Small Business Management

General characterization

Prerequisites

n/a 

Bibliography

Jerome Katz and Richard Green: Entrepreneurial Small Business / Edition 4 (ISBN-13: 9780078029424 / ISBN-10: 0078029422)

Teaching method

Students are expected to prepare the materials announced in advance (readings and/or cases) and consequently to participate in class in a meaningful way (i.e. with inputs that improve the quality of learning of the class). The course will combine theoretical concepts with a practical view, namely by accessing first-hand the real-life example of small- business owners who will be invited to some of the sessions and share real-life experiences.

The following methods will be used:

Lectures

Case discussions and practical exercises

Real-life examples shared by invited small business owners

Group project 

Evaluation method

Final grades will be determined by the following inputs:

Class participation: 10%

Group assignments: 40%

Final Exam: 50%  

Subject matter

Business Schools are and have historically been focused on preparing their students for a job market which is comprised mostly of large corporations, and more recently startup as well. This is done through the teaching of specific in-depth content that is relevant for those who find themselves working at a large corporation, in a specific business unit such as Marketing, Finance, Business Development, Operations, etc, or through Entrepreneurship courses focused on the specific steps and challenges of starting a fast-growing company and managing its inherent complexity. While all of that is extremely important, it also makes sense to teach Small Business Management, a course that exposes students to a reality that affects the vast majority of Businesses in the world, and which is likely to eventually be relevant to several Business students. In this class we will cover the challenges, and requirements for effectively managing a small to mid-sized business, across the entire management spectrum, and will hear about the experiences from some experienced small business managers or owner-managers in different industries.

While studying small businesses and the people involved in those organizations, students will be exposed to the theory as well as the experiences associated with small businesses management and growth. Topics will include the key decisions required of the entrepreneur/manager, the driving forces of the small business, opportunity identification, planning, marketing and team building. Emphasis will be placed on the integration of theories, concepts and frameworks with real-life experiences. 

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: