MBA7066 Innovation and Entreprenuership Assessment Brief AS1 Portfolio 2025/26

MBA7066 Innovation and Entreprenuership 2025/26 ASSESSMENT BRIEF

Learning Outcomes Assessed:

MBA7066 Assignment Brief 

Each student is required to evaluate a business opportunity and develop a critical, robust and comprehensive plan that seeks to develop and exploit the opportunity identified.

Important: Students must propose a completely original and creative business idea; existing businesses cannot be used

Part 1 - Pitch  (Presentation 10 minutes ) – Formative assessment should be completed by week 8. 

Present a  new business idea in class and get it approved from your tutor.
Your presentation slides should justify the new business proposal.
After approval upload it in formative link on Canvas.

Part 2 – Business Development  Plan - Report (5000 words) Summative Assessment

The report should based on new business venture proposed in part 1

• As an entrepreneur, provide a robust justification for a new business development within a specified industry.
• Critically appraise the market opportunity identified, and discuss the process through which opportunity will be developed and evaluated.
• Develop evidence of a systematic assessment in the external environment and how it aligns with the internal capabilities of the firm.
• Be structured around an appropriate and overall business development strategy as discussed in class.  
• Provide a critical reflection of your journey as an entrepreneur when going through business development plan.

Guidelines for Format and Structure:

1. Executive Summary (250 words)
2. Introduction to the new venture and entrepreneur thinking ( 500 words)
3. Market Opportunity and risk analysis (1000 words)
4. Internal capabilities and external environmental analysis (1000 words)
5. Business Plan for the New Venture  using strategic model (1500 words)
6. Reflection on your journey as Entrepreneur (750 words)

Specific Assessment Criteria 

Distinction (70% and above)

A cohesive, comprehensive and critical synthesis of the business development literature and concepts will be provided. Relationships between these and the nature and peculiarities of the opportunity being developed will be expertly elicited. An excellent evaluation of your justification for and approach to business development will be clearly articulated. The discussion on opportunity identification, development and evaluation will be succinct, relevant and insightful. Assessment of the internal and external environment will be will be expertly summarised and comprehensively justified. 

Extensive research demonstrating use of a wide range of current secondary research sources will be evident. Referencing and English will be excellent.  

Merit (60-69%)

A clear and critical synthesis of the business development literature and concepts will be provided. Relationships between these and the nature and peculiarities of the opportunity being developed will be well elicited. A good justification for and approach to business development will be set out. The discussion on opportunity identification, development and evaluation will be clear and well evidenced. Assessment of the internal and external environment will be will be summarised and well justified.

Wider research demonstrating use of a good range of current secondary research sources will be evident. Referencing and English will be good.  

Pass (50%-59%)

A critical synthesis of the business development literature and concepts will be provided. Relationships between these and the nature and peculiarities of the opportunity being developed will be clearly drawn out.  A relevant justification for and approach to business development will be set out. The discussion on opportunity identification, development and evaluation will be relevant and evidenced. Assessment of the internal and external environment will be will be coherent and justified.

Research demonstrating use of a range of current secondary research sources will be evident. Referencing and English will be satisfactory.  

Fail (Below 50%): Students who do not meet the requirements of the Pass criteria will not successfully complete the assessment activity.

Minimum Secondary Research Sources Requirements

Level HE7 - It is expected that the Reference List will contain between fifteen to twenty sources. As a MINIMUM the Reference List should include four refereed academic journals and five academic books.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: To be added in your assignment

Declaration: At the end of the assessment you should also include a declaration of any software tools including Generative AI (GAI) applications that you used in developing and completing the assessment. The assessment brief will specify if and how you can use GAI applications in the assessment. 

Guidelines for the Preparation and Submission of Written Assessments 

1.Written assessments should be word-processed in Arial or Calibri Light font size 12. There should be double-spacing and each page should be numbered.

2.There should be a title page identifying the programme name, module title, assessment title, your student number, your tutor and the date of submission. 

3.You should include a word-count (excluding reference list/bibliography, figures, tables and appendices).

Where a word limit is specified, the following penalty systems applies:

• Up to 10% over the specified word length = no penalty
• 10 – 20% over the specified indicative word length = 5 marks subtracted (but if the assessment would normally gain a pass mark, then the final mark to be no lower than the pass mark for the assessment). 
• More than 20% over the indicative word length = if the assessment would normally gain a pass mark or more, then the final mark will be capped at the pass mark for the assessment.

4.At the end of the assessment you should include a declaration of any software tools including Generative AI (GAI) applications that you used in developing and completing the assessment. The assessment brief will specify if and how you can use GAI applications in the assessment. 

5.All written work should be referenced using the standard University of Bolton referencing style– see: University of Greater Manchester Library

6.Please note that when you submit your work to Canvas, it will automatically be checked for matches against other electronic information, as well as for hidden text characters and GAI generated text. You will be able to see similarity matches but not currently flags for hidden characters and AI-generated text. The outcomes of Turnitin reports may be used as evidence in an academic misconduct investigation.

Late work penalties

Late work will be subject to the following penalties:

• Up to 7 calendar days late = 10 marks subtracted but if the assignment would normally gain a pass mark, then the final mark to be no lower than the pass mark for the assignment. 
• More than 7 calendar days late = This will be counted as non-submission and no marks will be recorded.
  Late submission of assessments on refer and those which are graded Pass/Fail only, is not permitted unless an extension is approved. See below.   

Extensions

In the case of exceptional and unforeseen circumstances, an extension of up to 14 days after the assessment deadline may be requested using the standard University Extension Request Form. For approval there would need to be an explanation and evidence of relevant circumstances. 

Longer extensions for individual assessments, projects and artefacts may be granted, at the discretion of the Programme Leader.

MBA7066 Appendix A – Specific Assessment Criteria (Rubric)