GSBA 535Opportunity Recognition and Implementation

GSBA 535Opportunity Recognition and Implementation

GSBA 599 – Special Topics: Organizational Behavior

Summer 2016

May 1, 2016 – August 18, 2016

9.5 units

Course Syllabus

INSTRUCTORS:

Elissa Grossman (entrepreneurship)

Email:

Phone: (213)740-3923

Peter Kim (OB/negotiations)

Email:

(213) 740-7947

Kerry Fields (business law/contracts)

Email:

(213) 740-9307

Peter Cardon (communication)

Email:

Phone: (213)740-0133

OFFICE HOURS:By appointment

EMERGENCY NUMBERS: USC Emergency Info Line: 213-740-9233

USC Emergencies: 213-740-4321

USC Information Line: 213-740-2311 or KUSC Radio (91.5 FM)

PREREQUISITES:GSBA 505

REQUIRED READINGS:

• Cheeseman, Henry. (2015).Legal Environment of Business: Online Commerce, Ethics, and Global Issues. Prentice Hall. ISBN: 978-0-13-397331-0.
• Fisher, R., Ury, W.L., & Patton (2011). Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0143118756.
• Maslansky, M., West, S., DeMoss, G. & Saylor, D. (2011).The Language of Trust: Selling Ideas in a World of Skeptics (Paperback). Prentice Hall Press. ISBN 978-0735204560.
• Wall Street Journal subscription15 weeks for $15 -
• USC Course Reader: Communication (download will be made available online).
• USC Course Reader: Entrepreneurship (download will be made available online).
• USC Course Reader: Organizational Behavior (download will be made available online).
• Twitter: Professor Fields will be tweeting articles on a regular basis @USCProf ()

Course Description

GSBA 535 is an online course that comprises part of the OMBA Program. The core subject areas (entrepreneurship, organizational behavior, negotiations, and contract law) are offered over a 15-week period as part of an overarching theme that explores multiple aspects of new venture management. Analytics and communication are interwoven with the core subjects in the form of pre-recorded lectures as well as a portfolio of projects involving both written and oral presentations on core material. The percentage of time devoted to each of the core business subject areas in GSBA 535 is as follows:

Entrepreneurship 35%

OB/Negotiations35%

Business Law/Contracts15%

Communication15%

Course Note

This thematic course combines several subject areas. All content is delivered by a multidisciplinary team of faculty members and includes both asynchronous and synchronous instruction. This course is designed to be “flipped,” with core content delivered asynchronously prior to synchronous sessions, in which students apply the subject matter presented. The order of the subject matter may be adapted and adjusted in order to advance connections across areas.

Online Program Goals

1. Our graduates will develop an understanding of traditional and contemporary management issues and the relationships between core business disciplines in order to analyze business situations and make holistic judgments about business innovations.
2. Our graduates will develop a global mindset through theoretical, practical, and experiential educational opportunities in order to incorporate economic and financial interdependencies that impact geopolitical relationships into business decisions.
3. Our graduates will demonstrate critical thinking skills through the use of quantitative and qualitative tools, theories and context in order to effectively solve problems, make decisions, and develop new business opportunities to strategically navigate the complex demands of current dynamic business environments.
4. Our graduates will develop interpersonal and intrapersonal skills to effectively guide team collaboration in order to derive optimal solutions to complex issues requiring multiple skills and diverse capabilities.
5. Our graduates will demonstrate ethical reasoning skills, understand social, civic, and professional responsibilities and aspire to add value to society.
6. Our graduates will be effective communicators, including communicating with the use of appropriate technology tools, to facilitate information flow in organizational, social, and intercultural contexts.

Course Objectives

The broad goal of this course is to introduce students to tools and concepts they will need to manage internal relations and operations within a company. Upon completing the course, students will be able to:

• Describe the new venture creation process from ideation through launch
• Create and adapt a business model using relevant primary and secondary data
• Deliver effective, persuasive, evidence-driven pitches
• Managechallenges faced by individuals, groups, and organizations
• Analyze the limitations and strengths of different organizational designs
• Develop confidence and skill in negotiation
• Analyze fundamental elements of torts, sales warranties & products liability, contracts, IP protection, anti-trust and white collar crime
• Evaluate the selection, organization, and capitalization of business entities
• Identify persuasive techniques aligned with various types of decision-makers
• Make business decisions using inferential statistics and data models

Grading Policy

The grade for this course is based 35% on entrepreneurship content, 35% on organizational behavior/negotiation content, 15% on law content, and 15% on communication content and 10% on statistics/analytics content. Weighted averages will be computed to determine the final score and final grade; students must have a passing score in each area in order to pass the course.

Grades

The course grade is based on synchronous class participation, moderated discussion forums, homework, projects, quizzes and exams. In order to earn full participation points, students must actively participate in synchronous sessions by asking thought-provoking questions, offering relevant comments, and answering questions from faculty in a clear and concise manner. In order to earn full discussion forum points, students must write thoughtful, robust posts as well as substantive responses to their peers. Unless otherwise stated, all readings, discussion forums, homework assignments, and quizzes must be completed prior to synchronous class sessions.With the exception of team video forums or team projects, which are clearly stated, all other work is to be completed individually.

Percentage per Topic / Due Dates
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
(35% of total course grade) / % of Entrepreneurship
MarshallTALK / 5%
Asynchronous Classwork / 10%
Quizzes(best 10 of 12, each ≤ 15 points) / 10%
Cases (choose 2, each ≤ 75 points) / 10%
Project 1 (individual) / 5%
Project 2 (individual) / 20%
Project 3 (group 15%, peer eval 5%) / 20%
Project 4 (group 15%, peer eval 5%) / 20%
OB/NEGOTIATIONS
(35% of total course grade) / % of OB/Negotiations
MarshallTALK / 10%
Discussion Forums / 10%
Midterm Project (group) / 25% / M7
Midterm Peer Evaluation/ Personal Reflection / 5%
Negotiation Preparation Reports (5) / 5%
Feedback Papers (5) / 15%
Final Project (group) / 25% / M15
Final Peer Evaluation/
Personal Reflection / 5%
LAW
(15% of total course grade) / % of Law
MarshallTALK
(Team presentations and IRAC presentations) / 20%
Contract Negotiation Exercise / 15%
Quizzes (11, drop lowest) / 25%
Midterm / 20% / M7
Non-Cumulative Final / 20% / M15
COMMUNICATION
(15% of total course grade) / % of Communication
MarshallTALK / 5%
Discussion/Video Forums / 5%
Quizzes / 30%
Homework / 30%
Group Projects / 30%

Asynchronous Activities

All readings, videos, and assignments can be found in the Virtual Classroom. There are three ways to access materials in Canvas:

1. Via the Home Page
2. Via Modules
3. Via Assignments

Synchronous Activities

Students are required to attend MarshallTALK sessions each week in order to earn full participation credit. Links to weekly MarshallTALK sessions will be found within each Module and are also listed under Assignments. If you cannot attend a MarshallTALK session, please notify faculty prior to class. MarshallTALK will be held every Tuesday and Thursday, starting at 5pm Pacific Time as follows:

COURSE INTRODUCTION

Monday, May 2ndIntro5pm-7pmALL FACULTY

MODULE 1 - MarshallTALK

Monday, May 9thSession 1a5pm-7pmGrossman, Cardon

Wednesday, May 11th Session 1b5pm-7pmFields, Kim

MODULE 2 - MarshallTALK

Monday, May 16thSession 2a5pm-7pmGrossman, Cardon

Wednesday, May 18th Session 2b5pm-7pmFields, Kim

MODULE 3 - MarshallTALK

Monday, May 23rd Session 3a5pm-7pmGrossman, Cardon

Wednesday, May 25th Session 3b5pm-7pmFields, Kim

MODULE 4 - MarshallTALK

Monday, May 30thSession 4a5pm-7pmMEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY

Wednesday, June 1st Session 4b5pm-7pmFields, Kim

MODULE 5 - MarshallTALK

Monday, June 6thSession 5a5pm-7pmGrossman, Cardon

Wednesday, June 8th Session 5b5pm-7pmFields, Kim

MODULE 6 - MarshallTALK

Monday, June 13th Session 6a5pm-7pmGrossman, Cardon

Wednesday, June 15thSession 6b5pm-7pmFields, Kim

MODULE 7 - MarshallTALK

Monday, June 20thSession 7a5pm-7pmGrossman, Cardon

Wednesday, June 22nd Session 7b5pm-7pmFields, Kim

MODULE 8 - MarshallTALK

Monday, June 27th Session 8a5pm-7pmGrossman, Cardon

Wednesday, June 29th Session 8b5pm-7pmFields

MODULE 9 - MarshallTALK

Monday, July 4th Session 9a5pm-7pmINDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY

Wednesday, July 6thSession 9b5pm-7pmFields, Kim

MODULE 10 - MarshallTALK

Monday, July 11th Session 10a5pm-7pmGrossman, Cardon

Wednesday, July 13th Session 10b5pm-7pmFields, Kim

MODULE 11 - MarshallTALK

Monday, July 18th Session 11a 5pm-7pmGrossman, Cardon

Wednesday, July 20th Session 11b5pm-7pmFields, Kim

MODULE 12 - MarshallTALK

Monday, July 25th Session 12a5pm-7pmGrossman, Cardon

Wednesday, July 27thSession 12b5pm-7pmFields, Kim

MODULE 13 - MarshallTALK

Monday, August 1st Session 13a5pm-7pmGrossman, Cardon

Wednesday, August 3rd Session 13b5pm-7pmFields, Kim

MODULE 14 - MarshallTALK

Monday, August 8th Session 14a5pm-7pmGrossman, Cardon

Wednesday, August 10th Session 14b5pm-7pmFields, Kim

MODULE 15 - MarshallTALK

Monday, August 15th Session 15a5pm-7pmGrossman, Cardon

Wednesday, August 17th Session 15b5pm-7pmFields, Kim

Academic Conduct

Plagiarism – presenting someone else’s ideas as your own, either verbatim or recast in your own words – is a serious academic offense with serious consequences. Please familiarize yourself with the discussion of plagiarism in SCampus in Section 11, Behavior Violating University Standards forms of academic dishonesty are equally unacceptable. See additional information in SCampusand university policies on scientific misconduct,

Discrimination, sexual assault, and harassment are not tolerated by the university. You are encouraged to report any incidents to the Office of Equity and Diversity or to the Department of Public Safety This is important for the safety whole USC community. Another member of the university community – such as a friend, classmate, advisor, or faculty member – can help initiate the report, or can initiate the report on behalf of another person.The Center for Women and Men provides 24/7 confidential support, and the sexual assault resource center webpage describes reporting options and other resources.

Support Systems

Students whose primary language is not English should check with the American Language Institute which sponsors courses and workshops specifically for international graduate students.The Office of Disability Services and Programs certification for students with disabilities and helps arrange the relevant accommodations. If an officially declared emergency makes travel to campus infeasible, USC Emergency Information will provide safety and other updates, including ways in which instruction will be continued by means of blackboard, teleconferencing, and other technology.

Technology Support

• MarshallTALK (WebEx) 24/7 Assistance
  Go to:
  Phone: (866) 229-3239

• Virtual Classroom (Canvas) 24/7 Assistance
  Check out the "Help" linkat the very bottom of this webpage
  Phone: (844) 408-6460

• YouSeeU

Go to:

Phone: (877) 667-7338

• USC Login, MyUSC, GoogleApps Assistance
  (Mon-Fri 9:30am-5:00pm PT, Sat-Sun 1:00pm-5:00pm PT)
  Call (213) 740-5555
  Email:
  
• Marshall Email/Office365, OneDrive Assistance (Mon-Fri 8:00am-6:00pm PT)
  Go to:
  Call (213) 740-3000
  Email:

If any of the support options above do not sufficiently address an issue or if you have additional questions or feedback, please notify USC Marshall Online MBA program staff

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