BMM6432 - Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1 Critically understand and use a variety of strategic models to develop and critically evaluate business start-up ideas.
2 Explore and assess the impact of various environmental/ market/ competitor factors upon the development of a new business.
3 Create a detailed and viable business plan.
4 Present their proposal effectively and creatively to a variety of audiences.

Content:

This module will prepare students to consider the reality of starting their own business as a viable alternative to seeking employment upon graduation. This module is supported by external input from successful entrepreneurs delivered as part of the Masters level module MBS2275 running during Semester 2. The key difference of this module is the applied nature of the material: theoretical models will be presented, used and critiqued as practical tools in the development of viable business start-ups and in nurturing and growing small businesses.

The content and assessment strategy will encourage students to develop a business start-up idea to which the various tools and models can be applied producing a feasibility report and then a progressively more robust and considered business plan throughout the course.
The importance of teamwork will be highlighted and students will be encouraged to work in teams.

The fundamentals of the theoretical knowledge-base will be delivered by the academic input during while the guest speakers will provide the cutting-edge and practical material creating a coherent and rigorous ‘enterprise culture’.
The detailed module content will therefore vary according to the available expertise and contemporary factors affecting business start-ups and will include a broad coverage of topics such as (but not limited to):
• Idea generation and creativity.
• Market segmentation and targeting.
• Business Planning and understanding the competitive environment.
• Financial issues: costing, raising finance, tax issues.
• Target marketing and brand development
• Legal context of new business

In addition, practical skill elements of the module will include:
• Business Start-up simulation game
• Development of marketing/ promotional material
• An opportunity participates in a “Dragon’s Den” style competition.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Weekly lectures and workshops from the module co-ordinator and tutors will support the students in preparing to take full advantage of the Masters level workshop series.

Lecture/ Workshops x 9
Contact hours: 18
Intended Group size: 1

2-hour Workshops x 10
Contact hours: 20
Intended Group size: 1

Guided independent study
Contact hours: 162

Total number of hours: 200

Assessment:

001 Presentation 1 x 15 mins (end of semester 1) 40%
002 Business Plan 1 x 3000 words (end of semester 2) 60%


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