BET 600Applied Business Leadership Skills for Entrepreneurs0.50 units
The course provides students with the opportunity to develop a range of soft skills and the business acumen necessary to maximize the likelihood of success in an entrepeneurial environment. Topics include written and oral communication skills, business planning, leadership skills, raising capital, product development, negotiation skills and sales management. A range of applied approaches is used, including integrated cases, simulations, and hands-on work with local companies. Most activities are team based.
BET 601Strategically Managing the Entrepreneurial Organization0.50 units
Strategy development and implementation are examined as a means to guide decisions at each stage of the innovation and commercialization process. Insight is gained into the strategic issues faced by new ventures as they progress from seed/concept through market execution stages. Strategic analysis techniques are used to identify and analyse issues and as input into the design of the business concept and business model. The organizational structures, processes and policies used to build and maintain an entrepreneurial culture are key topics for the market execution stage.
BET 602Marketing Strategies for New Technology-based Ventures0.50 units
Market-based management practices and the key relationships that enable businesses to attract, satisfy and retain customers, and grow their profits are examined. The contribution of marketing strategy to the creation of value for both customers and shareholders is emphasized. Particular attention is paid to the unique contexts of marketing knowledge-intensive products and services, new and rapidly growing markets, business markets, and investor relations. Familiarity is developed with the marketing activities typical for each stage of the commercialization process.
BET 603Entrepreneurial Finance for the Technology-based Enterprise0.50 units
Financial planning and decision-making skills are essential for effective management of new ventures operating in environments characterized by risk and uncertainty. Development of pro forma financial statements and techniques for financial decision-making under uncertainty are explored. Principles that guide the financing of new venture are presented, including considerations of capital structure, management of working capital, asset financing and forms of private and public equity. The requirements of the venture capital due diligence process, negotiating with VC's, business valuation and exit alternatives are discussed.
BET 604High Performance Business Operations0.50 units
Practical, hands-on approach to understanding and dealing with the operational issues associated with the management of technology-based ventures in fast-paced environments. Key topics include development of an effective product development process, system integration management, hardware and software design issues, and their impact on manufacturability and quality, managing high-performance teams and project management.
BET 605Essential Accounting for Entrepreneurs0.50 units
Examines the role of accounting information in assisting entrepreneurs. By analysing and presenting financial statements of local technology companies, students develop proficiencies at understanding and interpreting financial statement information. Attention is also directed to the role management accounting information plays in supporting key start-up decisions, value creating organization strategies, operational tactics and performance measurement.
Analysis of the issues faced when firms integrate ICT into their operations. Topics include E-business models and value propositions, E-business strategies, E-marketing and advertising, E-business metrics and the regulatory environment of E-business. Application of E-business to processes such as business itelligence, customer relationship management, supply chain management, E-commerce functions such as order processing, payment processing and order fulfillment, and integration of e-business functions with other systems including key elements of IT governance and enterprise IT architeture are reviewed.
BET 607Managing Technological Innovation0.50 units
Management of technological innovation requires an understanding of the interaction of technology with all aspects of the organization to build and maintain sustainable competitive advantage. The management of technology and innovation to formulate technology strategy, develop technological capabiliteis and use them to achieve strategic objectives is emphazised. Evaluating new technologies, product development and deployment strategies are key topics.
BET 608Entrepreneurial Application of Technology0.50 units
Business cases involving entrepreneurial successes and failures in applying technologies in innovative ways are evaluated. Examples of innovative applications of technology include a variety of Internet applications, wireless communication technologies, intelligent agents, data analysis and decision support technologies, graphical display and visioning applications, and other innovative applications. Key success factors and implementation requirements are identified and discussed. Approaches for assessing the technology base and capabilities of a firm and the skills and resources required to manage technology in a start-up are key topics.
BET 620Social Entrepreneurship and Corporate Social Responsibility0.50 units
Introduces students to the concepts of social entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility from multidisciplinary perspectives. Participants are challenged to become leaders in shaping socially responsible businesses and building a civil society through examination of emerging theory and practice, analysis of cases and an applied project with a community-based organization.