS

Assignments
1. Study of World Bank Enterprise Survey
2. Survey of a small business

Project Description
1. Start and run an e-commerce business
2. Research on the education requirement of small business for entering the export market