Business Entrepreneurship and Innovation BA (Hons) module details

Year one

Block 1: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Today

This module offers students a theoretical and practical understanding of entrepreneurship and innovation in today’s contexts. It provides students with a broad picture of the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation within the economy, in different sectors – from private, public to third sectors, and in relation to a variety of organisations, from SMEs, family businesses to high growth companies. The module also offers an opportunity to investigate aspects of business building and development, including exploring concepts of the entrepreneurial mindset. Students will get the opportunity to simulate a new venture creation using SimVenture software.

Block 2: Fundamentals of Business Theory and Practice

This module introduces students to the fundamentals of business theory and practice, including the diversity of internal and external contexts in which organisations operate. Students will also learn about the key management functions of planning, leading, organising and controlling and various aspects of the business environment and operations. Students will learn about how key internal business functions are successfully integrated into organisations and how this in turn positions organisations for external success. In addition, students can expect to be onboarded in the areas of academic research, writing and referencing skills.

Block 3: Marketing Principles for Entrepreneurship

The module offers students an introduction to marketing theory; brought to life by illustrating its practical application. Contemporary challenges facing marketers - e.g. e-marketing, ethics and globalisation will be given particular emphasis. This module establishes the foundational principles that students will apply in subsequent modules and as practitioners in their day-to-day work. This module encourages students to develop key skills in collaborative working, spoken and written communication skills and their ability to identify and evaluate quality sources of information to develop evidence-based solutions to practical marketing challenges.

Block 4: Entrepreneurial Finance

This module aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the role finance plays in the start and growth of new business ventures. Students will be familiarised with different sources and uses of funds, learn to read and analyse key financial statements, and interpret key performance indicators for different types of businesses in different sectors. The module introduces students to the necessary knowledge and skills to support their decision-making from a financial perspective to ascertain the financial sustainability of a business venture.

Year two

Block 1: Creative Branding, Buying & Selling

This module will introduce students to the importance of developing a personal and corporate brand, as well as buying, selling and negotiations skills. Students will get exposure to industry professionals and the support services available on campus. The assessment will relate to practical skills development such as creating a CV and a LinkedIn profile.

Block 2: Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics

The scale of current social and environmental problems requires steady flows of new entrepreneurial and innovative solutions. This module aims to develop an understanding of a spectrum of ways for entrepreneurship and innovation to be a positive driver of social change and sustainable solutions. It also introduces students to concepts and debates in the field of social entrepreneurship from a theoretical and practical point of view. Students will have the opportunity to explore and examine the taught material upon the experiences of real social entrepreneurs, as well as their own work creating an innovative solution to a real local social issue.

Block 3: Business Analytics and Research Skills

This module introduces how business research and analytics affects different business situations, utilising a variety of research skills. It equips students with the necessary tools and techniques to prepare a business research proposal, choosing appropriate methods of data collection and analyse and interpret the data for any business environment. It prepares students to analyse business problems and opportunities in general via a rigorous research process.

Block 4: Managing Projects and Consulting Live

The module provides a clear link between the development of relevant skills and employability through different perspectives, exploration of alternative solutions, critical evaluation and integration of theory and practice in a range of business contexts. The module achieves this through a controlled and collaborative consultancy project using real live businesses in the Leicester area. The student will develop an understanding of strategic theory and methods required to support consultancy practice and test those theories through an in-depth collaboration with a company where you can apply previously acquired knowledge and skills, engage with ideas and solutions as a group and develop relationships that are typical of strategic teamwork.

Year three

Block 1: Critical Perspectives on Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is largely considered to be a positive force, driving venture creation and economic growth. This module examines the key areas of entrepreneurship and the accepted norms, whilst critically questioning the importance within a business context. It explores the dominant assumptions of scholarship within the context entrepreneurship and critically examines the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in the world of business today.

Block 2: Business Strategy and Governance

This module introduces students to the theory and practice of corporate and business strategies and governance for different types of organisations at different points in the business life cycle, from startups and MSMEs to SMEs and international businesses. In the early stages, students will be introduced to concepts and tools necessary for critical strategic analysis. The module focuses on specific strategic issues and challenges that affect contemporary business operations. A strong focus will be placed on the management of change, organisational learning and strategy implementation.

Block 3: Digital Transformation and Entrepreneurship

This module aims to provide an insight into the emergence of digital entrepreneurship, key concepts, business models and the resources needed to develop successful ventures. Students will have the opportunity of immersing themselves in a new, exciting domain while also expected to be critically reflective about the challenges of the practices in the field.

Block 4:

Venture Creation Project

This module will combine and build upon previous theories, practices and research, through a series of lectures and workshops that will support students to identify a new business venture opportunity and enable the student to create a feasible and compelling solution to a new business venture within a specific market. At the end of the module, the student will pitch their new venture creation to a panel consisting of staff, experienced entrepreneurs and potential investors.

Dissertation

This module provides an opportunity for students to undertake an independent study in an area of special interest within the broad areas of business, entrepreneurship and innovation. This module draws on the academic skills and practices students have developed from the commencement of their studies, including introductory business research skills. This opportunity for in-depth research can help prepare students for careers where such research skills are required and/or for subsequent postgraduate research study.