Module BUSI2141: Entrepreneurship

Department: Management and Marketing

BUSI2141: Entrepreneurship

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Tied	2	20	Available in 2026/2027		Durham

Tied To

Pre-requisites

None

Corequisites

None

Excluded Combinations

None

Aims

To provide students with an understanding of entrepreneurs and the firms they create and manage.
To develop knowledge of the nature and role of new and smaller firms as well as different types of entrepreneurs.
To develop understanding of the characteristics, attributes, resources and contributions of different types of entrepreneurs.
To develop understanding of the skills required for entrepreneurs.
To develop knowledge and understanding of the various theoretical lenses used to explore the behaviour of entrepreneurs.
To broaden and deepen understanding of the factors which encourage public policymakers and practitioners to support entrepreneurship and the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector.
To develop student knowledge of the entrepreneurial process.

Content

The roles of SMEs.
Economic theories of entrepreneurship.
Psychological approaches to entrepreneurship.
Opportunity theories of entrepreneurship.
Understanding entrepreneurial environments,
Starting and growing new ventures.
Entrepreneurial skills and competencies.
Entrepreneurial support organisations in encouraging the formation and development of new firms.
Sociological approaches and marginalised groups in entrepreneurship.
Special groups: the role and contribution of special types of entrepreneurship.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge

To accumulate knowledge and critical understanding of the key characteristics of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial ventures.
To be able to identify particular features of SMEs which differentiate them from large businesses.
To be able to demonstrate detailed knowledge and critical understanding of theories pertaining to the role, nature and function of the entrepreneur.
To develop an appreciation of theories, models and frameworks to understand the new firm formation process.
Acquisition of knowledge pertaining to the barriers to business formation and development.
To develop knowledge of the diversity of entrepreneurship, including the characteristics, challenges and opportunities of special cases.

Subject-specific Skills

Diversity: - To identify and articulate different perspectives and motivations of policymakers and practitioners.
Ethnics: - To identify and articulate the challenges and opportunities of collaborative work, ethical businesses and marginalised groups in entrepreneurship.
Curiosity: - To further develop interest in the changing world for emerging trends and opportunities.
Critical thinking: - To develop the ability to analyse opportunities from emerging trends and data.
Creativity: - To develop creative organisational solutions to exploit opportunities.
To develop strategies to secure resources.
To develop strategies to secure sales.
To develop critical analytical abilities to investigate the contributions of different types of entrepreneurs and SMEs in various contexts.
To develop the ability to justify entrepreneurial decisions to stakeholders.

Key Skills

Synthesis of data - by bringing together located relevant information and presenting it in a coherent way.
Critical thinking - by considering issues from a range of perspectives and drawing upon appropriate theories, models and concepts to reach a balanced critical assessment.
Reflection on learning - by standing back, reviewing a barrier, behaviour or method of intervention and capturing its essence and developing strategies of action.
Written communication - by constructing grammatically correct and well written assignments which clearly articulate and justify arguments..
Information skills - by seeking, storing, synthesing, using and presenting information in ways appropriate to the specified task.

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

Teaching is by lectures and seminars. Learning takes place through attendance at lectures, preparation for and participation in seminar classes, and private study. Formative assessment is by means of a written assignment. Summative assessment is by means of a written examination in an examination format.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total Hours	Attendance Monitored
Lectures	10	1 per week	2 hours	20
Seminars	4	Fortnightly	2 hours	8	Yes
Preparation and Reading				172
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Length/Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Written Examination	100%	Online Examination	2 hours	100%

Formative Assessment

One 1000-word written assignment.

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.