MM1F10-Student Enterprise

Module Provider: Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2020/1

Module Convenor: Dr Lebene Soga

Email: lebene.soga@henley.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This is a dynamic module introducing students to key concepts of business start-up. Students work in a team to identify and develop a new business opportunity, and then seek to test their idea through ‘lean start-up’ experiments. Students will be introduced to key concepts of entrepreneurial management including design thinking, business model creation, entrepreneurial finance and marketing. This is a highly interactive and practical module, with a focus on experiential learning.

This module is delivered at University of Reading and University of Reading Malaysia.

 

Aims:

• Students will explore the nature of enterprise and entrepreneurship and its importance for economic development. 


• Students will develop an understanding of what is required to start and manage a new venture and will be able to apply basic entrepreneurial skills in the areas of business planning, organising and marketing. 


• Students will learn and apply standard business practices including how to organise meetings, business planning, opportunity evaluation, marketing and finance. 

 

Assessable learning outcomes:

The module intends to build an entrepreneurial mindset in students as part of the entrepreneurial journey while also developing the necessary soft skills that are needed to excel in the world of work for both intraprenuership and entrepreneurship. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

• To describe, discuss and appraise; the process of business start-up; the nature and significance of enterprise and entrepreneurial development; entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship


• To plan and develop a business idea into a venture plan


• To work successfully in a team and reflect on one’s own effectiveness within that team


• To discuss financing sources to support a new business venture


• To apply standard management practices including meetings, action planning, allocation of work etc.


• To explain financial reporting processes including cash flow

Additional outcomes:

By working through this module, students will have opportunities to develop a range of basic entrepreneurial skills including: 

• Business planning 

• Communication and interpersonal skills

• Creative problem-solving

• Opportunity awareness 

• Organisational skills

• Networking skills

• Presentation skills

• Team-working skills

Outline content:

• Entrepreneurial mind-set, entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial process 

• Ideation and design thinking

• Effectuation 

• Business models, Business model canvas, business model patterns 

• Viability, desirability and feasibility 

• Lean start-up, validation experiments, customer research

• Project-management and team-manageme nt

• Cashflow, cost & profit, pricing strategies

• Presenting the business idea 

• Financing for start-ups

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This module uses a combination of academic study and experiential learning. Teamwork is central to many of the module’s activities. Students will be matched into teams at the beginning of the semester. Sessions are comprised of a short delivery of content on the key areas above. This is followed by a series of individual and team activities. Following the ideation and lean startup workshop, student teams will in the second half of the term plan their new business ventures. In the final phase of their projects, drop-in sessions/ mentoring with core teaching staff will replace classroom activity.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	20
Tutorials	9	6
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	15	10
Wider reading (directed)	20	8
Advance preparation for classes	10	2
Preparation for presentations	5
Preparation of practical report	20	25
Revision and preparation		5
Group study tasks	10	8
Carry-out research project	10	5
Reflection	10	2
Total hours by term	129	71	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Project output other than dissertation	50
Class test administered by School	50

Summative assessment- Examinations:
No examination

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

In-class test: 50% - During week 1 of Spring Term

Team Pitchdeck with viva: 50% - During week 7 of Spring Term for submission of the pitchdeck and during Week 8 for team viva based on the pitchdeck. 

Total: 100%  

Formative assessment methods:

The module uses a range of ad-hoc in-class quizzes to refresh students’ understanding of content.

Penalties for late submission:

The Module Convenor will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day[1] (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
40%

Reassessment arrangements:

By re-submission of coursework.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: Osterwalder,  Alexander, Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers 978-0470876411 (RRP £23)

Last updated: 9 September 2020