AMGT 473
Management & Operations of Small Business
Fall 2009
Dr. Leanne C. McGrath
[ Home ] [ ABUS 371-1 ] [ AMGT 374-300 ] [ AMGT 473 ]
[ Schedule 473 ]
Prerequisite: ABUS 371
& ABUS 350
Credit Hours: 3
Text: Scarborough, N.M.,
Wilson, D. L. &
Zimmerer, T.W. Effective Small Business Management, 9th Edition,
2009
Deighan M., Henderson N.,
& James S. ServiceSim: Managing Service Quality
Profitably. 2009. Student Manual and Simulation Software.
School Of Business Administration
Mission
The
School of Business Administration at the University of South Carolina Aiken
focuses on creating a caring learning environment in its accredited
undergraduate program. The program prepares students to meet the global,
technological, and ethical challenges of a dynamic business and society.
Course
Objectives:
This course primarily covers topics related to the actual running of a small
business. It is designed to study the management and
operations issues related to the small business after its doors are open for
business. The following are the major learning objectives to be covered.
1. Understand the challenges for small business in carrying out the
management functions.
2. Briefly cover forms of ownership, ethics, and social
responsibility as they impact the small business.
3. Cover the operations of small business in the areas of
pricing, purchasing/inventory control, human resource management, marketing,
crime, computer technology, and cash flow.
4. Discuss the strategic management process and strategic
planning as it relates to building a competitive advantage for small business.
Include the issue of management succession for the business.
5. Utilize cases, readings, simulation, and/or real
businesses to gain an overall perspective in the actual running of a small
business.
Grading Scheme:
| Exam
I |
100
points |
| Exam
II |
100
points |
| Exam
III |
100
points |
| Final
Simulation Document |
100
points |
| Interim
Simulation Reports |
50
points |
| Simulation
Oral Presentation |
20
points |
| Simulation
Diary |
50
points |
| Total
Points |
520
points |
| A
= 90% and above |
468 points |
| B+ =
85-89.9% |
442 points |
| B
= 80-84.9% |
416 points |
| C+ =
75-79.9% |
390 points |
| C
= 70-74.9% |
364 points |
| D+ =
65-69.9% |
338 points |
| D
= 60-64.9% |
312 points |
| F
= below 60% |
<312 points |
Course
Assignments:
Each student will be assigned to a team to complete the small business
simulation assignment and its written document for the semester. The
simulation diary only will be done on an individual basis.
See the course schedule for exact dates that the assignments are due.
In fairness to all students, no late papers will be accepted except for
extenuating circumstances discussed with and approved by the professor prior to
the due date.
For the small business simulation
document assignment, one written report is required from each team. A team
grade will be given and all members must have input into the paper to receive
credit.
The team
is responsible for assessing input of the members.
If a team member is not contributing his/her share of the work assignment, the
team is to notify the professor immediately so that appropriate action may be
initiated to ensure that there are no freeloaders. Individual papers will
not be accepted.
Be concise and proofread all written assignments after
completion. All papers will be graded on substance, adherence to the
respective format, use of proper grammar, punctuation, and correct spelling.
All work should be typed neatly
and include a proper cover sheet with the
name of the project, professor name, course name, date, and names of team
members and signatures or single name and signature for the diary to receive
credit for working on the paper. Use of a word processing package is
strongly encouraged. Staple all pages together in the upper left hand
corner if a cover folder is not used. Remember the appearance of a written
report is important. It makes a statement about you
!!!!
Format For Specific Written Papers:
Important Note: All written reports
must observe the following:
I. Small
Business Simulation Document:
This is a team project. The
paper must have all sections labeled and include the following:
1 . Introduction and Strategy Information:
This section of the paper gives concise background and introduction information
about the small business in the simulation. Include the name chosen for
the small business. The major part of this section is the team strategy to
be used in the simulation competition. Information should include
but is not limited to discussion of the initial facts given in the simulation
and their relevance to the business level strategy chosen for competing.
2. Small Business Monthly Simulation Decisions:
All teams are to keep track of the team input decisions made throughout the
semester and the outcomes for each iteration of the simulation.
Organization for the final document should follow the steps below.
a. Document input data in a chart or
table form
for each iteration month. (include any replay data)
b. Discuss rationale for decisions concerning
input data. The notes of the team discussion regarding what data is input
each month form the basis of this part. Include the team rank in the
standings at the end of the month.
c. Advance the simulation.
d. Each month print, at a minimum,
each of these output documents:
1. Consolidated Performance
Summary Report
2. Decision Summary Report
3. Consolidated/Operations Update Report
Print at least two copies of each of the above three
reports. One set for each
month is to be turned into the professor on the date specified on the syllabus
schedule. Another set will be included in the final simulation document
appendix. At the team's discretion, other
reports and charts should be run for the team's use in decision making.
These may also be included in the final simulation report at the discretion of
the team.
e. Discussion of printed output and what the team learned
from it.
f. Report team standing in the competition.
Include team thoughts regarding their competitive team standing and strategy
effectiveness.
g. Discuss rationale and changes to be made for next
iteration or rationale if no change is to be made.
h. Repeat steps above for each monthly
iteration.
Important Note: Under step "c"
above report any replays the team may have tried and what was learned from the
replay. After the month is advanced and the interim report submitted to
the professor, the team may NOT replay that respective month again.
3. Critical Analysis:
Prepare a critical analysis of all findings as if the team was a small business
owner writing a report for the year about the operations and management of
his/her business. Use all information gathered throughout the simulation
to formulate the report. Discuss at a minimum the strengths and weaknesses
of the strategy used, decisions made, and overall effectiveness of the business
in competing in the marketplace. Remember to use the theory presented in
the course and other reference sources and compare this information to the
actual business simulation facts. End with final conclusions from the team
about the simulation. Remember to reference and use the charts and monthly
reports to discuss trends, and so forth. Include yearly charts that
the simulation produces for various dimensions such as inventory, sales, and so
forth. Include an assessment as to
whether the team's small business would still be in existence in the marketplace
after the first year.
Important Note: Relate discussions and
analysis to service quality and performance. Reference pp. 87 and 88 in
the manual for more detail on the Balanced Scorecard and dimensions of service
quality.
4. What Was Learned:
These are your individual thoughts about this assignment and its value in your learning
process concerning the operations and management of a small business. Each
team member may have learned different things. Thus, for
this section only, each team member composes his/her own thoughts
about what he/she learned and labels the respective individual write-up
with his/her name for identification to the professor. Put all of these
into this section in the report.
5. References:
Include in a bibliography all books, journals, articles, interviews, and so
forth used in writing the paper. Put citations throughout the
paper as required by MLA or APA format. Proper formatting
for Internet sources can be found at the USCA library.
Important Note: Competition results
for the teams will be posted outside the professor's door throughout the
semester after each month's output is submitted. Keep track of your
team standing throughout the simulation as it will be needed for the final
report.
II. Small
Business Simulation Diary: This is an individual
assignment.
Each student is to prepare a simulation diary with
no less than three entries. Comments should be concise but impactful.
Each entry should be numbered, labeled, and include the following sections:
1. Diary Entries:
Include the date for each
diary entry. Then enter your personal experience in running the simulation.
Comment about mistakes as well as correct actions you took during
the running the simulation. Also enter your experience in working
with the team on this simulation.
3. Diary Discussion:
Write
a concise, impactful discussion of your diary entries. For example:
What decisions would you have made differently and why? What was your part
in the team simulation?
4.
What Was Learned:
These are your thoughts about the diary assignment and its value in your
learning process concerning the operations and management of a small business.
Guidelines
For Oral Presentations:
Evaluation
of your oral presentation is based upon how you present
( i. e. communication skills, interaction with audience for
discussion and question segment, creativity and stimulation of interest from
audience, concise organization, and proper use of visual aids if utilized.) Specifically
the following format is implemented for grading.
1. Contributions and
Participation in the question and discussion segment that follows the formal
presentation. 7 points
This segment demonstrates the team member's understanding of the exercise and
his/her ability to explain all relevant issues about the exercise.
Specifically, this includes the ability to synthesize information, to answer
questions, and to make constructive comments.
2. Clarity &
Creativity of Exercise Presentation.
3 points
This section includes the ability to present the
exercise clearly and in an appropriate manner, to keep audience attention and
involvement, and to use presentation time effectively.
3. Organization of the
Presentation.
3 points
This section requires smooth transition from point to point during the
presentation and the ability to sequence the content in a logical manner leading
to a logical analysis of the exercise. Develop and support the main ideas
and include a conclusion or decision.
4. Delivery of
Presentation.
7 points
Each team member must demonstrate the ability to present the exercise in a
manner that is interesting, maintaining eye contact with audience, projecting
his/her voice to the rear of room, and delivering the material without
grammatical and pronunciation errors. There should be no
excessive reading (basically "tell it" with notes for keeping "on
track") and no vocal or physical distracting features (like jingling coins
in pocket, pen or object in hand, slumping on podium, etc.). The presenter must
display a good comfort level, dress appropriately, and show proper enthusiasm.
Appropriate use of visual aids by presenting individual. Can
add 2 bonus points.
Reading of presentation
rather than presenting. Can result in loss of up to 10 points.
Note: Remember to practice
your presentation many times before presenting it to the group.
Each team member must present
an equal portion of the oral presentation, and each person will be graded
separately for his/her oral presentation part. A team member must use a
visual aid effectively during his/her presentation to receive the extra credit.