Topic outline

  • Course Introduction

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    This course takes you from the business plan phase, where you developed a business plan, to the next step in your business: launch and growth by considering ethics, innovation, strategic management processes, and change management. In this course, you will learn how to apply ethics and social responsibility in your business, which has many advantages as you grow. You will also learn about diversity since you will likely be hiring people as you grow. You will also learn about innovation and how to harness the power of innovation to create a steady stream of new ideas for your business. We will also address lifecycles and how you might use different strategies at each lifecycle stage of your business. We will also address some of the strategies organizations use for growth. In our third unit, we will focus on turning your business plan into tools you can use for strategic management, such as creating a vision and mission. As with any growing business, applying change management concepts and strong decision-making skills can assist you in creating your strategic plans and setting goals. In our last unit, Unit 5, we will address concepts related to growing your business, such as ensuring your marketing plan is on track to obtain financing for growth. Let's get started!

  • Unit 1: Ethics in Entrepreneurship

    As your business grows, you may face multiple challenges concerning ethics and making ethical decisions. In this unit, we will address the meaning of ethics, considerations of ethics, and ways to ensure your business is run ethically. We will also discuss social responsibility and how social responsibility has several dimensions which, no matter the size of your business, you can engage in. Finally, we will address the ethical and legal considerations of running your business ethically, especially those that involve employees you may hire. Let's get started!

    Completing this unit should take you approximately 11 hours.

  • Unit 2: Innovation and Growth

    When organizations launch their business, they expect to have success. Assuming that success happens, how can you help grow a business into a larger one? Often the answer is innovation. In this unit, we will address ways you may want to innovate for organizational growth and a variety of methods you can apply to brainstorm new ideas. We will also address how your company lifecycle and product life cycle may impact the types of innovation strategies you'd like to pursue. We will also address other growth methods, such as developing additional competencies.

    Completing this unit should take you approximately 6 hours.

    • 2.1: Methods for Innovation

    • 2.2: Life Cycles and Innovation

    • 2.3: Growth Strategies

      • Growth Strategies for Startups Book
        Students must
        Mark as done

        There are many ways to grow your business after you launch it. Do you know how to grow your business by using innovation as part of your business model? How can new products and services grow your business? Read this chapter to find out more!

      • The Building Blocks for Innovation Page
        Students must
        Mark as done

        Assuming you want to grow, how can you apply innovation diffusion to your organization? This chapter will tell you!

    • Unit 2 Study Resources

      This review video is an excellent way to review what you've learned so far and is presented by one of the professors who created the course.

    • Unit 2 Assessment

      • Unit 2 Assessment Quiz
        Students must
        Receive a grade

        Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.

        • This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
        • You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
        • You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.

  • Unit 3: Strategic Management for the Entrepreneur

    As you already know, to be an effective and successful entrepreneur, you need to think strategically to be well-positioned to take advantage of opportunities in the marketplace. This resource will discuss some tools you might consider using for developing strategies, such as analysis of the internal and external environments. This module will also address how to formulate a long-term strategy by visualizing where you want your company to go. We will also address how to write values and mission statements, tie those statements to goals, and monitor the goals you've set by using the "controlling" function of management.

    Completing this unit should take you approximately 11 hours.

    • 3.1: Strategic Management Tools

      • Strategic Management Tools Book
        Students must
        Mark as done

        You already know that understanding the external and internal environment you operate within is a key way to grow your business. One mistake many entrepreneurs make is not revisiting these analyses to monitor environmental changes. Review this chapter to understand how to position your business to gain advantages and grow.

      • Strategy Formulation Book
        Students must
        Mark as done

        Do you know the different levels of strategy? As you grow your business, you may need to take a step back, set different levels of strategy, and know how to measure your strategic performance. As you read sections 9.3 to 9.6 of this resource,  consider the goals you have for your company and develop strategic plans.

      • Now You Try It: Strategic Planning Page
        Students must
        Mark as done

        It is time to practice the skills you learned in this section. While this won't be graded, it is important to understand how you can apply the concepts to your own business. Read the case and consider the questions at the end to better understand how to plan your business strategically.

    • 3.2: Mission, Values, and Goals

      • Mission, Values, and Goal Setting Book
        Students must
        Mark as done

        Developing your values, mission, and goals is a tool for helping you determine your strategy as you grow. Sections 9.1. and 9.2 of this resource will help you write your own mission and values statement, which will become the basis of the decisions you make for your company.

      • Now You Try It: Strategic Planning Page
        Students must
        Mark as done

        It is time to practice the skills you learned in this section. While this won't be graded, it is important to understand how you can apply the concepts to your own business. Read the case and consider the questions at the end to gain a better understanding of writing a mission and vision.

    • 3.3: Goal Development, Planning, and Measurement

      • Opportunity Canvas Planning Page
        Students must
        Mark as done

        Watch this video to learn what the opportunity canvas is. How could you develop an opportunity canvas for future business opportunities you might like to pursue?

      • The POLC Model and Goal Setting Book
        Students must
        Mark as done

        While you probably often take on many different roles as an entrepreneur, the POLC model is important to understand. This model functions the roles you play in your business. As you read this chapter, pay attention to the goal-setting and controlling section. How might you set and monitor goals as you grow your business?

      • Now You Try It: Planning and Controlling Page
        Students must
        Mark as done

        It is time to practice the skills you learned in this section. While this won't be graded, it is important to understand how you can apply the concepts to your own business. Read the case and consider the questions at the end to better understand how to plan and control your business.

    • Unit 3 Study Resources

      This review video is an excellent way to review what you've learned so far and is presented by one of the professors who created the course.

    • Unit 3 Assessment

      • Unit 3 Assessment Quiz
        Students must
        Receive a grade

        Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.

        • This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
        • You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
        • You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.

  • Unit 4: Change Management and Decision-Making

    As you think about launching or growing a business, you'll likely experience a lot of change! The purpose of this module is to address the different types of change you may encounter and the individual change you may want to undergo to continually grow your business. In this unit, we will also discuss the organizational conflict that can occur with change, skills related to decision-making, and how you can manage change in your business.

    Completing this unit should take you approximately 7 hours.

    • 4.1: Types of Change

      • What Is Change? Book
        Students must
        Mark as done

        As your business grows, you will likely have to shepherd it, and perhaps your employees, through changes. As you read this chapter, see how some organizations must change their organizational structure to better support their growth. Also, look for how you might apply the change models presented in this section.

      • Individual Change Page
        Students must
        Mark as done

        Sometimes part of changing your organization is changing yourself! This video will introduce several methods you can apply to change your mindset and approach.

    • 4.2: Change Management and Decision-Making

      • Organizational Conflict Book
        Students must
        Mark as done

        At times, organizational changes may bring about conflict and the need for effective negotiation. Review this chapter on conflict and negotiations, and consider what methods you might use when shepherding your company through a change.

      • Decision-Making and Change Management Book
        Students must
        Mark as done

        When we think about making and managing changes, we may find that, as entrepreneurs, we must make decisions. This chapter will discuss the type of decisions you might have to make and what to consider when making growth decisions for your company.

      • Now You Try It: Decision-Making Page
        Students must
        Mark as done

        It is time to practice the skills you learned in this section. While this won't be graded, it is important to understand how you can apply the concepts to your own business. Read the case and consider the questions at the end to better understand how to make good decisions.

    • Unit 4 Study Resources

      This review video is an excellent way to review what you've learned so far and is presented by one of the professors who created the course.

    • Unit 4 Assessment

      • Unit 4 Assessment Quiz
        Students must
        Receive a grade

        Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.

        • This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
        • You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
        • You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.

  • Unit 5: Growing Your Business

    Now that you've launched and are growing your business, there are many key pieces you should look at or review. First, getting your first customers and building the customer base is key, so the information presented here will review some marketing concepts, such as value propositions, to ensure you revisit your proposition. This will help you clearly understand how to gain more customers. We will also address how to review the resources, such as time and money you have, and how to distribute those resources based on what your organizational goals are. You will also learn how to create an attractive culture and find funding sources when you want to add products or services to your business that require capital.

    Completing this unit should take you approximately 11 hours.

    • 5.1: How Can You Grow Your Business?

      • Building a Customer Base Page
        Students must
        Mark as done

        Although you did a lot of work in your marketing plan to generate customers, you may wonder how you begin to build a customer base. As you review this chapter, notice the similarities of defining your target market and how that relates to building your customer base using social media.

      • Getting Your First Customers Page
        Students must
        Mark as done

        This video explains how to gain your first ten customers and keep them. What strategies do you think would be the most effective?

      • Gaining Customer Insight Page
        Students must
        Mark as done

        This video addresses how to gain insight from your customers, which can help you not only gain customers, but keep the customers you have. As you watch, consider the impact of a situational analysis and tactics to drive your marketing strategy.

      • Value Propositions Page
        Students must
        Mark as done

        Do you remember in an earlier class when we talked about value propositions? It is time to return to that and ensure you are still offering a value proposition to customers as you grow. When you read this resource (section 5.3), pay special attention to the three circles of competitive analysis.

      • Branding Book
        Students must
        Mark as done

        Ensuring your branding meets your customers' needs is important in entrepreneurial growth. This should be a concept revisited because your marketing plan and tracking results, as well as branding, are key to business growth. Read this chapter to learn more about how branding is important as you grow your business.

      • Resource Management Book
        Students must
        Mark as done

        Resource planning in your business is key to ensuring time and money are spent where needed. Review this chapter on how to use the PEST framework to help your resource plan.

      • Organization Culture and Innovation Book
        Students must
        Mark as done

        Your organizational culture is a key aspect of growth. If you have employees, creating a culture where they feel valued and are allowed to innovate can mean growth for you. As you read this chapter, think about methods for creating this kind of culture.

    • 5.2: Methods for Growth Funding

      • Entrepreneurial Funding Options Book
        Students must
        Mark as done

        There are many methods for funding a start-up business. But did you know there are also many methods for financing your business in the growth stage? As you read this chapter, keep a list of methods and write down which ones you might consider implementing now or in the future.

      • Grants as a Funding Option Page
        Students must
        Mark as done

        Government grants are another way to consider funding your business. Review this video to consider how grants might help fund the growth of your business.

    • Unit 5 Study Resources

      This review video is an excellent way to review what you've learned so far and is presented by one of the professors who created the course.

    • Unit 5 Assessment

      • Unit 5 Assessment Quiz
        Students must
        Receive a grade

        Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.

        • This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
        • You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
        • You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.

  • Study Guide

    This study guide will help you get ready for the final exam. It discusses the key topics in each unit, walks through the learning outcomes, and lists important vocabulary. It is not meant to replace the course materials!

  • Final Exam Preparation

    These case studies are an excellent way to review what you've learned so far and are presented by one of the professors who created the course. Review these materials before you take the final exam.

  • Final Exam

    • Practice Final Exam

      Take this practice exam to help you get ready for your final exam. This exam can be taken as many times as you like, and it will cover topics similar to the final exam. We recommend that you take a look at the practice final exam before proceeding to the final exam because you will only have three tries to pass the final exam with an 80% or above.

    • Proctored Final Exam

      Take this Proctored Final Exam to complete this course.

      The exam requires a proctor and a proctoring fee of $5. To pass this course, you will need to earn a grade of 80% or higher on the Proctored Final Exam. Your grade for this exam will be calculated as soon as you complete it.

      If you do not pass the exam on your first try, you can take it again up to a maximum of 3 times, with a 30-day waiting period between each attempt. You may not create another account to exceed these limits. After your third failed attempt you will not be able to pass this course, so we recommend taking the Practice Final Exam as many times as you need to feel comfortable.

      We are partnering with SmarterProctoring to help make the proctoring fee more affordable. We will be recording you, your screen, and the audio in your room during the exam. This is an automated proctoring service, but no decisions are automated; recordings are only viewed by our staff with the purpose of making sure it is you taking the exam and verifying any questions about exam integrity. 

      Requirements:

      1. Desktop Computer
      2. Chrome (v100+)
      3. Webcam + Microphone
      4. 1mbps+ Internet Connection

  • Course Feedback Survey

    Please take a few minutes to give us feedback about this course. We appreciate your feedback, whether you completed the whole course or even just a few resources. Your feedback will help us make our courses better, and we use your feedback each time we make updates to our courses. If you come across any urgent problems, email contact@saylor.org.

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