ENTR-130 Opportunity Analysis

Credits 2 / 2 Contact Hours
Pre-requisite: Placement into ENGL-100 (ACSR-100), completion of ELAP-120 with a 2.0, or completion of RDNG-030, ACLT-075 or ACLT-076; Placement into MATH-021 (ACSM-021).
Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to assess the current economic social and political climate for small businesses. In addition the student should be able to explain how demographic technological and social changes create opportunities for small business ventures.

Course Outcomes
1. Identify opportunities for small business start-up and/or growth 2. Identify and discuss significant changes which impact small business 3. Analyze the current environment and make recommendations as to how small business can best maximize beneficial and minimize negative changes 4. Conduct an environmental analysis and develop a strategic plan for a specific small business (idea) 5. Discuss how developments in the local community impact the small business climate 6. Investigate opportunities for small business start-up and/or growth 7. Accurately evaluate and justify which business opportunities identified have the greatest possibility of economic success 8. Identify and list the types of external information available to assist small businesses in conducting an environmental analysis 9. Identify significant consumer trends affecting business today and in the near future 10. Differentiate between the environmental factors that should be monitored carefully and those that may be only casually assessed 11. Project how positive environmental factors may be capitalized upon by small businesses 12. Identify the unique qualities of small businesses, which may enable them to respond rapidly to business opportunities 13. Explain how factors having a negative impact on business may, given the right environment, be minimized or turned into a business opportunity 14. Identify the four major categories of macro environmental variables 15. Conduct an analysis of the macro environment for small business 16. Identify which factors in the macro environment have the greatest impact on small business 17. Evaluate how well the proposed business (idea) is supported by consumer trends 18. Conduct a strategic analysis of environmental threats and opportunities for the proposed business (idea) 19. Conduct an environmental analysis for small business in the local community 20. Evaluate the climate for small business within the local economy.