Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2010-2011 (archived)

Module BUSI40230: ECONOMIC POLICY, ENTERPRISE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Department: Economics, Finance and Business (Business)

BUSI40230: ECONOMIC POLICY, ENTERPRISE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 30 Availability Available in 2010/11 Module Cap None.
Tied to

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To extend and develop the economic policy and markets knowledge relevant to experienced managers.
  • To provide students with the opportunity to study key topics in entrepreneurship to develop an advanced understanding of their behaviour within a financial services context.

Content

  • Resource and financial efficiency; the current economic context and the forces driving change; factors affecting relevant supply and demand functions.
  • Factors influencing output, employment, prices, saving and investment.
  • Market structure and trends in relevant economies.
  • Monetary policy, regulation and key sub-market sectors.
  • Global change, economics of entrepreneurship, position of entrepreneurship within the global environment.
  • Theoretical perspectives, major paradigms on enterprise and entrepreneurship.
  • Definitions, conceptual models, individuals, processes, structures, contexts, etc. within the field of entrepreneurship.
  • Contexts and applications: individual and team profiling and development, business and organisational development, Task environment and integration, fostering entrepreneurship.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Have an in-depth understanding of the current structure of the European banking and financial services sector, and of the forces that are driving change;
  • Have a critical appreciation of the key principles, concepts and scope of monetary policy relevant to their own and other organisations;
  • Have an advanced understanding and capability to analyse the structure and performance of key markets;
  • Have a critical appreciation of the need for entrepreneurship across all organisations and their interactions with the financial services sector;
  • Have an advanced understanding of what constitutes entrepreneurial behaviour and its impact on the financial services sector.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Be able to apply advanced techniques of analysis to the structure and performance of key resource markets;
  • Be able to select and use appropriate macro economic concepts and analytical techniques;
  • Be able to communicate effectively in specialist internal subject groups;
  • Be able to identify the need for an entrepreneurial mindset both within financial services organisations and the economy as a whole;
  • Be able to identify the complex issues involved in the interaction with entrepreneurial organisations.
Key Skills:
  • Written communication; planning, organising and time management; problem solving and analysis; using initiative; computer literacy.

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

  • The learning outcomes will be met through a combination of lectures, seminars, facilitated discussion sessions, case studies and other simulations, and guided reading. All sessions have a high participation element, and an emphasis on action-learning.
  • Assessment of this module is by work-based project, designed to: test the acquisition and articulation of knowledge; test conceptual understanding and skills of application and interpretation within the financial services context.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 6 Daily 2 hours 12
Seminars 6 Daily 3 hours 18
Practicals 6 Daily 1 hour 6
Preparation & Reading 264
Total 300

Summative Assessment

Component: Work-based Project Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Work-based Project 6,000 words (Max.). 100%

Formative Assessment:

Feedback on group and individual activities undertaken during contact hours. Feedback on learning set reflections and action points related to this module.


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