This module is designed to meet the future needs of all types of individuals in that it recognizes that tomorrow’s organizations, irrespective of size, require employees that are both innovative and creative (entrepreneurs), as well as those wishing to emulate the growing number of people who wish to start up their own business (entrepreneurs).

Whilst focusing predominately on the highly heterogeneous small and medium enterprise sector, the module will therefore also consider enterprise within wider organizational contexts including the social enterprise sector.
Enterprise however, does not operate in a vacuum and so we will consider the importance of the economic, political and social context both in terms of its macro and micro dimensions, for example from national government policy to local cultural issues. This will allow students to understand the dynamic nature of the subject and also its interrelationship with both the national and the global economy.

This module forms part of the three-part "Entrepreneurship, Small and Family Business" specialization.

During week one, participants will:

• Understand the complexity of the subject, being able to draw distinction between enterprise within a wide range of contexts.
• Explore and appraise their own creative and individual entrepreneurial attributes.
• Assess and evaluate the knowledge, competencies, behaviors, and organizational structures required for entrepreneurial success.
• Evaluate critically the rationale underlying government enterprise policy and appraise its impact.

Small & Family Business

This module directly precedes the New Venture Business Planning module, and the material of the two modules forms an integrated whole.
It is designed to provide the student with a working knowledge of the essential principles and practices of small business management. Students will analyze a range of complex and interacting challenges that face any new and growing business, relating to legal frameworks, marketing, finance, business operations and human resources.
Participants will also examine the issues in family businesses relating to the role of the family in management and decision-making, and to continuity and succession planning.

This module will:

• Provide and consolidate the tools and techniques necessary for the preparation of the business plan which will be assessed in the New Venture Business Planning module.
• Evaluate the range and complexity of issues that face the new and growing business.
• Evaluate those factors that may lead to business success … or business failure.
• Examine the specific factors that face family businesses.

New Venture Business Plan (in the UK, Oxford Brookes)

The module is designed to help students to appreciate the role of business planning for the new venture and for established smaller businesses. Students will learn how to structure a successful business plan, particularly how to put forward a clear business model. Business planning is a transferable skill, and the skills learned in developing a robust business case should be of benefit to students wishing to return to corporate life, as well as to those wishing to start or manage a small business.

Objectives:

• To analyze the steps to take if students decide to start a business or develop one in which they are already involved.
• To gain the skills necessary to prepare a robust business plan .
• To appreciate the criteria against which investors decide whether or not to support a new venture.