MBA543: Business and Marketing Plans for New Ventures

Credit Hours:
3
Estimated Hours Per Week:
15

Overview

This course explores the components of a business plan as well as techniques for developing and presenting each section of the plan. It examines the uses of business plans for raising capital and attracting commitments from potential customers, suppliers, and employees. Students will learn how to answer a wide range of questions including:

  • Who are the customers and competitors?
  • How will the company deliver value to customers?
  • How will the company measure results?
  • How will the company execute its business plan?

The course project is a Business Plan: Launching and Operating a New Venture. Students will develop a vision of the start up and first two years of a new venture that can be used as a “prospectus” to share with potential partners or as a tool to gain financing.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Identify the goals and objectives for a specific business idea or venture.
  • Assess current and potential types of customers, the market, and the competition for a specific business.
  • Develop strategies for identifying, targeting, attracting, and selling to customers.
  • Evaluate the key skills required for the business to succeed, and ways to attract and retain individuals with these key skills.
  • Assess the kinds of training for sales and service personnel that are necessary to attract and retain customers.
  • Assess critical elements, likely bottlenecks, quality, supply, sales, service, delivery, inventory, and cash flow issues.
  • Identify necessary resources and equipment likely to be required.
  • Ascertain the systems necessary to operate the business.
  • Provide a timeline of important activities that were identified in other parts of the plan.
  • Present prospective financial information and financing needs for the future operation of the business.
  • Assemble a professional business plan.
ENROLLMENT
To enroll in this course, please complete the online application.

Prerequisites

MBA 541, MBA 542

Required Texts
MBA543 texts are available from the JIU/MBS bookstore