Course specification for CIS8001

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CIS8001 Technology Entrepreneurship

Semester 1, 2020 Online
Short Description: Technology Entrepreneurship
Units : 1
Faculty or Section : Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts
School or Department : School of Management and Enterprise
Student contribution band : Band 2
ASCED code : 020300 - Information Systems
Grading basis : Graded

Staffing

Examiner:

Requisites

Enrolment is not permitted in CIS8001 if CIS8000 has been previously completed.

Rationale

In a world in which the future of jobs in the workplace is uncertain and in which advancements in technology are taking place at a phenomenal pace, the role of the entrepreneur has become a powerful economic force across the world. In additional, an increasingly volatile and global environment is driving organizations from small startups to large enterprises to becoming more responsive and innovative in order to maintain and improve competitiveness internationally. There is therefore a vital need for students to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to be able to identify, analyze and exploit new business opportunities that arise from these technological innovations and advancements. Through the integration of entrepreneurial theory and practice, students will gain an understanding of the practicalities and limitations of existing management frameworks, as well as be able to critically evaluate evidence and strategy in the context of the organization, management, and risk bearing of a technology-based business. This course sets the foundations for anyone wanting to lead business development, drive product innovation, or launch new high-impact, technology-based business ventures.

Synopsis

This course provides students with the building blocks to think creatively, to recognize new opportunities arising from technological innovations, and to effectively employ strategies and techniques to act on these opportunities in order to develop a new venture. Through group and teamwork, and the integration of entrepreneurial theory and practice, students are given the chance to discover and exploit marketable ideas for independent new ventures or enterprises. To this end, participants will be introduced to ways of setting up businesses, developing business plans, establishing teams, developing prototypes, preparing presentations, financing projects, and marketing their products and services to their target audiences. Upon completion of the course students will be more confident in identifying and tackling the many risks and challenges that come with embarking on a new undertaking.

Objectives

On successful completion of this course students should be able to:

  1. Critically analyse the role of the entrepreneur and the impact of the different types entrepreneurship.
  2. Identify opportunities and markets and plan the project and develop business models and plans accordingly.
  3. Develop and test a prototype and a minimum viable product (MVP) using a lean approach.
  4. Prepare an effective launch and a pitch.
  5. Use strategies to develop and manage an effective team.
  6. Identify and analyse ethical and legal issues arising in the creation and operation of new ventures.
  7. Apply entrepreneurial and marketing techniques to take a product or service to market.
  8. Evaluate methods of financing through venture capitalists, angel investors, crowdfunding and ICOs etc.

Topics

Description Weighting(%)
1. Entrepreneurship and Innovation 10.00
2. Creating and Managing Technology and Innovation 10.00
3. Business Models and Business Plans 15.00
4. Market Research and Strategies 10.00
5. Commercialization and Pitching 20.00
6. Team Building 10.00
7. Entrepreneurial Finance 15.00
8. Ethical and legal issues 10.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=01&subject1=CIS8001)

Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)

Evers, N 2014, Technology entrepreneurship : bringing innovation to the marketplace, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, Hampshire.

Reference materials

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Student workload expectations

Activity Hours
Directed ¾«¶«´«Ã½app 40.00
Independent ¾«¶«´«Ã½app 125.00

Assessment details

Description Marks out of Wtg (%) Due Date Notes
Business Case 100 25 16 Mar 2020
Prototype 100 15 30 Mar 2020
Marketing and Funding 100 25 05 May 2020
Investor Presentation 100 35 01 Jun 2020

Important assessment information

  1. Attendance requirements:
    It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them, to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.

  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks for that item.

  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4)

  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.

  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative items for the course.

  6. Examination information:
    There is no examination in this course.

  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    There is no examination in this course, there will be no deferred or supplementary examinations.

  8. ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Student Policies:
    Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene ¾«¶«´«Ã½app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .

Assessment notes

  1. Referencing in assignments must comply with the Harvard (AGPS) referencing system. This system should be used by students to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The Harvard (APGS) style to be used is defined by the USQ library’s referencing guide. This guide can be found at .

Evaluation and benchmarking

In meeting the ¾«¶«´«Ã½app’s aims to establish quality learning and teaching for all programs, this course monitors and ensures quality assurance and improvements in at least two ways. This course:

1. Conforms to the USQ Policy on Evaluation of Teaching, Courses and Programs to ensure ongoing monitoring and systematic improvement.

2. Forms part of the Master of Information Systems (MISP) and is benchmarked against the internal USQ accreditation/reaccreditation processes which include (i) stringent standards in the independent accreditation of its academic programs, (ii) close integration between business and academic planning, and (iii) regular and rigorous review.

Date printed 23 June 2020