MN5515 Entrepreneurship and Business Development

Indicative module guide 2024-2025

Module type and semester

Option (20 credits), Semester 2

Module coordinator

Dr Hannah Dean

Contact

Aim

The module will develop an understanding of entrepreneurship in practice and the processes of business development. This module is based on a collaborative, self-directed, team project. Students will collaborate to:

identify an opportunity
design and document a business model
produce a written business development plan.

The module will impart experiential awareness of ‘for-profit’ business development and the mind-set involved in entrepreneurial behaviour.

Method of teaching and learning

The module is designed to foster independent learning and team problem solving and to develop a capacity for strategic thinking. It is about opportunity seeking and recognition, networking, initiative taking, persuading others, leadership and taking intuitive decisions. The style is fast-paced, non-linear and likely to be unlike much prior learning experience. This is a highly interactive module with a great deal of in-class discussion and debate. The module is organised as a series of meetings, some involving the class as a whole and some in teams. Each week, the whole class session, which is three hours, will incorporate a blend of lecture, class discussion, team work, presentations and tutorial activity. To successfully undertake individually assessed coursework, teams will also need to meet outwith scheduled times.

Learning outcomes

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

discuss the conceptualisation of a viable business model
discuss the processes of business modelling and business development planning
describe the acquisition and use of resources
identify and use some business planning metrics
demonstrate understanding of the processes of customer acquisition and business development
successfully collaborate with peers in undertaking an open-ended, but time limited, assignment
conceive a viable business model and design a business a business development plan to exploit and capture value from the model
reflect upon their own learning and their collaborative endeavour.

Indicative topic outline

Successful creation of a new venture requires the conception of a robust, sustaining and growth oriented business model. This module involves the practical conception of such a business model and development of an actionable business development plan that, taken together, constitutes a coherent and fully integrated plan for a viable, for-profit, enterprise.

Assessment

There are three assessed elements:

Group presentation – developing a business model (30%)
Individual coursework – writing a reflective essay (20%)
Individual chapter or business development plan – (50%).

Use of ChatGPT in this module is not encouraged or welcomed. It will likely constitute poor academic practice and may attract a correspondingly low mark. If the student submits content produced by Generative AI as part of their work, it has to be acknowledged and referenced.

Reading list

Students should refer to the reading list posted on Moodle.

31 January 2025

Organisation of modules may be subject to change without notice.