Welcome! As a guest speaker for BUS 477, this page is especially for you.

Preparation

Bio and Introduction

Your time and words of wisdom mean a lot to the class. In addition to the content of your presentation, students are very curious about your background. I like to take up to 5 minutes to introduce our guest speakers. Here are the questions I like to answer:

• name, job title, employer and a bit on what you do professionally
• some of your key career accomplishments, especially as they relate to your discussion topic
• your academic background
• something personal to remember you by (e.g. has sailed across the Atlantic, loves to helicopter ski, has 14 children, etc.)

Please send me a short email with the key elements of your bio so I make you shine when I introduce you!

Presentation Content

I recommend you back your presentation up with a simple 10-15 page PowerPoint presentation. Not at all required, but students perceive you as being better prepared if you use one.

Here is a suggestion for a PowerPoint outline:

• Introduction. Name of your presentation. Your name (1 page)
• Content. (8-12 pages)
• References. (see below) (1 page)
• Conclusions. Summary of the tops points or recommendations you are making (1 page)
• Contact. Your name, company name and contact info for follow-up (1 page)

By all means feel free to re-purpose a presentation you already have. With your permission, I will post your presentation under Lecture Notes on the class website where it will serve as an enduring reminder of your contribution to the class.

Audio-Visual

We have a computer, live Internet connection, overhead projector, whiteboard... just about anything you could want. Please let me know if you need something in particular.

Most guest speakers bring their materials on a USB stick or run them from the class website. If you send me your slides a day or more before the class, I will put them on the class website so they are backed up and ready. Please let me know if you would like me to create a hard copy of your presentation for the students to make notes on.

Presentation Agenda

I allocate approximately one hour of class time for our guest speakers. Here is a rough outline of what you might do for a 60 minute presentation:

• 5 mins - introduction by Ean, your intro of the topic and agenda
• 30-40 mins - your content
• 5 mins - a discussion of books, magazines, websites and other references you recommend
• 10-20 mins - questions

Notes and suggestions:

• At the start of your presentation, please let the students know if prefer to present then take questions, or take questions as you go. Either way is fine with me.
• Please bring along a stack of business cards and/or your company sales literature. You are educating, not selling, but you never know who might be buying!
• "War stories" (good or bad experiences you learned from that relate to your topic) make for excellent learning and are highly appreciated by the students. Try to weave a few into your presentation.
• Share any references you feel a keen student might read for more information about your topic.
• When you conclude, consider offering a few minutes of your time on another day to help the students with their business plan projects. Few are likely to follow-up, but everyone in the audience will appreciate your generosity

Class Demographics

The major project for this class is a business plan. During the first class, students of BUS477 and ENSC201 are required to form teams of 5-7 (1-2 business students and 3-5 engineering students). The technical idea must be introduced by the engineers and be approved by their instructor.

BUS477 has 25 students. All are in their 3rd or 4th year of undergraduate business studies. They have a good academic understanding of the key elements of business. This class is taught by Ean Jackson.

ENSC201 has 100 students. Most are in their 2nd or 3rd year of undergraduate engineering studies. They generally have little understanding of the the key elements of business. This class is taught by John Jones.

Some of the guest speakers for my class speak specifically to BUS477, others to the combined classes.

Directions to the Class

BUS 477 is held at the main campus of Simon Fraser University on Burnaby Mountain.  Download a detailed pdf map.

Whether you are speaking just to BUS477 or to the combined BUS477 and ENSC 201 classes, I recommend you meet at my classroom. BUS 477 is held in 3260 WMC (West Mall Centre).

The Business School is in the West Mall Centre. Your best bet for parking is the covered West Mall Visitor parkade (M22 on the detailed map). The outdoor "N" lot (G27 on the detailed map) is also very close, but there aren't many parking spots. The lecture room is about a 5-minute walk from either parking lot.

Please aim to be at the class 10-15 minutes before your time slot. There is a Tim Horton's just opposite and down one floor from my class where you can pick up a coffee or a sandwich and catch up on some work if you arrive early.

Thank you! I look forward to seeing you in class.

Ean Jackson

Instructor, BUS 477