JA Entrepreneurial Mindset™

JA Entrepreneurial Mindset<sup>™</sup>

JA Entrepreneurial Mindset, part of the JA High School Experience courses, is a one-semester teacher-led course that introduces high school students to the basics of starting a business, including developing entrepreneurial abilities, identifying a business opportunity, creating a business plan, economics, and the stages of business growth. Volunteers engage with students through a variety of activities that includes subject matter guest speaking and coaching or advising for case study and project course work. 

 

Students will:

  • Learn the necessary concepts applicable to state and national educational standards

  • Apply these standards-based concepts to the real world

  • Synthesize elective concepts through a cumulative, tangible deliverable (project)

  • Analyze a business situation or principle through the use of a case study

  • Demonstrate the skills necessary for future career pathway success

 

Pillars of Student Success Entrepreneurship:  Financial-Literacy:  Work-Readiness: 
Program Implementation Program Grade-Level
Classroom-Based High School
Program Concepts Program Skills
Business change, Business goals, Business life cycle, Business plan, Business plan elements, Balance sheet, Cash, Cash flow statement, Characteristics of entrepreneurs, Code of ethics, Costs, Economic decision making, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurial skills, Entrepreneurial problem solving, Equity, Ethics, Ethical behavior, Ethical dilemma, Exchange, Executive summary, Expansion stage, Expenses, Exports, Financials, Franchising, Growth challenges, Growth plan, Growth stage, Impact of imports, Imports, Income statement, International trade, Intrapreneur, Investor options, Licensing, Maturity stage, Needs and wants, Opportunity cost, Organizational level, Overseas marketing, Pitch, Pricing, Producer prices, Production, Production and distribution costs, Profit, Profitability, Resources, Revenue, Scarcity, Social responsibility, Specialization, Stakeholders, Startup funding, Startup stage, Steps to startup, Supply and demand, The problem solving process, The profit equation, Wholesale prices Analyze advantages and disadvantages, Analyze financial information, Analyze real world situations, Apply a strategy, Calculate information, Compare and contrast, Evaluate ideas, Evaluate information, Evaluate options, Find a solution, Make connections, Make informed decisions, Present information, Research information, See a problem, Think critically

Program Sessions

1.1 The Role of an Entrepreneur

THEME 1: ENTREPRENEURIAL ABILITIES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND MARKET

1.1 The Role of an Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are people who identify a need and fill it. The success of an entrepreneur is important to the country because the business contributes to the health of the economy as well as impacting local communities. Entrepreneurs are known to be creative innovators with passion—an excitement to do something. Their passion creates the drive and motivation necessary for success.
 
 

Students will:

  • Explain the terms entrepreneur and intrapreneur.
  • Compare and contrast the roles of entrepreneur and employee.
  • Describe the impact of entrepreneurs on the local and national economy.

1.2 Entrepreneurial Strengths and Talents

THEME 1: ENTREPRENEURIAL ABILITIES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND MARKET

1.2 Entrepreneurial Strengths and Talents

Students learn that successful entrepreneurs (and intrapreneurs) have different personality profiles from other employees and that they have an identifiable set of strengths. They understand that such individuals might run a Fortune 500 company or a nonprofit organization, or they might just enjoy solving problems. Students will see entrepreneurial strengths in everyone and that it is important to know and develop one's own strengths.
 

Students will:

  • Identify characteristics of a successful entrepreneur.
  • Compare risks and benefits of choosing to be an entrepreneur.
  • Examine personal entrepreneurial qualifications and characteristics.
  • Develop a plan for building entrepreneurial skills.

1.3 Entrepreneurial Ethical Responsibilities

THEME 1: ENTREPRENEURIAL ABILITIES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND MARKET

1.3 Entrepreneurial Ethical Responsibilities

Students learn that entrepreneurs have ethical responsibilities in many dimensions: at the societal level, the organizational level, and the individual level. Students analyze possible actions in response to an ethical dilemma in the workplace and develop an action plan for the business owner. Then, students discuss the importance of a code of ethics and ways of promoting ethical behavior in the workplace.
 
 

Students will:

  • Define ethics and identify common ethical issues for entrepreneurs.
  • Analyze the effect of unethical behavior for a business.
  • Identify strategies that promote ethical behavior in a small business.
  • Develop a code of ethics for a business venture.

1.4 Idea Generation

THEME 1: ENTREPRENEURIAL ABILITIES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND MARKET

1.4 Idea Generation

Students learn that entrepreneurship focuses on recognizing and acting upon a business opportunity. Often entrepreneurs' business ideas are generated when they recognize a problem and come up with an idea for a product or service that will solve the problem. Once an entrepreneur has an idea for a business opportunity, they evaluate the idea and determine the best option for starting their business, including whether to work within an existing company or acquire a franchise rather than starting a new business. Students will practice brainstorming business ideas and planning the best way to develop the idea.
 

Students will:

  • Identify a problem or need and develop a list of solutions.
  • Generate ideas for a product or service that meets customers' needs.
  • Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of starting a new business versus purchasing an existing business or a franchise to fill a need.

2.1 Business Plan for Stakeholders

THEME 2: BUSINESS PLAN

2.1 Business Plan for Stakeholders

Students learn that a business proposal needs not just a pitch but a plan. They understand that a business plan provides a roadmap for where a business wants to go, and how it plans to get there. Students learn that business plans have different types of stakeholders—parties with different interests in the future of an enterprise.
 
 

Students will:

  • Explain the purpose of a business plan.
  • Describe the types of business plans.
  • Analyze the relevance of the information in a business plan to different stakeholders.

2.2 Business Plan Elements

THEME 2: BUSINESS PLAN

2.2 Business Plan Elements

Students learn about the parts of a business plan by reviewing sample plans. Students analyze samples to determine effective techniques for sharing information in a business plan. They work collaboratively to write a business plan for a business in their community.
 
 

Students will:

  • Identify the major elements of a business plan.
  • Review sample business plans.
  • Determine the information to be included in each element of the business plan.

2.3 Business Plan Financials

THEME 2: BUSINESS PLAN

2.3 Business Plan Financials 

Students learn the importance of assessing the costs and revenues of a business. They learn what a balance sheet, an income statement, and a cashflow statement are used for and the differences between them. Students use financial data to prepare an income statement for a start-up business.

 

Students will:

  • Assess the costs associated with starting, managing, and growing a start-up business.
  • Compare and contrast a cash flow statement, pro forma income statement, and pro forma balance sheet, and interpret the uses of each.
  • Prepare a financial statement that could be included in the financial section of a business plan.

2.4 Sourcing the Plan

THEME 2: BUSINESS PLAN

2.4 Sourcing the Plan

Students learn about the range of options that entrepreneurs have for sourcing funds for their startups. Students weigh the pros and cons of the options available and determine the best approach for different start-ups. They research the factors that lenders consider before making loans.
 
 

Students will:

  • Identify the steps to take to raise money for a start-up.
  • Describe documentation and requirements for getting a loan from a financial institution.
  • Evaluate capital options to finance a start-up.

3.1 Entrepreneurs and the Economy

THEME 3: ECONOMICS

3.1 Entrepreneurs and the Economy

Students learn about opportunity cost, scarcity, supply, and demand, and how these basic economic principles affect businesses. They analyze entrepreneurs' choices about what they produce and how and for whom they produce it. Students analyze supply and demand and market-clearing price for a given product.
 

 

Students will:

  • Define common economic terms.
  • Explain how economic concepts affect entrepreneurial ventures.
  • Analyze the relationship between supply and demand and price.
  • Construct and interpret a demand curve.

3.2 Role of Profit

THEME 3: ECONOMICS

3.2 Role of Profit

Students learn about the importance of profit to a business. They will focus on profit-building
behaviors and how to invest profits.

 

Students will:

  • Compute the difference between total revenue and total expenses.
  • Evaluate short- and long-term alternatives for a business to reach profitability.
  • Establish a profit goal for an entrepreneurial venture.
  • Formulate a plan for utilizing profit in a business.

3.3 Function of Price

THEME 3: ECONOMICS

3.3 Function of Price

Students review the relationship between price and supply and demand. They learn how production, wholesale, and retail prices are determined. Then students learn about different pricing strategies and the relationship among cost, price, and value.
 

Students will:

  • Describe relationship among cost, price, and value.
  • Evaluate scenarios and determine the cost, price, and value in each.
  • Justify why retail prices are so much higher than the manufacturing costs of the product/service.

3.4 International Trade

THEME 3: ECONOMICS

3.4 International Trade

Students learn about international trade and how and why countries import and export goods. They learn how international trade is based upon specialization and exchange, and compare and contrast some of the benefits of manufacturing overseas versus in the United States. Students research U.S. imports and analyze the benefits of importing.
 
 

Students will:

  • Explain the relationship among trade, imports, and exports.
  • Describe the importance of international trade.
  • Identify products imported into the United States.

4.1 Start-Up Stage

THEME 4: STAGES OF SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH

4.1 Start-Up Stage

Students explore the challenges and opportunities entrepreneurs encounter during the start-up stage of the business life cycle. Students also learn more about the types of decisions made during this stage.
 
 
Students will:
  • Recognize the four phases of the business life cycle.
  • Describe the primary concerns and challenges for businesses in the start-up stage.
  • Identify solutions for common start-up challenges.

4.2 Growth Stage

THEME 4: STAGES OF SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH

4.2 Growth Stage

Students explore the challenges and opportunities entrepreneurs encounter during the growth stage of the business life cycle. Students also learn more about the types of decisions made during this stage.
 
 

Students will:

  • Explain the growth stage of the business life cycle for small businesses.
  • Describe the primary concerns and challenges for businesses in the growth stage.
  • Identify solutions for common challenges in the growth stage.

4.3 Expansion Stage

THEME 4: STAGES OF SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH

4.3 Expansion Stage

Students explore the challenges and opportunities entrepreneurs encounter during the expansion stage of the business life cycle. Students also learn more about the risks of expansion and what to consider before making that decision.
 
 

Students will:

  • Describe characteristics of businesses in the expansion stage of the business life cycle.
  • Identify methods of expanding a business.
  • Analyze expansion options for a small business and determine the most appropriate.

4.4 Maturity Stage

THEME 4: STAGES OF SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH

4.4 Maturity Stage

Students learn about the challenges and opportunities entrepreneurs encounter during the maturity stage of the business life cycle. Students explore the decisions involved updating products and making decisions about the future of a business.
 
 
 

Students will:

  • Describe characteristics of businesses in the maturity stage of the business life cycle.
  • Identify options for addressing declining sales in the maturity stage.
  • Determine the most appropriate option for a small business in the maturity stage.

Case Study: Developing Ideas

Students learn about the effect of innovation on the business life cycle. Then use the Design Thinking process to identify an innovation for a mature business.

Program Resources


Program Videos