BUSN 495 Comparative Entrepreneurship Summer, 2008

 

PROFESSOR:                     Dr. Thomas W. Hall

CONTACT ME:                   thomas.hall@cnu.edu; 594-8916 (note: I prefer email as it is asynchronous)

Department secretary (Lee Ann Wise): 594-7215; 594-7068

 

Entrepreneurship is one of the key factors of production, and refers to risk-taking and management of land, labor, and capital.  In this class, we will explore one of the central problems facing entrepreneurs—they generally lack the resources personally to realize their innovative visions—and the implications that government policies have upon the ultimate results of entrepreneurial resources in their society.  Our guiding question relates to how and whether entrepreneurial innovation spurs technological change and affects economic development.  This is not a new area of research: the full title of Adam Smith’s famous 1776 treatise is An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.  Nevertheless, we will generate new research findings, based on a survey that includes interviews with entrepreneurs, investors, and academic experts based in the US (from your BUSN395 class), Ireland, and England.

 

PREREQUISITES FOR BUSN495: BUSN395, Finance and Economic Development

 

COURSE STRUCTURE: This summer class involves a trip overseas to Ireland and England.  Once there, we will visit a number of business facilities and historical locations, and interact with entrepreneurs, investors, and academic experts.  You will apply the skills you learned in BUSN395 to this experience.  The deliverable for the class will be a group project, consisting of statistical analysis that generates results which will be written up in a paper.  Papers of sufficient quality will be submitted to the Padilla conference in April of 2009.  Very good papers will be submitted to appropriate professional journals. 

 

GRADING: About 1/3 of your grade will be based on your active and professional participation in the summer abroad experience.  In addition, the final paper your group submits to me will constitute the other 2/3 of the grade.  

 

DISABILITIES INFORMATION: If you believe that you have a disability, you should make an appointment to discuss your needs.  In order to receive an accommodation, your disability must be on record in Disability Services located in the Academic Advising Center, Student Union, Room 3125.  (Telephone - 594-8763; Fax - 594-8765).

 

HONOR STATEMENT: Learning takes place through individual effort, and achievement can be evaluated only on the basis of the work a student produced independently.  A student who obtains credit for work, words, and ideas which are not products of his/her own effort is dishonest, and his/her behavior has an adverse influence on the standards of the college.  Because this is so, willful infringement of the code for academic work entails severe penalties ranging from failure in this course to dismissal from the university.

 

UNSATISFACTORY CLASS PERFORMANCE: We want you to succeed at CNU; therefore I may notify the Academic Advising Center if you seem to be having problems with this course. Someone may contact you to help you determine what help you need to succeed. You will be sent a copy of the referral form. I invite you to see me at any time that I can be of assistance in helping you with the course material.