ENT 3503 Growth Strategy for Start-Ups

ENT 3503 Growth Strategy for Start-Ups

Course code: 
ENT 3503
Department: 
Strategy and Entrepreneurship
Credits: 
7.5
Course coordinator: 
Thomas Hoholm
Course name in Norwegian: 
Vekststrategi for oppstartsbedrifter
Product category: 
Bachelor
Semester: 
2019 Spring
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Bachelor
Teaching language: 
Norwegian
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

In this course, the student will learn about strategies for growth, and their consequences, both in start-ups and related to innovation in established companies. The student will be exposed to various challenges that tend to arise when a company is growing, and what happens to the company and the people that are involved. Finally, the students will also learn about growth-based crises, and how these may be handled.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

The students will achieve a better understanding of internal and external preconditions for growth. The students are to learn about different growth strategies for new ventures, as well models for innovation and intrapreneurship in established firms. The student should understand financial challenges during growth, and organizational challenges during growth and growth-based crises.

Learning outcomes - Skills

The students are supposed to learn how to analyze internal and external preconditions for growth and innovation, and develop strategies for growth and innovation in new and established firms. Furthermore, the students should learn to recognize and take action to deal with crises.

Learning Outcome - Reflection

During the course the student should develop capacity for critical reflection on the relationships between economic growth, society and the environment and, moreover, reflect on the ethical consequences of companies' growth and growth-based crises.

Course content
  • External and internal preconditions for growth
  • Growth strategies
  • Intrapreneurship and innovation
  • Learning organizations
  • Business models
  • IPR strategy
  • Financing growth
  • Organizing for growth
  • Networking and strategic alliances
  • Cash flow challenges during growth and growth-based crises
  • Crises and change
Learning process and requirements to students

The course will use a combination of lectures, guest lectures and student presentations. During the course the students will research a practical/empirical question and analyze this by using models and theories from the curriculum. In addition, there will be compulsory student activities in and between the lectures, such as peer-review and participation in web-based discussions.  

As a means to promote motivation and learning the lessons will include presentations, participation in class, assessment of fellow students (peer review) and the use of social media that are set up for the course. (Twitter, blog, Diigo, etc., may change from year to year). The exact date and exam for submissions / publications will be available at the course. 

Exact time and topics for assigments will be published at the beginning of the course.

Software tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.
Qualifications

Higher Education Entrance Qualification.

Required prerequisite knowledge

Participation in the course requires having completed the courses ENT3400 Introduction to Entrepreneurship and ENTxxx Organizing New Ventures, or similar.

Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Weight: 
30
Grouping: 
Individual
Duration: 
4 Week(s)
Comment: 
Individual reflection notes linked to the learning process, and shall include peer review, presentation and use of social media.

Both exam elements must be passed to obtain final grade in the course.
Exam code: 
ENT35032
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination every semester
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Weight: 
70
Grouping: 
Group/Individual (1 - 3)
Duration: 
1 Semester(s)
Comment: 
Project
Students will individually or in groups of up to 3 students provide a theoretical task on a specified theme. The theme will be announced at course start.

Both exam elements must be passed to obtain final grade in the course.
Exam code: 
ENT35033
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination every semester
Exam organisation: 
Ordinary examination
All exams must be passed to get a grade in this course.
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Teaching
36 Hour(s)
Student's own work with learning resources
80 Hour(s)
Group work / Assignments
24 Hour(s)
Student presentations and other student activities
Examination
60 Hour(s)
Assignment (project)
Sum workload: 
200

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 7,5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 200 hours.