Michigan State University
Launch Strategy: 5 Steps to Capstone Experience
Michigan State University

Launch Strategy: 5 Steps to Capstone Experience

Ken Szymusiak
Forrest S. Carter

Instructors: Ken Szymusiak

13,993 already enrolled

Included withCoursera Plus

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.8

(121 reviews)

24 hours to complete
3 weeks at 8 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
89%
Most learners liked this course
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
4.8

(121 reviews)

24 hours to complete
3 weeks at 8 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
89%
Most learners liked this course

Details to know

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Assessments

15 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the How to Start Your Own Business Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
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There are 7 modules in this course

This module initiates a series of steps to prepare you for actually starting your business in the capstone experience of this course. The first step is to ready your mindset. To prepare yourself to take on a specific state of mind which will orientate your business startup activities in a way that will maximize its chances for success. We suggest this preparation take place in two parts: a focus on strategy, and a focus on resources. This module guides your focus on strategy. At the end of this module you will have a formalized and finalized vision, mission, objectives and goals, and a detailed documentation of these factors in a strategy statement.

What's included

5 videos9 readings3 assignments1 peer review

This module continues the series of steps to prepare you for actually starting your business in the capstone experience of this course. Helping to complete the first step to ready your business for launch, 'to ready your mindset', this module guides your focus on resources. At the end of this module you will have formalized and finalized a resource inventory. This document details all resources at your immediate disposal or within your reach that can be dedicated towards your business.

What's included

5 videos4 readings2 assignments1 peer review

This module continues the series of steps to prepare you for actually starting your business in the capstone experience of this course. This module is step two in that series. Having completed the first step, 'to ready your mindset', this module guides you in gearing up you business so that it is capable of creating and delivering value at launch. This required capability is threefold: finding funding to augment available resources; finalizing business model detailing execution strategy, and finalizing the operational tasks necessary to insure the business's product or service can actually be produced and delivered. This module deals with the first of these requirements. At the end of this module you will have a greater understanding of non-traditional funding sources to augment the traditional ones, putting you in the best position possible to find any additional funding you may need to launch your business.

What's included

3 videos9 readings3 assignments1 peer review

This module continues step two of the five steps to prepare you for actually starting your business in the capstone experience of this course. Step two is gearing up business. The focus of step two is insuring that your business is capable of creating and delivering its product or service at launch. As stated earlier this required capability is threefold: finding funding to augment available resources; finalizing business model detailing execution strategy, and finalizing the operational tasks necessary to insure the business's product or service can actually be produced and delivered. This module focuses on the second of these requirements. At the end of this module you will have a a business model adjusted to fit available resources that will guide your actions in starting your business.

What's included

3 videos6 readings2 assignments

This module completes step two of the five steps to prepare you for actually starting your business in the capstone experience of this course. As discussed in modules three and four there are three areas that must be addressed to help insure that your business is capable and ready to create and deliver its product or service at launch. As stated earlier this required capability is threefold: finding funding to augment available resources; finalizing business model detailing execution strategy, This module focuses on the third and final of these requirements: finalizing the operational tasks necessary to insure the business's product or service can actually be produced and delivered. Finalizing these operational tasks not only provides a checklist for launch, but a budget for launch as well. At the end of this module you will have a production plan and accompanying budget along with a startup budget.

What's included

9 videos15 readings3 assignments

This module addresses the third (Get Market Created) and fourth (Get 'ABC' Game Plan) steps of the process to prepare for your capstone experience and business launch. These two steps prepare the business to connect with individuals and organizations in its market, form and nurture relationships and create customers. There is a saying in sports that winning cures all ills. There are several reasons that lead to business failures, most if not all can be cured with enough customers. Peter Drucker, who many describe as the father of modern business consulting, is famously quoted as saying, “Because the purpose of business is to create a customer, the business enterprise has two–and only two–basic functions: marketing and innovation. Marketing and innovation produce results; all the rest are costs. Marketing is the distinguishing, unique function of the business.” In essence a business is to create value, then create a customer. At the end of this model you will be able to develop a marketing plan and sales plan outlining the specific tools you will use to connect with and create customers.

What's included

10 videos14 readings2 assignments

This module presents the fifth and last step to prepare for your capstone experience and the launch of your business. At the end of this module you will have a completed a formalized final launch plan laying out the execution steps for your capstone experience.

What's included

1 peer review

Instructors

Instructor ratings
4.8 (16 ratings)
Ken Szymusiak
Michigan State University
6 Courses101,805 learners
Forrest S. Carter
Michigan State University
6 Courses101,805 learners

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