KB7046 - Technology Entrepreneurship & Product Development

What will I learn on this module?

You will learn how to maintain a business start up research and planning portfolio that demonstrates studies and thinking relating to aspects of business concept development/review, product/service definition, marketing and MR and business finance issues. The portfolio will include a detailed business plan for the start of a small business to exploit the defined business concept and a research project that will analyse the skills and competencies required to become an entrepreneur and critically evaluate the information resources available to support your business start-up investigation.

How will I learn on this module?

You will adopt and develop a critical understanding of your personal business idea, based on a range of briefings and discussions with regular sessions devoted to feedback on the production and development of your portfolio from your peers and academic team

Support from business will also be integral in your experience. This will come from:

? Expert speakers from the fields of Banking, Accountancy, Law, e-business
? Marketing/PR and Small Business support
? Ideas factory with established entrepreneurs, identifying problems and giving advice on business start up

You will also be required to conduct a detailed evaluation of the information resources available to support small business start up.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

You will be supported academically during all scheduled sessions where there will be opportunities to ask questions and discuss issues relating to the content of the module and your portfolio work.
Academics will also be available to support you outside of formal scheduled teaching subject to prior arrangement. In addition to on-site delivery, you will be directed to textbooks, text- and video-based learning resources, Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) reports and scholarly journal articles (hard copy or electronic).

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. To be able to research, identify, and critically evaluate the functional and managerial competencies of an entrepreneur in a new small enterprise
2. To critically relate the position of a small enterprise within the economy and recognise modern trends in the business world that are impacting on entrepreneurial ventures

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. Plan, undertake and evaluate an investigation into the market potential for; a business product or service, e-business potential and produce a comprehensive business plan.
4. Critically appraise the operation of a small enterprise in marketing, finance, supply and human resource terms

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. The importance of building effective teams and relationships to support a creative culture for entrepreneurial activities

How will I be assessed?

Formal Marked Assessments
1. Group Business Plan 20%
This will assess all MLOs. You will produce a business plan for the start of a small business that demonstrates research and rationale on the aspects of: business concept developments/reviews, products/service definitions, marketing and business finance issues.
2. Group Presentation (20%)
This will assess MLOs 2, 4 and 5. A personal presentation of your business plan in a scenario where you will be confronted by a panel of potential investors.
3. Individual research project (60%)
This will assess MLOs 1,2,4 and 5. The research project will analyse the skills and competencies required to become an entrepreneur and critically evaluate the information resources available to support your business start-up investigation.

Informal Assessment for Learning
You will receive formative feedback during the portfolio building stages through ideas factory, peers and the by the module delivery team.

Pre-requisite(s)

None

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

Right from the start of the module, you will learn valuable skills and adopt relevant tools to start an innovative, high impact new business. From the first week, you will develop your personal business idea by considering prospective customers needs, learning how to do “rapid prototyping”, using the tools of “lean” entrepreneurship, and pitching new ideas.
The skills you will learn are both the foundation of a career as a life-long entrepreneur and in high demand from a wide variety of employers: large and established firms who need innovative employees, and fast-growing firms in the exciting technology entrepreneurship sector.

The global challenges that surround the world today require trained innovators to grasp these challenges and turn them into unique opportunities.

Course info

Credits 20

Level of Study Postgraduate

Mode of Study 16 months full-time
2 other options available

Department Mechanical and Construction Engineering

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2023 or January 2024

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing.

Full time Courses starting in 2023 are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but may include elements of online learning. We continue to monitor government and local authority guidance in relation to Covid-19 and we are ready and able to flex accordingly to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff.

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with additional restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors, potentially to a full online offer, should further restrictions be deemed necessary in future. Our online activity will be delivered through Blackboard Ultra, enabling collaboration, connection and engagement with materials and people.

 

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