NEW BUSINESS VENTURING - 2023/4

Module Overview

This module is designed for students to develop an understanding for the different steps that it takes to develop a business opportunity into a business plan which is investment ready by looking at the theory and practice.  This includes carrying out market research to validate a business idea, mapping out a business model for a scaling strategy and then building the different parts of a plan to articulate the scaling strategy structured in a way to answer key questions for stakeholders such as potential investors.

The module will enable students to understand theories related to Enterprise and Entrepreneurship and enable them to apply such theories through a group project to develop market research using Lean Start-up methodology and working with actual businesses and then reflecting on feedback to develop further as a business plan.

Students will learn the theory and gain practical experience around key concepts for Entrepreneurship, Lean Start-up, Business Modelling and Business Planning.

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

SEARS Jim (SBS)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

• Entrepreneurship theory


• Market research skills


• Lean Start-up theory


• Business modelling


• Stakeholder management

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

The Group Research Project will be prepared individually as a video presentation

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of key market research and business planning skills and then to apply these skills in a business context while collaborating with external companies.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Group Research Project (addresses learning outcomes 1,2, and 5)

Working with designated companies, students develop market research around a designated product prototype business opportunity.  They should apply the theory discussed in class while demonstrating their understanding of the research process.

• Individual Business Plan Report (addresses learning outcomes 1, 3, 4)

A written assignment carried out individually, where the student develops a business plan based on a strategy for scaling for a designated business opportunity.  They should apply the theory discussed in class while demonstrating their understanding of the company building process.

Formative assessment

Students will receive individual and group feedback during the module from teaching staff  which they are expected to use to improve their work in subsequent assignments; in addition, verbal feedback and written comments provided for initial assessment assignment can be used to improve subsequent assessment assignment

Feedback

Students will receive feedback verbally in lecture or tutorial while they will also receive written feedback for assignments which can be used to inform further summative assessments.

Module aims

• Explore a range of business concepts in theory and practice related to launching a new venture
• Provide a range of tools, techniques, and methods to support the design of a business
• Evaluate the effectiveness of a business plan in relation to validation and view of being investment
• Develop awareness for stakeholder management including business context, objectives and communications

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

The teaching and learning strategy is designed to benefit passive as well as active learners. Apart from catering for the needs of both types of learner, and, therefore, providing  a  teaching and learning strategy that is fairer and does not disadvantage either group, it is intended to promote sound understanding of theory and how it may be applied in practice. Whilst, in Honey and Mumford’s terms, the pragmatist and activist learners are given the opportunity to experience the theorist and reflector learning styles, the theorists and reflectors are able to learn by doing, thereby helping develop  in them the attributes of the activist and pragmatist. This is seen as important in a programme that is intended to educate students “for” entrepreneurship rather than simply educating them “about” it. Hence it carries more weight in the assessment process.

The teaching and learning methods include  

• interactive lectures 


• guest lectures (role models and subject matter experts) 


• case analyses 


• group projects 


• presentations


• SurreyLearn


• support materials


• reading


• Individual and Group work

In addition the module teaching team are accessible throughout the semester to address and clarify questions. Student feedback and consultation hours will be provided. Feedback given will be oral and written on an individual basis and summative.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MANM298

Other information

The module supports development of 5 pillars for learning as follows:

Employability – students develop key business skills which they can apply in a range of different business contexts.  This is assessed in the individual assignment and group assignment.

Global and Cultural Capabilities – students will develop their ability to work in groups effectively with other students from diverse backgrounds to develop their cultural intelligence, broaden their world view, own perspectives and interpretations and reinterpret issues against a broader spectrum of ideas and representations.  This is assessed in group assignment.

Resourcefulness and Resilience – students work on projects where they are expected to respond to challenges to find solutions which require creativity and an ability to adapt based on the business context.  This is assessed in the individual and  group assignment.

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2023/4 academic year.