Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2021-2022 (archived)

Module BUSI46P15: Embedding Enterprise

Department: Management and Marketing

BUSI46P15: Embedding Enterprise

Type Open Level 4 Credits 20 Availability Not available in 2021/22

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • This program will disconnect entrepreneurship and money through embedding the learning of entrepreneurship in value(s). The module adopts a broad definition of enterprise, defined as opportunity identification and value creation – and channels creativity and innovation to create value in the student’s communities of research and interest.
  • The aims of the module are as follows:
  • To contextualise entrepreneurship around innovation, creativity, collaboration, and problem solving.
  • To reflect that generation, validation and implementation of opportunities is central to building entrepreneurial capacity.
  • To support the development of entrepreneurial postgraduates through teaching and learning that focuses on a capacity building approach, developing entrepreneurial awareness and capabilities.
  • To support the development of entrepreneurial mindsets and attitudes – rather than focus solely on skills.

Content

  • Introduction to entrepreneurship in the 21st century, including an exploration of the characteristics of the successful enterprising graduate, vital to developing an entrepreneurial career.
  • Intrapreneurship – problem solving and adding value within large organisations.
  • Appraising enterprising opportunities.
  • Understanding the task environment – networking to build social capital.
  • Identifying opportunities to commercialise research.
  • Understanding how to generate ideas (a broad range of ideas will be encouraged, to offer a multi-faceted approach to problem solving the ‘real world’ scenarios).
  • Opportunities identified may be developed into a range of interventions, such as a research proposal, a social enterprise project or indeed a small commercial venture. This might involve exploring a wide range of ways to protect intellectual property; exploiting IT to enable / support innovation; using presentational skills to create and communicate the ‘perfect pitch’.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • a critical understanding of the entrepreneurial paradigm of the 21st-century.
  • a critical awareness of the challenges encountered in the implementation of a new entrepreneurial opportunity.
  • a detailed understanding of the responses and strategies used to overcome these challenges.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • the ability to apply a project framework to scope, plan and validate an enterprising opportunity, working as part of a team.
  • the ability to apply knowledge to explore a complex, problematic situation and identify an opportunity to build an enterprise case.
  • developed and improved their enterprising skills, behaviours, and attitudes.
Key Skills:
  • Ability to think critically and creatively and to argue coherently.
  • Planning, organisation, and time management skills – by working as a team to turning a new idea into a robust enterprise case.
  • Problem solving and analytical skills e.g. by investigating a ‘real world’ problem, designing research, manipulating concepts, and applying analytical skills.
  • The ability to perform effectively within a team environment, including leadership, team building, influencing, being motivated, monitoring performance, mentoring and coaching and finally project management skills.
  • Interpersonal skills including effective listening, oral communication, customer/client orientation, negotiating, persuasion and presentation skills.
  • Skills of effective self-management - in terms of being self-starting; being able to manage autonomously, make decisions on incomplete information and be persistent; and being motivated to take individual initiative and able to plan for action.

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

  • In line with the overall aim of the module - to foster a spirit of entrepreneurialism – students will be offered a supported opportunity to work alongside local enterprises, and to work towards developing their own entrepreneurial career - which may include, but is not exclusive to - setting up their own venture.
  • This will be achieved through activities that offer the opportunity to explore and gain an understanding of the world of the entrepreneur/business owner, develop an understanding of the skills and attributes, know-how and know-who of the successful entrepreneur and begin the process of applying this knowledge in the creation of sustainable commercial and non-profit making opportunities. The same entrepreneurial attributes are equally relevant to the development of a research career including obtaining funding and managing complex research projects.
  • The initial intensive workshop will be followed by an opportunity for the students to work in groups over an extended period (6-12 weeks depending on the context. During this post workshop period the groups will participate in tutorial sessions designed to provide support and opportunities to reflect on progress.
  • The assessment is closely linked to the learning and tests students’ ability to plan, complete and reflect on an enterprise project.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Workshop 1 4 day block 6 hours 24
Final presentation and workshop 1 6 hours 6
Tutorials 4 2 hours 8
Reading, preparation, group work on project 162
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Group work assessment Component Weighting: 70%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Enterprise case (group written assignment) 4000 words 40% 2500 word individual assignment (this is the resit opportunity for the groupwork component as a whole)
Presentation 15 minutes plus Q&A 40%
Individual contribution to the group project 20%
Component: Individual Assignment Component Weighting: 30%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Individual reflective assignment 1500 word 100% 1500 word individual assignment

Formative Assessment:

1,000 word individual assignment


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