DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE
CSC454/2527S: The Business of Software
January-April 2003
Course Overview
Version of 25 March 2003
January-April 2003, Mondays,
Lecture and Discussion, usually from
Meeting with Guest Entrepreneur, usually from
Tutorial, usually 8:
Description
A broad overview
of the software industry and a detailed look at the principles for starting and
operating successful and growing businesses within the industry.
Objectives
The objectives of
this course include development of:
• An
understanding of the high-technology business environment in general and of the
computer and software industries in particular.
• An
understanding of the basic principles involved in crafting a small healthy
growing business within the software industry, emphasizing eight key areas: innovation,
focus and objectives, opportunity and timing, proprietary
technology and capability, marketing and distribution, finance
and financing, leadership and management, and partnerships.
• The
ability to write, present, and critique business plans and to formulate and
enhance computer-based financial forecasting models.
Synopsis
Topics will
include the computer and software industries; sources of innovative
opportunity; software business definition; software market planning and product
planning; the management of R&D and software development; software product
marketing; software sales and sales management; software product manufacturing
and support; the financing and financial management of high technology
ventures; legal protections for software as intellectual property; and
leadership, management, and human resources for high technology industries.
Particular emphasis will be placed on how the Internet has changed the software
industry.
The class will be
enriched by the participation of guest entrepreneurs – skilled
practitioners active in the industry.
Intended
students
Computer Science
4th year and graduate students; others by special permission.
Course
photographs
During the first
two weeks of class, student pictures will be taken in BA 7214 on Monday January
13 or 20 from
Communication
with the class
Announcements,
course notes, assignments, etc. will be posted on the course listserv and the
Web site http://www.dgp.toronto.edu/people/RMB/bizsoft.html. Subscribe to the
listserv by sending a message to listserv@listserv.utoronto.ca.
In the body of
the text type the command line:
subscribe
csc454-L <firstname> <lastname>
Don't put any
subject in and if you have an automatic signature, it must be removed.
Course
schedule
See Course Schedule
on the Web site. It may be updated from time to time.
Course texts
and reading list: assignments and due dates
See Course Texts
and Reading List on the site. It may also be updated.
Guest
entrepreneurs (Subject to change without notice)
See Guest
Entrepreneurs on the Web site. It will be updated from time to time.
Instructional
methods, criteria for evaluation
• Reading from Reading List; books on sale at the U of T
Bookstore (and at Chapters, Amazon, etc.) and will shortly be on reserve in Engineering
and SigSam Libraries; course package of reprinted articles and book excerpts on
sale at Canadian Scholar’s Press Inc. See the Text and Readings document.
• Lectures + question and answer, typically 30-45 minutes
each week.
• Presentations by guest entrepreneurs most weeks; Class
discussion with guests, formulation and analysis of key issues the
following week (7% individual grade based on questions and other class
participation; 1% for having your picture taken).
• Development of a business plan, including a financial
forecasting model, for a new software venture, presented in stages throughout
the semester – (total of 65%)
1% (individual grade) for ideas
3% (team grade) for submission 0
4% (individual grade) for brief assessment on
one other team’s ideas
15% (team grade) for submission 1
15% (team
grade) for submission 2
27% for
final submission, consisting of:
15%
(team grade) for the plan
5% (team grade) for improvement
7% for individual participation on the plan
over the entire semester
Note:
The business plan is to be done in teams of 5.
Note:
5 points out of 100 is subtracted each day the assignment is late (weekend=2
days)
• Oral presentation of EITHER a key issue for your business
plan, OR of the business plan itself (7%, individual grade).
• Term test (20% for test to be held on March 31 from
Business plan
assignments and due dates
13 January (8
a.m.) – Assignment A: Ideas (1%): Each individual submits to the class listserv a single submission
containing one or two new venture ideas, each described in a single short
paragraph. Each submission must also include:
• name, address, phone number, and email address to facilitate
team formation
• a list of useful skills or background, e.g., work in a
particular industry, commerce courses taken, expertise in a field other than
computer science or commerce
20 January
– Assignment
B: Plan v.0 (3%): Each team submits to the
class listserv a one- or two-page description of the idea chosen for the
business plan, and submits to
27 January
– Assignment
C: Brief Assessment on one
other Teams ideas (4%): Each person submits to their TA
a short assessment of one other team’s idea as described in their
listserv submission. Your submission should be in bullet point form, as
questions or comments you would have if you were considering investing in the
idea/business. Your TA will assign you to the idea to comment on.
10 February. – Assignment D: Plan v.1 (15%): Each team hands in a
completed questionnaire that details the key elements of their business
(questionnaire will be provided), as well as a skeletal draft business plan.
This is to be handed in on paper.. The submission must also indicate who on
each team is responsible for what part of the work, and who will make oral
presentations in March and in April.
3 March – Assignment E:
Business issue oral presentation (7%): Individuals will make brief
oral presentations (2.5 minutes each) discussing one key issue and/or challenge
in the evolving business plan. Each team will designate 2 members who will make
the final presentation in April; all others will make these oral presentations
on March 3rd.
10 March
–
Assignment F: Plan v.2 (15%): Each team hands in a complete draft business plan. This is to be
handed in on paper. The more detailed and complete your draft is, the more the
TA can comment on to help you deliver a solid final plan in April (Assignment
H).
7 April – Assignment G:
Business plan oral presentation, for those who have not done issue
presentations on March 3rd (7%): The two individuals from each
team who have not made interim presentations will collaborate on a final oral
presentation (5 minutes total per team) presenting the most salient aspects of
your business plan. Some of the April 7th presentations will be
heard by a panel of industry experts.
11 April – Assignment H:
Plan final (27%): Each team hands in its final complete business
plan in two copies, along with the marked-up copy of Plan v.2.
Faculty
(office hours on request; please send email)
Philip D. Stern,
Instructor –
Kelly Rankin,
Administrative Assistant (BA 7214)
– kellyr@kmdi.toronto.edu
Adriana Ieraci, Teaching
Assistant – bos@adriana.ca
Yogesh Kalra, Teaching Assistant – E-mail: yogesh.kalra03@rotman.utoronto.ca
Zohair
Harianawala, Teaching Assistant – E-mail: zohair.harianawala@utoronto.ca
Please write Kelly
in regard to all administrative matters that arise in this course.