Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2007-2008 (archived)

Module BUSI48E15: NEW VENTURE CREATION (SINERGHIA)

Department: Economics, Finance and Business (Business)

BUSI48E15: NEW VENTURE CREATION (SINERGHIA)

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 15 Availability Module Cap
Tied to N1KK17

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • Develop students' understanding of the small business and empathy with the experience of the small business owner.
  • Develop students' understanding of the requirements necessary to create new business ventures.
  • Develop students' skills for working effectively with small business owner-managers and management teams.

Content

  • The Small and Medium Enterprise and the owner-manager.
  • New Venture Creation: Generating and evaluating opportunity; Developing a clear and commercially viable business concept; Designing the enterprise; Launching an effective and sustainable enterprise.
  • The Policy and Support environment.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of the module students should:
  • have a critical appreciation of the complex processes associated with Small and Medium Enterprise start-up, survival and growth;
  • have a critical awareness of the Policy and Support environment for the small business.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • By the end of the module students should:
  • be able to identify the critical characteristics of the Small and Medium Enterprise and the owner-manager;
  • be able to apply appropriate specialist knowledge and techniques to analysing Small and Medium Enterprise performance and problems.
Key Skills:

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Learning outcomes will be met through a combination of lectures, groupwork, case studies and discussion, supported by Distance Learning material. The written assignment will test students' understanding of relevant concepts and their ability to apply and interpret what they have learned to the analysis of a particular issue in depth.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Workshops (a combination of lectures, groupwork, case studies and discussion) 16
Preparation and Reading 134
Total 150

Summative Assessment

Component: Written Assignment Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written Assignment 4,000 words maximum 100%

Formative Assessment:

Students receive feedback on their contributions to the workshops.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University