Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2024-2025

Module BUSI5C715: New Venture Creation

Department: Management and Marketing

BUSI5C715: New Venture Creation

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 15 Availability Available in 2024/2025 Module Cap
Tied to N2P109
Tied to N2P209
Tied to N2P309
Tied to N2P609
Tied to H1KG09

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To develop students' understanding of entrepreneurship through the lenses of opportunity examination, new venture creation, and small business management, including contextual issues therein.
  • To develop students' understanding of the requirements necessary to create new business ventures, and the challenges and approaches to sustainable growth.
  • To understand differences among small business owners, managers, and their entrepreneurial teams.
  • To address how best to manage customer and supplier relationships, finances, and operational issues in an ethical and responsible manner.
  • To develop links with the Business School's research strategy by incorporating research into young and new venture entrepreneurship, supported by clear guidance on ethical, sustainable, and responsible business practices.

Content

  • Differences among new ventures and small business owners
  • Entrepreneurial finance
  • Sustaining entrepreneurship and managing growth strategies
  • Context and the policy environment
  • Growth and networking strategies
  • Business models

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Upon successful completion of the module the students will:
  • have a critical appreciation of the complex and interactive processes and dimensions associated with new venture creation, growth, and survival;
  • have a critical appreciation of how to successfully manage the new venture for launch, growth, and sustainability.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Upon successful completion of the module students will:
  • be able to identify the critical characteristics associated with successful new venture creation, launch, growth, and exit;
  • be able to diagnose and treat symptoms relating to new venture creation, launch, growth, and exit;
  • be able to apply appropriate specialist knowledge and techniques to examine new venture creation as a process, the performance of the firm, and pathways to its growth.
Key Skills:
  • Written communication; planning, organising and time management; problem solving and analysis; using initiative; computer literacy; interpersonal communication; teamworking.
  • 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 workshops and groupwork (including group discussion of cases) together with individual exercises and guided reading.
  • The assessment of the module 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 model.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Workshops 10 1 per week 3 hours 30
Preparation, Reading, Data Collection and Independent Study 120
Total 150

Summative Assessment

Component: Written Assignment Component Weighting: 70%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Individual written assignment 2000 words 100% Same
Component: Written Assignment Component Weighting: 30%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Individual Reflection 1000 words 100% Same

Formative Assessment:

Produce an individual report on a chosen entrepreneurial firm or recent new venture.


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