Studiegids

nl en

Introduction to Business and Entrepreneurship

Vak
2014-2015

Tag(s)

[BSc], En

Admission Requirements

None.

Description

This course is a challenging introduction to business studies. The general guideline of this course is entrepreneurial innovation, which will guide students through the development of an innovative business idea. Students learn about the peculiarities of the business world: (1) how corporations function, (2) how innovation, goal-setting and planning improve the opportunities for success and also about (3) entrepreneurial attitude and skills (how to cooperate, how to plan goal-oriented, how to write convincingly). There is a special focus on sustainable or social responsible business.

Course Objectives

  • To perform the development of corporate goals and initiate strategic planning.

  • To perform the search and recognition of the opportunity.

  • To perform risk assessment and network analysis for planning purposes.

  • To perform financial planning.

  • To identify success factors and apply these in business planning.

  • To manage (simulated) innovation and growth.

  • To reflect on your own work and the work of others.

Mode of Instruction

The writing of a business innovation plan is the central educational tool of this course, that is done as a group assignment. Each week relevant exercises and separate parts of the plan are submitted by the group. The group receives feedback on all parts of the plan, by the lecturer and peer-to-peer. In week 7 an integrated plan is submitted and the plans are presented to the whole group. Each class starts with a lecture on the course material. The remainder of the class is used for case discussions, feedback on the plans in a workshop style of teaching. The presentations of the plans are done, as if a potential financier has to be convinced by the new entrepreneurs. An important issue, that ties all topics together, is corporate social responsibility. A reflective approach on businesses is applied. Next to practical issues, scholarly articles on innovation, corporate social responsibility and entrepreneurship are discussed and analysed.

Assessment

In-class participation, 20% (Ongoing Weeks 1-7)
Team assignments, 20% (weeks 2-6)
Team assignments, 20% (Week 7)
Final exam, 40% (Week 8)

Literature

Compulsory Literature

  • Bessant, J. and J. Tidd(2011), Innovation and Entrepreneurship, second edition, John Wiley and Sons ltd, Chichester, UK.

  • Business Innovation Plan Format, A Manual for Educational Purposes (Blackboard)

*Recommended Literature & Other Sources (e.g. websites, Academic Journals, documentaries etc.)
AVAILABLE THROUGH BLACKBOARD*

  • Christensen, C. M., and Overdorf, M. (2000). Meeting the challenge of disruptive change. Harvard Business Review. Vol. 78, no. 2, pp. 66-77.

  • Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS quarterly, 319-340.

  • Kim, W. C., and Mauborgne, R. (2005). Blue Ocean Strategy, Harvard Business Review. Vol. 82 no. 10, pp. 76-84.

  • Mitchell, R.K., B.R. Agle and D.J. Wood (1997). “Toward a Theory of Stakeholder Identification and Salience: Defining the Principle of Who and What Really Counts”, Academy of Management Review. Vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 853-886.

  • Orij, R.P. (2010). Corporate social disclosures in the context of national cultures and stakeholder theory, Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, vol. 23, no. 7, pp. 868-889.

  • Rogers, E.N. (2001). Innovation, Theory of, In: International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, edited by Neil J. Smelser and Paul B. Baltes, Pergamon, Oxford, pp. 7540-7543.

  • Teece, D. J. (2010). Business models, business strategy and innovation. Long range planning Vol. 43, no. 2, pp 172-194.

Weekly overview

  • Week 1; Entrepreneurial Goals and Context; Introduction. Innovation, entrepreneurship, society and strategy. Chapters 1,2 and 3.

  • Week 2; Recognising the Opportunity, The innovation process, Organisations and innovation. Chapters 4, 5 and 6.

  • Week 3; Finding the Resources, The business case: risks and networks (to describe finances and marketing), chapters 7 and 8.

  • Week 4; Developing the Venture, chapters 9 and 10.

  • Week 5; Financial Intermezzo, Risk and the investment and financing plans, Separately developed syllabus.

  • Week 6; Creating Value; Intellectual property, growth and management, chapters 11, 12 and 13.

  • Week 7; The business Innovation Plan, Presentations, feedback and reflection.

First session

Chapters 1, 2, and 3.