EPS7580 Independent Research

1.5-3 CreditsIndependent research is available for all academic divisions. Registration is manual for students through Graduate Programs and Office of Graduate Academic Services.

Independent Research provides an opportunity to conduct in-depth research in areas of a student's own specific interest. Students may undertake Independent Research for academic credit with the approval of a student-selected faculty advisor, the appropriate division chair, and Graduate Academic Services. Please note that a student is responsible for recruiting a faculty advisor through the student's own initiative and obtain the advisor's prior consent/commitment before applying for an independent research project. The research project normally carries 1.5 or 3 credits.

For more information and a proposal outline please visit: http://www.babson.edu/Academics/graduate/mba/Pages/independent-research.aspx

EPS 7508: Initiation of Corporate ventures

3 elective credits

The course focuses on ways to profitably exploit business opportunities (as opposed to what opportunity to pursue). It will allow you to acquire the skill set necessary for crafting a winning business model for your venture - developing and writing a concise, coherent, effective, and complete business development plan and prepare you to gain support within a mature corporation for your plan.

Prerequsites: EPS 9501

EPS3542: Innovation Ecosystems of Spain

4 advanced management credits (Elective Abroad)

Startup Ecosystems of Spain is a study abroad course designed to introduce Babson undergraduate students to the diverse Spanish economy with emphasis on the regional innovation ecosystems of Madrid and Barcelona. It examines the challenges that Spain has faced in recovering from the global financial crisis and evolving after the global pandemic COVID-19. It involves a multidisciplinary orientation at Babson followed by a 10-day study tour to Madrid and Barcelona. Students will meet on-site with executives from some of the top startup and multinational organizations in Spain.

Prerequisite: Application through Glavin Office

EPS6603 Innovation Roles
1.5 Credits (MSAEL Core)It's no secret that disruptive innovation is extremely challenging for large mature companies. In this short course we'll examine one crucial reason for the lack of progress in companies toward building a capability for breakthrough innovation, and that is talent management.

Companies rely on champions to break rules in order to make breakthroughs happen. But for every champion that made it, scores of others saw fantastic opportunity for their companies but couldn't execute on it effectively. This course considers a different approach. The argument we'll make is that innovation must become a business function in its own right, with its own management system, capabilities and expertise. In order to make that happen, innovation roles need to be defined and instituted, so that when a champion cannot get it done alone, a team of innovation experts is there to make sure the breakthrough doesn't get buried. A framework of innovation roles is developed, along with selection, development and retention practices. A self-diagnostic tool is offered for students to assess their fit with various roles within Strategic Innovation.

EPS6602 Innovation Roles
1.5 Credits (MSAEL Core)

It's no secret that disruptive innovation is extremely challenging for large mature companies. In this short course we'll examine one crucial reason for the lack of progress in companies toward building a capability for breakthrough innovation, and that is talent management.

Companies rely on champions to break rules in order to make breakthroughs happen. But for every champion that made it, scores of others saw fantastic opportunity for their companies but couldn't execute on it effectively. This course considers a different approach. The argument we'll make is that innovation must become a business function in its own right, with its own management system, capabilities and expertise. In order to make that happen, innovation roles need to be defined and instituted, so that when a champion cannot get it done alone, a team of innovation experts is there to make sure the breakthrough doesn't get buried. A framework of innovation roles is developed, along with selection, development and retention practices. A self-diagnostic tool is offered for students to assess their fit with various roles within Strategic Innovation.

Prerequisites: MOB6600 and EPS6600

EPS1110 Introduction to the Entrepreneurial Experience

4 Credits

The Online Babson Summer Study program is designed to help high school students (primarily rising juniors and seniors in high school), like you, cultivate core career skills and a sharp entrepreneurial mindset for overcoming challenges in any setting, in any role. You will participate in interactive online sessions with Babson faculty, entrepreneurship experts, and Babson near-peer students, work on team-based projects with peers from around the world, learn how to apply Entrepreneurial Thought and Action , and understand the competencies needed to start your own venture.

EPS3541 Launch - Grow Your Existing Venture
4 CreditsThis course is designed for undergraduate students who are actively pursuing a venture that has progressed well beyond the Explore stage of development - already launched or launch-imminent. The course will support students in their active quest to achieve major development milestones in all aspects of their businesses, including but not limited to, products and services, revenue, organization, geographical expansion, distribution, partnerships, funding, profitability/sustainability, pivots, and social initiatives.

To enroll, instructor permission is needed. Email Mary Gale for an application: mgale@babson.edu

Prerequisites: FME or (MOB1000 and MOB1010) and permission from instructor (application and interview-based)

EPS4530: Launch Your Venture

(Previously titled Living the Entrepreneurial Experience)
4 Advanced Management Credits

Living the Entrepreneurial Experience is about being an entrepreneur in action, and "living" the experience of being an entrepreneur through this course. Building on foundations from EPS 3501, students will engage in Entrepreneurial Thought and Action by developing, taking and building on key action steps to advance their own ventures or on projects for existing enterprises. Key elements of the process involve secondary research and engaging experts, stakeholders, analogous/complementary ventures, and investors/donors to enrich your understanding of the entrepreneurship ecosystem and test ideas. Course readings and cases will provide supplemental background. Core to the class experience is the question - how do you build and lead your venture? Students will set milestones to move their venture forward. The core is "action based learning" which will result in pivoting your venture based on information gained in experimenting and testing assumptions. The course has multiple deliverables related to key actions and decisions in marketing, finance, customer service and operations. Students are expected to work independently as well as interdependently with other entrepreneurs in the course.

Contact time for this course will be split between in-class sessions and out-of-class individual meetings with the instructor.

Prerequisites: EPS3501 or permission from instructor

EPS4530 (formerly EPS3530), EPS4525, EPS4531, EPS4532, EPS4533 and EPS4534 are equivalent courses. Students can only take one of these courses.

EPS7530 M & A for Entrepreneurs
3 CreditsThis course focuses on the strategies and process entrepreneurs and business leaders employ in various types of acquisitions or divestitures (leveraged buyouts, management buyouts, ESOPs, etc.). The course is centered around $10-500 Million revenue companies and its content is applicable for students pursuing either entrepreneurial opportunities or corporate positions where they may be called upon to acquire or divest a division or product line.

We take a strategic view throughout the course discussing and evaluating all phases of the acquisition process: Acquisition planning and targeting, Valuation alternatives, Leveraged Buyouts, ESOPs/Partnerships, Financing buyouts, Tax, legal and accounting issues, Letters of Intent, Due Diligence, Negotiating an agreement, International markets, Lessons to be learned from failed acquisitions, Managing the leveraged company.

Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of accounting and finance will be helpful in understanding valuation, income statements and balance sheet issues

EPS3524 Made in Japan: Culture & Opportunities

4 Elective Abroad Credits

This course is built on two major themes:
1. Cultural excursion
Provide students to have an in-­depth look and a chance to experience Japan's culture, in other words, its institutional environment (i.e., formal and informal rules of the game)
-­ Students will have opportunities to examine this through various dimensions that constitute the diversity and complexity of the country's cultural/institutional environment today:
o Metropolitan vs. suburban
o Modern-­contemporary vs. old-­fashioned
o Young-­emerging vs. mature-­established
o High vs. low tech, etc.

2. Entrepreneurial opportunities
Encourage students to practice Entrepreneurial Thought and Action (ET&A) within the cultural/institutional environment in Japan.
-­ Students will work in teams to conduct observations, identify problems and opportunities, design an entrepreneurial initiative, and assess its impact (including stakeholder analysis) and feasibility - in various contexts/perspectives:
o Location-­based
o Industry-­based
o Interest/theme-­based, etc.

The entire course is designed on the concept of interactive learning through site visits, mini projects, and individual/group research.