Dr. Timothy MechGROVE CITY COLLEGE

ENTR 407

Entrepreneurial Solutions to Poverty

Fall 2009

Course Objectives

Students taking this course will learn:

  1. Factors that contribute to business development in low-income nations;
  2. How businesses can profit by providing products and services needed by the poor;
  3. Business-like approaches toward reducing poverty.

In addition, this course will give students the opportunity to collaborate on actual projects that reduce poverty!

Texts and Resources

To gain a current and balanced view of poverty, we will use a combination of books, scholarly articles, business cases, and Internet data. Many international organizations follow and analyze poverty trends closely. We will be studying recent studies by these organizations on matters that affect poverty, such as international trade, national debt, agricultural subsidies, and technology. These reports are available online free of cost. In addition to these published sources, we will have several guest speakers who have found innovative ways to reduce poverty in various parts of the world.

All of the books can be purchased inexpensively over the Internet. They are:

Required

The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid: Eradicating Poverty Through Profits by C. K. Prahalad, Wharton School Publishing (February 6, 2006)

When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting The Poor and Yourself, by Corbett and Fikkert, Moody Publishers, 2009.

Recommended

Capitalism at the Crossroads: The Unlimited Business Opportunities in Solving the World’s Most Difficult Problems by Stuart Hart, Wharton School Publishing (February 25, 2005)

The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time by Jeffrey Sachs, Penguin Two (February 28, 2006).

Out of Poverty: What Works When Traditional Approaches Fail, by Paul Polak, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., 2008.

Team Projects

Students will be divided into teams and assigned actual projects that reduce poverty. Each team will be required to write a detailed paper that describes the project and its implementation. In most cases this paper will be a preliminary business plan, but there may be projects for which the paper could have a different format.

The professor will form teams and assign projects, after considering the ideas and interests of the students.

Grading

Grades will be computed as follows: GradeScore Required

Exam #1 (September 24)15%A+96.7

Exam #2 (October 20)15%A93.3

Exam #3 (November 17)15%A-90.0

Internet Homework10%B+86.7

Team Projects20%B83.3

Participation5%B-80.0

Final Exam (schedule below)20%C+76.7

Total100%C73.3

C-70.0

D65.0

Test dates are tentative.F< 65

All examinations will be “closed book.” Calculators are permitted. All GCC courses are required to have rigorous, comprehensive final exams on the dates scheduled by the Registrar. We cannot give final exams early to suit the convenience of the students or professors. Please check your final exam schedule, and plan accordingly.

Students who want me to excuse an absence must notify me in writing (or e-mail), even if they have excuses from the Provost’s office. Students who miss eleven classes for any reason can be withdrawn from the course.

Homework and Extra Credit

Each student will be required to research social entrepreneurship on the Internet and give a short presentation about an innovative idea that fights poverty. There might be opportunities to earn extra credit by assisting social entrepreneurs on specific projects, such as website design or marketing strategies.

Office Hours

My office hours this semester are from 8:00 to 11:00 AM on Tuesday, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and from 3:45 to 5:15 PM on Tuesday and Thursday.

Academic Integrity

Please note: In signing their application form, all Grove City College students have pledged themselves to academic integrity. (cf. page 49 of the 2009-2010 Grove City College Bulletin).

In addition, by vote of the Grove City College faculty, a student who violates, or who assists another to violate, the Honesty in Learning Policy shall be penalized with a minimum of a failing grade for the specific work for which the dishonesty was committed. More severe penalties may be imposed by faculty including failure in the course. For the processes through which incidents are handled please refer to your Crimson, the 2009-2010 College Bulletin, or the Academic Integrity link on mygcc.

Computer Policy

Computers are permitted in class for note taking and classroom assignments only. Students misusing computers will be penalized and forbidden to bring computers to class for the rest of the term.

Communication

  • Course materials will be posted on the Intranet at \\ed\Courses\ENTR\ENTR407.
  • Please contact me by e-mail if you must miss a class. My e-mail account is .

Syllabus

I.Foundational Topics

A.The Distribution and Dimensions of World Poverty

B.Historical Trends in Poverty Alleviation

C.Christian Principles for Social Enterprise

D.Characteristics of Successful Social Entrepreneurs

E.The Process of Forming Social Enterprises that Fight Poverty

After we establish a basic understanding of poverty, we alternate in-depth topics with case studies to provide a deeper level of understanding while maintaining our focus on applications.

II.Businesses That Benefit the Poor

A.Business opportunities that benefit the poor.

B.Tailoring Products and Services to Reach Poor People

C.Challenges in Doing Business in Low Income Nations

III.Other In-Depth Topics

A.Microfinance

B.The Millennium Goals

C.Why Africa lags behind

D.Intangible Assets

E.Agricultural Subsidies

F.LDC trade and poverty

/

IV.Case studies

A.Aravind Eye Care

B.Jaipur Foot

C.Retail for the Poor

D.HHL Soap

E.EID Parry

F.Information Technology to the Poor

G.Financing the Poor

H.Energy For Everyone

I.Health Alerts for All

J.Transparent Government

K.Annapurna Salt

L.The CEMEX Story

Course Objectives and Core Competencies

The following table shows how the proposed course would contribute to the Entrepreneurship Core Competencies, which are given on the next page.

Course
Objective / Means
of
assessment / Departmental Core Competency
Understand the process through which entrepreneurial opportunities to alleviate poverty are identified and implemented. / Targeted Exam Problems and Team Projects / 1
Understand personal qualities and strategies of specific entrepreneurs / Targeted Exam Problems / 2
Understand causes of poverties and the ways that business and entrepreneurial activities can reduce poverty. / Targeted Exam Problems / 3
Understand challenges in the management of an international venture that alleviates poverty. / Targeted Exam Problems and Team Projects / Elements of
4, 5, 6
Demonstrate the collaborative skills necessary to be a productive team member. / Evaluation and peer review of team projects / 7.b.
Demonstrate the ability to find information about international social entrepreneurship using the Internet / Required Internet Research / 8.b.

Entrepreneurship Department Core Competencies:

  1. Entrepreneurial Processes – Understands concepts and processes associated with successful entrepreneurial performance

a.Discovery – of the opportunity
b.Concept development – developing the product or service idea
c.Resourcing – identifying, finding, and applying appropriate resources / d.Actualization – taking action, dropping the hammer
e.Harvesting – exiting, reaping the outcomes of the venture
  1. Personal Entrepreneurial Traits/Behaviors – Understands the personal traits/behaviors associated with successful entrepreneurial performance

a.Leadership
b.Ethical behavior
c.Personal assessment / d.Personal management
e.Integration of personal faith into life/profession
  1. Economics – Understands the economic principles and concepts fundamental to entrepreneurship/small-business ownership

a.Basic concepts
b.Entrepreneur in economic development / c.Cost-profit relationships
d.Economic systems
  1. Risk Management – Understands how to identify, assess, accept, and then manage appropriate levels of risk.

a.What is risk
b.Risk assessment processes / c.Risk management strategies
  1. Financial Management – Understands the financial concepts and tools used in making business decisions.

a.Accounting
b.Finance / c.Money management
  1. Enterprise management – Understands the business concepts that affect business decision making

a.Strategic management
  1. Planning
  2. Control
b.Human resource management
  1. Staffing
  2. Organizing
  3. Evaluating
  4. Controlling
/ c.Information management
  1. Acquisition
  2. Management
  3. Analysis
d.Marketing management
  1. Value propositions
  2. Product creation
  3. Marketing mix management

  1. Communications and interpersonal skills – Understands concepts, strategies, and systems needed to interact effectively with others.

a.Business writing and presentation
b.Group/team work / c.Conflict management and resolution
  1. Computer and information literacy skills – Understands concepts and procedures needed for basic computer operations

a.Business computer applications
b.Internet research / c.Internet marketing and communication