UMSD87-15-3 Business Innovation and Growth Module Handbook 2024-25 | UWE

UMSD87-15-3 Aim of the Handbook 

The handbook is a guide for students in the Department of Business and Management, Bristol Business School. The information in the handbook can also be found on Blackboard. 

Please note that the electronic version of the handbook will be kept up to date, and you will be notified of any significant changes. If you have taken a hard copy of any information, please remember to refer back to the electronic version to ensure that you are working with the most up-to-date information. 

Module Specific Information 

Welcome to the Business, Innovation and Growth module. This module will introduce you to the fundamentals of business growth, innovation and leadership, what they are, why they are important, particularly in a small business and fast growth environment. We aim to increase your knowledge and understanding of these three themes and of the theories and concepts that surround them, to provide you with some subject-specific and transferable skills. We will expose you to a range of academic material, real-life business case studies and practitioners. This will be supported by exercises that aim to assist in questioning and evaluating key leadership, innovation and growth issues in the SME context and developing your abilities to think critically and creatively. 

The module aims to develop the following skills: 

• Ability to understand the present state of a business and develop an appreciation of the growth potential of the business.
• Ability to understand and explore the concept of leadership in entrepreneurial contexts.
• An understanding of the leader's role in the creation of entrepreneurial vision and culture, as well as their role in relationships and networks.
• Ability to demonstrate a systematic understanding of the role and nature of entrepreneurship in the identification, evaluation and exploitation of opportunities.
• An understanding of the innovation process within a company about theoretical concepts and models, such as Open Innovation and Business Model Innovation. 

The module outline explains the content of the module, the learning methods, recommended readings and the assessment procedures. In addition to the live lectures, some material, including videos, slides and notes, plus seminar materials, will be posted on Blackboard weekly.

UMSD87-15-3 Learning Outcomes 

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: 

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the present state of a business.
• Critically evaluate the role and nature of entrepreneurship in the process of identification, evaluation and exploitation of growth opportunities.
• Critically evaluate the entrepreneurial vision, growth and innovation strategies for a business
• Critically evaluate the concept of leadership and explain the nature of leadership in entrepreneurial contexts.
• Provide a clear understanding of leadership development as the business grows and how this might change through various recognised stages, i.e. from a manager to a strategic leader and explore in depth the impact of this development on enterprise innovation and growth. 
• Evaluate the innovation process within a company about theoretical concepts and models.

In addition, the educational experience may explore, develop, and practise, but not formally and discreetly assess the following: 

• Research and interviewing skills.
• Develop reflective thinking skills.
• Explore the importance of managerial development.
• Teamwork and practice the articulation of diverse business concepts. 

Syllabus outline 

The module is designed around three themes: 

Business Growth 

• Role of enterprise in the economy and society 
• Diagnostic skills -the current growth stage in business 
• Growth theories for SMEs, social enterprises and commercial. 
• Comprehension of SME growth strategies. 
• Growth strategy for large firms. 
• Management of growth. 

Innovation 

• The nature and role of innovation in business growth.
• Managing the innovation process.
• The role of the manager/firm size in innovation. 

Leadership and ownership 

• Leadership theories.
• Understanding the founder's changing role as the business grows
• Impact of leadership on business vision, culture and strategy.
• Entrepreneurial strategies.
• Corporate Entrepreneurship.
• Intrapreneurship.

Preparation: Teaching and Learning Methods 

An important pre-requisite for students undertaking this module is for each student to identify a Small or Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) and to interview its Founder, Director or Senior Executive. The SME must: 

• Have an annual turnover below 45 million pounds (GBP or equivalent).
• Have fewer than 250 employees.
• Be an independent business (not a subsidiary of a larger corporation, nor a franchise). The SME can be based in the UK or abroad. 

It is the personal responsibility of each student to identify an appropriate company. The information obtained from the interview (field work) and through other primary and secondary research on the business and its competitive and market landscape will form the student's business case study, referred to throughout the module tutorials, it will form the basis of the student's final assignments. Training and guidance will be provided. (see tutor if unsure re suitability of identified business case SME). 

Teaching Strategy

The module examines both theory and practice of entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership. The teaching will involve a mix of lectures (focusing on theory, academic insight, and practical business requirements) alongside interactive tutorial discussions based on students' own business case studies(practical application). Students will be expected to use their research materials and experiences, as well as reflect on their peers' business cases, in the seminar discussions. 

Learning Strategy

Students will need to complete the necessary preparatory reading and exercises before class, along with studying the introduced case materials (Essential Reading). Their learning will be enhanced by in-class discussions through the application of theory and their reflection on their own and their peers' business cases. Students will be expected to put forward, rationalise, substantiate and defend points of view on controversial matters in class.

Assignment Brief 

The assessment strategy has been chosen to provide students with the opportunity to conduct an in-depth investigation of an SME business of their choice and to encourage participation in seminar-based discussions of case materials. 

Summative Assessment Includes Two Elements: 

Task A - Individual Case Portfolio (30%)

Covers the three themes of the module. Students will use their case research materials, as well as material from their peers' business cases, and the two guest cases, as a basis for in-class discussions. These discussions will be summarised and submitted as part of a reflective portfolio (1500 words maximum). You need to cover each of the three themes of the module in this assignment. You will be expected to write a weekly reflective log to be submitted alongside your 1500-word reflective portfolio. The case will enable students to develop their understanding of innovation, business growth and leadership specifically in an SME context. 

Task B - Individual Business Report (70%)

This is in the form of a business consultancy report that assesses students' ability to conduct primary research on an SME of their choice, including the utilisation of the findings from a one-one interview with the founder/CEO/Director and producing a consultancy report focusing on the business' growth and at least one of innovation and leadership (ideally both) and the interrelationship between these 2-3 areas (2000 words maximum). 

Formative assessment will be provided in tutorials and through the use of case study work/discussions. 

Assessment criteria are in Appendix 1. 

Submission Details 

The submission dates for the Individual assignments are

Task A-Portfolio(1500 words) 6th May 2025 at 14:00 
Task B - Business report(2000 words) 12th May 2025 at 14:00 

Please note that the submission deadlines are absolute and based on UWE server time; therefore, you are strongly advised to submit work well ahead of the deadline dates to avoid situations where penalties could be incurred. If penalties are imposed, it will result in late work submissions being capped or not accepted for marking. Both assignments are for online submission. (See the module Assignment Brief document on Blackboard for further details.) 

A guide to referencing can be found at: UWE Study Skills Referencing

The University's policy on word count can be found: UWE Policies

Additional Information and Reading Strategies

Reading Strategy 

All students will be encouraged to make full use of the print and electronic resources available to them through membership of the University. These include a range of electronic journals and a wide variety of resources available through websites and information gateways. The University Library's web pages provide access to subject-relevant resources and services, and to the library catalogue. Many resources can be accessed remotely.

Advice and Support 

There is a range of facilities and services available to go to for advice and support, depending on what the issue is. Remember-asking for help at the earliest possible stage will help you in the long run. Your first point of call should always be your Academic Personal tutor, as they will be able to signpost you to the right services and will be able to deal with specific matters relating to teaching and learning. 

However, you are more than welcome to talk to other members of the UWE staff, depending on who you feel most comfortable talking to. 

Marking Grids Tasks A and B 

Marking Criteria for Task A - Portfolio 

Marking Criteria for Task B - Business Report