Aims

The module provides an experiential introduction to enterprise, entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship and focuses on the theoretical and practical exploration of concepts of creativity, innovation and value creation. Business Enterprise aims to provide students with:

•       Experience of developing and validating a business idea to proof of concept/launch stage;
•       Developed awareness of business and value creation;
•       Knowledge of the value and utility of enterprising behaviours, skills and attributes in all graduate careers;
•       Insights into personal and business growth strategies.

All students will have the opportunity engage in individual and team-based ideation activities and to develop a new concept for value creation.

In teams, students will develop effective working practises and work collaboratively to ideate and validate an idea throughout structured workshops and group project work and showcase the development of this concept through assessment activities.

This module requires students to develop an enterprising mindset and to engage effectively in the practical projects that this module involves, therefore we ask students selecting this module to bear this in mind as lack of attendance and disengagement in sessions will result in poor marks.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module provides students with an opportunity to work individually and as a team throughout the process of developing ideas, testing feasibility and validating solutions through a mix of structured session topics, interactive activities and independent research. The module provides a foundation of theory ABOUT entrepreneurship including topics such as:

Entrepreneurship, Opportunities and Effectuation Theory
Social Solidarity, Circular Societies, CSR/SE
Creativity and Entrepreneurship
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurial and Innovation Bricolage
Value Proposition, Business Mode Canvas, Business Plan & Lean Start Up

Remaining session focus on FOR and THROUGH Entrepreneurship including topics such as:

Ideation      
Marketing & Building the Brand
Idea Validation & Market Research
Funding & Finance
Legal Issues & Intellectual Property
Entrepreneurial & Digital Marketing
Persuasive Business Pitching

Students will apply academic learning to practical projects and are expected to actively engage in group work; as well as reflect on their growth and leadership capabilities. There are timetabled group work sessions to facilitate the minimum time expectation on project development, however these will not typically be staffed.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The module synthesises different approaches to the study of entrepreneurship; in learning about, through and for entrepreneurship. This involves a combination of structured content in sessions and in research carried out by students around topics of interest; as well as active learning i.e. learning by doing. Teaching session include lectures, vatical lectures and focussed on workshops across the module process.

Individuals are provided the opportunity to develop their entrepreneurial self and work on a new venture concept. In semester 2 only the best ideas are taken forward for development in teams.

The success of the group projects requires developing initiative, motivation and leadership skills that are essential to the contemporary and future workplace. The module is based on understanding and developing relevant enterprising behaviours, attributes and skills for business and value creation.

The group projects in this module require active engagement from students to be successful and regular project development time is expected; these activities are designed to provide students with the means to drive successful growth for their business ideas as well as their personal goals and ambitions.

Sessions are facilitated by a combination of the core Module staff as well as external professionals and relevant staff from other student support services. There is no expectation that the student group will actively launch and trade with their new venture; however the development of real business solutions is actively encouraged with support from relevant University professionals.

In addition to the reading list we recommend other material including ‘non-academic’ texts such as newspapers, television programmes, websites, blogs and so on – which will give students further insight into efficiently and effectively developing their business ventures, as well as themselves as developing professionals.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Students will be asked to actively engage in the venture creation process by learning through/for/about entrepreneurship. Therefore the Assessment is an Electronic Portfolio of
--an Entrepreneurial Idea & Value Proposition Presentation Pitch (1,000 words - 50% weighting) and
--a Business Model Presentation/Essay (3,000 words - 50% weighting). As this is a group assessment, Peer Assessment will be used.