Entrepreneurship and Innovation

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

• understanding of relevant models and theories of innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as understanding of innovation processes and management challenges in general, and in the entrepreneurship context in particular
• understanding value creation for ensuring long-term survival and growth, including strategies for new ventures internationalization and growth
• understanding of dilemmas related to ethics and sustainability that may arise throughout an entrepreneurial process, and approaches to ethical decision making in new venture contexts
• ability to formulate business plans, while addressing related aspects such as concept development and trial, market analysis, competition, positioning, strategic marketing, as well as financial projections and management - and throughout the process base choices on potential financial, social, and environmental impact (i.e. in line with the UN sustainability goals)
• familiarity with techniques of enhancing creativity, recognizing opportunities, and identifying market gaps, as well as the ability to identify, use and present relevant information, solve problems, and communicate written and verbal content

The goal of this course is to acquaint students with the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and innovation, with a specific focus on innovation sources and processes, opportunity recognition, resource marshaling, and capacity development. The course discusses the main theories of innovation and entrepreneurial management. It gradually follows the process of venture creation from idea generation and opportunity recognition, through the startup and resource seeking phases, as well as the product/service development and trial stages, all the way up to daily management and growth management.

Each theoretical unit will be supported and complemented by case discussions, exercises, and a limited number of guest lectures by both entrepreneurs and other stakeholders in entrepreneurial eco-systems. Students are also exposed to an entrepreneurial process by conducting an opportunity development project. The goal of the project is to develop and analyze an entrepreneurial opportunity that directly or indirectly contributes to the achievement of the UN sustainability goals.

Lectures, in-class exercises, group discussions and project. Some of the lectures are compulsory. The total workload of the course is estimated to 200 hours. More information will be given in Canvas.

• Delivered group assignment (40%)
• 3-hour individual exam under supervision (multiple choice (60%)

Assessment expression: letter grade, A-F. More information will be available in Canvas.