Program Director Contact Details: Innovation and Entrepreneurship (PG)
Name: Prof Paul Steffens
Phone: +61 8 8313 7512
Email: paul.steffens@adelaide.edu.au

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Teaching Staff
Trimester 1 & 2
Name: Prof Paul Steffens
Researcher Profile: https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/index.php/profile/paul.steffens

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Trimester 3
TBC

The overall aim of this course is to consolidate a student’s understanding of entrepreneurship practice and its relationship to entrepreneurship theory and research. A candidate should be aiming to become a subject matter expert in a particular area related to implementing an innovative or entrepreneurial project. The course contains a student driven research based project and therefore the nature of each project is negotiated with the lecturer/supervisor. A major objective is for candidates to integrate the knowledge gained through other courses and demonstrate mastery of their chosen subject domain.

To achieve the goals of this course, you will need to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the relevance of entrepreneurship research for arriving at intended practical entrepreneurship outcomes. To present the findings of your work you will need a comprehensive understanding of the nature and purpose of written and oral communications in achieving project outcomes. Therefore it is advisable to have completed all the core courses of your program to integrate relevant knowledge from other courses into the Major Project Output (plan, report or paper).

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

1	Explain the nature and purpose of innovation and entrepreneurship research and its relationship to innovation or entrepreneurship practice
2	Generate a database of related articles and reports from academic journal databases, industry, government and general media sources
3	Examine in-depth a selected and agreed area of entrepreneurship that relates to, influences and/or underpins the entrepreneurial practice.
4	Apply effective communication skills in the development and presentation of business and research papers, reports, and plans.
5	Construct a Major Project Output (plan, report or paper) that produces evidence of an integrated and self-directed research and practical learning experience that synthesises a range of course material acquired throughout the entrepreneurship program.

Text book:
No text required

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A set of articles will be provided on the MyUni site to assist students with the content and conduct of this course. Students are required to expand their search and reading by sourcing their own articles etc because this course is aimed at doing independent self-driven research.

Entrepreneurship and Research
1. Bygrave, William c2007, 'The entrepreneurship paradigm (I) revisited' in Ulhøi, John P. & Neergaard, Helle (eds.), Handbook of qualitative research methods in entrepreneurship, Edward Elgar, Northampton, MA, pp. 17-48.

2. Davidsson, Per 2002, What entrepreneurship research can do for business and policy practice, International Journal of Entrepreneurship Education, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 5-24.

3. Alvarez, Sharon A. & Barney, Jay B. 2006, 'Can organizing a firm create new economic value?' in Cooper, Arnold C. (ed.), Entrepreneurial strategies: new technologies in emerging markets, Blackwell Pub., Malden, MA, pp. 11-25.

4. Hall, J.K., Daneke, G.A. & Lenox, M.J. 2010, 'Sustainable development and entrepreneurship: Past contributions and future directions', Journal of Business Venturing, vol. 25, no. 5, pp. 439-448.

5. Isenberg, Daniel J. 2010, How to start an entrepreneurial revolution, Harvard Business Review, vol. 88, no. 6, pp. 40-50.

6. Short, Jeremy C., Moss, Todd W. & Lumpkin, G. T. 2009, Research in social entrepreneurship: past contributions and future opportunities, Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 161-194.

7. Sarasvathy, Saras D. 2001, Causation and effectuation: toward a theoretical shift from economic inevitability to entrepreneurial contingency, Academy of Management Review, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 243-263.

8. Zott, Christopher, Amit, Raphael & Massa, Lorenzo 2011, The business model: recent developments and future research, Journal of Management, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 1019-1042.


Research Methods and Practice
1. Leedy, Paul D. & Ormrod, Jeanne Ellis. 2001, 'Planning your research design' in Leedy, Paul D. & Ormrod, Jeanne Ellis, Practical research: planning and design, 7th ed., Merrill Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J., pp. 91-106, 107-121.

2. Johnson, R. Burke & Onwuegbuzie, Anthony J. 2004, Mixed methods research: a research paradigm whose time has come, Educational Researcher, vol. 33, no. 7, pp. 14-26.

3. Knight, Peter 2002, 'Research at a distance' in Knight, Peter, Small-scale research: pragmatic inquiry in social science and the caring professions, SAGE, London, pp. 80-113.

4. Neuman, William Lawrence c2003, 'The meanings of methodology' in Neuman, William Lawrence, Social research methods: qualitative and quantitative approaches, 5th ed., Allyn and Bacon, Boston, pp. 63-88.

5. Sharp, John A. & Howard, Keith c1996, 'Literature searching' in Sharp, John A. & Howard, Keith, The management of a student research project, 2nd ed., Gower, Aldershot, Hampshire, England, pp. 72-102.

6. Diamantopoulos, A. & Schlegelmich, B. B. c2000, 'It's all over...or is it?' in Diamantopoulos, Adamantios & Schlegelmilch, Bodo B., Taking the fear out of data analysis: a step-by-step approach, Business Press, Thomson Learning, London, pp. 219-225.

7. Veal, Anthony James 2005, 'Questionnaire surveys' in Veal, Anthony James & Ticehurst, G. W., Business research methods: a managerial approach, 2nd ed., Pearson Addison Wesley, South Melbourne, Vic., pp. 142-168.


Planning and Strategy
1. Dollinger, Marc J. 2008, ‘Entrepreneurial strategies’ in Dollinger, Marc J., Entrepreneurship: strategies and resources, 4th ed., Marsh Publications, Lombard, Ill., pp. 110-152.

2. Hamel, Gary 2000, 'Business concept innovation' in Hamel, Gary, Leading the revolution, Harvard Business School, Boston, Mass., pp. 59-113.

3. Mintzberg, Henry c1994, 'Models of the strategic planning process' in Mintzberg, Henry, The rise and fall of strategic planning: reconceiving roles for planning, plans, planners, Free Press, New York, pp. 35-90.

4. Stutely, Richard 1999, 'What's it all about?' in Stutely, Richard, The definitive business plan: the fast-track to intelligent business planning for executives and entrepreneurs, Financial Times Management, London, pp. 3-19.

5. Timmons, Jeffry A. & Spinelli, Stephen 2004, '[Extracted from] The business plan' in Timmons, Jeffry A. & Spinelli, Stephen, New venture creation: entrepreneurship for the 21st century, 6th ed., McGraw-Hill, Boston, Mass., pp. 397-420.

A worthwhile reference text (sourcing and purchasing is optional) that discusses various emerging viewpoints on entrepreneurship theory and its practice is:

Welsch, Harold (2004) Entrepreneurship: The Way Ahead, Routledge, New York.

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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.

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.

This course is a self-directed learning course supervised by your teaching staff. Support is provided both on-campus and online.

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). You can expect to commit 312 hours to this 6 unit course.

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

Class	Content	Readings	Activities
1	Introduction	To be provided as required	Discussion

The Project in Entrepreneurship is a self-directed study program that offers scope for candidates to pursue their own entrepreneurship related interest in three broadly defined areas, namely; innovation and the new enterprise creation process, the strategic management of entrepreneurship or innovation in the context of established organisations, communities or economic regions. The project will require a research element however it may be either an applied research activity or a more theoretical/academic project that targets a specific topic or issue relevant to entrepreneurship and innovation. A candidate will complete the proposed topic submitted to the Course Lecturer for approval prior to commencement of any project work.

The Project in Entrepreneurship course is therefore designed for a candidate to pursue research into an area or topic related to their entrepreneurship career that holds personal interest or value. Previous candidates have, for example, used the Project as a vehicle to prepare a business plan and undertake a literature review of a critical component of the business proposition that will influence the plans outcome. Alternatively, a candidate may consider preparing an implementation report with a literature review on a single aspect of the implementation. The report could for instance document entrepreneurial strategies adopted by an established organisation to improve its specific innovation or general performance. The literature review could examine a key management issue encountered by the organisation during the implementation of these strategies.

This course is designed to integrate much of the course work undertaken to date. The decision about what project to undertake is made by the candidate in consultation with the lecturer and/or supervisor. It is expected however that any project will have sufficient challenge and stretch to constitute 20-24 hours per week.

Consultation Schedule
There are no formal classes for this course and instead candidates work directly with a supervisor for their chosen project. Remember this is a self-study program so it is up to you to plan and make the most of your resources (including your lecturer/supervisor) to successfully complete this course of study. Appointment times for the review and supervision sessions will be available by prior arrangement.

Thursday 1pm to 4pm is set aside for course consultation. Specific topics to be covered will be provided throughout the course.

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

#	Assessment	Length	Weighting	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
1	Project Proposal	Typically 1,000-1,500 words	10%	Week 2	1
2	Applied Research Results	3,000 - 4,000 words	30%	Week 4	2,3
3	Major Project Output (Plan, report or paper)	Typically 4,000 – 6,000 words	50%	Week 12	4,5
4	Participation	Course duration	10%	Ongoing	1,3,4
	Total		100%

Candidates will be assessed by participation and submission of three assignments. All assignments must be completed to be eligible to pass the course. Coverage of the lecture materials and participation in the presentation sessions are compulsory. Lectures must be attended or, in special circumstances, an alternate approach to lecture attendance may be negotiated. Participation in the presentations can either be ‘in person’ or by ‘virtual’ means also by negotiation.

It is expected that assignments will be typed, using word processing software such as Microsoft Word. The preference is for you to hand in a printed and bound assignment, and also submit the file via the MyUni Gradebook.

Don’t cram too many words onto a page: use a line spacing of 1.5 lines, and a right-hand margin of 4cm (to enable feedback and comments). If software other than Microsoft Word is used, the file format must be one that can be read using Word, such as .doc, .docx or .rtf (rich text format). PDF (Acrobat) format is not acceptable unless accompanied by an editable Microsoft Word document or similar.

Students should attend all classes in order to pass the course. There is considerable experiential learning in workshops during the intensive 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 1: Project Proposal
Weighting: 10%
Submission Details: A hard copy version must be submitted to the lecturer and a soft copy online through MyUni

Task:
This assignment requires the candidate to develop the Project Proposal in consultation with the lecturer and/or supervisor. The Project Proposal will outline the practical area that the student will be working on in relation to the course objectives and demonstrate an awareness of the theoretical aspects that may inform and shape the applied project. The Proposal provides the framework for undertaking both assessment items 2 and 3.

The Project Proposal will outline the project’s aims, rationale, focus for the research paper, time frames, milestones, and the projects resource requirements. The assignment will need to consider both practical and academic requirements and will show how the research and practical work will integrate.

This is essentially a planning document, prepared at the outset of a project and assists the process of achieving greater focus and clarity regarding aims, objectives, tasks and desired project outcomes. It will also reflect the balance you will seek to maintain between academic/theoretical/intellectual/research-oriented tasks and the planning of practical entrepreneurship-oriented tasks.

Scope:
This assessment item is to demonstrate that students satisfy objective one of the course requirements.

Length and Presentation:
Presentation will be in a report format. The typical length will be between 1,000-1,500 words.

Criteria by which your assessment will be marked:
This assignment will be assessed on the basis of completeness, presentation and clarity of the project intentions. The document should reflect professional and commercial quality. The aims should be clear; the rationale well defined; the theoretical research area should be clearly justified with preliminary investigations detailed; it should be clearly programmed and scheduled with resources and contingencies fully outlined. The relationship between your chosen areas of theory and practice should be explicit, well reasoned and argued.

The Proposal will need to demonstrate appropriate use of references. (Use the Harvard referencing system. Guidelines can be found at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/referencing_guides/).

The Proposal will also be professionally presented in class. The presentation objective is to convince your audience of the project’s merit and that it is a manageable task within the allotted time available to complete it. This presentation will contribute to class discussion on issues relating to project design.
 


Assessment 2: Research Paper
Weighting: 30%
Submission Details: A hard copy version must be submitted to the lecturer and a soft copy online through MyUni

Task:
This assignment is designed for the candidate to demonstrate a capacity to identify and use academic, government, media or general reference sources to expand their knowledge of particular issues encountered in entrepreneurship. Often, students who are in the process of planning and establishing new businesses are understandably pre-occupied with the concrete, practical thinking and doing. As a result the stored and accumulated knowledge of other resources can easily be overlooked. This assignment requires the candidate to stop and consider other valuable resources and inquire into the learning these resources may be able to offer.

This course is part of a postgraduate level university qualification and, while the difficulty of the practical side of entrepreneurship is not underestimated, it is also necessary for candidates to develop and exhibit good conceptual and critical thinking skills. You will need, in this assignment, to report on the thinking and intellectual aspects that inform your practical entrepreneurship career and/or pursuits. You will need to isolate and report on the knowledge, discipline, or body of research that informs the issues grounded in the practical undertaking of your chosen area of entrepreneurship. You will need to ask and answer, “What is the theory, underlying or embedded, in the areas of my interest?”

Scope:
This assessment item demonstrates that students satisfy objectives one, two, three and four of the course requirements.

Length and Presentation:
Presentation will be in a research paper format. The typical length will be between 3,000-4,000 words. A substantial Bibliography/Reference list is expected that documents your personal library of entrepreneurship related articles and resources over and above the references.

Criteria by which your assessment will be marked:

• The level of originality and insight, specifically demonstrating the relevance of the particular subject to the candidate’s entrepreneurship career or pursuit.
• Demonstration of a comprehensive understanding of the issues, theories and shortcomings (where applicable) of the chosen subject area and clearly relating these to the broad and general practice of entrepreneurship.
• Clarity of expression and good use of language.
• Logical planning, structure and sequence of presenting your findings.
• Evidence of wide reading, research, and of critical analysis of the issues and concepts.
• Overall presentation including correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Use of resources in formulating your response, including proper acknowledgement and the appropriate use of references. (Use the Harvard referencing system. Guidelines can be found at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/referencing_guides/).

 

Assessment 3: Major Project Output
Weighting: 50%
Submission Details: A hard copy version must be submitted to the lecturer and a soft copy online through MyUni
Assessment will include a professional oral presentation of the project work to a panel that will include external participants.

Task:
You are required to present a professionally written report detailing the project work you have negotiated with the lecturer.

The Major Project Output (MPO) will be the outcome of the applied or theoretical project undertaken as the basis for this course work. By practical we mean relating to practice or action and the MPO may take the form of a business plan, strategic plan, implementation report. By theoretical we mean relating to the theory of entrepreneurship and innovation and the MPO may be a research report, conference or journal article. In either case the output must relate to your entrepreneurship career or pursuit. The structure of the MPO should provide relevant information, which enables the reader to have a comprehensive understanding of the rationale, conduct and outcomes described by the MPO along with any relevant recommendations or future actions that arise as a result of the MPO. This requires smooth flow of information supported with succinctly written arguments. The MPO should be authentic and logical, coupled by sound reasoning. Any recommendations should clearly identify the resource requirements and clearly define any relevant risks and uncertainties. Future benefits in terms of, for instance, survival and growth should also be discussed with critical reasoning and support. Generally, the MPO should exhibit sound logic, in-depth thinking, and synthesis of other course materials presented throughout the program.

Submission of your MPO includes an oral presentation that is to be professionally presented to an audience that will include external participants. Candidates are required to present and defend their MPO and should succinctly describe the MPO, the major objective(s) of the presentation, any major assumptions and decisions relevant to the MPO and seek to engage or extract commitment from their audience. This presentation will be no longer than 25-30 minutes and will include 10-15 minutes for discussion and questions.

Candidates are expected to actively participate in questioning, commenting and discussing the material presented by peers during the final presentations. The objective is to be constructive and supportive and assist in the continual refinement and development of the ideas and the skills of each presenter.

Scope:
Topics one, two and three will cover the information required for you to complete this task. This assessment item is to demonstrate that students satisfy objectives four and five of the course requirements.

Length and Presentation:
Presentation will be in an appropriate plan, report or research paper format. The typical length will be between 4,000 to 6,000 words for the 6 unit course. In addition to the body of the document substantial Appendices should be included that exhibit your analysis, research and other calculations and contributions that support your argument and line of reasoning.

Criteria by which your assessment will be marked:
The report will be judged on its structure, presentation, content, integration and synthesis of course materials from across the program and, importantly, writing style. Please note that the academic assessment can only make judgement on the educational validity and not the actual business or project result or outcome. The mark will reflect your learning and will not be an indicator of the merit of the project.

The standards by which the assignment will be assessed include:

• The level of originality and insight, demonstrating clear understanding of the program materials elaborated through the chosen area of application.
• The degree to which you have clearly communicated the aims and objectives of your MPO and succeeded in that task.
• Clarity of expression and good use of language.
• Logical planning, structure and sequence of presenting your findings.
• Evidence of wide reading, research, and of critical analysis of the issues and concepts.
• Overall presentation including correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Use of resources in formulating your report, including proper acknowledgement and the appropriate use of references. (Use the Harvard referencing system. Guidelines can be found at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/referencing_guides/).

The standards by which your final presentation contribution will be assessed will include:

• Style: Spelling and grammar on presentation slides (if applicable), fluency of expression
• Presentation structure: Logical sequence and flow
• Content: Relevance of material, coverage of key issues, depth/breadth of synthesis
• Development: Convincing argument and/or detailed comprehensiveness
• Clarity: Supporting evidence and/or data presented clearly and logically.
• Participation: Thoughtful, respectful, constructive and concise contribution during the questions, comments and discussion opportunities offered by your peers.

Assessment 4: Participation
Weighting: 10%
Submission Details: Not applicable

Task:
You are expected to contribute, initiate and comment upon issues relevant to the Projects, in face-to-face discussion and/or in the online forums when used. You can score high marks for this participation through:

• Active participation,
• Taking the initiative and raising issues,
• Starting discussion topics and leading your supervision,
• Sharing your thoughts, learning experiences and scholarly insights with your supervisor and other candidates as appropriate.

Scope:
It is requisite that each individual participant fully contributes to the group learning environment. This assessment item demonstrates that students satisfy Objective one of the course requirements.

Length and Presentation:
Not applicable

Criteria by which your assessment will be marked:

• Punctual arrival
• Respect for the opinions of others
• Contribution and commitment to the learning process
• Courteous and responsible behaviour including timely and succinct communication.

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 include in the assignment a 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:  An application for Assessment Extension 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 medical, compassionate or extenuating circumstances.
• 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.