Introduction to entrepreneurship/IENT100 OERu course specification

=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)
 * Becoming an entrepreneur (IENT101)
 * Planning a business startup (IENT102)
 * 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.

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.

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

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