GSBA 535 Opportunity Recognition and ImplementationGSBA 599 Organizational Behavior

Spring 2016January 11, 2016 – April 28, 2016

9.5 units

Course Syllabus

INSTRUCTORS: Elissa Grossman, Peter Kim, Kerry Fields, Abbass Sharif, Peter Cardon

CONTACT: Elissa Grossman (entrepreneurship)Email: elissa.grossman@marshall.usc.eduPhone: (213)740-3923

Peter Kim (OB/negotiations)Email: kimpeter@marshall.usc.edu(213) 740-7947

Kerry Fields (business law/contracts)Email: fields@usc.edu(213) 740-9307

Abbass Sharif (analytics)Email: asharif@marshall.usc.edu(213) 740-1615

Peter Cardon (communication)Email: cardon@marshall.usc.eduPhone: (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

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REQUIRED READINGS:

USC Course Reader (download will be made available online). Cheeseman, Henry. Legal Environment of Business: Online Commerce, Ethics, and

Global Issues. Prentice Hall, 2015. ISBN: 978-0133973310. Fisher, R., Ury, W. L., & Patton, B. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without

Giving In, Revised Ed. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 2011.

Course DescriptionGSBA 535 is an online course that comprises part of the OMBA Program. The core subject areas (entrepreneurship, contract law, and negotiations) 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 30%OB/Negotiations 30%Business Law/Contracts 20%Analytics 10%Communication 10%

Course NoteThis 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 Goals1. Our graduates will develop a strategic level of 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.

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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 ObjectivesThe 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 Discuss the interplay between individuals, groups, and organizational settings Analyze the limitations and strengths of different organizational structures and the

challenges of implementing organizational change Practice key components in the negotiation process 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 PolicyThe grade for this course is based 30% on entrepreneurship content, 30% on organizational behavior/negotiation content, 20% on law content, and 10% 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.

GradesThe 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.

Points Percent of GradeENTREPRENEURSHIP 1,500 points

total30% of total course

gradeParticipation MarshallTALK Discussion/Video ForumsQuizzes/ExamsHomework

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Group Projects

OB/NEGOTIATIONS 1,500 points total

30% of total course grade

Participation MarshallTALK Discussion/Video ForumsQuizzes/ExamsHomeworkGroup Projects

LAW 1,000 points total

20% of total course grade

Participation MarshallTALK 0Team Presentation/IRAC 100Team Contract Negotiation Exercise

150

Quizzes 150Midterm 300Non-Cumulative Final 300

COMMUNICATION 500 points total 10% of total course grade

Participation MarshallTALK Discussion/Video ForumsQuizzes/ExamsHomework Group Projects

STATISTICS/ANALYTICS 500 points total 10% of total course grade

Participation MarshallTALK Discussion/Video ForumsQuizzes/ExamsHomeworkGroup Projects

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

1. Via the Home Page2. Via Modules 3. Via Assignments

Synchronous ActivitiesStudents 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 INTRODUCTIONMonday, January 11th Intro 5pm-7pm ALL FACULTY

MODULE 1 - MarshallTALKMonday, January 18th Session 1a 5pm-7pm Grossman, Cardon, SharifThursday, January 21st Session 1b 5pm-7pm Fields, Kim

MODULE 2 - MarshallTALKMonday, January 25th Session 2a 5pm-7pm Grossman, Cardon, SharifThursday, January 28th Session 2b 5pm-7pm Fields, Kim

MODULE 3 - MarshallTALKMonday, February 1st Session 3a 5pm-7pm Grossman, Cardon, SharifThursday, February 4th Session 3b 5pm-7pm Fields, Kim

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MODULE 4 - MarshallTALKMonday, February 8th Session 4a 5pm-7pm Grossman, Cardon, SharifThursday, February 11th Session 4b 5pm-7pm Fields, Kim

MODULE 5 - MarshallTALKMonday, February 15th Session 5a 5pm-7pm Grossman, Cardon, SharifThursday, February 18th Session 5b 5pm-7pm Fields, Kim

MODULE 6 - MarshallTALKMonday, February 22nd Session 6a 5pm-7pm Grossman, Cardon, SharifThursday, February 25th Session 6b 5pm-7pm Fields, Kim

MODULE 7 - MarshallTALKMonday, February 28th Session 7a 5pm-7pm Grossman, Cardon, SharifThursday, March 3rd Session 7b 5pm-7pm Fields, Kim

MODULE 8 - MarshallTALKMonday, March 7th Session 8a 5pm-7pm Grossman, Cardon, SharifThursday, March 10th Session 8b 5pm-7pm Fields, Kim

MODULE 9 - MarshallTALKMonday, March 14th Session 9a 5pm-7pm Grossman, Cardon, SharifThursday, March 17th Session 9b 5pm-7pm Fields, Kim

MODULE 10 - MarshallTALKMonday, March 21st Session 10a 5pm-7pm Grossman, Cardon, SharifThursday, March 24th Session 10b 5pm-7pm Fields, Kim

MODULE 11 - MarshallTALKMonday, March 28th Session 11a 5pm-7pm Grossman, Cardon, SharifThursday, March 31st Session 11b 5pm-7pm Fields, Kim

MODULE 12 - MarshallTALKMonday, April 4th Session 12a 5pm-7pm Grossman, Cardon, SharifThursday, April 7th Session 12b 5pm-7pm Fields, Kim

MODULE 13 - MarshallTALKMonday, April 11th Session 13a 5pm-7pm Grossman, Cardon, SharifThursday, April 14th Session 13b 5pm-7pm Fields, Kim

MODULE 14 - MarshallTALKMonday, April 18th Session 14a 5pm-7pm Grossman, Cardon, SharifThursday, April 21st Session 14b 5pm-7pm Fields, Kim

MODULE 15 - MarshallTALKMonday, April 25th Session 15a 5pm-7pm Grossman, Cardon, SharifThursday, April 28th Session 15b 5pm-7pm Fields, Kim

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Academic ConductPlagiarism – 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 https://scampus.usc.edu/1100-behavior-violating-university-standards-and-appropriate-sanctions/.  Other forms of academic dishonesty are equally unacceptable.  See additional information in SCampus and university policies on scientific misconduct, http://policy.usc.edu/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 http://equity.usc.edu/ or to the Department of Public Safety http://capsnet.usc.edu/department/department-public-safety/online-forms/contact-us.  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 http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/cwm/ provides 24/7 confidential support, and the sexual assault resource center webpage sarc@usc.edu describes reporting options and other resources.

Support SystemsStudents whose primary language is not English should check with the American Language Institute http://dornsife.usc.edu/ali, which sponsors courses and workshops specifically for international graduate students.  The Office of Disability Services and Programs http://sait.usc.edu/academicsupport/centerprograms/dsp/home_index.html provides certification for students with disabilities and helps arrange the relevant accommodations.  If an officially  declared emergency makes travel to campus infeasible, USC Emergency Information http://emergency.usc.edu/ will provide safety and other updates, including ways in which instruction will be continued by means of blackboard, teleconferencing, and other technology.

Technology Support

Virtual Classroom (Canvas) 24/7 AssistanceCheck out the "Help" link at the very bottom of this webpagePhone: (844) 408-6460

MarshallTALK (WebEx) 24/7 AssistanceGo to: https://support.webex.com/MyAccountWeb/supporthome.doPhone: (866) 229-3239 and press “1” when prompted

USC Login, MyUSC, GoogleApps Assistance(Mon-Fri 9:30am-5:00pm PT, Sat-Sun 1:00pm-5:00pm PT)Call (213) 740-5555Email: consult@usc.edu

Marshall Email/Office365, OneDrive Assistance (Mon-Fri 8:00am-6:00pm PT)Go to: http://service.marshall.usc.edu

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Call (213) 740-3000Email: helpdesk@marshall.usc.edu

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 at OMBA@marshall.usc.edu

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