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 2025-2026 (archived)

Module BUSI5C715: New Venture Creation

Department: Management and Marketing

BUSI5C715: New Venture Creation

TypeLevelCreditsAvailabilityModule CapLocation
Tied 4 15 Available in 2025/2026 Durham

Tied To

Pre-requisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations

  • 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.

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

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotal HoursAttendance Monitored
Workshops 10 1 per week 3 hours 30 Yes
Preparation and Reading 120
Total 150

Summative Assessment

ComponentComponent WeightingElementLength/DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Individual Written Assignment 70% Assignment 2000 words 100%
Individual Reflection 30% Assignment 1000 words 100%

Formative Assessment

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


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.