ENT4400 Entreprenørskap 3 Forskingsfronten innan innovasjonsleiings- og entreprenørskapsforskinga Course description

Entrepreneurship is a relatively young field of research, where much of the theory development is inspired by research in sociology, psychology, economics and strategy. This course takes students through theoretical perspectives and research that have shaped the current understanding of innovation and entrepreneurial processes, with a particular focus on how such processes can contribute to value creation and societal change. Traditional models regarded innovation as a linear process that started with basic research and that over time contributed to new products that could be commercialised in a market.

Today, innovation processes are characterised as complex processes of co-creation, where interaction between actors with different approaches and framework conditions create new solutions through collaboration. In addition, research on entrepreneurship and innovation in the public sector is growing, broadening the scope from product to service. At the level of individuals and teams, entrepreneurial capacity is linked to an entrepreneurial mindset, while at the system level, entrepreneurial capacity is linked to the broader innovation ecosystem and the institutional framework of which the entrepreneur is a part. Students gain insight into theories of social change and into how individuals and institutions can work systematically to build and adapt to the innovation-driven ecosystems. This interaction between individual and system is important in understanding how innovation and entrepreneurial capacity are interlinked with the external environment.

The aim of the course is to provide a theoretical foundation that enables students to better understand innovation and entrepreneurial processes, accumulate knowledge, critically reflect, and to link their own entrepreneurial experiences to recent research. The course will help students to strengthen and better understand the theoretical foundation of their own own projects and of their own master's thesis in semester 4.

None.

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has

• advanced knowledge of central research issues related to innovation and entrepreneurship, across disciplines, sectors and time
• specialised knowledge about key driving forces of entrepreneurial activities and innovation
• specialised knowledge about prerequisites for innovative and entrepreneurship at individual, organisational and systemic levels
• advanced knowledge of perspectives, frameworks and concepts within strategic thinking, leadership and management central to entrepreneurship and innovation
• specialised knowledge about necessary resources to develop and manage entrepreneurial teams and how to exploit the entrepreneurial ecosystem

Skills

The student has

• broad skills to identify, gather, and analyse relevant information, understand how this information is relevant for various aspects of entrepreneurial processes
• specialised skills to identify and analyse information relevant for strategic management decisions related to entrepreneurship and innovation
• the ability to critically assess and evaluate research and generate insight from key findings
• advanced skills to apply relevant scientific theories when studying the academic topics of entrepreneurship and innovation, and to independently analyse empirical data

General competence

The student has

• specialised competence to communicate scholarly issues through written text and oral presentation
• in-depth competence to accumulate knowledge of the academic topics of entrepreneurship and innvation
• advanced competence to identify and gather relevant information for a scientific project in entrepreneurship and innovation
• comprehensive insight into the significance of sustainable and ethical dilemmas in innovation and entrepreneurial processes
• the ability to critically reflect on the role of innovation in societal development

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has

• advanced knowledge of central research issues related to innovation and entrepreneurship, across disciplines, sectors and time
• specialised knowledge about key driving forces of entrepreneurial activities and innovation
• specialised knowledge about prerequisites for innovative and entrepreneurial behaviour at individual, organisational and systemic levels
• advanced knowledge of perspectives, frameworks and concepts within strategic thinking, leadership and management central to entrepreneurship and innovation
• specialised knowledge about necessary resources to develop and manage entrepreneurial teams and how to exploit the entrepreneurial ecosystem

Skills

The student has

• broad skills to identify, gather, and analyse relevant information, understand how this information is relevant for various aspects of entrepreneurial processes
• specialised skills to identify and analyse information relevant for strategic management decisions
• the ability to critically assess and evaluate research and generate insight from key findings
• advanced skills to apply relevant scientific theories when studying an academic issue, and to independently analyse empirical data

General competence

The student has

• specialised competence to communicate scholarly issues through written text and oral presentation
• in-depth competence to accumulate knowledge of the academic topics of entrepreneurship and innovation
• advanced competence to identify and gather relevant information for a scientific project in entrepreneurship and innovation
• comprehensive insight into the significance of sustainable and ethical dilemmas in innovation and entrepreneurial processes

the ability to critically reflect on the role of innovation in societal development

The course will include lectures and seminars. Students will be exposed to conceptual theories and tools that they will bridge to their previous entrepreneurial experiences. Students are expected to actively participate in discussions and to link theory and research to their own practice. The seminars are led by students and are based on teamwork. Through participation in lectures and seminars, the students will enhance their ability to present and argue for their own ideas and practices as well as to reflect and give feedback to fellow students.

The following coursework requirements must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

• Coursework 1: One written reflection paper to be handed in prior to lecture 1. The paper must be 2-3 pages. Further details concerning this coursework will be given prior to lecture 1.
• Coursework 2: Individual literature analysis presented in class. The presentation must be max 15 minutes, in addition be opponent on 2 literature analysis presentations given by other students as coursework. Further details concerning this coursework will be given in lecture 1.
• Coursework 3: Group assignment: The student must in groups of 2-3 students’ report on a structured literature search. Requirements and guidance for this coursework will be given in lecture 1.
• Coursework 4: Group assignment: The students must in groups of 2-3 students’ hand in an literature analysis based on the search conducted in coursework 3. Requirements for this coursework will be given in lecture 1.

All required coursework must be completed and approved by the given deadline in order for the student to take the exam. If the coursework requirement has not been approved, the student will be given one opportunity to submit an improved version by the given deadline.

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has

• broad knowledge of the foundations of strategy and strategic perspectives
• specialized knowledge of all aspects of the strategy process of getting new ideas to the market including the formulation, implementation, management and change of strategies
• in-depth knowledge of essential business development perspectives needed in an early phase
• in-depth knowledge of go-to-market strategies for early-stage companies and strategies for achieving market adoption
• specialized knowledge about how different business models can create value
• a high degree of knowledge about the importance of financial planning, funding possibilities and what the different investment stages look like
• advanced of knowledge about the importance of different resources needed to succeed in entrepreneurship
• specialized knowledge about how to best create and work together in newly formed teams
• in-depth knowledge about what elements and resources are needed to launch, plan and grow a venture or project
• advanced knowledge of one or more central research issues related to entrepreneurship, commercialization, team, teamwork, and leadership

Skills

The student is capable of

• selecting and applying relevant strategic management tools
• applying different frameworks and templates to map and develop a business model
• developing an investment budget, operating budget, liquidity budget and balance budget
• assessing what type of financing is relevant for different ventures/projects in different phases
• identifying and analyzing resources needed to succeed with a venture or entrepreneurial project
• working efficiently together with others in cross-disciplinary teams
• mastering how to write a business plan that communicates value creation

General competence

The student can

• integrate knowledge and expertise from different contexts for decision making in companies and organizations as well as for identifying, analyzing and solving problems related to entrepreneurship and business development
• utilize theoretical concepts and frameworks and tailor them to their own venture or project
• explain how to best develop businesses when dealing with a high degree of uncertainty
• identify available sources of knowledge, utilize existing knowledge, combine it with new knowledge and apply this knowledge for value creation purposes
• communicate and collaborate with diverse team members and understand the value of being flexible and agile
• critically reflect on their own decisions and confirmation bias related to gathered data
• critically reflect on the multileveled aspects involved when creating sustainable value that can solve challenges in society

The course is organized as a series of intensive seminars consisting of a combination of lectures, workshops and group discussions underpinned by analysis of their own entrepreneurial ventures/projects. The students are expected to actively participate in discussions and other class activities, where learning by doing is strongly emphasized. The students are introduced to theories, concepts and tools which they can utilize in their own newly started venture or project.

Grade scale A - F

The exam in the course consists of two parts:

1) Individual essay (40 per cent of final grade):

The individual essay consists of a written essay discussing student's reflection regarding the group's strategic management issues with a scope of four to six pages. Each student is free to decide which topic to focus on, among the range of subjects studied during this course. The essay should include:

• individual reflections regarding the dynamics of collaboration and relationships in the group related to the development process to discuss and define management issue
• individual reflections regarding the student's role in the group
• individual reflections about the chosen strategic management definitions for the firm

Font and font size: Arial or Calibri, 12 points. Line spacing: 1.5.

2) Term paper (60 per cent of final grade):

The term paper is written in groups and must have a scope of 10-14 pages. The term paper assignment entails submission of a complete business plan for the project identified in the previous course, ‘Søking etter verdiskapende ideer’. The term papers are group assignments involving the groups that have collectively worked on developing the value creation project throughout the semester. Font and font size: Arial or Calibri, 12 points. Line spacing: 1.5.

Both exams must be passed in order to pass the course.

If a student has to resit the exam, the student can retake each part separately. It is not necessary to take both parts.

Students awarded a fail grade are given one opportunity to submit an improved version of the term paper and the portfolio for assessment.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.