CDAE 166: Small Business Management
Department of Community Development and Applied Economics
Fall 1999

Instructor:

Marilyn T. Lucas, Ph.D.
205-C Morrill Hall
Tel:   656-4562
e-mail: mlucas@zoo.uvm.edu

Jill Winnick
e-mail: jwinnick@zoo.uvm.edu
Yue Han
e-mail: yhan@zoo.uvm.edu

Class Time & Place:

12:30p.m. - 1:45p.m., Tuesday and Thursday
Williams Hall - Room 301

Office Hours:

3:30p.m. - 4:30p.m., Tuesday and Thursday
If necessary, please make an appointment for another time, but feel free to stop by and ask questions at any time. Email communications are strongly encouraged.

Required Textbook:

Longenecker, J.G., C.W.Moore and J.W.Petty, Small Business Management: An Entrepreneurial Emphasis. Eleventh Edition, South-Western College Publishing, 1999.

Readings:

Most of the topics to be covered in the course are discussed in the textbook. Additional readings will be provided through class handouts and materials placed on reserve at the Bailey-Howe Library

Course Description:

       This course provides the student with an introduction to the essential concepts and critical issues related to starting and managing a small business. It covers a wide range of topics, and presents the student to the possibilities, challenges and rewards of becoming an entrepreneur. It provides tools needed on the path to becoming a successful entrepreneur, including the development of business plan and the management of small business marketing, operations, and finance. Finally, this course incorporates both theory and practice relating to managing a small business. Through a semester-long project, students will better understand how to apply the concepts discussed in class.

Course Objectives:

       The overall objective of this course is to provide an understanding of the nature and functioning of small business organizations. Specific learning objectives include: Knowledge:
Develop an understanding of the process of establishing and managing a small business, and expose the students to critical small business concepts.
Develop an understanding of the various business functions and how they contribute to the success of a small business.
Provide the students with a foundation for specific small business core courses, such as Small Business Finance, Small Business Marketing, Small Business Decision-Making, Consumer Law, Small Business Computer Application, Price Analysis and Forecasting, and Small Business Planning.

Skills:
Written and oral communications skills, as well as research skills, developed through a series of assignments.
Teamwork and interpersonal skills, developed through participation in a semester-long team membership.
Technology-related skills (e.g., library search techniques) developed through classroom experience and course assignments.

Class Attendance:

       There are two 75-minute meetings each week. You are expected, not only to attend class, but also to contribute positively to the classroom learning experience.
       You are also expected to arrive to class on time. Information and announcements will be given at the beginning of class. It is your responsibility to obtain handouts, class notes, etc., and to take note of any announcements.

Quizzes:

       Quizzes, although not scheduled, may be given at any time in the course of the semester, and may be announced or unannounced. There will be NO MAKE-UP POLICY for MISSED QUIZZES.

Exams:

       There will be three midterm exams (September 30, October 28, and November 25) during the semester and a final exam on Monday, December13, 1999. These exams will draw upon class notes and materials, assigned readings, case discussions and guest speakers. Depending on the materials to be covered, the format of each exam will be later specified in class by the instructor. The lowest exam grade out the four exam grades will be dropped at the end of the semester. There will be NO MAKE-UP PROVISION for MISSED EXAMS, except in case of medical emergency.

Group Assignments (Mini-Projects):

       Four group assignments will be required. Students will self-select into groups of 4-5 students, based on common interests, schedule, commitments, and skills. Specific assignments and deliverables will be handed out throughout the semester by the instructor. Only one report for each assignment will be submitted for the group, and there will be NO CREDIT for LATE GROUP REPORTS.
       Each student is required to evaluate the group process and interaction using a peer evaluation form to be provided by the instructor. The ratings will be useful to the instructor in assessing the performance evaluation of each of the group members.

Grading Policy:

Your final course grade will be determined based on the following weighting scheme:

Quizzes	10%
Group Assignments (4 @ 7.5% each)	30%
Exam Grades (3 @ 20% each)	60%

Honesty Policy:

       All work must abide by the University's Academic Honesty Policy, found in the Cat's Tale (pp. 195-201). You are responsible for understanding and adhering to this policy.
I have ZERO TOLERANCE for ACADEMIC DISHONESTY or MISREPRESENTATION.

Make-Up Policy:

       Make-up for exams may only be arranged in case of a medical emergency, if the student has notified the instructor in a timely fashion (e.g., as soon as possible), and has provided medical documentation from the Student Health Center or a physician.

Learning Disabilities:

       If you have a diagnosed learning disability and feel you may need special accommodations in either learning the course materials or taking exams, please contact the instructor as soon as possible to discuss the issue.




* The instructor reserves the right to make necessary changes and additions to this syllabus throughout the semester. These changes and additions will be announced in class. You are responsible for being aware of such changes whether you were in class or not on the days that they were announced.

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