ENTREP 3900 - eChallenge

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2017

Entrepreneurs Challenge (Australian eChallenge) is the development of a comprehensive strategic business proposal for an early stage entrepreneurial venture. It runs in conjunction with the Australian eChallenge program. Students must attend a series of workshops including areas of: Entrepreneurship and the Opportunity; Writing Concept Proposals; How to Write a Business Plan; Intellectual Property; Researching the Market; Finance and Accounting; Social Entrepreneurship; How to Pitch your Idea and Pitch Training. Students are required to develop a concept proposal for feedback before developing a comprehensive Business Plan of their opportunity. Students pitch to panels of potential investors from the local business community. In addition to access to extensive readings, videos, mentors and other materials, students are in the running to win prizes in the Australian eChallenge program while having the course academically recognised towards their degree. The course will be taught by a mix of entrepreneurs, business practitioners and academic staff. For more details on workshops, process and prizes, go to: www.adelaide.edu.au/echallenge

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ENTREP 3900
    Course eChallenge
    Coordinating Unit Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation & Innov Centre
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Course Description Entrepreneurs Challenge (Australian eChallenge) is the development of a comprehensive strategic business proposal for an early stage entrepreneurial venture. It runs in conjunction with the Australian eChallenge program. Students must attend a series of workshops including areas of: Entrepreneurship and the Opportunity; Writing Concept Proposals; How to Write a Business Plan; Intellectual Property; Researching the Market; Finance and Accounting; Social Entrepreneurship; How to Pitch your Idea and Pitch Training. Students are required to develop a concept proposal for feedback before developing a comprehensive Business Plan of their opportunity. Students pitch to panels of potential investors from the local business community. In addition to access to extensive readings, videos, mentors and other materials, students are in the running to win prizes in the Australian eChallenge program while having the course academically recognised towards their degree. The course will be taught by a mix of entrepreneurs, business practitioners and academic staff. For more details on workshops, process and prizes, go to: www.adelaide.edu.au/echallenge
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Gary Hancock

    For all enquiries, please contact:
    Name:
    Zrinka Tokic, eChallenge Program Manager
    Email:
    echallenge@adelaide.edu.au
    Phone:
    +61 8 8313 7131

    For all academic enquiries, please contact:
    Name:
    Matthe McKinlay, Program Director, Australian eChallenge 
    Email:
    echallenge@adelaide.edu.au
    Phone:
    +61 8 8313 0171

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

    Semester 2
    For full details see adelaide.edu.au/echallenge/information/schedule/

    Thursdays from 27th July to 14th September; 5 October - 26 October 2017
    5:30pm to 7pm
    The Braggs Lecture Theatre

    Additional sessions:
    To be confirmed

    If successful to Final Presentation:
    Dates and times to be confirmed
  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

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

    1 Identify a potential entrepreneurial opportunity and evaluate it in a process of experimentation and feedback;
    2 Determine a useful resource strategy for building a new venture;
    3 Complete modern entrepreneurial planning documents, describing critical elements of a new entrepreneurial venture;
    4 Experiment in building a balanced and effective entrepreneurial team;
    5 Present key details of an entrepreneurial venture for feedback and to experts;
    6 Replicate the process of new venture creation for future endeavours.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1-4
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1-6
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    5,6
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1-6
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    2,4
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    4-6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Text book:
    No text required
    Recommended Resources
    Podcasts, recordings and materials are available on Canvas for enrolled students and Blackboard for externals.

    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.

    Online Learning
    MyUni is the University of Adelaide's online learning environment. It is used to support traditional face-to-face lectures, tutorials and workshops at the University. MyUni provides access to various features including announcements, course materials, discussion boards and assessments for each online course of study.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course is offered in blended learning mode with the face-to-face component offered in workshops.

    Please see schedule for full details: adelaide.edu.au/echallenge/information/schedule/
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    As a guide, a 3 unit course comprises a total of 156 hours work (this includes face-to-face contact, any online components, and self directed study).
    Learning Activities Summary

    This is a draft schedule and sessions are a guide only. The timetable may be changed during the course delivery if necessary.

    For dates see Australian eChallenge webpage and MyUni
    adelaide.edu.au/echallenge/information/schedule/

    SessionContent
    1 Introduction to the Australian eChallenge, and Entrepreneurship
    2 Design Thinking, eChallenge Business Model Canvas
    3 Developing Entrepreneurial Strategies, Creativity & Innovation
    4 Identifying Business Opportunities/Lean Start-up
    5 Marketing for Start-ups
    6 Understanding Intellectual Property Issues for Start-ups
    7 How to Raise and Manage Cash for a Start-up
    8 How to Write a Business Plan
    9 Venture Showcase
    10 Presenting the Opportunity and Pitch your Idea
    11 Semi-final Presentation
    All assessments for this course are completed at this stage.

    Teams that successfully progress to the Finals stage are in the running to win prizes as listed on the eChallenge website. Additional content are as follows:
    SessionContent
    12 60 Second Pitch Training
    13 Finals Presentation
    14 Awards Dinner
    Specific Course Requirements
    The program involves a series of formal lectures, workshops, one-to-one mentoring sessions and team meetings over the duration of the program. Participants are required, as a member of a team, to develop and write a business plan and make a presentation to a panel of judges at the semi-final stage.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    The Australian eChallenge course, ENTREP 7900 and ENTREP 3900 fulfil the requirements of the Small Group Discovery Experience through the following;
    1. Students form small groups of 2 to 6 members
    2. They receive guidance and intellectual stimulation from the course director at the commencement of the process
    3. Their task is to research and identify an opportunity that they will work on through the course
    4. Learning will come from a collaborative environment consisting of interaction with other students, external (industry) experts, and access to a senior academic throughout their course
    5. Their learning is self-directed, there are no formal lectures, rather workshops to assist them in their investigation of their chosen opportunity
    6. All learning is based on student driven enquiry; that is the teacher responds to the needs of the small groups of students individually, rather than in a class environment.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    An overview of the course assessment appears in the following Table. Details appear in the following section:

    #AssessmentLengthWeightingLearning Outcomes
    1 Entrepreneur Interview  2000 word written interview 30%

    1, 2, 5
    2 Idea Proposal Written, no more than 4 pages 10% 1-5
    3 Venture Showcase Presentation 10% 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
    4 Concept Statement Written 25% 1-6
    5 Semi-final Presentation Presentation 25% 1-6
    Total 100%
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Students should attend all classes in order to pass the course. There is considerable experiential learning in workshops during the classes that build your knowledge and thus enable you to be successful in this course.  

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

    Assessment requiring moderation will be carried out by the Academic Director or their nominee.
    Assessment Detail
    Assessment Task: Idea Proposal
    Due date: 28 August
    Weighting: 10% of your individual grade
    Submission: Via email echallenge@adelaide.edu.au  

    Use Idea Proposal template in Canvas.

    The major activity of the eChallenge is to conceive of an idea for a product and to progress through the course to analyse it, test it and begin the process of building it. This task is essentially the entire course, the challenge itself, and as a result, a number of your assessment tasks relate to milestones in this process.

    The related assessment tasks represent sequential steps, from first documentation of your idea, through to the culmination of the process with the presentation to a panel of judges in the semifinal stages of the course.

    Idea proposal

    The first step is a planning document, referred to as the Idea Proposal. It is due in week 5 of the course and is the finalisation of the ‘idea’ stage of the course. In the lead up to the due date, teams will have undertaken an extensive process of experimentation with ideas, and are now reaching the time to select a single idea. This is achieved with the submission of the Idea Proposal.

    By this stage, teams have been finalised too.

    Assessment Task: Venture Showcase
    Due date: 15 September
    Weighting: 20% of your individual grade
    Submission: Live

    The Venture Showcase is an event to showcase your ideas. On 15 September at the Adelaide Convention Centre, each team is given their own booth and is responsible for the design and presentation of their booth. Once the event is open, members of the public freely wander through the exhibition, talking to teams about their ideas.

    The task will require teams to design their booth, as well develop a way to describe their idea effectively in a compelling and interesting way, and respond to questions from the public.

    During the event, there will be a number of investors and markers in the audience. These investors and markers may not identify themselves as such, but will be given feedback sheets and asked to assess teams' presentations.

    Along with marks, there will be a number of awards with prizes on the night.

    Assessment Task: Entrepreneur interview
    Due date: 21 September
    Weighting: 30% of your individual grade
    Submission: Via Turnitin for students, and posted to the interview channel in Slack.

    The first task is to interview an entrepreneur. You must identify an entrepreneur, create a series of questions relevant to their experience and the course modules, make contact, conduct the interview, and then analyse your interview to present a final assignment.

    Rationale
    There are a few reasons why this has been selected as a task. First, you get to demonstrate some of the attributes that are critical to entrepreneurship - you must navigate through uncertainty and find an entrepreneur of interest to you, contact them, arrange a time to conduct the interview, etc. This will be ambiguous, nerve-racking, and probably include a few false starts. Ultimately, though, it will be rewarding.

    Second, there is recognition that ‘who you know’ is an important source for future employment and networking opportunities, and a very important concept for entrepreneurship. This is a networking exercise as much as anything else, and having a structured reason to get in contact with entrepreneurs is a great way to have them respond when they otherwise wouldn’t. Take advantage of it.

    Assessment Task: Concept Statement
    Due date: 6 October
    Weighting: 25% of your individual grade
    Submission: Via email

    Template: Concept statement template available in Canvas

    The major activity of the eChallenge is to conceive of an idea for a product and to make first steps towards building it. Assessing varying skills, activities and milestones related to this team project forms the basis of a number of assessment tasks.

    These tasks represent sequential steps, from first documentation of your idea, through to the culmination with presentation to judges in the semifinal stages of the course.

    The third step is a second planning document, referred to as the Concept Statement. It is due later in the course, by which time, teams have already extensively explored their idea.

    The Concept Statement is a summary document that helps teams prepare for the semifinal pitch. It gives the team a chance to both revisit their first submission, identifying how their idea has changed, and also extend beyond the first Idea Proposal to address the concepts in the remaining workshops.

    Rationale
    Again the aim of the task to present an effective planning and summary tool, rather than an overly isolated analytical task. The effort of the assignment is very much in the activity of exploration over the weeks and months of the course, particularly after the submission of the first Idea Proposal. This effort includes talking to people and potential customers over months, learning about what works and doesn’t in your idea, and responding to this to make decisions, or even change decisions to move toward building an effective product.

    By this stage in the course it is expected that you can produce data and evidence of your journey, how your ideas have changed, what actions you have undertaken and what you have completed.

    The Concept Statement is a culmination of this, providing evidence of your decisions, and offering a summary and outline of your idea.

    Assessment Task: Semifinal Pitch

    Due date: Week starting 19 October
    Weighting: 25% of your individual grade
    Submission: Live

    The culmination of the assessment of the eChallenge is the Semifinal Pitch to a panel of judges and investors. All teams must present at the semifinal stage, and you will receive a grade for this pitch.

    Teams that perform well in the semifinal stage will advance to the final, where teams will pitch again, but for the chance to win cash and prizes. Note that your presentations in the final do not count for grades.

    Rationale
    Pitching is a significant part of entrepreneurship. Gaining access to finance from investors, convincing other people to join the team, finding new customers all rely on your ability to pitch your idea. Pitching is also a default part of the application process of almost all incubators, both locally and internationally.

    Having to pitch to a panel of judges imitates this real world entrepreneurial task, and gives teams experience in preparation and delivery as well as interaction and feedback from a panel of judges.

    Submission
    All text based assignments must be submitted via MyUni.
    Please refer to step by step instructions: MyUni Learning Centre

    There are a few points to note about the submission of assignments:
    • Assignment Submission:  Assignments should not be emailed to the instructor; they must be lodged via the MyUni Course site (unless specified to do both). Note that assignments may be processed via TURNITIN, which is an online plagiarism prevention tool.
    • Cover Sheet:  Please submit, separate to your assignment, the completed University of Adelaide Assessment Cover Sheet 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.
    • 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: 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.

    Resubmission & Remarking

    Resubmission of an assignment for remarking after reworking it to obtain a better mark will not normally be accepted.  Approval for resubmission will only be granted on medical or compassionate grounds.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

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    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

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