Unit name | High-Tech Enterprise |
---|---|
Unit code | COMS12900 |
Credit points | 10 |
Level of study | C/4 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Professor. McIntosh-Smith |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | Department of Computer Science |
Faculty | Faculty of Engineering |
This is the course description for the Enterprise module of the 1st year Computer Science degree. The course consists of 12 weeks of 3 hour lectures covering all the aspects of knowledge necessary to achieve a basic understanding of all of the components of a start up business. The students are assessed on the new business idea they create during the course, the quality of the business plan their team produces and their final presentation to the assessment panel. Objectives
Learning Outcomes The students should leave the course with
The course consists of a series of structured modules which build towards the presentation of a team based business plan project to a panel of investors. The modules cover creativity, innovation techniques, R&D product strategy, IP, Market research & segmentation, market selection & promotion, Writing business plans, Financials (Basic & Advanced), investors & business valuation, elevator pitching and presentation skills. A significant amount of time is spent in practical exercises exploring many aspects of business creation, planning, and necessary skills to succeed in business. Practical exercises encompass analysis of successful companies, past winners of the business plan competition, executive summaries as well as full business plans, and practical skills development exercises.
Students form into business teams of 5 or 6 in the first week and must conceive a new business idea during the early lessons and develop a business plan and investment proposition for the first assessment panel at the course mid point. This assessment awards up to 25% of the course mark. The assessment is a learning point at which the teams can dispose of the idea and start work on a new more compelling business proposition for the final assessment which awards the remaining course mark of 75%. At this point team changes are allowed and teams can remove (fire) a non productive member of the team. These “unemployed” members must then persuade another team to take them on or they need to form a new team from other free members. The assessment panel is judging on four dimensions at each stage; 1.Credibility, feasibility and Novelty of the business idea 2.Technical novelty, IP protection, Computer Science content 3.Quality of the written business plan (10-15 pages in part 1, 15-20 pages in Part2) 4.Panel presentation by the team
The Google story, David A. Vise 0-330-44005-5 Crossing the chasm, Geoffrey A Moore 0-06-662002-3 The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell 0-349-11346-7 The Definitive Business plan, Financial Times,Richard Stutely 0-273-71096-6 Smarter ventures a survivors guide, Ms Katharine Campbell 0-273-65403-9 The Small Business guide to starting your own business, Daily Telegraph 1-4050-0677-3