Technology Ventures* (Spring 2012) “Ask me the biggest challenge ...

Technology Ventures* # (Spring 2012)
This special topics course has the following codes: BE 481, CE 498, ChE 481, Cpt S 483, EE 483
“Ask me the biggest challenge that companies must solve in driving
innovation in today's business environment, and the answer is easy. The
biggest challenge is developing our future leaders.”
-– Scott Carson (Cougar Alumnus and President/CEO, Boeing)
Course Description
This course is designed to teach technology entrepreneurship in a way that combines theory and
practice. Students will learn entrepreneurship by: (1) participating in case discussions, (2) participating
in class exercises (3) engaging in after-class activities, and (4) preparing and presenting business
materials. This course seeks to develop internally motivated business leaders with a knack to solve
problems and an obsession to exploit entrepreneurial opportunities.
This course covers the entrepreneurial process from conception to harvest of a new venture. It focuses
on the attributes of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial teams, trains students to develop skills needed
to distinguish between ideas and opportunities, instructs on harnessing resources to start a new
technology venture. The course maintains that at the center of the entrepreneurial process and in the
heart of entrepreneurs or the would-be entrepreneurs are people, not dollars.
Throughout this course, students will constantly make contacts with individuals in the real world. A
collision of this sort, where theory intersects practice, I believe will hone students’ entrepreneurial skills.
Students will learn to seek out opportunities, minimize the required resources, and develop case
studies based on technology ventures.
Learning Outcomes
Students are expected to:
1. Understand how winning entrepreneurs think, act, and perform in the entrepreneurial process
2. Emulate and model entrepreneurial actions, attitudes, habit, and strategies
3. Be challenged to become an entrepreneur
4. Develop extensive team and collaborative skills
5. Exhibit ethical behavior and demonstrate global awareness
6. Communicate a case study effectively in written and oral forms
7. Learn independently and be fulfilled by this experience
You and I
1. Washington State University organizes a Global Case Competition every year. Why not use this
opportunity to prepare to compete in that competition? There is money to be won and the funds
go directly to YOU. Any team from this class that places within the top three in that competition,
as an additional award, I will treat them for dinner at the restaurant of their choice anywhere in
the world. Also, why not strive to produce a quality case that can be published in a journal?
2. I always learn from students and look forward to your lessons.
3. Let’s enjoy this course together; after all, there is fun in “function.” Do you see it?
Disclaimer
Because new venture creation is my favorite course and because I believe that entrepreneurship is the
most powerful vehicle through which we can re-create our world, I tend to get a bit excited in class. I am
aware of this and plan to apply restraints whenever I can, but please excuse me when these moments
subdue me. I tend to do this with the very best minds.
Professor Info

John (Kalu) Osiri
Ph.D., Analytical Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA.
Post-Doc., International Business and Entrepreneurship, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Hobby: Ping pong You are welcome to challenge me anytime at the University Recreation Center.
This Class Meets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 3:10 P.M. in Todd 109
Email: jk.osiri@wsu.edu Please reference: Student – Technology Ventures
Office: Todd 431A; Office phone: (509) 335-3057; Office hours: By appointment
“The world is desperate for leaders that would dare to innovate, that would
fearlessly chart a new course in history.”
-– John Kalu Osiri (Cougar Faculty)
Work Load
Entrepreneurship is a high energy endeavor both in preparation and execution.
Discussions
During class periods, I will introduce a topic from the textbook and then delve into discussions.
Students should come ready to ask questions and provide their own insights. Sometimes, we will play a
video in class. The video content will motivate or inspire you. It will also spur discussions. Case Study
preparation is a must to be successful in this course. All the cases used throughout this course
describe real situations. You will learn from them. Students must read each case and come prepared
for discussions. Cases will be role played by student groups. You can prepare for the cases
individually or in groups, whatever works best for you. I will call on anyone at any time to answer any
question from the case. Of course, students are permitted to speak freely and to speak up in class,
even when they are not called upon. Flipping through the pages during class is a sure way of indicating
that you had not studied the case.
Case Studies
Each student will write a Case Study on an existing technology venture. The Case Study will be
presented twice – in the middle, and at the end of the term. Term-end presentations will be done as a
competition in front of business professionals. These professionals will decide your final grade based
on their judgment as to whether or not your Case Study accurately depicts the company in question.
Students can produce an entrepreneurship paper or write a Business Plan in lieu of the Case Study.
Recommended Textbook and Notebook
1. Technology Ventures: From Idea to Enterprise, Thomas H. Byers, Richard C. Dorf, and Andrew
J. Nelson, Third Edition, McGraw-Hill.
2. Notebook to document ideas, meetings, decisions, reflections, disappointments, etc.
Submitting Assignments
All assignments are to be submitted by 11:59 pm of the due date. Documents submitted after this time
will not be graded. This means that late assignments will automatically be assigned zero points.
Assignments should be formatted using the following specifications. Margins: 1 inch margins all around;
Font: Time New Roman or Arial; Font Size: 11 or 12; Spacing: 1;
Grading
1) Classroom Participation and Exercises 20
2) Assignments 10
3) How Well Did You Live Out the Five Dimensions of Entrepreneurial Orientation 10
4) Final Case Study (or Research Paper or Business Plan) 60
Total 100

Students with Physical or Learning Disabilities
Reasonable accommodations are available for students with a documented disability. Please visit the
Disability Resource Center (DRC) during the first two weeks of every semester to seek information or to
qualify for accommodations. All accommodations must be approved through the DRC. To make an
appointment with a disability counselor, call (509) 335-3417 or email drc@wsu.edu.
Course Policies
Punctuality, attendance and participation are expected. On daily basis, points would be deducted for
being late or for missing class. Assignments must be submitted on the due date. Failure to do so will
result in a grade of zero for that particular assignment. Assignments are not accepted after the due
date. No food or drink is allowed in the classroom. Students are expected to remain in class the entire
duration (50 min); therefore, leaving to stretch, get a snack, get a drink, smoke a cigarette, or go to the
bathroom is disruptive and inappropriate. There is a zero tolerance policy for electronic communications
(cell phones, text messaging, emailing, “facebooking”, etc.) during class. If an emergency exists and a
student must be reachable during the class period, arrangements must be made with the instructor
prior to the beginning of class. Based on the judgment of the instructor, students may be penalized
using the point-deduction system and/or by being asked to leave if their behavior is disruptive to the
class.
Professional Behavior
You are expected to uphold the WSU Standards of Conduct for Students in all respects. Because this
course strives to develop you as a professional, you must also demonstrate professional behaviors that
include: communication honesty, work competence, financial responsibility, property ownership,
protection of others, and social responsibility. You are encouraged to collaborate with others to
advance your project work, but you assume full responsibility for the integrity and originality of the
academic work you submit. You must give appropriate credit for others’ work you use in advancing
your own work. If you violate professional codes of ethics or WSU standards of conduct, corresponding
assignments are subject to a failing grade. Repeated offenses will be reported to the Office of Student
Conduct. If you have any questions about these requirements, please speak with the instructor or visit
the Office of Student Conduct in the Lighty Student Services Building, Room 190.
“What should exist? To me, that's the most exciting question imaginable.
What do we need that we don't have? How can we realize our potential?”
-– Paul Allen (Cougar Alumnus and Co-Founder of Microsoft)
*This syllabus was adapted from a sample provided by the co-author of New Venture Creation: Entrepreneurship for the 21 st Century – Professor Stephen Spinelli
(former Faculty at Babson College, Massachusetts and President of Philadelphia University). I am grateful to Professors Joe Harris (Cougar Alumnus and Faculty)
and Leon Prieto (Savannah State University, Georgia). They copiously shared their teaching experience and course syllabi with me. I also thank Professor William
(Bill) Rossi for suggesting some of the experiential exercises that have been incorporated in this course. He is Associate Director at the Center Entrepreneurship
and Innovation (CEI) and CEI Faculty Fellow at the University of Florida-Gainesville).

# This syllabus is subject to change at any time.