Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2012-2013 (archived)

Module BUSI46R15: Small Business Management (block taught)

Department: Business School (Business)

BUSI46R15: Small Business Management (block taught)

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 15 Availability Available in 2012/13 Module Cap None.
Tied to N2K307 MA Management (part-time)
Tied to N5K107 MA Marketing (part-time)
Tied to N6K107 MA Human Resource Management (part-time)
Tied to N1KY07 MA Entrepreneurship (part-time)

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • Small Business Management (Distance Learning)

Aims

  • To enable students to:
  • Acquire and demonstrate a specialist knowledge and understanding of the literature on the management and economics of small business;
  • Relate this specialist knowledge and understanding to the experience of developing and running a small business;
  • Develop a critical understanding of issues surrounding the development and implementation of policy support for new and small businesses

Content

  • Defining the small firm
  • Start-up, growth and closure
  • Small Firms and the economy
  • Small firms and innovation
  • The development of small firms
  • Supporting small firms
  • The relationship between small and large firms
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Intrapreneurship

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of the module students should have a critical knowledge and advanced understanding of:
  • the contribution of small businesses to the economy and different sectors;
  • the role of the entrepreneur and entrepreneurship in small business;
  • the growth, success and survival of small business;
  • the financing of small businesses;
  • the policy environment and factors influencing the success of policy measures.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • By the end of the module students should:
  • Be able to engage in the critical evaluation of policies towards small firms;
  • Be better equipped to found and run a small business
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

  • Learning outcomes will be met through a combination of taught input, groupwork and discussion, supported by guided reading.
  • The summative assessment of the module, by written assignment, is designed to test the acquisition and articulation of knowledge and critical understanding, and skills of application and interpretation within the management context.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Workshops (a combination of taught input, groupwork, exercises and discussion), timetabled in blocks 24
Prepartation and Reading 126
Total 150

Summative Assessment

Component: Assignment Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written assignment 3000 words 100% same

Formative Assessment:

Students receive feedback on their contributions in 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