This course is intended to prepare students for launching their own business. This might include launching a business this year with an idea that is investigated in the class, or developing the skills necessary to launch a different business months or years down the road.
The course covers all aspects of planning a new business, focusing on the creation of a written and oral business plan. The techniques provided should be applicable to all aspects of new ventures — whether self-funded, bank funded or venture funded.
The culmination of the course will be presentation of the completed plan to the course and submission of the plan to the Silicon Valley Business Plan Competition.
There are two sections of Bus 182:
The most up-to-date office hour information is on Prof. West’s office hours page.
The course is a Group A elective for students in the B.S.B.A. concentration in entrepreneurship. It can also be used as a management electrive, or for unrestrictive elective (or overload) for other majors and concentrations.
Bus 181 is a recommended prerequisite for students taking this class, but students who have done well in at least three upper division core classes (particularly Bus 130, 160, and 170) should be well prepared for the course.
This web page is
The Blackboard web page for both sections is
The texts are available for purchase from Amazon (or another bookstore). Unless you want to pay for express shipping, you should order early to allow 7-10 days for delivery.
A preliminary greensheet is posted online. A revised greensheet, schedule of assignments, and all additional information will be posted to Blackboard.
Note: the syllabus is subject to change, and you are accountable for the latest material posted to the website.
Joel West, Ph.D.
BT 555, College of Business, San José
State University, San José, CA 95192-0070
E-mail (preferred): west_j@cob.sjsu.edu
Phone: (408) 335-0115; Org & Mgmt Dept. phone: (408) 924-3550
For more about the instructor, read a brief biography.