Module BUSI46T15: New Venture Creation and Enterprise Skills (Distance Learning)

Department: Business School (Business)

BUSI46T15: New Venture Creation and Enterprise Skills (Distance Learning)

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• New Venture Creation and Enterprise Skills (Block Taught)

Aims

• To provide students with an advanced understanding of, and practical skills relating to, key processes associated with starting, operating and growing a successful entrepreneurial venture, including its financial dimensions.

Content

• The entrepreneurial process and new venture creation
• Creativity, innovation and idea generation
• The opportunity business model
• Competitors and the external environment
• Strategies for sustainable competitiveness
• Entrepreneurial marketing
• Entrepreneurial finance – theory and raising capital
• Accounts – interpreting financial performance
• Building an entrepreneurial organisation
• Management team and leadership
• Managing enterprise growth
• Learning from entrepreneurs’ experience

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module students should have:
• an advanced understanding of the concepts associated with recognising and developing entrepreneurial opportunities;
• a critical appreciation of the theories and tools relevant to entrepreneurial strategies, management team formulation and managing growth;
• an advanced understanding of the role and impact of investors in entrepreneurial firms;
• a nuanced understanding of the challenges involved in new venture creation and achievement of sustainability.

• By the end of the module, students should be able:
• to prepare a commercially viable business plan;
• to critically evaluate business plans.

• Written communication;
• practical planning processes;
• organising and time management;
• problem solving and analysis;
• computer literacy;
• data gathering;
• networking;
• interpersonal communication.

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

• The module is delivered via distance learning across a six month period, divided up into study weeks with specially produced resources within each week. Resources vary according to the learning outcomes but normally include: an introductory video, specially prepared lectures, directed reading, reflection through activities, opportunities for self-assessment and peer-to-peer learning within a tutor-facilitated discussion board. Tutors provide feedback on formative work and facilitate discussion board communication as well as being available for individual consultation as necessary (usually by email).
• 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 (including data collection, interpretation and presentation).

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

1,000 words maximum written assignment.

■ 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