81523 Speculative Start-up
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Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 40 credit points of completed study in spk(s): STM90839 Core subjects (Creative Intelligence and Innovation)
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject introduces students to key considerations critical to the success of start-ups, be they for-profit or not-for-profit. Students are afforded the opportunity to develop professional skills relevant to planning, initiation and leading successful start-ups. This subject is an advanced subject in the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation degree, which allows students to consolidate and apply much of what they have learned in the course. Students design a speculative start-up, which they may aspire to launch as a real enterprise.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Identify key elements of the regulatory environment relevant to start-ups |
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| 2. | Conduct research to identify and evaluate key factors relevant to value creation and the success and sustainability of new enterprises |
| 3. | Develop and apply professional skills critical to the success of new enterprises, be they not or for profit |
| 4. | Identify and adapt methods, tool and professional practices necessary to understand and operate in complex environments |
| 5. | Communicate ideas and concepts to engage clients and stakeholders, and use persuasive techniques to influence key stakeholders and decision-makers |
| 6. | Design a business model which has the potential to create economic, social and environmental value, and formulate a feasible plan to launch the start-up |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject contributes specifically to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes:
- Take a leadership role in identifying and working to address community, organisational or cultural issues, challenges and opportunities through innovation (CII.4.4)
- Imagine and design initiatives within existing organisational structures (intrapreneurship) or by building a new context (entrepreneurship) (CII.5.1)
- Explore and articulate the transformation required to create and implement innovation, with sensitivity to the creative destruction that this requires (CII.5.2)
- Identify required capabilities for realising an idea and create a venture team to achieve the aspirations of a particular innovation (CII.5.3)
- Communicate confidently and with diplomacy to influence essential stakeholders or decision makers and to achieve impact (CII.5.4)
Teaching and learning strategies
Learning will take place in a collaborative, immersive and experiential environment. Each student's entrepreneurial journey will be different, so a blended learning approach will be supported to enable students to pursue an idiosyncratic learning journey. A key learning strategy is ‘learning by doing’, whereby each student will engage with a speculative start-up which they aspire to launch as a real enterprise. Learning will be facilitated by a panel of experts. A number of formal and informal workshops will be facilitated to support students' learning.
Content (topics)
- Planning, strategy and competitive advantage
- Advanced decision-making
- Risk analysis
- Negotiation planning
- Sales skills
- Budgeting and valuation
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Planning report
| Intent: | A key objective of this assessment is to help you develop a complex mental model of key factors relevant to your start-up. It will require you to document (i) a tentative business plan including a proposed business model and tentative action plan for the start-up, (ii) an individual learning plan for this subject including an proposed action plan for the subject. A detailed assessment Brief will be available in UTS Online. Ensure you consult this brief before you undertake the assessment tasks. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): CII.4.4, CII.5.2, CII.5.3 and CII.5.4 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Group, group and individually assessed |
| Weight: | 30% |
Assessment task 2: Final report and presentation
| Intent: | The final report and presentation is a showcase of your start-up at that point in time. Each start-up and entrepreneur will follow an idiosyncratic journey, so the nature of this assessment is to be discussed with and approved by your mentor. For example, it could take the form of (a) a feasibility study including a mock-up of the product or service, (b) a prospectus and action plan to raise substantial funds, (c) a feasibility study and technical drawings and plans for a new product, (d) if the start-up is launched during the semester, a business plan with sample product or service and report back on your progress, (e) some other substantial work. Ideally the final report and presentation comprise deliverables necessary to the effective planning, management and / or success of your start-up. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): CII.4.4, CII.5.1, CII.5.3 and CII.5.4 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Group, group and individually assessed |
| Weight: | 50% |
Assessment task 3: Learning Portfolio
| Intent: | A detailed assessment Brief outlining specific requirements for each assessment task will be available in UTS Online. Ensure you consult these briefs before you undertake the assessment tasks. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 6 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): CII.4.4, CII.5.1, CII.5.2 and CII.5.3 |
| Type: | Portfolio |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
Minimum requirements
Students must achieve at least 50% of the subject’s total marks. Students must attempt and submit each assignment task. For any task worth over 40% students must achieve a grade of 40% or more.
Recommended texts
English, J. 2012. How to Organise and Operate a Small Business in Australia (11th ed). Allen and Unwin.
Aulet, B. 2013. Disciplined Entrepreneurship, Wiley
Rose, D.S., 2016. The Startup Checklist: 25 Steps to a Scalable, High-growth Business. John Wiley & Sons.
Osterwalder, A. and Pigneur, Y. 2010. Business Model Generation: A Handbook For Visionaries, Game Changers, And Challengers: Wiley.