Program Director Contact Details:
Innovation and Entrepreneurship (PG)
Name: Prof Paul Steffens
Phone: +61 8 8313 7512
Email: paul.steffens@adelaide.edu.au

Teaching Staff:

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

This required text is available as an ebook from the following website:
http://www.cengagebrain.com.au/shop/isbn/9780170214988

You will need to purchase/have access to the following text:
Fredrick, Howard, O'Connor, Allan and Kuratko, Donald F. (2016). Entrepreneurship: Theory, Process and Practice, 4th Edition. Cengage Learning.

Additional readings will be made available through the LEARN site:

Week 1
Text Chapter 1 pages 8-26 Fredrick,Howard, O'Connor, Allan and Kuratko, Donald F. (2016). Entrepreneurship: Theory, Process and Practice, 4th Edition. Cengage Learning.

http://www.innovation.gov.au/SmallBusiness/KeyFacts/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.fastcompany.com/3026253/dialed/5-famous-entrepreneurs-who-learned-from-their-first-spectacular-failures/1

https://theconversation.com/columns/tim-mazzarol-1526

http://fortune.com/2014/09/25/why-startups-fail-according-to-their-founders/

Mazzarol, Tim 2006, '[Extracted from] Small business management: an applied approach' in Mazzarol, Tim, Small business management : an applied approach, 1st ed., Tilde University Press, Prahan, Vic., pp. 27-61.

Week 2
Porter, Michael E. c1980, 'The structural analysis of industries', in Porter, Michael E., Competitive strategy : techniques for analyzing industries and competitors, Free Press, New York, pp. 3-33.

http://www.businessballs.com/pestanalysisfreetemplate.htm

http://knowledge.insead.edu/strategy/what-could-have-saved-nokia-and-what-can-other-companies-learn-3220

Week 3
Chapter 6 pages 191-209
Chapter 9 pages 290-306
Chapter 9 Appendix 9A page 324-329
Fredrick, Howard, O'Connor, Allan and Kuratko, Donald F. (2016). Entrepreneurship: Theory, Process and Practice, 4th Edition. Cengage Learning.

https://drdianehamilton.wordpress.com/2012/05/02/difference-between-feasibility-study-and-business-plan/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmwwrGV_aiE

http://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/business-topics/starting-a-business/feasibility-of-the-business-idea/#good-idea

Week 4
Chapter 10 pages 330-360
Fredrick, Howard, O'Connor, Allan and Kuratko, Donald F. (2016). Entrepreneurship: Theory, Process and Practice, 4th Edition. Cengage Learning.

http://sbinformation.about.com/od/marketresearch/a/marketresearch.htm

Week 5
Chapter 10 pages 330-360
Fredrick, Howard, O'Connor, Allan and Kuratko, Donald F. (2016). Entrepreneurship: Theory, Process and Practice, 4th Edition. Cengage Learning.

Week 6
Kuemmerle, Walter 2002, A test for the fainthearted, Harvard Business Review, vol. 80, no. 5, pp. 122-127.

Harper, David A. 2008, Towards a theory of entrepreneurial teams, Journal of Business Venturing, vol. 23, no. 6, pp. 613-626.

Chapter 6 pages 209-214
Fredrick, Howard, O'Connor, Allan and Kuratko, Donald F. (2016). Entrepreneurship: Theory, Process and Practice, 4th Edition. Cengage Learning.

Week 7
Chapter 13 pages 452-484
Fredrick, Howard, O'Connor, Allan and Kuratko, Donald F. (2016). Entrepreneurship: Theory, Process and Practice, 4th Edition. Cengage Learning.

http://www.treasury.gov.au/Policy-Topics/Business/Small-Business/Legal-Topics

Week 8
Chapter 14 pages 497-517
Fredrick, Howard, O'Connor, Allan and Kuratko, Donald F. (2016). Entrepreneurship: Theory, Process and Practice, 4th Edition. Cengage Learning.

Week 9
Chapter 15 pages 536-584
Fredrick, Howard, O'Connor, Allan and Kuratko, Donald F. (2016). Entrepreneurship: Theory, Process and Practice, 4th Edition. Cengage Learning.

Week 10
Chapter 16 pages 587-619
Fredrick, Howard, O'Connor, Allan and Kuratko, Donald F. (2016). Entrepreneurship: Theory, Process and Practice, 4th Edition. Cengage Learning.

http://smallbiztrends.com/2010/06/business-plan-success-twice-as-likely.html

There is a broad range of materials that cover and complement many of the topic areas covered in this course. These recommended readings can be found on the week home assignment pages for each week on the LEARN site.

Candidates may also benefit by consulting the following texts:

English, J.W. (2006).   How to Organise and Operate a Small Business in Australia. 10^th edition. Sydney. Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd. ISBN: 1741141222

Timmons, Jeffry A. and Spinelli, Stephen Jr. (2009). New Venture Creation: Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century, 8th edition. McGraw-Hill Irwin, Boston.

Pittwood and Byrne. (2010). Small business planning – 3rd edition. Adelaide TafeSA Production House. https://shop.tafesa.edu.au/LOR/Browse.aspx?ActivityCode=KC

Library Resources
The University of Adelaide’s Barr Smith Library provides a range of learning resources including texts, journals, periodicals, magazines, and access to online databases and information services. It also offers a virtual library which is accessible via the University’s website. Access to the Library's electronic resources.

LEARN is the University of Adelaide’s platform for dedicated online delivery. LEARN is a customised version of Moodle, and houses all course requirements including the course profile, announcements, additional course materials (beyond the prescribed text), assessment items, discussion forums, grading, feedback, links to various university and course resources, an internal website email system, a technical assistance facility, etc. LEARN is only accessible once the URL and a password have been provided to the student on enrolment. Students are given access to the course prior to the start date to familiarise themselves with the operational aspects and functionality of the website. 

This course is offered in online mode.

As a guide, a 3 unit course comprises a total of 156 hours.

This course requires you to present mature and well reasoned work that addresses the assessment of ideas and technologies for feasibility in the Australian business context. You will specifically refer to those factors that promote or work against successful opportunity assessment. Of prime importance is to show insight into limitations and risks of any approach you suggest or take – you therefore need to always take a critical stance.

You will need to read more widely on the topic then the list of references provided and beyond hits found on Google; remember this is postgraduate study.

Your work will need to be succinct and you should avoid overly verbose presentations. Do not labour the point, regurgitate theory or address irrelevant issues. Examples or cases may be used, if appropriate, to illustrate your point as they will serve to strengthen your arguments.

You are also required to structure your work so as it flows logically and your reasoning needs to be logical, sound and clear. The proper use of headings, sub-headings, bullet points and paragraphing will assist this purpose. Further, an executive summary or abstract at the beginning of your work will provide a clear overview of what follows in the body of your report.

Keep to the word limits and do not ramble. In every instance present your work as if it is a submission to a Board of Directors – succinct, clear, structured and reasoned.

It is expected that assignments will be typed, using word processing software such as Microsoft Word.

Don’t cram too many words onto a page: use a line spacing of 1.5 lines, and a right-hand margin of 4cm (to enable feedback and comments). If software other than Microsoft Word is used, the file format must be one that can be read using Word, such as .doc or .rtf (rich text format). PDF (Acrobat) format is not acceptable unless accompanied by an editable Microsoft Word document or similar.

Students must complete all course assessment requirements.

Course results are subject to moderation by the ECIC Board of Examiners

Assessment 1: Describe a Business Opportunity
Weighting: 20%
Due Date: Day 7 of Week 4
Submission Details: Via Drop Box in LEARN

Task:

• Describe a Business Opportunity you you will use as the basis for a feasibility study.
• Identify and outline three (3) methodologies that may be used to evaluate a business opportunity.
• Outline the methodology you will utilise to validate the viability of your chosen business opportunity.

Scope:
This exercise will assess your knowledge, understanding and application of the relevant material covered in course topics 1 – 4.

Length and Presentation:
2500 words

Criteria by which your assignment will be marked:

• Demonstrated competent description of the business venture
• Identified the steps to validate the selected business venture
• Demonstrated clarity of expression, depth of analysis, logical planning and sequence
• Demonstrated effective use of resources in formulating the response including proper acknowledgements and the appropriate use of references (APA should be used)
• Demonstrated quality of writing, and overall presentation including: grammar, spelling, and punctuation
• The Harvard Referencing System is necessary in assignments, especially material copied from the internet. For examples of correct citations visit the following links: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/library/guide/gen/bibsoft/styles.html

Assessment 2: Feasibility Study
Weighting: 40%
Due Date: Day 7 of Week 10
Submission Details: Via Drop Box in LEARN

Task:
Prepare a Feasibility Study (Opportunity Assessment Report), using the model you selected in Assignment 1 to decide the potential of the business opportunity you have chosen to investigate.

Scope:
Producing the Feasibility Study will assess your knowledge, understanding and application of the content covered in course topics 1-10.

Length and Presentation:
4000 words

Criteria by which your assignment will be marked:

• Demonstrated quality and applicability of research utilized to formulate the feasibility study.
• Demonstrated clarity of expression, depth of analysis, logical planning and sequence.
• Demonstrated effective use of resources in formulating the response including proper acknowledgements and the appropriate use of references (APA should be used).
• Demonstrated quality of writing, and overall presentation including: grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• The Harvard Referencing System is necessary in assignments, especially material copied from the internet. For examples of correct citations visit the following links: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/library/guide/gen/bibsoft/styles.html

Assessment 3: Discussion and Participation.
Weighting: 20%
Due date: Day 3-7 of Weeks 1-10.
Submission Details: Via discussion prompts on the forum in LEARN

Task:
Contribute to Online Forums and questions that are shared with all students. TheDiscussion Forums and Questions are indicated in the online study Topics at therelevant point.

Scope:
Discussion and participation in the forums will assess your knowledge, understanding and application of the content covered in course topics 1-10.

Length and Presentation:
Concise and informative summaries that respond directly to the set questions.
Submissions should be 100 + words and reply to 2- 3 posts from other submissions.

Criteria by which your assignment will be marked:

• Responses demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the assignment and the underlying concepts and theories.  
• Responses demonstrate the ability to employ, cite, and incorporate the assigned course materials and other outside resources to support your arguments and statements.
• Responses to classmates’ posts demonstrate critical thinking, constructive feedback, and meaningful inputs to the discussion that meet the criteria for substantive participation.
• Demonstrated quality and clarity of writing

Assessment 4: Application Assignments
Weighting: 20%
Due date: Day 7 of Weeks 5-9
Submission Details: Via Drop Box in LEARN

Task:
You are required to apply the content of the current week to a business situation or your chosen business opportunity to demonstrate and reinforce the principles covered in the Topic.

Scope:
Topics 1- 3 and 5-9

Length and Presentation:
Concise and informative summaries that respond directly to the questions.
1000 words

Criteria by which the assignment will be marked:

• Responses demonstrate critical thinking and insights, problem solving, and ability to apply and synthesize concepts and theories.
• Responses demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the assignment and the underlying concepts and theories.
• Responses demonstrate the ability to employ, cite, and incorporate the assigned course materials and other outside resources to support your arguments and statements.
• Demonstrated quality and clarity of writing

All text based assignments must be submitted via Drop Box in LEARN

There are a few points to note about the submission of assignments:

• Assignment Submission: Assignments should be lodged via Drop Box in the LEARN system. Please refer to individual assignment tasks for specific submission details relevant to each task. Note that assignments may be processed via TURNITIN, which is an online plagiarism prevention tool.
• Cover Sheet: As part of your assignment, please add the completed University of Adelaide Assessment Cover Sheet to your assignment, providing details of yourself and your team members (if applicable), your assignment, the course, date submitted, etc. as well as the declaration signed by you that this is your (your team’s) work. Note that the declaration on any electronically submitted assignment will be deemed to have the same authority as a signed declaration. Where applicable, also include the word count excluding title pages and references.
• Backup Copy of Assignments: You are advised to keep a copy of your assignments in case the submitted copy goes missing. Please ensure that all assignment pages are numbered. If your assignment contains confidential information, you should discuss any concerns with the Course Lecturer prior to submission.
• Extensions of Time: Any request for an extension of time for the submission of an assignment should be made well before the due date of the assignment to the Course Lecturer. Normally, extensions will only be granted for a maximum of two weeks from the original assignment submission date. Extensions will only be granted in cases of genuine extenuating circumstances and proof, such as a doctor’s certificate, may be required.
• Failure to submit an assignment on time or by the agreed extension deadline may result in penalties and may incur a fail grade. Note that a late penalty of 5% of the total available marks for that assessment item will be incurred each day an assignment is handed in late (Unless otherwise stated in 'Assessment Related Requirements' or 'Assessment Detail' above). Assignments handed in after 14 days from the due submission date will fail even if a 100% mark is granted for the work.