Introduction to entrepreneurship/IENT100 OERu course specification

Work in progress, expect frequent changes. Help and feedback is welcome. See discussion page.

Part A: Course specification

Metadata

• OERu course name: Introduction to entrepreneurship
• Level: 1st year Bachelor's degree
• Notional learning hours: 120
• Micro-courses (Three micro courses of 40 hours each)
  1. Becoming an entrepreneur (IENT101)
  2. Planning a business startup (IENT102)
  3. Financing and managing a business startup (IENT103)
• OERu course codes: IENT101, IENT102 and IENT103
• OERu assessing institutions: Thomas Edison State University
• Micro-credential options: No
• OERu mode of study: Self-directed study or cohort-based independent study with peer-learning support.

Course aim

Investigate methods and behaviours used by entrepreneurs to identify business opportunities and put them into practice.

Learning outcomes

1. Review the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs and apply techniques for generating ideas to initiate a market analysis and supporting due-diligence assessment for a startup business.     
2. Prepare a business plan and presentation including reference to legal forms of business, and moral, legal and ethical business behaviours.
3. Prepare a financial report identifying and outlining the financial aspects of a business startup which indicate the likelihood of a successful venture; including interpretation of financial statements, and the effects of cashflow.

Indicative content

1. Characteristics of entrepreneurs
2. Feasibility study
3. Competitor analysis
4. Business models for startups
5. Strategic resources and partnerships
6. Ethical and legal foundations for the business
7. Venture teams
8. Role of professional advisors
9. Writing and presenting a business plan
10. Forms of business organisation
11. Financial management of a startup
12. Preparing financial statements
13. Venture financing options
14. Selecting a market and establishing a position
15. Key marketing issues for new businesses
16. The role of intellectual property
17. Forms of intellectual property
18. Franchising and its issues.

Assessment and credit transfer options

Thomas Edison State University (TECEP)

Assessment type	Learning outcomes	Details	Weighting	Completion requirements
Challenge examination		Objective item assessment, short answers and essays (MAN-230-TE)	100%	Passing score of 65%. Grade will be reported as CR (credit)

Pre-requisites

• Learners whose primary language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in written and spoken English as indicated by a Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550 on the written version; 213 on the computer version; or 79 on the Internet based version.

Part B: Detailed objectives

Micro-course structure

Learners are required to complete three micro-courses to prepare for the assessment.

Micro 1: Becoming an entrepreneur

Learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:

1. Define entrepreneurship
2. Identify the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs
3. Review the advantages and disadvantages of small business ownership
4. Examine the key questions an entrepreneur should answer before starting a business.
5. Review techniques for generating ideas
6. Complete a due-diligence survey for a business idea
7. Distinguish between market research and market intelligence and explain the situations in which each approach should be used
8. Describe the basic steps of market research and corresponding purposes for each step
9. Describe competitive intelligence
10. Analyse an example of a business model startup Move to 102
11. Review types of market exchanges and partnerships

Micro 2: Planning a startup business

Learning objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:

• Review legal forms for a business
• Identify the questions to ask when choosing an appropriate form of ownership for a business
• Select and justify an appropriate form of ownership for a selected business startup
• Recognise different approaches for developing a business plan and the role of prototyping a product or service
• Analyse an example of a business model startup (moved from 101)
• Prepare a business plan for a selected startup
• Prepare a business presentation based on the business plan
• Differentiate moral, legal and ethical business behaviours
• Discuss how ethical behaviour impacts on business decisions for a selected business startup
• Investigate the relationships among entrepreneurial intentions, culture, gender and new venture creation
• Appraise the value of mentors and professional advisers for a business startup

Micro 3: Financing and managing a business startup

Upon successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:

• Review principles of economics and how they relate to small businesses
• Explain why start-ups require finance (new)
• Identify financing options for new venture start-ups in their own country and describe the differences between them (amended)
• Read and interpret financial statements of a business
• Examine the effects and significance of cash flow for a business startup
• Prepare documentation required for a business loan (new)
• Analyse issues critical to the success of a business startup including market segmentation and branding, intellectual property and franchising
• Explain the types, characteristics and functions of money
• Describe the purpose of the national / federal reserve system and its role in controlling money supply and interest rates
• Explain how technology is affecting the traditional monetary system and the definition of 'money'
• Identify components of the securities exchanges, investments and markets
• Identify potential risks and rewards to businesses and individuals in securities markets

Course links (if available)

• Planning page
• Course materials - to be assembled