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Topics covered include the business model canvas (BMC) and the importance of finding product/market fit at the outset of your venture; choosing co-founders; building and incentivizing your core team; sources of funding at each venture stage; terms and term sheets; equity vs. debt; venture capital; the capitalization (‘Cap’) table; options, warrants and share classes; the venture pitch; scaling up and forms of exit. At the core of the course is the new venture project, where teams get hands-on with the Lean Startup process by pursuing a new venture idea from inception to investor-ready. Prerequisite: BUS 714.

The purpose of this course is to teach the basic skills of venturing - how to translate an entrepreneurial vision into action. The course also provides an opportunity for participants to explore their personal situation and assess the desirability of an entrepreneurial career. Students with credit for BUS 647 or BUS 734 or BUS 783 may not take this course for further credit.

Topics covered include defining the role of the product manager; product lifecycles (PLC) and PM activities at each stage of the PLC; customer discovery; design thinking; personas and user stories; product-market fit; agile vs. waterfall development methodologies; minimum viable product (MVP); user journey mapping; roadmaps; competitor analysis; pricing methods and product metrics. Prerequisite: BUS 714.

A responsible innovation incubator will provide practice generating responsible innovation concepts. Exploration of the creation and adoption of innovations intersect with an array of social and environmental issues such as climate change, human rights, and privacy. Students will identify key problems and needs associated with the dark side of innovation, shifting the mindset to view them as opportunities to challenge existing economic and organizational models. Prerequisite: BUS 714 and BUS 716.

Several of the largest companies in the world rely on digital platforms. These and many other businesses embrace and shape digital technologies to create and run platform businesses. This course takes a strategic innovation approach to understand the dynamics, business models, tactics, regulations, and technologies behind the rise of digital platform businesses. Prerequisite: BUS 714.

Uses case studies to reinforce techniques for problem identification, data collection, strategic analysis, aligning objectives, establishing key requirements, determining scope, presenting recommendations and developing time and material estimation for initiatives. Provides the tools and techniques that are important in relationship management and serving in the role as a trusted advisor for an organization.

As digital technologies advance, an organization’s ability to innovate will be key to delivering value through technological change. Key skills supporting this innovation include identifying opportunities, assessing their net impact and, if potential is identified, initiating and managing positive organizational change. A focus will be placed on developing creativity skills, supported with feedback and critical assessment skills, in a team environment. Models for managing change within organizations will be examined to identify important factors impacting change within organizations. These skills should develop your ability to positively contribute to organizational change.

Special topics in business administration.