BDI3C - Introduction to Entrepreneurship

Unit One Overall Expectations

The student will be able to:

•           analyse the characteristics of entrepreneurs and enterprising people

•            evaluate the contributions made by entrepreneurs

•           assess their own entrepreneurial potential

Unit One Specific Expectations

The Enterprising Person

– describe the characteristics, motivations, abilities, attitudes, and aptitudes of an enterprising person;

– identify and describe some enterprising people;

– describe the contributions that enterprising people make in their school and community;

– evaluate the personal benefits of being an enterprising person;

– explain various ways in which they can be enterprising.

The Entrepreneur

– describe the characteristics, motivations, abilities, attitudes, and aptitudes of an entrepreneur;

– distinguish between an entrepreneur and an enterprising person;

– explain the advantages and the disadvantages of being an entrepreneur;

– describe how a variety of individuals have developed the skills and abilities of successful entrepreneurs.

The Contributions of Entrepreneurs

– describe how entrepreneurs can enhance consumer satisfaction (e.g., through problem solving, innovation, invention, competition);

– explain the connection between entrepreneurial activities and job and wealth creation (e.g., effect on the labour market, community prosperity, and availability of venture capital);

– describe the impact that local entrepreneurs have had on their community;

– determine how entrepreneurs have been agents of change.

Self-assessment

– assess themselves to identify the entrepreneurial characteristics they possess;

– describe ways in which they have been enterprising or entrepreneurial in the past;

– analyse opportunities they have had to develop entrepreneurial skills and characteristics;

– determine their interest in potential enterprising or entrepreneurial careers.

Unit Two Overall Expectations

The student will be able to:

•           explain the importance of invention and innovation to venture creation

•           analyse various methods of generating opportunities and ideas for venture creation

•            generate realistic new ideas and identify possible opportunities for new ventures

•           explain the process of market research

•           identify a specific opportunity that can become the basis for a venture plan

Unit Two Specific Expectations

Invention and Innovation

– compare invention and innovation;

– identify significant Canadian inventions and innovations;

– describe the needs and wants that Canadian inventions and innovations have satisfied;

– summarize the impact that specific Canadian inventions and innovations have had on people’s lives;

– explain the relationship between innovation and technology;

– describe how entrepreneurs have used innovations and/or inventions to start new ventures.

Sources of Opportunities and Ideas

– distinguish between an idea and an opportunity;

– explain how new ventures have been developed in response to consumer needs or wants;

– describe new goods and services that have been developed by improving upon existing goods and services;

– describe how similar needs and wants have been satisfied in different ways;

– identify, from a variety of sources (e.g., books, magazines, personal observation, the Internet), possible ideas for new ventures;

– analyse current economic and social trends in order to find ideas for new ventures.

Generating Ideas

– identify unsatisfied consumer needs and wants by applying a problem-solving model;

– apply creative-thinking strategies (e.g., mind mapping, brainstorming) to determine possible solutions to an identified consumer problem;

– select the best idea for a new product or service by applying a decision-making model.

Market Research

– explain how to determine whether the demand for a good or service exists;

– describe the characteristics (e.g., demographic, geographic, socio-economic) of potential target markets;

– evaluate the potential competition for the new product or service;

– describe various methods of reaching potential target markets.

Choosing an Opportunity

– identify potential opportunities for a new venture;

– evaluate new-venture opportunities to determine their viability (e.g., financial, technological);

– evaluate new-venture opportunities in terms of the students’ personal skills and interests;

– choose a specific opportunity as a basis for a new venture.

Unit Three:  Ideas and Opportunities-Marketing

Overall Expectations

- explain the process of market research;

- identify a specific opportunity that can become the basis for a venture plan.

 

Specific Expectations

- explain how to determine whether the demand for a good or service exists;

- describe the characteristics of potential target markets;

- evaluate the potential competition for the product or service;

- describe various methods of reaching potential target markets.

- identify potential opportunities for a new venture;

- evaluate new-venture opportunities to determine their viability;

- evaluate new-venture opportunities in terms of the students’ personal skills and interests;

- choose a specific opportunity as a basis for a new venture;

- assess themselves to identify the entrepreneurial characteristics they possess;

- explain how new ventures have been developed in response to consumer needs or wants;

- analyse current economic and social trends in order to find ideas for new ventures.

 

 

Unit Four:  Organizing Resources

Overall Expectations

- analyse the resources that could be required to create a new venture;

- demonstrate an understanding of the components of an effective production plan;

- demonstrate an understanding of the components of an effective marketing plan.

Specific Expectations

- determine the possible human resource needs for different types of ventures;

- specify the land, buildings, capital, and equipment required for various types of ventures;

- demonstrate the importance of inventory management for the entrepreneur;

- identify and describe all the legal, insurance, and government regulatory requirements that must be met in starting a new venture;

- describe the services and infrastructure usually required for a new venture.

- summarize the process involved in producing a new product or delivering a new service;

- determine the possible roles of employees in a specific new venture;

- summarize the goods that may be required by a new venture;

- analyse the factors involved in acquiring the necessary goods for a new venture;

- determine ways in which a new business might reduce start-up costs and financial risk.

- compare ways in which specific goods or services can be distributed to customers;

- compare ways of advertising and promoting a venture and its goods or services;

- determine methods used to price a new product or service appropriately;

- produce a marketing plan for a new product or service;

- describe the characteristics of potential target markets;

- evaluate the potential competition for the product or service;

- describe various methods of reaching potential target markets.

 

Unit Five:  The Financial Plan

Overall Expectations

- demonstrate how a venture can establish clear, specific, and measurable financial objectives;

- demonstrate the purpose and structure of a cash-flow projection;

- compare possible sources of capital required to meet a new venture’s needs.

 

Specific Expectations

- compare various financial goals that an entrepreneur might establish for a new business venture;

- determine the acceptable levels of profit and income for various types of new ventures;

- demonstrate an understanding of the financial statements required by a new venture.

- summarize the importance of cash-flow projection for a new venture;

- describe situations that can lead to cask-flow problems for a new venture;

- distinguish between a cash-flow statement and an income statement.

- explain how to calculate the amount of start-up capital a new venture would require;

- describe possible sources and methods of financing a new venture;

- compare the advantages and disadvantages of different kinds of business financing;

- explain how businesses can establish contingency plans if capital needs exceed the initial investment.

 

Unit Six:  The Venture Plan

Overall Expectations

- assess the importance of having a venture plan;

- analyse the components of a venture plan;

- develop a venture plan;

- explain how to evaluate and revise a venture plan.

 

Specific Expectations

- describe the purpose of having a venture plan;

- demonstrate the importance of having a plan that is written, organized according to a formal and accepted structure, and attractively presented;

- determine the people or organizations that might be interested in the venture plan;

- analyse the components of the venture plan;

- outline the key steps in preparing a venture;

- describe references and sources of information and advice that may facilitate the preparation of a venture plan.

- describe the research required to develop the plan;

- compare computer software obtained from banks, government departments, and private companies that can assist entrepreneurs in preparing a venture plan;

- prepare a plan for a new venture.

- explain how people in the community may contribute to the evaluation and revision of a venture plan;

- describe why it is important for a venture plan to be flexible and adaptable;

- forecast conditions that may require the revision of the plan;

- describe contingency plans that an entrepreneur should have for a new venture.