Revised: 1/27/21

MGT 357 UV2 SPRING 2021

Entrepreneurship Simulation Experience (ESE)
Inside the Mind of the Entrepreneurial CEO
University of Miami – Department of Management
Class: Thursdays, 7:40 p.m. – 10:25 p.m.

Room: ONLINE

Lecturer: Susy Alvarez-Diaz

Office: Jenkins Building - Room 412-D

Phone: 305-205-6868 Personal Cell

E-mail: s.alvarez15@miami.edu

Office By appointment via Zoom

Hours:

Text: Computer Simulation Program Support Packet / Materials

GoVenture.net – Students must purchase online software at:
www.buygoventure.com – GoVenture CEO
Cost: US$29.00

Objectives: Three out of every four start-ups fail. Success is contingent not just on luck and
timing but also on strong leadership and sound decision making under difficult
circumstances. The objectives of this course are:
 to expose students to the unique requirements, challenges, and issues
associated with being the start-up founder and CEO
 to start and run the business under the fast-paced environment that is a
start-up.
 to allow students the opportunity to apply lessons learned in
entrepreneurship coursework through starting simulated businesses
 to give students a glimpse of the high-pressure, quick response
environment that is the start-up world
 to give students experience in what will be required in real life running a
business

Overview: This course provides students with unique entrepreneurial experiences derived
from starting and running businesses through computer simulation. Topics include:
 Opportunity and environment assessment for potential businesses
 Initiation, organization, administration, and launch of the businesses
 Operation of the businesses in a competitive environment
 Responsibilities, functioning, and issues of entrepreneurial teams
 Evaluation, measurement, and competitive ranking of business success
 Application and implementation of learned entrepreneurship principles
for the businesses

Summary: MGT 357 uses a variety of learning methods to cover course topics, including
readings, class discussion, assignments, handouts, in-class exercises, guest
 speakers, and the launching of a new virtual business via computer simulation.
Students are expected to complete all readings and assignments prior to class,
as well as to attend class regularly and actively participate in class discussion.
Grades for the course will be determined as outlined in the “Grading Policy”
section. Students are directed to note the “Statement on Academic Dishonesty”
and are required to abide by all University policies regarding academic integrity,
as well as the University Class Attendance and Absences policies. NOTE: The
course syllabus, topics, and assignments are subject to adjustment as
necessary.

Disclaimer: Lecture topics and dates are subject to change based on the scheduled guest
lecturer.

MGT 357 UV2 SPRING 2021 COURSE OUTLINE

DATE TOPIC MATERIALS ASSIGNMENT DUE

R: 1/28 ESE: Course Introduction/Overview

LECTURE: Entrepreneurs – who we are

R: 2/4 LECTURE: Vision, Building a Team, Software Purchase

Gathering Resources
Trial Business: Launch
www.goventureonline.com
Trial Business: Operations

R: 2/11 Trial Business: Completion and Reporting ESE: Results/Outcomes

LECTURE: Networking Skills – Building your Report in class
Brain Trust (NO GRADE on Simulation)

R: 2/18 LECTURE: Standing Alone

Business 1: Initiation and Launch

R: 2/25 LECTURE: Motivating your Team

Business 1: Operations

R: 3/4 LECTURE: Know what you don’t know (R#1) Business 1:

Business 1: Completion and Reporting Results/Outcomes Report

R: 3/11 Business 1: Review and Rankings

LECTURE: CEO’s Personal Life Challenges
Business 2: Initiation and Launch

R: 3/18 LECTURE: Responsibility – having the hard

conversations
Business 2: Operations

R: 3/25 LECTURE: Who told you it would be easy?

Business 2: Operations

R: 4/1 LECTURE: Doubts – feeling like an imposter (R#2) Business 2:

Business 2: Completion and Reporting Results/Outcomes Report

R: 4/8 Business 2: Review and Rankings

LECTURE: Being CEO/Company
Spokesperson
 Business 3: Initiation and Launch

R: 4/15 LECTURE: Negotiation/Ethical Dilemmas -

Decisions for the Right Reasons
Business 3: Operations

R: 4/22 LECTURE: On the other side of failure

Business 3: Completion and Reporting

R: 4/29 LECTURE: The Exit (R#3) Business 3:

Business 3: Review and Rankings Results/Outcomes Report
Review for FINAL

R: 5/6 FINAL EXAM: 8 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.;

SUBMITTED VIA BLACKBOARD

QUIZZES
There will be reading assigned to be completed before class. The reading will pertain to the guest
speaker’s topic. After the guest lecture and a class discussion on the topic, the student will take the
quiz. Quiz days will not be announced. Once class is over, the quiz will no longer be available on
Blackboard. Therefore, if the student misses class, the student cannot make up the quiz. There will
be a total of 10 quizzes.

GRADING POLICY
A student’s final grade for the course will be weighted and calculated as follows for the
indicated Grading Category Items:

50% 10 Quizzes (5 points each)

30% 3 ESE Competitive Ranking (generated at end of each simulation – 10 points each)
15% 1 ESE Summary Paper Analysis (FINAL)
5% Participation in class discussions

All grades are determined at the Lecturer’s discretion and are not negotiable.

Late or missed assignments will be considered at the Lecturer’s discretion and with prior
approval only; they are subject to a reduced or no grade, or denial of acceptance resulting in
no grade for the affected item. Late or missed Assignment, Activity, or Simulation deadlines will
not be accepted; any such occurrence will be handled at the Lecturer’s discretion, including a
reduced or no grade, or denial of acceptance resulting in no grade for the affected item.

In determining and assigning grades for both the individual components and the overall final
course grade the following point scale will be strictly adhered to:

A 100 – 93 C 76.9 – 73
A- 92.9 – 90 C- 72.9 – 70
B+ 89.9 – 87 D+ 69.9 – 67
B 86.9 – 83 D 66.9 – 63
B- 82.9 – 80 D- 62.9 – 60
C+ 79.9 – 77 F 59.9 and below

.
All grades are determined at the Instructor’s discretion and are not negotiable. Final
grades will comply with any Miami Herbert Business School policies.

Individual Attendance and Participation; Assignments

Remote students must enable video

Students attending the class remotely are required to turn on their webcam or join by
smartphone, so they can be seen by the instructor and can engage with their classmates
visually. You are expected to have your video on throughout the entire class and not be
engaged in activities that do not pertain to the class. Attending remotely does not excuse
you from actively participating in class.

Attendance and participation: Attendance and participation is mandatory and part of your
grade. You must be present and actively participating in class. Among other things, this
means:

◦ You join the Zoom on time and do not leave early.

◦ Your video is on throughout class time and you are visible and visibly engaged in the course.
Please be appropriately dressed and do not have distracting backgrounds.
◦ You regularly contribute to the class by typing in the chat, responding to polls, or responding
vocally through your mic when called on. You might be called on because you raised your
hand, or I might cold-call you. Yes, I cold-call! (However, students should leave their mic
MUTED when not speaking so that we do not experience too much background interference
noise.) It is not important if a student is offering correct answers or incorrect ones, offering
answers or asking questions. It matters that you are contributing actively and regularly.

◦ You have your materials at hand at every lecture. This includes your own copy (paper or
electronic) of the relevant class notes and worksheets for the day, and a way to write notes.

◦ During class you are not engaged in activities that do not pertain to the class.

◦ If real-time attendance in this class creates undue hardship due to differences in your
residential time-zone and that of Miami, Florida, please contact the instructor to discuss your
options. Although we are not sharing a physical classroom, our virtual classroom is to be
considered a classroom and your conduct in this class is expected to mirror appropriate
conduct in a physical classroom. I will usually give a short break in the middle of a session, so
if you can, please wait for that break to take care of any non-class-related urgent task you
might have.

Students will receive points for each assignment, either individually or as a team as
appropriate; requirements vary per assignment and will be communicated when assigned.
Unless otherwise noted, students are to complete all assignments individually and without
assistance in any form or manner. For team assignments all team members are required to
participate in and contribute to the assignment(s) completion per the Undergraduate Honor
Code; failure to do so will result in a reduced or failing grade for the affected assignment(s).

Students will receive points for each assignment, either individually or as a team as
appropriate; requirements vary per assignment and will be communicated when assigned.
Unless otherwise noted, students are to complete all assignments individually and without
assistance in any form or manner. For team assignments all team members are required to
participate in and contribute to the assignment(s) completion per the Undergraduate Honor
Code; failure to do so will result in a reduced or failing grade for the affected assignment(s).
AS PER UNIVERSITY POLICY

Absences due to Observance of Religious Holidays

As per University rules, “it is the student’s obligation to provide faculty members with notice of
the dates he or she will be absent due to observance of religious holy days. Faculty members
can require that this notice be in writing.” Furthermore, “Absences due to observance of
religious holy days that are not notified to the relevant faculty member within the first three
class meeting days may be considered unexcused, and the faculty member may therefore
prevent the student from making up examinations or assignments missed during the period of
absence.”

STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

The University of Miami is governed by an Undergraduate Honor Code with which all students
must be familiar. The Code specifically states that all undergraduate students are responsible
for reading, understanding, and upholding this Code. Students are expected to warn fellow
students who do not appear to be observing proper ethical standards and to report violations
of this Code. Simply stated, cheating and/or dishonest behavior in any form will not be
tolerated in this class; all violations will be submitted to the Honor Council. The Instructor
specifically reserves the right to discipline all students for academic dishonesty, in conformity
with the Code and the general rules and regulations of the University. Such action may include
lowering grades or assignment of failing grades on affected examinations, projects,
assignments, or for the course itself.

LECTURER BIO

Susy Alvarez-Díaz is a senior lecturer teaching undergraduate entrepreneurship courses through the
Department of Management at the University of Miami Herbert Business School and graduate
entrepreneurship courses in the MVSIO program at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.   She has been
teaching at the college level over the last 17 years.  She is the former director of Entrepreneurship
Programs at the University of Miami where she more than doubled enrollment, tripled the participation in
the annual Business Plan Competition and hosted ABC’s Shark Tank two years in a row, the only
university in all of Florida to do so.
 
She has 30 years’ experience in marketing and corporate communications including public relations,
branding, internal communications, public affairs, and community and university relations.  As an
entrepreneur for the last 19 years, she is CEO of ADG Omnimedia - a public relations & marketing firm in
Miami, Florida.  She served as a coach for Babson College’s inaugural class of WIN Lab in Miami and a
mentor at Miami Dade College’s Idea Center.
 
Alvarez-Diaz is regularly featured in national media outlets such as CNN Español and was presented with
the Excellence in Teaching award from the Miami Herbert Business School in 2018. Currently, she is the
faculty advisor for Women in Business and uStart Entrepreneurship Club.
 
During her corporate career with Silicon Valley’s tech sector companies, Alvarez-Diaz worked for Hewlett-
Packard’s Latin America Region launching marketing campaigns through the region’s distribution
channels.  As the Latin America Region Communications and Public Relations Manager, she then worked
on the successful and historic IPO of HP’s spin-off, Agilent Technologies, Inc.  She also served as the
media and PR consultant to the Agilent President and CEO in her role as Worldwide Executive
Consultant. 
 
Mrs. Alvarez-Diaz graduated with honors from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Business
Administration degree in International Finance and Marketing.  She then went on to complete a Master of
Business Administration degree in Marketing and Management.  She is currently pursuing a doctorate in
Higher Education and Leadership at the University of Miami.