Introductory description

Entrepreneurship is not only about new ventures or 'small' business or 'early-stage' business, nor even exclusively about for-profit business. Rather, it is a method of creative problem solving in business and a logic for taking action in a variety of settings where business can make a positive difference. The module, therefore, will explore a range of different ways of thinking about what entrepreneurship is and what entrepreneurs do.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Teaching on the module is divided into two strands. Sessions will include:
The entrepreneurial process and mindset.
The entrepreneurial team and beyond.
Opportunity identification and design thinking.
Opportunity identification and evaluation workshop.
The business model.
Business modelling workshop.
New venture growth.
New venture growth workshop.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Provide a rigorous theoretical underpinning which facilitates an understanding of the nature, role and activities of entrepreneurs (and entrepreneurial teams) and their ventures
• Gain insight into the features of an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Develop an understanding of the entrepreneurial process and within that explore issues relating to opportunity identification and exploitation.
• Provide an introduction to the new venture creation process including opportunity identification and definition, business modelling, finance and developing growth and exit strategies.
• Develop a broad understanding of entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial process.
• Gain insight into the role and function of entrepreneurial teams.
• Explore different approaches to opportunity identification.
• Develop an understanding of design thinking and design methods.
• Gain insight into the concept of the business model.
• Explore different approaches to business modelling.
• Gain insight into the different issues that a growing firm may face.
• Explore how the nature of a firm changes as it grows.
• Gain insight into the notion of entrepreneurial opportunities and their sources.
• Explore the sources of finance open to firms to foster growth, and what types of firm they may be best suited to.
• Be able to think critically about the entrepreneurial process.
• Be able to develop coherent lines of argument.
• Be able to analyse case studies or to critically discuss the entrepreneurial process.
• Be able to identify the potential pros and cons of entrepreneurial teams.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Subject specific skills

At the end of this module you will:

• have reflected on your expertise, network, passions and values to identify an 'opportunity space' you can work on in your groups.
• have reflected on how the features of the entrepreneurial mindset might affect your entrepreneurial venture.
• understood some of the practical aspects of functioning as an entrepreneurial team.
• started deploying design methods to identify entrepreneurial opportunities.
• applied design methods to identify opportunities for new ventures.
• developed an understanding of how business modelling can be employed to understand the essence of a venture.
• applied the concept of business modelling to two opportunities you have identified.
• identified key issues arising in the business model, which will inform the Feasibility
  Study for your chosen venture opportunity.
• understood the different modes of growth and how they may affect the development of your firm.
• identified the key growth issues relating to the business opportunity you have been working on, which will inform the Feasibility Study for your venture.
• developed potential solutions to the key issues, which will inform the Feasibility Study for your venture.

Transferable skills

Demonstrate problem solving skills developed through analysing research papers and business problems in case studies.
Demonstrate oral communication skills developed through presentation of case study
results and their theoretical and practical implications.
Demonstrate written communication skills developed through the individual and group
assignment.