Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook
This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Postgraduate Handbook 2015-2016 (archived)

Module BUSI5C715: New Venture Creation

Department: Business School (Business)

BUSI5C715: New Venture Creation

TypeLevelCreditsAvailabilityModule CapLocation
Tied 4 15 Available in 2015/2016 Durham

Tied To

Pre-requisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations

  • None.

Aims

  • To provide students with advanced understanding of key processes associated with starting and growing an entrepreneurial venture, including obtaining finance.

Content

  • Entrepreneurial process and new venture creation
  • Opportunity recognition and development
  • Environments for entrepreneurship
  • Entrepreneurial strategies
  • Business plan and resource requirements
  • Creating the organisation - role of the entrepreneur and team formation
  • Obtaining venture and growth capital
  • Managing rapid growth
  • Corporate venturing, university spin-offs and social entrepreneurship

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge
  • Have an advanced understanding of the concepts associated with recognising and developing entrepreneurial opportunities;
  • Have a critical appreciation of the theories concerning entrepreneurial strategies, management team formation and managing growth;
  • Have an advanced understanding of the role and impact of investors in entrepreneurial firms;
  • Have a critical appreciation of the differences between various entrepreneurial contexts such as corporate venturing, university spin-offs and social entrepreneurship.
Subject-specific Skills
  • Be able to write a sound business plan, and to critically evaluate business plans.
Key Skills
  • Written communication; planning, organising and time management; problem solving and analysis; using initiative; computer literacy; interpersonal communication; teamworking.

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 and groupwork (including group discussion of case studies and the development of a group business plan) together with individual exercises and guided reading.
  • The assessment of the module, by group business plan and individual commentary, is designed to test students’ understanding and critical appreciation of the key concepts and issues associated with entrepreneurial activities, and their ability to apply them through the development and critical evaluation of a business plan.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotal HoursAttendance Monitored
Lectures/workshops 9 2 hours 18
Seminars 2 1 hour 4 Yes
Preparation & Reading 130
Total 150

Summative Assessment

ComponentComponent WeightingElementLength/DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Group business plan 80% Group business plan 5,000 words 100% Individual assignment
Individual commentary 20% Individual commentary on the group process and group business plan 1,000 words 100% Same

Formative Assessment

Group project and group presentation


Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.