Course teacher(s)
Judith BEHRENS (Coordinator)ECTS credits
5
Language(s) of instruction
english
Course content
The course offers introductory lectures to the topic of business planning. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following: Entrepreneurship and economic growth, entrepreneurial motivation and psychology, creativity, entrepreneurial emotions, opportunity recognition und evaluation, opportunity assessment und business planning, entrepreneurial human and social capital, financing sources for young ventures, growth strategies, social entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial failure.
Objectives (and/or specific learning outcomes)
In our business plan seminar you will learn how to get from an initial business idea to a sound business model.
Hereby we support you in finding out what you are passionate about, in solving customer problems creatively and in bringing both foci together in an entrepreneurial project.
Teaching methods and learning activities
The seminar is hands-on and practical, including exercises, cases, and getting in contact with actual customers.
Students work in teams on their own business ideas or on ideas chosen for the seminar. We value being hands-on in an open atmosphere with direct and appreciative feedback, and demand above-average effort.
Transforming an initial idea into a business model includes two steps:
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Developing an understanding about your customers and markets.
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Formulating your learnings in a structured fashion.
To support the iterative process of gathering information and refining the business model, we use the Business Design Toolset. In order to structure and present the business model, we focus on writing five main chapters of a business plan:
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Product/service
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Entrepreneurial team
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Market and competition
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Marketing and sales
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Business model.
In addition, we offer the students Elevator Pitch and presentation trainings given by a professional trainer.
References, bibliography, and recommended reading
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Free download pp. 14-51: http://www.businessmodelgeneration.com/downloads/businessmodelgeneration_ preview.pdf
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Business Model Canvas in Google Docs: https://drive.google.com/previewtemplate? id=102mOZQmMxs0CslmNsPZ5KCNQwAIh9rh4baYgT0VWNAA&mode=public&ddrp=1#
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Note: You need to be logged in with your Google account to see it.
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Horowitz, Ben (2014): The Hard thing About Hard Things
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Kawasaki, Guy (2004): The Art of the Start
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Moore, Geoffrey A. (2002): Crossing the Chasm
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Münchener Business Plan Wettbewerb: Handbuch Businessplan-Erstellung, München: https://www.baystartup. de/bayerische-businessplan-wettbewerbe/handbuch-businessplan/
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Osterwalder, Alexander / Pigneur, Yves (2010): Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers
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Ries, Eric (2011): The Lean Startup
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Thiel, Peter (2014): Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future
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Timmons, Jeffry A. / Spinelli, Stephen (2009): New Venture Creation
Contribution to the teaching profile
The course contributes to the following objectives of the Master's Program in Management Science:
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Knowledge and understanding of the context affecting management practices
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Knowledge and understanding of the daily operations and tools used in the key departments of a company
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Apply qualitative logics to support analysis and/or evaluation
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Work in team
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Create judisciously
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Take responsibilities
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Understand, analyse and evaluate with rigor
Other information
Contacts
judith.Behrens@ulb.be
Campus
Solbosch
Evaluation
Method(s) of evaluation
- Other
Other
Students’ evaluation is based on:
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Prototype: Fit to business idea
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Business Plan of 6 to 8 pages
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10-minute Pitch Presentation & 2-minute Video
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Peer grading: Reliability, Commitment, Results
At the end of the semester, we reward the best team!
Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)
Final grade is based on:
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Prototype
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Business Plan
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Pitch Presentation & Video
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Peer grading
Language(s) of evaluation
- english