Course Syllabus
Note: This course code has changed from B 483 to BUS 410. You may occasionally see references to the old course code or title.
Description
Business management is an exciting discipline that fuels our economy and offers personal financial rewards. Some think of entrepreneurs and business leaders as risk seekers. In reality, the most successful business leaders manage risk while aggressively pursuing opportunity.
In this course, you will develop the power to innovate with scarce resources as we study the skills of the Advanced Business Manager. BUS 410: Advanced Business Management is a three-credit course, patterned after the Harvard Business School course required during the first year of the HBS MBA program.
Course Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this course will do the following:
- Use data and financial statements to make high-quality decisions that lead to action.
- Demonstrate critical thinking and analytical and reasoning skills in a business management context.
- Apply the essential skills of advanced business management.
Note that these skills represent a way of managing and not a type of company. Thus, advanced business management can be applied in a variety of settings. These skills work whether the venture occurs in a new start-up, a large and established business, or a non-profit enterprise. Students should recognize the application of these skills across different types of organizations.
Prerequisites
It is assumed that students know and understand how to use spreadsheets and how to do spreadsheet calculations. This course does not include any Excel instruction. Therefore, it is highly recommended that students take FDMAT 108 (or higher math class), FIN 301 or 302, and BUS 115 or CIT 110 before taking this course. Those courses provide students with a solid foundation in Excel financial analysis and modeling that they will need to be successful in this course.
Since spreadsheet skills are crucial to students' success in this course, it is recommended that they drop this course if they have not completed courses listed above.
Learning Model Architecture
All courses (including online courses) at BYU-Idaho follow a pattern of learning that enables students to take more responsibility for their own learning and for helping to teach one another. This pattern is called the Learning Model. The two pages hyperlinked below will help you better understand the Learning Model.
BYU-Idaho Learning Model and Learning Model.
Keys to Success
- As a 3-credit course, students should expect to spend around 9-12 hours per week (3-4 hours per credit-hour) completing course activities and assessments. Plan your weekly schedule wisely to set aside adequate study time and allow you to work at a healthy, steady pace throughout the course.
- Read the announcements each week before beginning your course work. Your instructor will provide timely information about changes, expectations, and other important things to notes as you begin the week.
- Know your case facts.
- Apply those facts analytically.
- Listen during group discussions on Zoom meetings.
- Always be prepared to join the conversation.
- Respect the opinions of others (no matter how wrong you think they may be).
- Speak up when you feel confused, don’t understand, or disagree with something you heard in the discussion or read in the case (even if I am the one who said it).
- Controversy is encouraged. Controversy is when viewpoints differ and discussion ensues.
- This is not the same as the spirit of contention. Contention does not lead to learning nor does it leave one feeling uplifted.
- It is OK and encouraged to have your own opinions and share them. As you do, always be respectful and seek to understand other viewpoints as they are shared with you.
Weekly Activities
Case Analysis Prep Assignments: Each case has a prep assignment to prepare students for the Group Discussion. These assignments contain a series of questions that you should answer as you read the case. They also include any additional readings that will help students understand and analyze the case.
Case-based Essays: These are persuasive writing assignments based on your personal analysis for a particular case.
Group Discussion: Group discussions are a critical component to this class. Students will discuss the case with their group using Zoom. Questions will be provided for you to discuss. Only those that attend the group discussion and participate will receive points on the group assignment.
Group Attendance and Participation: The overall intent of grading student participation is to assess the student’s mastery of the subject matter and the development of higher-level business skills, such as listening, critical thinking, and communicating persuasive ideas.
Group Assignments: These assignments are group responses of possible strategies and decisions based on the cases discussed.
Course Outline
|
Week 01 |
Introduction & Dr. John's Product |
|---|---|
| Week 02 | Profit Formula: Crystal Catering & Rent the Runway |
| Week 03 |
CAC & LTV Metrics: Rent Juice & Progresso Financiero |
| Week 04 |
Analyzing and Financing Opportunity: Hotel Vertu |
| Week 05 | Managing Cash requirements: C.R. Plastics & The Electric Vehicle Company |
| Week 06 | Meeting Financial and Strategic Needs: Skyhook & BzzAgent |
| Week 07 | Negotiation: GMCR & Keurig |
| Week 08 | Relationships in Business: Elasto Therm & Midterm |
| Week 09 | Capitalizing your Business: Homeplate & Yieldex |
| Week 10 | Intrapreneurial: DaVita & Intuit Inc. |
| Week 11 | Franchising: Noodles & Co and Martin Blair |
| Week 12 | Bank & Personal Finance When Purchasing a Business: Belle Fleur & Jim Sharpe |
| Week 13 | IPO & Business Lifecycle: Brentwood Associates & Right Now Technologies |
| Week 14 | Conclusion & Final |
Required Materials
A computer with a webcam and internet connection will be required.
Students will use Microsoft Office products in this course. If you do not yet have the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) on your computer, you may use the free download through the University Store's Downloads to obtain the software. Note: The free download is only for BYU-Idaho students with a current login.
Technology
Students need to have the appropriate permissions on their computer to download content, access websites, and update and/or download software as needed along with consistent, reliable access to an internet connection. Visit the Orientation to Online Learning page in the first week of the course to verify your computer is set up properly.This course also uses Turnitin on all case assignments to help protect academic integrity. Turnitin functions as a setting on the case assignments; students do not need to take any further action to enable this Turnitin. Since Turnitin provides an originality report to students and their instructor, students should be sure to do their own work and cite any sources that they might use.
Grading Policies
Late Work Policy
No late work is allowed in this course. Students should plan their weekly schedule wisely to set aside adequate study time and allow you to work at a healthy, steady pace throughout the course.
Group Attendance
Reminder: To receive the full graded points on the group assignment, you need to take part in the entire live group meeting. If you miss the group meeting, you will receive a zero on the group assignment for the week. Your group needs you and your insight.
Grading Scale
| Grade | Percentage Range |
|---|---|
| A | 100–93 |
| A- | 92–90 |
| B+ | 89–87 |
| B | 86–83 |
| B- | 82–80 |
| C+ | 79–77 |
| C | 76–73 |
| C- | 72–70 |
| D+ | 69–67 |
| D | 66–63 |
| D- | 62–60 |
| F | <60 |
Academic Honesty
According to the BYU-Idaho Mission Statement, our mission is to develop disciples of Jesus Christ. As such, all students (both online and campus) and employees of the university are expected to be honest in all things. "We believe in being honest" (Article of Faith 1:13).
As part of the CES Honor Code, students are expected to complete their own work for each course so your instructor can verify your knowledge and skills as he or she grades your work. Violations of the Academic Honesty policy include, but are not limited to the following:
- Posting or sharing your course work (projects, assignments, etc.) to any other online website, through electronic communication, or any other means.
- Obtaining another person's work and submitting all or part of it as if it was your own work. Note: Using an internet resource to prepare an assignment, like Course Hero, is cheating. Do not use ChatGPT or other AI tools unless the assignment instructs otherwise.
- Posting or sharing course materials, including but not limited to, quiz and exam questions and/or answers, or any other materials from the course.
- Obtaining quiz and exam questions and/or answers from any other website, person, or means.
If you choose to participate in any of the above actions or other actions which violate the Academic Honesty policy, the university has the right to change your course grade to an F now or at any time in the future (and/or take other action as outlined in the policy such as suspension or expulsion from the University). This means that even if your dishonesty is not discovered until after you complete your certificate or degree, the University still has the right to change your grade and revoke your certificate or degree.
If you violate copyright laws, you may also be prosecuted for your illegal actions.
The consequences of academic dishonesty are not worth the risk and the reward for honesty is worth far more than any grade. "All who know their hearts are honest are accepted of me" (Doctrine and Covenants 97:8). Thank you for your honesty and protection of academic integrity for you and your fellow students as you complete this and future courses.
University Policies
Students with Disabilities
Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact the Disability Services Office at (208) 496-9210 or visit their website and follow the Steps for Receiving Accommodations. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with students and instructors by the Disability Services Office.
This course includes required synchronous meetings. If you are currently registered with the Disability Services Office and need an interpreter or transcriber for these meetings, please contact the deaf and hard of hearing coordinator at (208) 496-9219.
Other University Policies
Student Honor and Other Policies
Please read through the document called University Policies. It gives important information about the following topics:
- Student Honor
- Academic Honesty
- Student Conduct
- Sexual Harassment
- Student with Disabilities
- Complaints and Grievances
- Copyright Notice
Go to the Student Resources module to review further resources and information.
Disclaimers
This syllabus and the calendar may be changed at any time prior to or during the semester as the need arises, based upon circumstances. Any changes will be available to view on the course documents.
The instructor reserves the right to change any part of this syllabus at any time during the semester in order to adapt to changing course needs. You will be notified prior to any changes that may take place.
Student Support
Tutoring and Academic Support
Tutoring options for online students are available through the Academic Support Centers. There are tutors available to help you with your writing questions, and there might be course-specific tutoring available. Check the Online Tutoring page for more details.
Technical Support
If you need technical assistance, use the I-learn "Help" button located on the left side of your screen to contact the appropriate support center (either BYU-Idaho Help or BYU-Pathway Help).