The Small Business Management module is directed towards those who wish to learn about managing a small firm. It has been designed to provide students with an understanding of how to manage a small business, particularly in the Irish context. The main thrust of the course is to develop in the student an understanding of the executive requirements that are necessitated when managing one’s own enterprise. This will integrate with their overall management and marketing studies to educate students in their learning of the particular needs of small businesses. This module is theoretically strongly grounded and very practical for the student. The module is designed to examine the enterprise and gain strong ‘practical’ insights into different areas of a small business, such as Organisation, Operation, Sales and Marketing, and Research and Development. In addition, the module is designed to promote the areas of management, and to clearly communicate the tools and techniques that would assist in the running and development of a business. Finally, the module promotes entrepreneurship from a cross-disciplinary perspective of how it interacts with broad aspects of an enterprise.
| Introduction Definitions of the small firm, heterogeneity of small firms, characteristics of small companies, data sources and problems of measurement, owner manager vs entrepreneurs, tasks and role of the entrepreneur, entrepreneurship and small business management
Government Policy and Small Business Small firms in the Irish economy, the role of government intervention, an evaluation of policy and its problems, enterprise culture in Ireland, government policy
People People and the small firm, changing context of industrial relations, managing people in small firms, HRM
Internationalisation SMEs and internationalisation, stimulating internationalisation, barriers to internationalisation, policy and institutional support
Entrepreneurial Capabilities Resource based theory and the entrepreneurial organisation. Overcoming resource disadvantages. Managing contingencies and changing contexts
Networking Defining networks, alternative perspectives on networks, conceiving of small firm networks, research into networks
Choosing a Direction Entrepreneurial vision and mission; Developing, shaping, and communicating vision and mission; Business strategy process; Controlling strategy process; Entrepreneurial entry strategies, Entrepreneurial strategy heuristics
Small Business Growth, Success and Failure Different stages of growth, types of growth, characteristics of fast-growth firms, reasons for failure
Strategy Strategy and the small firm, success strategies in small firms, strategy making in small firms, strategic problems of small businesses
SimVenture Evolution (Business Simulation Software)
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The learning and teaching methods employed will include lectures, discussions, problem-solving exercises, reading, and self-directed learning. In addition, formal lectures and workshops are supported by guest lecturers from practitioners in the area.
In addition to the reading list, supplemental readings will be continually provided to ensure that students are aware of current academic developments and emerging practitioner issues.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
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| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Other Assessment(s) | 100 |