BLDP Seminar: "Business Success"

Last update:  September 11, 2008

Class meets on Thursday evenings; 6-8:40 p.m.; 231 Business & Science Bldg. (except when other locations are noted on the weekly schedule)

Gayle Porter

Office location: 333 BSB 

Office phone: 856-225-6715         

Fax: 856-225-6231

gporter@rutgers.edu  

Required Readings:

	Five Minds for the Future by Howard Gardner. Published in hardcover March 2007; new cost is $26.95. ISBN-13: 9781591399124
	HANDOUTS . . . . . .  I will be distributing handouts periodically as I find things that support our topics and add different perspectives.  To the extent possible, I'll try to introduce extra material as 'in-class' discussion aids, but I might also provide something on occasion that becomes a short added outside reading. It is possible that a scheduled speaker may supply material they would like for you to read.
WEB /LIBRARY RESEARCH?	You will receive a listing of speakers planned during the semester.  You are expected to do some research on the individual and his/her company, before the session.  This will facilitate asking relevant questions and having examples on hand for quality discussion.

A note on the format of the course and importance of attendance:

• This is a Pass/No-credit course, so I don't have the option to simply give you a lower grade for not contributing as much as your classmates.  You're either with us on everything or not.  Therefore, there is emphasis on attendance and participation during class.  The focus of the class is on first-hand experience rather than pre-determined content so, if you miss a class, we have to arrange replacement experiences regardless of the reason for your absence.  You've signed on for 40 hours of experience helping to prepare you for business success, and I want you to get your full 40 hours of experience.

• There is likely to be a trade-off of one of our regularly scheduled class sessions for an activity that takes place outside that schedule.  Don't panic.  This will be announced/arranged well in advance and there will be multiple options so that everyone can arrange a workable schedule based on their own constraints.

Outside of our class time, you have three responsibilities toward completion of this course:

1. Reading the assigned book.  We will use the content of this book to construct personal development plans as described below.  It is an easy-read book, but I do strongly suggest you start reading it immediately and keep notes on key ideas from each chapter.

2. Researching speakers and companies we visit.  You should always know something in advance about an individual executive, that person's company, or at least the industry.  When we have speakers or do site visits, you should always have a few notes in front of you from this research and be noting things you learn or questions you might want to ask when an opportunity arises.  Pay particular attention to what impresses you about the executive that can become reminder points for your own career or improvement ideas for your continuing professional development. You will also need to reference these informational points in your final presentation (described below).  To help refine your approach to this research, I will ask you to turn in a copy of your research and discussion points prior to each speaker.

3. Writing and presenting your top ten reminders and your development plan.  This assignment has two components.  Note: you do not turn in anything for the top ten reminders, you simply show us what you've composed, but you will turn in a short paper on your development plans

• Your "Top Ten" reminders is your own listing of favorite advice gained throughout the semester.  This could be thought of as your 'ten commandments' or a 'Letterman-style' list of 10 things that will make me rich and powerful (or whatever your personal greatness ambition).  You will build these into some type of visual aid to actually keep as a reminder as you progress in school and shift into career building.  In your final presentation, you will show us what you have created and briefly tell us why those points were particularly relevant to you.  

• Your development plan is simply a timeline of development steps that you will commit to for self-improvement on some specific attribute (skills, knowledge, habits, etc.).  You must have 2 specific development goals and plan for pursuit.  In your paper and presentation to us, you will also explain what prompted you to target those two goals and frame it all in connection to the book we've read, as well as relevant class activities (in-class activities, speakers, site visits, other readings).  If you choose to use PowerPoint for this presentation, you are allowed up to 4 slides only.  The paper can be no longer than 5 pages (double-spaced; Times New Roman 11 pt font; 1" margins on all sides).  If the paper is not adequate for passing the course, it will be returned to you for revisions.  We will talk in class about a variety of integration methods to combine ideas from multiple sources.

Yes, this is a light reading load for a 3-credit course and minimal assignments to worry about.  So, I want to emphasize again that passing the course depends heavily on being present for our activities and participating fully in our sessions (advance research plus active involvement at the time).

Class meeting dates are as follows.  Due to the likelihood that speakers will need to make changes during our semester, this should always be considered tentative.  Watch your email for last minute changes, and I'll distribute new schedule pages or note adjustments in class as needed.

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