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Syllabus:

Strategic Entrepreneurship D, 15 Credits

Swedish name: Strategic Entrepreneurship D

This syllabus is valid: 2010-08-30 valid to 2011-09-04 (newer version of the syllabus exists)

Course code: 2FE147

Credit points: 15

Education level: Second cycle

Main Field of Study and progress level: Business Administration: Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements

Grading scale: Three-grade scale

Responsible department: Business Administration

Contents

The course consists of two modules, which will be further described below: Module 1. Strategic Foresight and Innovation, 7.5 ECTS Module 2. Entrepreneurship and Business Growth, 7.5 ECTS Module 1. Strategic Foresight and innovation, 7.5 ECTS The first module sets the stage for forthcoming courses offered in the ’Business Development and Internationalisation’ Entrepreneurship Master’s Program. In this module, two interconnected themes, strategic foresight and innovation are going to be in focus. Entrepreneurs benefit from the dynamic and inspiring methods of strategic foresights and visionary management for developing new directions for innovation and business-growth. In this respect, the first theme - strategic foresight, aims at deepening students’ insights into futures trends in for example the organizing of business, emerging technologies, sustainable development, demographics, and lifestyles and how these trends can be analyzed. It provides well-grounded understanding of both the possibilities and limitations of futures studies as an academic discipline and assists in exploring futures research methods such as scenario building and environmental scanning and their application. The students will be supported to gain insightful, multiple and interdisciplinary understanding of the world and the intertwined nature of its events and processes, and acquire skills of developing and maintaining economically, socially, culturally and ecologically sustainable futures. In connection, the second theme – innovation, provide essential tools of creating and maintaining processes of long-range innovation for development and implementation of entrepreneurial business opportunities. This includes knowledge about the characteristics and component of entrepreneurial creativity, motivation, willingness and passion to create new business opportunities and to grow the business. The students will develop the ability to analyze the challenges related to different types of innovations. Further capabilities and skills development are emphasized to deal with the knowledge-based challenges of the entrepreneurial firm; the determinants and processes of successful new product and service development, as well as innovation into business models, incorporating factors need to be considered in commercialization. Throughout the Module 1 the students are supported to develop their individual mental models and mindsets in order to find their own innovative approaches. Expected learning outcomes: On successful completion of this module, students should be able to: • Link futures studies, as an academic discipline, to other scientific fields, particularly to entrepreneurship and innovation • Design and evaluate future trends • Apply foresight methods for developing directions for innovation and business development • Critically understand, analyze and apply research and best practice based models, tools and techniques to the management of innovation and business development • Able to propose interventions concerning challenges and complexities of innovation in real-life entrepreneurial companies Focus of instruction Connection to research is in-built within the study curricula. The researchers and teachers of USBE and UmU are utilized and especially encouraged to emphasize their own special knowledge, research results and know-how in their teaching. Beyond the interactive lectures and guest lecture(s), the tuition incorporates reading seminars, case classes and group work(s). The Module requires significant amount of independent study, meaning reading the assigned compulsory (and facultative) book chapters, articles, handouts, and writing case preparations and the learning diary. It is the responsibility of the students, and they are expected to be prepared for class and to participate in discussions. The main written assignment is the individual learning diary, written after each lecture and seminar during the module. Individual case preparations in written form will be required from the students and with consideration of the inputs from the students into class discussion those will be graded after case classes. Group work will be carried out in teams of 3-5 students and a written essay and oral presentation will be required. Examination modes The completion of the learning diary count 50% and the average of the sum of the other assignments comprise the other 50% of the final grade. Students who receive the grade fail on the above assignments will be given a re-exam (see also note 6 below). Attendance on all seminars and presentations is compulsory in order to pass the module. Module 2. Entrepreneurship and Business Growth, 7.5 ECTS A key challenge for start-ups and existing organisations is to maintain the entrepreneurial spirit, consolidate business activities and create growth. Obviously, this is a main concern of small as well as large companies, whereby it is a huge market for business consultancy. To prepare students for this demand, this course focuses on management for and under business growth. Main themes concern (i) the theory of entrepreneurship and its connections to business growth, (ii) the characteristics and components of entrepreneurial motivation, risk taking and the willingness to grow businesses, (iii) entrepreneurial strategy-making, (iv) growing pains, downsizing and size management and (v) venture capital and financing challenges. The course literature will cover these themes and connect them to businesses. During the course, students work with cases related to the above themes and develop consultant solutions to solve the issues and problems outlined in the cases. In order to prepare students for future consultant work and for contemporary organizations, much of the work in this course will be executed in teams. Expected learning outcomes On successful completion of this module, students should be able to: • apply theoretical knowledge to identify and evaluate challenges for and under entrepreneurial business growth • analyse driving forces for entrepreneurial growth • use strategies to accomplish entrepreneurial growth • evaluate signals of acute organizational growth problems and make decisions on how to overcome them • identify and make decisions about downsizing and size management • make decisions about financial matters when growing a business • transfer dense theoretical material of entrepreneurship growth to applicable implications for businesses Focus of instruction A mix of lectures and seminars will be used and the teaching is characterized by a strong emphasis on student activity, both verbally and in written tasks. Presentation skills and team work is focused upon. A core idea in the program, is action based learning (or learning by experience) and how to use literature and theoretical ideas to create practical value for companies. Therefore, the module includes assignments that require team work aiming at developing consultant solutions for a set of key problems that exists for many entrepreneurs and companies. These hands-on assignments run throughout the module. The assignments will include both practical analyses of growth possibilities and growth restrictions on the separate themes during the course. The student is expected to actively participate both individually and work in small groups during the different seminars and tasks, and in the written and oral presentations. Examination modes The knowledge obtained during the course will be examined through practical “hands-on” team presentations and reports of the themes covered in the course. An individual exam covering the main themes provided in this course will be at the end of this course. Students must attend all seminars and presentations in order to pass the module. See also below.

Expected learning outcomes

See respectively module.

Required Knowledge

University: Courses in Business Administration (75 ECTS) At Basic level (A-level) and Intermediate level (B-level) a minimum of 60 ECTS in Management, Marketing, Accounting and Finance courses. At the C-level (Bachelor), a minimum 15 ECTS. Language: Students are required to have adequate knowledge of English corresponding to English B-level at Swedish Gymnasium, or, corresponding levels in internationally recognized tests of English proficiency such as the TOEFL - minimum score 550 on paper-based test and not below 4.0 on the TWE. Alternatively 213 on computer-based test or with Internet-based Test (iBT) Total score of 79 (Writing 17 or higher); IELTS Academic Training - minimum score 6.0 with no individual score below 5.0; or University of Cambridge/Oxford Certificate in Advanced English/Certificate of Proficiency/Diploma of English Studies. as well as basic entrance requirements for higher studies in Swedish language proficiency if the course is taught in Swedish.

Form of instruction

See respectively module.

Examination modes

See also above under respectively module. The following grading system is used: Pass with distinction (Väl godkänd, Vg, 75% or more), Pass (Godkänd, G, 50% or more) and Fail (Underkänd U, less than 50%). To receive the grade Pass with distinction in the course, the student must have achieved at least 75% of the total of points in the separate modules or the equivalent. Students who fail will be offered an examination opportunity within 2-3 weeks. Beyond that, additional opportunities to complete the written examination normally arise every academic year one-week prior to the start of the autumn term. When a student has failed an examination on two occasions, he or she has a right to have another grading teacher. A written request for an alternative examiner should be handed to the director of studies no later than two weeks before the next examination opportunity. Rules and regulations concerning the production of academic texts and correct referencing will be applicable to all written assignments. See, http://www.usbe.umu.se/english/student/theses-work-and-theses-archive/policy-for-dealing-with-suspicions-of-attempts-to-deceive/ All lectures’ and seminars’ material including the assigned compulsory reading during the module might be used as basis for re-examination. Student who has passed an examination can not redo the examination to get a higher grading. Grades on the course are awarded when students have passed all examinations and compulsory course elements.

Other regulations

This is a course at the D-level in a MSc-degree at Umeå University. The course can also be included in study programs in Business Administration and Economics at Umeå School of Business.

Literature

The literature list is not available through the web. Please contact the faculty.