CDAE 266 Decision Making: Community Entrepreneurship Fall 2006

CDAE Class 01 August 29 Today: Syllabus Student information sheet 1. Introduction Next class: 1. Introduction 2. Review of economic and business concepts Assignment: Visit the web page:

1. Introduction 1.1. Small businesses in the U.S. economy 1.2. A global perspective of entrepreneurship 1.3. Quantitative methods for business decision making 1.4. Decision making process 1.5. Applications of quantitative methods 1.6. Decision making for community entrepreneurs 1.7. Writing business reports (memos)

1.1. Small businesses in the U.S. economy What is the definition of a small business? Small businesses in the U.S Contributions of small businesses in the U.S.

Small businesses in the U.S. economy What is the definition of a “small business”? -- A business that is independently owned and operated and not dominant in its field of operation with the following upper limits: Large business: more than 500 employees Medium business: 100 to 500 employees Small business: less than 100 employees

Small businesses in the U.S. economy How many small businesses are in the U.S.? -- There are about 22 million U.S. businesses -- More than 98% of them are small businesses million firms with employees and 16.5 million without employees in Less than 7000 businesses employ more 500 people Most of small businesses are really small!

Small businesses in the U.S. economy

How many businesses open and close in the U.S. each year? Estimates for businesses with employees indicate there were 550,100 new firms and 584,500 closures (both about 10 percent of the total) in 2002.

Small businesses in the U.S. economy Starts and Closures of Employer Firms, (million) New firms Firm closures Bankruptcies

Small businesses in the U.S. economy Importance of small businesses -- Quotations: “Small business is America” “Small business is a quiet giant” “Small business is the engine of the U.S. economy” ….. -- Facts: provide 75% of the net new jobs represent 98% of all employers employ 55% of the private work force provide 47% all sales in the country provide 55% of innovations

Small businesses in the U.S. economy Importance of small businesses -- Facts: account for 35% of federal contract dollars account for 38% of jobs in high technology sectors account for 51% private sector output represent 96% of all U.S. exporters account for almost 50% of the GNP …..

Small businesses in the U.S. economy Factors contributing to the development of small businesses in the United States: -- History -- Social respect of people who run their own businesses -- Education -- Policy and regulations -- easy to start a business -- Competitive markets -- Horizontal and vertical integrations -- Government support: Small Business Administration (SBA) -- Support and assistance from many other organizations -- Diversified customers -- Relatively inelastic demand with respect to prices …...

Small businesses in the U.S. economy Survey : groups that have had mainly good influence on America: -- Movies and TV shows (30%) -- Congress (38%) -- Business executives (40%) -- Unions (48%) -- Courts (52%) -- Local and state government (60%) -- Women’s movement (67%) -- Newspapers (72%) -- Churches (85%) -- People who run their own businesses (90%)