Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2021-2022 (archived)

Module BUSI5C7JN: New Venture Creation

Department: Management and Marketing

BUSI5C7JN: New Venture Creation

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 15 Availability Not available in 2021/22
Tied to N2P109J
Tied to N2P209J

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • 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 look beyond upper echelon logic to think about entrepreneurship across the firm and not just by the small business or new venture owner.
  • 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 venture/small business owners and the need for entrepreneurial teams
  • Entrepreneurial finance
  • Sustaining entrepreneurship and managing growth strategies
  • The policy environment
  • Networking strategy
  • Execution intelligence
  • Exit strategies
  • Contexts for new venture creation (e.g. the family, the corporation, the public sector)

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;
  • have a toolkit for managing the entrepreneurial firm.
Key Skills:
  • Written communication; planning, organising and time management; problem solving and analysis; using initiative; computer literacy; interpersonal communication; teamworking.
  • 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 lectures, seminars 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 plan.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 10 1 per week 2 hours 20
Seminars 4 1 per fortnight 1 hour 4
Preparation, Reading, Data Collection and Independent Study 126
Total 150

Summative Assessment

Component: Written Assignment Component Weighting: 70%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Individual case analysis 2000 words 100% Same
Component: Written Assignment Component Weighting: 30%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Individual learning log 1000 words 100% Same

Formative Assessment:

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


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