Introduction to Entrepreneurship - BDI3C

Colonel By Secondary School

Mr. Dempsey

michael.dempsey@ocdsb.ca

www.colonelby.com/teachers/mdempsey

Course Overview

In a world of accelerating change where both challenges and opportunities abound, students need to learn how to live and work in an enterprising way – either as entrepreneurs who take the initiative to create new ventures or as enterprising individuals applying their skills, attitudes and abilities while working within the various organizations that contribute to our society.  This course examines the knowledge, skills and attributes of individuals who become entrepreneurs or enterprising employees.

The need to be enterprising is further emphasized by the exponential growth of e-commerce and the economic opportunities it presents.  Students will have opportunities to acquire the knowledge, skill, and attributes of entrepreneurs and enterprising employees by planning a school based business or a summer company venture, or by completing a venture plan for a similar type of business with an e-commerce component.

Students will learn through studying the process of venture creation, how to live and work as creative problem solvers who welcome, and who can successfully manage, change.

As well, hands-on experience will be gained largely through students' participation in the development and operations of the Colonel By School store "The Den".  All students will be expected to involve themselves in various roles within this ongoing project; including, but not limited to, daily operations, product development, advertising, market research and retail sales.

 Course Structure/Outline

The lessons are organized into seven major units or “strands” as follows:

  1. Enterprising People and Entrepreneurs
  2. Ideas and Opportunities
  3. The Venture Plan - An Overview
  4. The Marketing Plan
  5. Organizing Resources
  6. The Financial Plan
  7. The Venture Plan

Overall Course Objectives

The student will:

•            analyse the characteristics of entrepreneurs and enterprising people

•            evaluate the contributions made by entrepreneurs

•            assess their own entrepreneurial potential

•            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

•            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    

•            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

•            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


Text:

Entrepreneurship: Creating a Venture, 2nd Edition,

Lori Cranson and Madeline Dennis

2001, Nelson Canada

              YOUR NOTEBOOK

 You are expected to keep your notebook neat and organized, however as you are Senior level students, I will not formally evaluate your performance in this area.  Informal observations and suggestions may be made as required.  Feel free to seek advice in this area if necessary.

           Course Evaluation

Evaluation

Individual Weighting

Total Weighting

Entrepreneurial Skills Reflection

10.0%

 

Assignments, Case Studies

25.0%

 

Chapter Tests, Quizzes

25.0%

 

The Den Project

10.0%

 

Total Term Evaluation

 

70.0%

Venture Plan (I.S.U.)/ Exam

30.0%

 

Total Final Evaluation

 

30.0%

Total   

 

100%

                          *please be aware that the above weightings are approximate and subject to change*

* Regular attendance, punctuality and class participation are crucial to success in this course. Cell phones, food and/or drinks other than water are prohibited at all times in the classroom.*