MNG-23052 Small business strategic management and entrepreneurship

							Université Laval                                                                   Winter 2008
Faculté des sciences de l’administration                                          Course outline
Département de management



                                 MNG-23052
         Small business strategic management and entrepreneurship


PROFESSOR : Josée AUDET, office 1640 PAP,     656-5435,
            josee.audet@mng.ulaval.ca
            (available weekdays on appointment)


INTRODUCTION

This course is designed for students with an interest in Entrepreneurship and small business
management.


1. OBJECTIVES


This course deals with strategies associated with small business creation and development.
The following topics will be addressed during the term:

   •   Strategic planning in small business enterprises (SMEs) and business models
       relevant to this type of firm.

   •   Strategic management of particular types of SMEs, such as family firms and high
       tech firms.

By the end of this course, students should have a good knowledge and understanding of :
    - the specific business context in which SME owners evolve ;
    - the strategic choices related to the management of SMEs ;
    - the concepts of business models, franchising, networks, outsourcing and spin-offs;
    - the unique characteristics and dynamics of the family firm;
    - the characteristics and challenges associated with the start-up and management of a
      high tech SME.


2. COURSE CONTENT


This course does not deal with strategy in its traditional sense. It rather relates to strategies
that may be relevant in a small business context. The topics covered will interest anyone
thinking about working in an SME or with SMEs, whether as an entrepreneur, business
owner, employee, consultant or advisor.
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3. COURSE FORMAT


Learning activities
The learning process will be enhanced through:
       • participation to class discussions;
       • readings on the topics covered ;
       • preparation and presentation of case studies and business topics in class.



4. EVALUATION


Evaluation (out of 100 %)
       •    Class presentation of business topic                         10 %
       •    Report on business topic                                     25 %
       •    Mid-term exam                                                25 %
       •    Final exam                                                   30 %
       •    Class participation                                          10 %

Grading system :

       A+      from 90% to 100%              C+    from 69% to 72%
       A       from 86% to 90%               C     from 66% to 69%
       A-      from 82% to 86%               C-    from 64% to 66%
       B+      from 78% to 82%               D+    from 62% to 64%
       B       from 75% to 78%               D-    from 60% to 62%
       B-      from 72% to 75%               E     less than 60%

Passing grade : 60 %.




5. GENERAL EVALUATION CRITERIA

Participation
Students are expected to have made all required readings prior to class. They are expected
to provide insightful comments in class discussions and actively participate to case studies
analyzed in class.

Mid term and final exams
The exams will consist of open-ended questions requiring short answers (between 2 to 10
lines). The questions will relate to topics covered in class or in the readings. No books or
other documents will be allowed during the exams.
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Class presentation of business topic
Students will present in class a topic chosen from a list of topics that will be made available
on the first day of class. Students may also elect to study a topic of their choice, as long as
they get prior approval from the instructor. Presentations will be with Powerpoint support
and should last between 15 and 20 minutes. Points will be given for the clarity and
coherence of the oral presentation and the dynamism of the presenter. The quality of the
Powerpoint presentation will also be taken into consideration (format, structure, content).

Report on business topic
Students will also have to hand in a report documenting the business topic presented in
class. Such report should contain around 5,000 words (excluding references), which
represent approximately 10 pages, single space, font 12 Arial. The due date for this
assignment is Friday April 4th at the beginning of class. Points will be awarded for the
depth of the research performed on the topic. Points will also be given for the quality of the
writing and the clarity and coherence of the report.


6. READINGS


Required
      •    Course package MNG-23052 (readings put together by the instructor)


Optional

The smaller, independent manufacturer : 12 Quebec case studies, The Institute for
Research on Public Policy, Montreal, 1986, 205 p. (avec Y. Gasse et R. Dainow)

"Strategic planning for small and medium-sized business", Entrepreneurship into the '90s,
National Centre for Management Research and Development, University of Western
Ontario, June 1989, p. 9-11, and working paper NC 88-08

The Canadian Small and Medium-sized enterprise : Situation and Challenges, The
Institute for Research on Public Policy, Montreal, 1991, 230 p.

Quelle gestion stratégique pour la PME?, Presses Inter Universitaires, Cap-Rouge et
Centre d'entrepreneuriat et de PME, Université Laval, 1997, 160 p.



7. COURSE SCHEDULE – WINTER 2008



1ST CLASS SESSION:            Introduction
(January 18th)                - Introduction to the course, syllabus, and instructor.
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2ND CLASS SESSION:   Key concepts in Entrepreneurship and small
(January 25th)       business management
                     - What is an entrepreneur?
                     - What’s a small business?
                     - Importance of small business in the economy
                     - Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM)


3RD CLASS SESSION:   Small business strategy and strategic planning
(February 1st)       - What is strategy ?
                     - What is the strategic planning process ?
                     - How is strategic planning done in SMEs ?
                     - Which strategies are adapted to the SME context ?


4TH CLASS SESSION:   Business Models for SMEs
(February 8th)       - What is a business model?
                     - Networks
                     - Outsourcing
                     - Spin-offs


5TH CLASS SESSION:   Franchising
(February 15th)      - What is franchising ?
                     - Evaluation of a franchise opportunity
                     - Advantages and disadvantages for franchisee and franchisor
                     - The entrepreneur as franchisor
                     - Future trends


6TH CLASS SESSION:   Mid Term
(February 22nd)


SPRING BREAK


7TH CLASS SESSION:   The family business
(March 7th)          - What is a family business?
                     - Importance and prevalence of family firms
                     - Key characteristics of the family firm
                     - Planning for succession in a family firm


8TH CLASS SESSION:   Firm acquisition and succession
(March 14th)         - Succession forms
                     - Barriers to entry
                     - Success factors
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9TH CLASS SESSION:    High tech SMEs (1)
(March 28th)          - The high tech entrepreneur
                      - The business environment of high tech SMEs
                      - Challenges associated with a high tech start-up


10TH CLASS SESSION:   High tech SMEs (2)
(March 28th)          - The academic entrepreneur
                      - Challenges associated with university spin-offs


11TH CLASS SESSION:   Presentation in class of business topics
(April 4th)


12TH CLASS SESSION:   Presentation in class of business topics
(April 11th)


13TH CLASS SESSION:   Final exam
(April 18th)




                       Have a great term!