Required prerequisite knowledge

Admission to Bachelor of Business Administration or Bachelor in Innovation, Marketing and Management. For exchange students from NLA’s partner institutions: The students must be studying business administration or a related field of study.

Relevance within study programme

Compulsory course in Bachelor in Innovation, Marketing and Management. Elective course in Bachelor of Business Administration.

Introduction

This is a course where the students learn practical methods for business start-up. The students will work on own or other business ideas, develop a business plan, and form realistic strategies and plans for the start-up process.

Learning outcomes descriptors

After completing the course, the student has the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The student has:

• insight into and understanding of how the start-up of new businesses and the establishment of new business areas in existing businesses can take place
• knowledge and understanding of financing new businesses
• understanding of revenues and expenses that are relevant to new businesses in different contexts
• knowledge of methods for identifying opportunities and gaps in markets
• knowledge of methods to critically evaluate new business ideas
• knowledge of H.N. Hauge's motivations and practices in the establishment of new businesses and their relevance for the present

Skills

The student:

• can formulate a business plan for the start-up of a new business or the start-up of a new business area in an existing company
• has an ability to present and apply relevant theory for the marketing of new businesses for segmentation and targeting of markets, positioning in markets, as well as development of products and services
• has knowledge of opportunities and limitations on new initiatives in international development and growth
• can use at least one template / method for developing a business plan
• can present business ideas using presentation tools in a short and concise manner (pitch)

General competence

The student has:

• an understanding of ethical aspects of start-up and ethical dilemmas in entrepreneurship and innovation processes
• an understanding of personal challenges that entrepreneurs face as they develop new businesses

Content

Key themes in entrepreneurship such as business idea generation, product and service development, presentation skills and pitching, marketing in an entrepreneurial context, budgeting, financing, ethics and sustainability of new businesses, the entrepreneurial process, and implementation strategies. The course is built up around the development of a business and start-up plan.

Teaching and learning methods

Cases, group/teamwork and lectures.

Scope

Expected workload in this course is minimum 250 hours.

Coursework requirements

The following mandatory learning activities must be approved before students can present themselves for final assessment:

• 80% attendance in class
• Group assignment, 3-5 persons in each group: Development and presentation of a business plan including strategies for implementation. 3500 words +/- 15% (except bibliography). Oral presentation of the written assignment.

Should a student fail the assignment, he/she will be given a second opportunity, in the same academic term, to hand in an improved assessment.

Grading, coursework requirements

Approved/Not approved.

Final assessment

3-hour individual school exam which counts 60% of the final grade. Business plan of a new business or a new business area in an existing business, counts 40% of the final grade.

Grading, examination

Project examinations and school exam are graded from A to F with A being the top grade and F being Fail.

Permitted aids under examination

All.

Assessment language

English, Scandinavian Languages and Norwegian

Practice

No.

Credit reductions

The course overlaps 7 ECTS credits with BEI101N Sustainable business and product development.

Course evaluation

The course is evaluated according to the quality system for NLA University College.