The Evergreen State College

Entrepreneurship and Organization Fall, Winter, Spring 2001-2002

Dean Olson (Sem. 3152; olsond@evergreen.edu; 867-6433)

Larry Geri (Lab I, 3002; geril@evergreen.edu;867-6616)

Michael Girvin (Winter, 2002)

In this program for juniors and seniors we will study what it means to be an entrepreneur. While entrepreneurship as a concept is generally associated with business ventures, it can be applied to innovative efforts to create social change. Our assumption is that there are knowledges, skills and attitudes that enable highly motivated people to create innovative solutions to complex problems, creating new ventures in the process. But to make these ventures sustainable requires considerable organizational skills. The program will examine the process of creating and sustaining organizations in both the business and nonprofit sectors. We will also consider the implications for individuals and society in which such innovation is encouraged. Weekly activities will include seminars, lectures and discussions, presentations by successful entrepreneurs and workshops. There will be a significant amount of work in small groups, including group analysis of case studies. Weekly seminar papers and periodic workshop submittals will be required, as well as a research paper in both fall and winter and a venture plan in spring. Two overnight retreats will incorporate the challenge course's experiential-based activities as a way of developing leadership skills. Learning objectives include: understanding and critiquing the concept of entrepreneurship in the realms of business and social action; developing strategic planning skills; refining small-group interaction skills; writing clear and well-structured essays and reports; listening actively and reading effectively; and learning venture planning skills. Credit will be awarded in organizational behavior, strategic planning, business policy, nonprofit management, information systems, financial management and new venture creation.

Total: 16 credits each quarter.

12 Credit Option for fall quarter: Omit the final paper assignment.

Tentative weekly schedule:

Fall quarter. This quarter we will cover the following topics:

Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Management; Macroeconomics; Introduction to Financial Analysis;Teams;Organizational Theory and Behavior.

Retreat. There will be a two-day retreat on Thursday and Friday of week 1 (September 27 and 28) at Panhandle Lake. The approximate cost will be $31. At the retreat we will get to know our fellow program members and take part in various challenge course and team exercises. We will arrange the food and final logistics for this retreat the first day of class. Students should form teams of 3-5 people by the end of the retreat that they will work with throughout the quarter. Provide your seminar with a list of your teammates at seminar on October 2nd.

Book list:

Bhide, Origin and Evolution of New Businesses; Timmons, New Venture Creation, 5th Ed. (Parts I and II); Higgins, Analysis for Financial Management; Council of Economic Advisors, Economic Report of the President, 2001; Heilbroner and Singer, The Economic Transformation of America, 1600 to the Present; Hawkins, Lovins, and Hunter, Natural Capitalism; Cringely, Accidental Empires; Bolman and Deal, Reframing Organizations (Parts 1-5); Keirsey, Please Understand Me II: Temperament,Character, Intelligence; Heller and Hindle, Essential Managers: Managing Teams.

Additional short articles may also be assigned.

Assignments:

1. A weekly seminar paper of 1-2 pages that summarizes and critiques the weekly reading.

2. There will be three case study analyses of 2-3 pages each late in the quarter, done in teams.

3. The final paper (to be completed by each student, individually) will be a five to ten-page analysis of an existing new venture (whose common stock is publicly traded) or an entrepreneurial non-profit organization, using on-line and library resources. More information about these assignments will be provided in class.

Web Crossing and Program Web Page:

We will use Web Crossing to enable the program and individual teams to hold online discussions. Training in WebX will be the first day of class, Tuesday, Sept. 25th at 12:30 p.m. in the Computer Center. Each student must register for WebX by Sunday, September 30th; you must use your own first and last name to register. Access the program web page at: www.academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/entorg/home.htm The syllabus and some program resources will be online there.

Tentative Program Schedule for Fall Quarter

Winter quarter.

Winter quarter we will cover: Financial analysis and venture finance; International economics and globalization; Entrepreneurship and its economic and social implications; Venture strategy; Marketing; Strategic Planning; Ethics; Organization theory and behavior; Social Entrepreneurship;

Tentative book list for Winter:

Bolman and Deal, Part IV Higgins, Chapters ??? Timmons, New Venture Creation, Parts III and ??? Mittleman, The Globalization Syndrome Book on social entrepreneurship Book on marketing Book on case studies and strategic planning Book on New venture strategy? Case studies

Tentative Assignments:

Weekly seminar paper.

There will be 7-8 case study analyses of 2-3 pages each.

The final paper, to be completed by small teams, will be an organizational analysis of a firm or nonprofit organization. This will include a history of the firm, an analysis of its products or services, its strategy, markets and financial condition, and major competitors.

Spring quarter.

In spring quarter many students will have internships with local businesses and nonprofit organizations. The primary activity for many students will be the completion of a comprehensive venture plan. Students will have a significant opportunity to shape the curriculum for spring. Likely topics to be covered in spring include: New Venture Creation Innovation Information systems Tentative book list: Timmons, New Venture Creation Tentative Assignments: Weekly seminar papers; occasional case study analyses. The final project for the program will be a comprehensive venture plan.

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