MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE, GURGAON Course: Entrepreneurship - From Idea to Enterprise

Course Description This course introduces the fundamentals of 'technology entrepreneurship', a recent global phenomenon that has driven vital changes in society by empowering individuals to seek opportunity in technological and business solutions when presented with what others see as insurmountable problems. Technology entrepreneurship, whether in a startup or established company, is a spirited approach to business leadership that involves identifying high-potential, technologyintensive commercial opportunities, gathering resources such as talent and capital, and managing rapid growth and significant risks using principled decision-making skills. This course is designed to be approachable for students of all disciplines and topics introduced in this course are relevant to future managers, marketers, and investors. Through a collection of case studies, lectures, workshops, and projects that cover highgrowth ventures in a variety of industries, this course provides the student with the tools necessary to successfully identify a true business opportunity, and to start and grow a technology enterprise. Course Objectives The course concentrates on starting and growing new businesses. There are three primary objectives: 1. To investigate the components, tools, and practices of entrepreneurship focusing on: (a) identifying new venture opportunities, (b) evaluating the viability of a new business concept by understanding key industry, market and competitive factors as well as customer needs,

(c) (d) (e) (f) (g)

writing a business plan, and developing an investor presentation building a team that possesses the attributes necessary for success, obtaining appropriate financing, creating an entrepreneurial culture that increases the odds of success, creating liquidity for shareholders.

2. To identify and exercise entrepreneurial skills through classroom debate and assignments. 3. To introduce students to a variety of entrepreneurs. Case studies are used as the primary tool for discussion, and are augmented with readings, guest speakers, videos, and software simulations. Student teams will write a business plan for a new venture. Students will also learn to proceed with their own ideas: Subjective ideas increasingly need objective validation. The course will encourage students to crystallize, test, selfcritique and gain confidence in their own ideas to move forward. Ideas are important for business, but not as important as motivation, attitude, or personal background. A course in entrepreneurship helps to identify the characteristics of a successful business entrepreneur. Students can learn to fight their own demons of self-doubt, encourage the devils advocate to eventually win the inner-argument with clarity and become selfconfident. Team Project - Opportunity Analysis : A ten-week long team project where students investigate an entrepreneurial opportunity, keeping in mind the key distinctions between an "idea" and an "opportunity". Teams analyze, thoroughly illustrate and document a pressing market need that has potential to be solved with a high technology product or service. Course Structure The course will consist of sixteen 90 minute sessions and four 60 minute workshops (20 sessions total) for a ten-week quarter covering select issues of interest to students. It cover material organized in five modules over the next ten weeks: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The Entrepreneurial Perspective Opportunity Recognition and Evaluation Gathering Resources Managing Ventures Entrepreneurship and You

With this material, the course builds on seven critical skills for entrepreneurial leaders: o Creativity and opportunity evaluation o Real-time strategy and decision making o Comfort with change and chaos o Teamwork o Evangelism, selling, negotiation, and motivation through influence and persuasion o Oral and written communication o Basics of start-up finance and accounting Course Material: Chapters along with long and short cases on various topics as in the course material provided. Evaluation*: (A) End-term Examination = 30%, (B) Mid-Term Examination = 20%, (C) Team Project = 20%, (D) Class Participation = 10%, (E) Class Quizzes = 20% *Subject to minor modification as the course progresses _____________________