Registry

Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2012 - 2013
Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title	High-Technology Entrepreneurship
Module Code	EF327
School	DCUBS
Online Module Resources
Module Teacher	Geraldine Lavin
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	10
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the theory and practice of entrepreneurship in the context of high technology venture creation. This is a practical module where students will form business teams and gain first hand experience of the creativity, leadership, planning, and team management skills involved in initiating and developing a new venture. Business planning is a multi-skilled task and success will depend on the teams ability to synthesise and apply knowledge from the entire programme including: New Product Development, Strategy, Technology, Marketing, Finance and Management.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify and assess the role, characteristics and motivations of high technology entrepreneurs.
2. Recognise, analyse and evaluate opportunities for new business product, process and services innovations.
3. Evaluate key strategies for successful new venture creation
4. Research, assess and defend a business plan for a new technology-based venture
5. Practice enhanced team working, planning, negotiation and problem solving in a high-technology product development environment

Workload	Full-time hours per semester
*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Lecture	40	Entrepreneurship Theory, New Business Planning, Case studies and Guest Lectures
Seminars	10	Covering idea generation and evaluation, business plan review and consultation
Directed learning	40	Reading core texts and case studies, product and market research and analysis
Group work	65	Researching, analysing and collating business plan
Group work	25	Weekly Meetings and Progress Reports
Assignment	30	Individual Case Study Semester 1
Assignment	20	Group preperation for New Busienss Idea Presentation Semister 1
Assignment	20	Group Preperation for Busines Plan Presentation Semester 2
Total Workload: 250

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

High-technology Entrepreneurship.
Definitions of high- tech entrepreneurship; The environmental influences affecting entrepreneurship. Irelands high tech sector, structure and performance. Indigenous versus Overseas entrepreneurship..

Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Sources of innovation; Relevance of sources to the entrepreneur; New Product Development Strategies; Technology Adoption Lifecycle.

Ideation.
Sources of new business ideas, effective brainstorming, product benefits, idea screening, product concept development. Intellectual Property Rights..

New Business Planning.
Essential differences between new business plans and planning for established businesses, critical path milestones, testing key assumptions..

New Venture Financing.
Stages of financing in high tech venture; Advantages and disadvantages of different sources of financing including debt, government grants, venture capital and stock market flotation.

Financial Planning.
Financing requirement, investor's view, financial projections, cashflow, profit and loss account, balance sheet, breakeven analysis, sensitivity analysis. New product pricing..

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Course Work Breakdown
Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assignment	Individual case study of high-technology entrepreneur and company	30%	Sem 1 End
Assignment	Group project: business opportunity recognition, assessment and evaluation	10%	Sem 1 End
Assignment	Group business plan	50%	Sem 2 End
Assignment	Group presentation and defence of business plan	10%	Sem 2 End

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Bernasconi, M., Haris, S. and Moenstead, M.(eds): 2006, High- Tech Entrepreneurship, Managing Innovation, Variety and Uncertainty, 1st, Routledge, Abingdon , UK,
Hine, D. and Kapeleris, J.: 2006, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Biotechnology: An International Perspective, 1st Edition, Edward Elgar, UK,
Therin, Francois (ed): 2007, Handbook of Research on Techno-Entrepreneurship, 1st Edition, Edward Elgar, UK,
Bessant, J and Tidd, J.: 2007, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 1st Edition, Wiley, UK,

Other Resources

None

Array

Programme or List of Programmes

BME

BEng Manufacturing Engineering &Business

MINT

BSc Marketing, Innovation & Technology

Timetable this semester: Timetable for EF327

Date of Last Revision

21-OCT-11

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