Entrepreneurship is the essence of free enterprise because the birth of new business gives a market economy its vitality. New and emerging business are the seedbed for innovation and enterprise and a transformative society. The overall aim of the course is to engender a spirit of entrepreneurial endeavour. It will do this by challenging a student’s own perception of self-fit with entrepreneurial activity
1. The role of SME’s in the Economy.
2. Entrepreneurship.
Defining entrepreneurship/ Tasks/ Role of the entrepreneur/ Entrepreneurship classifications/ Serial entrepreneurship/ Defining the small firm/Entrepreneurship and small business management /Enterprise Culture in Ireland and government policy
.
3. The Entrepreneur
Characteristics of a successful entrepreneur/ Behavioural Traits/ Entrepreneurial skills/ Entrepreneurship and culture / Dimensions of entrepreneurship/ Entrepreneurial myths
3. Entrepreneurial Contexts.
Entrepreneurship and the drive for change/ Entrepreneurial process-opportunity, resources and organisation/ action and the dynamics of success/ Entrepreneurship in non-profit organisations/ Influences in the move to entrepreneurship
4. Entrepreneurship Routes
Starting a business/ Innovation and entrepreneurship/ Rationale for new business/ Buying an existing business/ Determining a price/ Negotiation/ Franchising/ Restrictions/ Evaluating the franchise option/ Irish Overview
5. 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
6. The Business Plan
Format/ Role and function/ Executive Summary/ Marketing Issues/Product/Service issues/Sales and promotion issues/ financial issues/ targeting the business plan
7. Issues and Perspectives on financing Small Firms
Gaining financial support/ correct financing/ and differing perspectives on the business plan. Banker perspective/ venture capitalist perspective/ business angels/ Financing Gap/ Critical analysis of the business plan
8. Marketing and Small Firms
Market planning in small firms/ Marketing models and Marketing performance/ Marketing and entrepreneurship
9. The Family Firm
Complexity of economic and social forces/ conflict of cultures/ resolving conflict/ Succession and its management.
The module will be delivered using a variety of learning and teaching methods. A strong emphasis will be placed on case histories as the basis for learning. Other teaching methods will include lectures, debates, videos and guest speakers. There will be considerable emphasis on self-directed learning. Continuous assessment will be used to develop research skills, deepen knowledge and assess the application of theory to reality. It is anticipated that teaching methods will foster skills in areas such as communication, problem solving, critical thinking and professional report writing.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Formal Examination | 50 |
| Other Assessment(s) | 50 |