Business Administration C10/D10, Entrepreneurship and the Small Firm, 10 credits Syllabus, course C10/D10 Business Administration(Advanced level) Course code: FEKC30 Responsible Department: The Department of Business Administration Subject: Business Administration Level: C/D Field of education: Social Science This course is a course at the C/D-level in a BSc- or a MSc-degree at the University of Umeå. The course can also be included in the study programme in Business Administration and Economics at Umeå School of Business and Economics. 1. Resolution to arrange the course The course is established by the Faculty of Social Science at the University of Umeå and the syllabus was confirmed by the Board of Business Administration on June 1 2001. 2. Objective and contents The course aims at deepening and integrating students' knowledge within the various sub-disciplines of Business Administration with special reference to work with or within small and medium-sized enterprises. Apart from integration of the sub-disciplines of Business Administration, the course integrates theory and practice and covers individual, firm, and societal level perspectives on entrepreneurship and the small firm. Module 1 Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (5 credits) This module aims at developing an understanding of the role or entrepreneurship and small firms in the economy. This involves discussions and definitions of central concepts as well as descriptions of the small firm sectors' size and development across countries and industries. The module further deals with individual and environmental determinants of new firm formation and small business development. In order to give a deeper understanding of entrepreneurship attention is given to theories of entrepreneurship from various academic disciplines. Module 2 Business Concepts and Small Business Strategies (5 credits) Starting from a discussion of how the small firm sector affects and is affected by societal change this module employs more of a "within the firm" perspective. Various factors in the business environment, and especially changes in these factors, constantly create opportunities for entrepreneurial action. The module focuses on the development of viable business concepts and on strategies for action towards realising the goals that these business concepts imply. A strategic management view is employed as a tool for exploiting opportunities and as a defence against threats created by changes in the business environment. 3. Prerequisites Students require a minimum of 30 credits from the A- and B-level courses in Business Administration for entry to the course. Exchange students require a minimum of 40 credits from the A-and B-level courses in Business Administration for entry to the course. It corre- sponds to 60 ECTS-credits in basic courses in Business Administration (Management,Accounting,Financial Investments,Cost Accounting and Marketing) 4. Teaching methods A multitude of pedagogical approaches will be employed. Apart from conventional lectures and seminars in connection with the course literature, these may involve case seminars, guest lectures by practising entrepreneurs and representatives of small business development agencies, company visits, oral presentation by the students themselves, etc. As an assignment, the students will follow a particular small firm during the course and provide their fellow students with reflected feedback on that firm's current status and future potential. Participation is mandatory for most educational activities. Guest lectures might be used in examination. 5. Examination Attendance at seminars and case presentations are required to pass the course. A written term paper (PM) and a written comprehensive examination (tentamen) is also required on each module. The following grading system will be uses: Pass with distinction (Väl godkänd, VG), Pass (Godkänd, G) and Fail (Underkänd, U). When a student has failed an examination on two occations, he or she has a right to have another grading teacher. A written request should be handed to the director of studies no later than two weeks before the next examination opportunity. Swedish-speaking students should for additional information in this and the next section refer to the syllabus "Företagsekonomi C10/D10" confirmed by the Board of Business Administration in 2001 or later. Information about "muntan" can also be obtained from the student counsellor. 6. Course Language In cases where there are applicants from abroad, the course language will be English. Otherwise, parts of the course may be taught in English. Information on language aspects can be obtained from the student counsellor. 7. Readings and other material Carter, S, Jones-Evans D, (eds) Enterprise and Small Business - Principles, Practice and Policy. Financial Times, Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-201-39852-4 (Section I and II for the 1st module and Section III for the 2nd module) NUTEK, Swedish Industry and Industrial Policy 2000, NUTEK Förlag Johannisson, B, Landström, H, (eds) Images of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Studentlitteratur 1999 ISBN: 91-44-01256-X Hoecklin, Lisa. Managing Cultural Differences: Strategies for Competitive Advantage Addison-Wesley Longman, Incorporated ISBN: 0-201-42770-2 Dept of Business Administration Article Compendium. Studentexpeditionen (Articles from European Observatory for SMEs, Journals in Entrepreneurship, etc) Dept of Business Administration Article Compendium. Studentexpeditionen