Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2007-2008 (archived)

Module COMP50715: ENTERPRISE AND DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS

Department: Computer Science

COMP50715: ENTERPRISE AND DISTRIBUTED SYSTEMS

Type Open Level 4 Credits 15 Availability Available in 2007/08 Module Cap
Tied to

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To develop within students a critical understanding of the entrepreneurial approach required to progress a business idea from generation, through market testing, to a robust and commercially viable business concept. The business idea will be based on distributed systems.

Content

  • Generating business idea - business idea generation theory and techniques
  • Testing ideas against the market - theory and practice
  • Developing a clear and commercially viable business concept
  • Writing a business plan based on a self-generated idea

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Specialist knowledge: management and financial methods
  • Management: management of the business planning process, managing challenges encountered in the new business launch process, and managing dynamics and proceses associated with group project work
Subject-specific Skills:
    Key Skills:

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

      • The module comprises 1 week's intensive directed reading and laboratory exercises; 5 days of lectures, tutorials, and reading, and two weeks undertaking a major laboratory assignment. The overall workload conforms to the standard SLAT requirement of 150 hours equivalent to 15 credits.

      Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

      Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
      Lectures 10 2 per day in week 2 2 hour 20
      Tutorials 4 weekly 1 hour 4
      Practicals 5 daily in week 1 6 hours 30
      Laboratory 10 daily in weeks 3 and 4 6 hous 60
      Preparation and Reading 36
      Total 150

      Summative Assessment

      Component: Laboratory report Component Weighting: 100%
      Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
      Laboratory report 100%

      Formative Assessment:

      Staged written feedback of laboratory and practical work by staff/demonstrators.

      ■ 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