ENTREPRENEURSHIP

MODULE TITLE: - ENTREPRENEURSHIP ASSIGNMENTS 1 AND 2 Assignment 1: Assignment 2: SUBMISSION METHOD/MODE:- Online via Turn-it-in, in person ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Assessment Type: There are two individual assignments each worth 50% of the available marks for the module as a whole. Students’ are to present in report format. • An individual business presentation in the form of a written report on the subject of venture capitalists and; • An individual report in the form of a business proposal using the entrepreneurial start up idea developed in (1) above as a CASE STUDY. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Indicative Assessment Requirements for the Module;- There are two individual assignments (of 2,000 words each). Students’ are to present in report format. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Assignment Question 1 (Learning outcomes to be achieved 3, 4, and 5 below) CRITICAL EXAMINATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE USE OF VENTURE CAPITALISTS “To do business with venture capitalists, one needs to be wary of the consequences of entering into a relationship with them, due to the very nature of the beast. The environmental issues are critical and need to be assessed and placed into context with the vision and mission of the entrepreneur.” Critically examine and discuss the above statement in relation to the use of venture capitalists as a source of business finance in the start up phase of a new entrepreneurial venture. Use a specific start up venture of your choice as a vehicle for the critical examination and discussion. GUIDELINES FOR ASSIGNMENT ONE • Critically discuss the need for venture and working capital for start up enterprises • Consider the different forms of business finance available to the start up entrepreneur • Critically evaluate and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using venture capitalist organisations as a source of funds. • Critically examine the salient issues of entering into negotiations with venture capitalists. • Critically examine and discuss the specific statement given in the question. • Use a start up idea of your choice as a vehicle for discussion. • Write in report format. Your work must be presented in a report format style. As an academic piece of work you are expected to link theory and practice. You should take care to ensure that the work you submit has a high standard of presentation. You must acknowledge the sources of information and evidence using the Harvard referencing system. All assignments are subject to the University’s regulations on plagiarism and must be submitted in electronic form for checking. ASSIGNMENT CRITERIA Please ensure that your assignment has • A table of contents • A list of figures and/ or list of tables where appropriate • Introduction - ( 10 marks) • Literature Review- and Critical Analysis (70 marks) • Conclusions - ( 10 marks) • References / Presentation – 10 marks • Bibliography • Appendices if appropriate • TOTAL = 2,000 WORDS – 100 marks MARKING CRITERIA IN TERMS OF CONTENT, TOPIC KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING AND SYNTHESIS, APPLICATION, ANALYSIS, EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS, REFERENCING AND PRESENTATION FOR ASSIGNMENTS 1 AND 2 ARE PROVIDED ON THE PAGE BELOW: MARK 29 or less 30 - 39 40 - 49 50 – 59 60 - 69 70 + CONTENT: Has the question been answered? Vague, random, unrelated material Some mention of the issue, but a collection of disparate points Barely answers the question – just reproduces what knows about the topic Some looseness/ Digressions Well focused Highly focused TOPIC KNOWLEDGE Is there evidence of having read widely and use of appropriate and up to date material to make a case? No evidence of reading. No use of theory – not even hinted at implicitly. No evidence of reading. An implicit hint at some knowledge of theory, etc. No evidence of reading. Very basic theories mentioned but not developed or well used. Some reading evident, but confined to core texts. Good reading. Good range of theories included. Excellent reading. Well chosen theories. UNDERSTANDING & SYNTHESIS Are ideas summarized rather than being reproduced, and are they inter-related with other ideas? No theory included. Vague assertions/poor explanations. Long winded descriptions of theory. Some long winded sections. Some quotations, but stand alone. Some inter- connections. Good summary of theory. Good use of quotations that flow with narrative. Good inter-connections. Succinct, effective summaries of theory. Excellent choice and threading of quotations into argument. Good counterpoising of a range of perspectives. APPLICATION Does it show appropriate use of theory in a practical situation? No examples No/limited/ inappropriate examples Few examples Uneven examples Good examples Excellent range of examples. ANALYSIS Does it identify the key issues, etc in a given scenario, proposal or argument? Vague assertions about issues. Largely descriptive with no identification and analysis of central issues. Limited insight into issues. Some good observations. Good, detailed analysis. Comprehensive range of issues identified and discussed fully. EVALUATION & RECOMMENDATIONS Does it critically assess material? Are there a workable and imaginative solutions? No evaluation. Uncritical acceptance of material. Some evaluation but weak. Little insight. Good interpretation. Some but limited sophistication in argument. Good critical assessment. Independent thought displayed. Full critical assessment and substantial individual insight. REFERENCING Thorough and accurate citation and referencing No referencing No referencing Limited/poor referencing Some inconsistencies in referencing Appropriate referencing Appropriate referencing PRESENTATION Logical and coherent structure to argument and effective presentation No structure apparent. Poor presentation. Poor structure. Poor presentation. Acceptable, but uneven structure. Reasonable presentation. Reasonable structure. Good presentation. Good argument. Well presented material. Excellent argument. Very effective presentation format. Assignment Question 2 (Learning outcomes to be achieved 1, 2, 6 and 7 below) DEVELOPMENT OF CASE STUDY AND BUSINESS PROPOSAL BASED ON THIS CASE. Using your knowledge of entrepreneurship and your entrepreneurial skills developed on the course draw up a business proposal for your proposed new venture used as a vehicle for discussion in Assignment Question 1 above. This plan will be used by banks, venture capitalists and others to evaluate the feasibility of your proposal and will be important in your quest to obtain financial and other forms of support you may need to get your proposed business started on a secure basis. It is therefore essential you provide a clear, persuasive and strong case to support the feasibility and viability of your proposed new venture. The new venture should be presented within your proposal in the form of a short case study. Additional relevant material can be supplied in the appendix if necessary. GUIDELINES FOR ASSIGNMENT TWO • Use the specific new venture identified and discussed in Assignment 1. • Develop this new venture as a short CASE STUDY and include it as part of the proposal. • Additional material can be placed in the appendix. The appendix does not count in terms of the word length requirements. Only relevant additional material to support the written work in the actual proposal should be included in the appendix. • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the importance of a business proposal and the necessary elements of such a proposal. • Demonstrate a good grasp of entrepreneurial theory and practice in the construction and content of the business proposal. • Develop and communicate a strong case to support the feasibility and viability of your proposed new venture. • Write in report format. ASSIGNMENT CRITERIA Mark allocation and word allocation for each section of the business proposal (Report Format) • Executive Summary – (200 words) - 5 marks • Business Description in the form of a CASE STUDY – (500 words) -30 marks • Business Opportunities research and analysis – (300 words) -20 marks • Marketing Strategy – (200 words) -15 marks • Business Operations – (200 words) -5 marks • Technology – (200 words) -10 marks • HR Strategy- (200 words) -5 marks • Financial considerations – (200 words) -10 marks. TOTAL = 2,000 WORDS – 100 marks • It is emphasised that this proposal is to be the work of the individual student and should reflect individual entrepreneurial ideas; comprehension of the tasks involved; views; critical awareness; use of theory; interpretation and judgements; use of evidence; evaluation and a systematic approach to the use of research. • The above requirements are indicated as the required areas of focus for you to articulate your individual responses. The submission of your work for assessment should be organised, clearly structured in the order outlined in 1 to 8 above. MARKING CRITERIA IN TERMS OF CONTENT, TOPIC KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING AND SYNTHESIS, APPLICATION, ANALYSIS, EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS, REFERENCING AND PRESENTATION FOR ASSIGNMENTS 1 AND 2 ARE PROVIDED ON THE PAGE BELOW: MARK 29 or less 30 - 39 40 - 49 50 – 59 60 - 69 70 + CONTENT: Has the question been answered? Vague, random, unrelated material Some mention of the issue, but a collection of disparate points Barely answers the question – just reproduces what knows about the topic Some looseness/ Digressions Well focused Highly focused TOPIC KNOWLEDGE Is there evidence of having read widely and use of appropriate and up to date material to make a case? No evidence of reading. No use of theory – not even hinted at implicitly. No evidence of reading. An implicit hint at some knowledge of theory, etc. No evidence of reading. Very basic theories mentioned but not developed or well used. Some reading evident, but confined to core texts. Good reading. Good range of theories included. Excellent reading. Well chosen theories. UNDERSTANDING & SYNTHESIS Are ideas summarized rather than being reproduced, and are they inter-related with other ideas? No theory included. Vague assertions/poor explanations. Long winded descriptions of theory. Some long winded sections. Some quotations but stand alone. Some inter- connections. Good summary of theory. Good use of quotations that flow with narrative. Good inter-connections. Succinct, effective summaries of theory. Excellent choice and threading of quotations into argument. Good counterpoising of a range of perspectives. APPLICATION Does it show appropriate use of theory in a practical situation? No examples No/limited/ inappropriate examples Few examples Uneven examples Good examples Excellent range of examples. ANALYSIS Does it identify the key issues, etc in a given scenario, proposal or argument? Vague assertions about issues. Largely descriptive with no identification and analysis of central issues. Limited insight into issues. Some good observations. Good, detailed analysis. Comprehensive range of issues identified and discussed fully. EVALUATION & RECOMMENDATIONS Does it critically assess material? Are there a workable and imaginative solutions? No evaluation. Uncritical acceptance of material. Some evaluation but weak. Little insight. Good interpretation. Some but limited sophistication in argument. Good critical assessment. Independent thought displayed. Full critical assessment and substantial individual insight. REFERENCING Thorough and accurate citation and referencing No referencing No referencing Limited/poor referencing Some inconsistencies in referencing Appropriate referencing Appropriate referencing PRESENTATION Logical and coherent structure to argument and effective presentation No structure apparent. Poor presentation. Poor structure. Poor presentation. Acceptable, but uneven structure. Reasonable presentation. Reasonable structure. Good presentation. Good argument. Well presented material. Excellent argument. Very effective presentation format. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Module Learning Outcomes to be Assessed:- Upon successful completion of the module the students will be able to: • Identify and determine the driving forces in a new venture. • Analyse how successful entrepreneurs and investors create, find, and differentiate profitable and durable opportunities; in particular, how they tell these opportunities apart from just “other good ideas”. • Evaluate and determine how successful entrepreneurs and investors create and build value for themselves and others. • Identify and determine the necessary financial and non-financial resources available for new ventures; the criteria used to screen and evaluate proposals, their attractiveness and risk, and know how to obtain start-up and early growth capital. • Determine the critical tasks to be accomplished, the hurdles to be overcome during start-up and early growth, and what has to happen to ensure success. • Apply the opportunity screening criteria to actual start-up ideas, and subsequently develop a business plan suitable for presentation to investors and industry participants. • Develop and analyse integrated financial projections for a start-up venture. 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