MM2101-Founder Dilemmas

Module Provider: Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof Norbert Morawetz
Email: n.morawetz@henley.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This is a dynamic and experiential module aiming to give students a strong understanding of key dilemmas likely to be faced by first time entrepreneurs. The module develops student's entrepreneurial skill and confidence to put plans into action. Students gain understanding of the practice of entrepreneurship as informed by theory, role play and guest lectures. This will include exposure to the experience of successful entrepreneurs. Students are given a solid understanding of the realities of business start-up.

 

Aims:

First time founders face many unfamiliar challenges such as: Do I start by myself or do I need a co-founder? How to allocate equity in the business? When to raise finance, how much and from whom? How to manage growth? When it is better to cut your losses and how to cope with failure? When and how to adjust business models? etc This module examines some of the key dilemmas faced by entrepreneurs and explores the range of options available to founders, and the long-term and often cumulative consequences of their decision making. 

 

Assessable learning outcomes:

• To describe a range of dilemmas and challenges faced by entrepreneurs as they move from idea to exit in the entrepreneurial process.

• To apply key techniques in venture creation, such as market research, investment and essentials of team building/co-founding.

• To evaluate different sources of finance and the cumulative effect of financing decisions in the venture growth process.

• To propose how the appropriate resources needed to launch new products or a new business can be acquired and mobilised.

• To appraise concepts in entrepreneurship as they relate to the world of business.

Additional outcomes:

In addition to fulfilling the academic requirement for your degree programme, in this module we aim to equip you with: 

• Entrepreneurial skills including networking, team building, creativity and presentation skills 

• Baseline knowledge on accessing resources to make your ideas a reality 

• Inspiration and confidence to consider creating your own venture as a future career option 

 

Outline content:

• From Zero to One – Start-up Economics 

• Developing moon-shot business ideas

• Building a successful startup team

• Understanding Equity

• Wealth versus Control Dilemmas 

• Angel Investment 

• Exit strategies 

• Managing growth 

 

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This course is highly interactive. The module allows students to experience key founder dilemmas in the classroom through;

• an ongoing venture simulation where students create their own founder character (founder, investor or employee ) and start-up and then act out their role and document their decision making in a series of pre-structured start-up dilemmas; incl. attracting and rewarding co-founders and employees, attracting investors and negotiating valuation and term sheets, forecasting business growth, etc

• discussion of relevant, practical case studies

• guest lectures from subject experts

• discussion of key literature on the respective subject

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		10
Seminars		10
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)		30
Wider reading (directed)		10
Preparation for presentations		15
Preparation for seminars		35
Completion of formative assessment tasks		50
Group study tasks		10
Essay preparation		10
Reflection		20
Total hours by term	0	200	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	65
Portfolio	5
Oral assessment and presentation	30

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Group tasks 30%- Week 11 of Spring Term

Individual portfolio 5% - Week 3 of Spring Term

Reflective essay 65% - Week 1 of Summer Term

 

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres 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 (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: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/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:

Re-assessment by coursework.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Founders-Dilemmas-Anticipating-Foundation-Entrepreneurship/dp/0691158304/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489146842&sr=8-1&keywords=founder+dilemma - £12

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Founders-Work-Stories-Startups-Problem-Solution/dp/1430210788/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489146898&sr=8-1&keywords=founder+stories - £14

 

Last updated: 30 March 2023