College of Business Administration

Fordham University

MGBU-3445-001 ST:  Innovation and the Entrepreneurial Mindset

T, F 8:30-9:45AM - FMH 233

       

Instructor:   

                                                            

Charlie O’Donnell                                                          

Best reached by e-mail (24/7):                          

charlie.odonnell@gmail.com                                          

Office hours:By appointment 

  

Course Overview

This course is intended to give a students a feel for what what real entrepreneurship is like, what it required of an entrepreneur, and to inspire them to be entrepreneurial either in their own startup ideas or just in their career.  It will also introduce structures and process to idea generation, creativity, project management and help a student position themselves within a supportive network in order to see their ideas to fruition. 


By the end of the course, the students should have a grasp of what is entailed in creating a business, how to access and attract resources, and have a good sense of where their entrepreneurial interests are leading them.


Paper Policy


We live in 2008 and it is not necessary to use any more paper than necessary.  Therefore, all assignments will either be handed in via e-mail (Word or Powerpoint files) or published on student blogs as directed.

Course Readings

Suggested Supplemental Reading - The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell is an important and widely read book in the entrepreneurship field.  It covers how ideas spread and helps businesses think about the people they need to market to in a unique way.  I highly suggest you read it and understand how it applies to your business.   It is also a good source of blog-worthy material.  If you read the book during the semester, your learnings from it should make for interesting reflections on your blog.  If you choose not to read it, you will be expected to publish weekly blog reflections on a topic of your choice on your blogs.
 

Selected Online Readings

Links and attachments will be provided to timely and relevant articles that are part of the required class reading.  They may be online articles from major mainstream publications or blog posts written by experienced entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, etc.  Please read them at the time they are assigned on the syllabus.


Grades - Grades will be based on the following

1) In-class communication and participation

Attendance is important. Missing class rules out your opportunity to contribute your ideas and insights, lowering the quality of the discussion for those of us who attend, and consequently, lowers your grade.  You are allowed no more than 2 unexplained/unexcused absences before your grade is affected.  Excused absences will only be granted to those students who notify the instructor prior to the day of class. 


The instructor will do everything in his power to make the course so worth attending in person, making the attendance policy a laughable non-issue--class will be so interesting you will want to come.


2) Student blog/journal and weekly assignments

Each student will be responsible for creating a course blog to record their responses from class sessions, assignments, as well as to keep a journal of their progress with their business plan idea.  It is expected that each student post twice a week at minimum.


1) Tuesday posting: Each Tuesday you will get a question or topic to write about.  You are expected to have the question answered by Friday's class.  These posts will generally be a few paragraphs in length, or however long you need to answer the question.



2) Friday posting: Weekly recap.  Between Friday and the next Tuesday, you will be expected to recap anything you did to move your business forward in the previous week.  It can be something as concrete as working on your business plan, or simply asking questions, rethinking your ideas, meeting someone... and recaps can be shorter... a paragraph will do.  The aim is not only to be in the practice of writing, but also in the practice of consistently or by working on your ideas or businesses.


No last day of the semester catch-ups! 


      

3) Course Project - Exploring a Business Idea


Must be submitted electronically (Either by an invite to a Google Docs document or via e-mail attachment by 11:59PM on 5/9.  You will note receive any credit for late assignments.  (Meaning you should probably submit it the night before and ask for a confirmation.)



Your mission is to start researching a startup business idea or market opportunity.  You do not have to even come up with the final version of the product or service, so long as the research you have done in other areas, like marketing, problem, financials, etc. is strong.  The concept here is to turn over as many stones as possible, particularly by talking to experienced professionals, and learn what it will take to get your business off the ground.


You may work on your own, or with a group, but keep in mind that two people means I will expect twice the work.



Expectations - These questions are intended to guide your research.  Simply completing them is the minimum required.  If I ask you to discuss the market and I pose three "guidance" questions, I expect you to answer more than just those questions.  Tell me what is interesting or unique about this market.  It has to make sense that you see this as an opportunity.



        
For this project, you will be required to talk to 3-5 industry professionals PER GROUP MEMBER.  Your interview notes should be part of the submitted project.  What do they see as the trends?  Don't just ask them to do your project for you, but find out as much as you can about industry dynamics and perhaps even pitch your ideas or discuss opportunities.


You will also be asked to do a project plan.  You use either one of two scenarios.  One is either you quit school now and work on the project fulltime and the other assumes you continue the startup while you are in school and probably able to dedicate half time to it.  Please attach as comprehensive a project plan as you can to get to the launch of your service.  What needs to be done to make this happen.  Plans should have estimates of time, starting dates, due dates, categories, and a person who should be responsible for this.



You will be required to discuss your project in front of the class and either pitch the company or service, or pitch the concept that their may be an opportunity in a sector... wherever your research has gotten you.  Presentations should be about 5-8 minutes.  Slides are completely optional, but if you have any, please 6 or less.




4) Self/Group Assessements

Please assess your performance by e-mail (to me, not to the whole class) during the course and the final project.  This grades will not be transcribed directly to your transcript.  They will be taken into consideration with my evaluation of your assignments and performance. 

- Did you learn anything?
- Did you change or think differently about your approach to entrepreneurship?
- Do you learn something or think differently about your business and your approach to starting it?
- Attendance...  Did you stick to the class guidelines of only 2 unexcused absences
- Blogging... How did your blog come out? How much effort did you put in and what was the result? Did you keep up with it in a timely manner and do your best?  What about the quality of your assignments? 
- Reading... Did you find the readings interesting? Did you keep up with them? Think about them at all when blogging?  How much of them did you get to?

- Final project... Did you get to all that was required?  Go above and beyond?  Falls short?  Considering the project was given mid-semester, do you feel like you put in enough effort?  Did it help you at all to think or act on your business?

Please give yourself a letter grade from A-F, and feel free to use all the +'s and -'s in between. This will obviously not be your final grade, but I think an honest assessment of what you accomplished will help me put your work in perspective.

A - "I really committed myself to making the most of this class and feel like my work has risen to the top of the class and is always of high quality."
B - "I showed up for almost all the classes, listened, and contributed. I do all the assignments well, with effort."
C - "I showed up for most of the classes and completed most of the assignments."
D - "I show up, mostly."
F - "I do not show up."


   

                                        OR   What are your business selection criteria?  What makes your business interesting to you?  (pick either)
                                 http://www.genuinevc.com/archives/2005/10/seven_questions.htm