Hello All,
At the risk of monopolizing the list with teaching issues, given the training in risk taking NOT discussion and Fred Fry's inquiry about starting businesses rather than writing business plans, I'd like to add one more thread to the conversation. Does anyone have any suggestions for teaching an MBA-level Entrepreneurship class, especially to students who are primarily mid-level managers?
I will be teaching a 9-week course in this shortly, and I plan to assign writing a business plan for either a proposed or existing new venture. Based on some recent conversations, I will also include some corporate entrepreneurship discussion, and given my interests, some social entrepreneurship issues. I've taught both the traditional undergraduate business plan course and doctoral seminars in entrepreneurship, but this will be the first time through with MBAs.
My specific questions include:
- Based on your experience, how much guidance do students at this level need in writing a business plan? Is assigning a resource about business plan basics enough, or do you devote some or significant class time to business plan issues?
They need to know how to write a BP, depending on the moment E-ship is being offered along the course they would possibly have the basic concepts to write a complete BP. The only difference for an MBA group is that most of them are not necessarily thinking in starting his/her own business as most are investing in their executive career. My orientation on BP writing, is driven to Corporate BP, it means, some modifications should be done, considering that the BP will be presented to the board or steering committee of the organization instead of regular VCs, for example. Besides, corporate projects will consider the usage of current resources, not only capital, but mainly infra-structure, knowledge base, equipments, systems, etc. Other aspects related to internal analysis like organizational restrictions or strengths may also be considered.
- Are there any topics (other than those mentioned) to which MBA students respond particularly well?
MBA students use to like case discussions of entrepreneurs who started current large companies. Their practical approach is very receptive to discussions on how to develop an idea and sell it internally. Also, organizational barriers to implement an intrapreneurial culture is valuable as they have the opportunity to look inside their organizations and suggest ways to foster creativity and innovation inside large organizations. Additionally, tests are welcome, like 'is your company intrapreneurial' or 'are you creative' or 'entrepreneurial profile'.
- Are there any outstanding cases (either short or comprehensive) with which you have had success in discussing key issues (e.g., opportunity recognition, cash flow, corporate entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship)?
I have some, particularly in Corporate Entrepreneurship area which is my study area. Some are in english but most of them are in portuguese.
- How much development would you expect in a business plan in nine weeks from working students?
Nine weeks is time enough to develop a good BP. I use to group the students according to idea affinity to develop the idea (most of them intrapreneurial ones) and I simulate with other students a judges committee to evaluate the idea, considering they would act as the board of a large company. Normally the development of this BP will use their off hours and the teacher act as an advisor, evaluating their intermediate delivery and approving the final version to be presented.
Thanks for any insights you can provide.
Best regards,
Franz Lohrke
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Franz T. Lohrke
Associate Professor of Management and
Entrepreneurship Program Coordinator
School of Business, 301 DBH
Samford University
800 Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, AL 35229
Office: (205) 726-2373
Fax: (205) 726-2464
http://faculty.samford.edu/~ftlohrke
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