Course Title: Entrepreneurial Strategy and Growth

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Entrepreneurial Strategy and Growth

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

BUSM1312

City Campus

Undergraduate

630H Management

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011

BUSM2308

Singapore Inst of Management

Undergraduate

630H Management

Face-to-Face

 Offsh 3 08,
Offsh 1 09,
Offsh 3 09,
Offsh 1 10,
Offsh 3 10,
Offsh 1 11,
Offsh 3 11,
Offsh1 12,
Offsh3 12

BUSM3314

RMIT University Vietnam

Undergraduate

630H Management

Face-to-Face

 Viet1 2010,
Viet2 2010,
Viet3 2010,
Viet1 2011,
Viet2 2011,
Viet3 2011

Course Coordinator: Dr Nthati Rametse

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 5498

Course Coordinator Email: nthati.rametse@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Previously known as BUSM1312 Managing Growing Businesses. If you have already completed this course, do not enrol again.


Course Description

This course focuses on understanding and applying theory and practice in strategy and growth in the context of the environmental and internal challenges these may present to owners and other stakeholders. The subject will cover theory and case studies designed to give students the ability to successfully strategise for and manage a growing business.
This course is organised around the following themes:

  • Theory and practice of strategy and ethics for entrepreneurs in business context
  • Challenges of implementation and sustainability
  • Management through growth pathways including start-ups, family businesses, acquisitions and mergers, new product/service offerings, and entering new markets (including internationalisation)
  • Planning and organising the business including business plans, organisational structure and design
  • Managing people including motivating staff; staff development, sharing rewards and profit sharing
  • Marketing for growth including market research, channels and pricing, distribution
  • Operations and business process management including using technology appropriately
  • Financial planning including start-up financing and sources of finance, cash flow planning and management, business performance monitoring and evaluation
  • Planning for change
  • Exit strategies
  • Risk management including financial, founder, people and infrastructure limitations


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

On completing of Strategy and Growth, students will be able to understand and demonstrate:

  • Strategic approach to business
  • Implementation of new strategy and what this involves
  • Vital nature of organisational vision, change and structures for dynamics of innovative companies - new and established
  • Importance of managing relationships - focussing on supplier, distributors, customers and the community
  • Relationship between management of financial data and economic performance and the management of cash flow
  • Complexities involved in managing the often-competing priorities and resources within a growing businesses
  • Critical importance of human resources
  • Importance of being open to new opportunities and technology , continuing to research, develop and commercialise new products / services
  • Opportunities in social and global perspectives



Overview of Learning Activities

Students will explore theories and concepts associated with the defined learning outcomes and the practical application of these theories and concepts via learning modes such as formal lectures, workshops, industry assignments, guest lectures and tutorials involving case studies, class discussions and presentations.


Overview of Learning Resources

Prescribed Text/s
Students will need to acquire the prescribed Textbook for this course.

Use of DLS
Students also have access to course materials and additional readings on the DLS website via the course Blackboards including external internet links and access to RMIT Library online and hard-copy resources.

Other references
A list of other references will be made available on the DLS.


Overview of Assessment

Overview
A range of assessment will be undertaken in this course that may involve examinations, mini-quizzes, essays, business reports, case study analysis, presentations and participation.

Please use the RMIT Business referencing guidelines document for report style found at: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/s9sx559hurvc.rtf .

An online version can also be found at: http://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/bus/public/referencing/index.html.

Academic integrity and plagiarism
RMIT policies concerning academic integrity and plagiarism apply to students in this course. For more details see: http://www.rmit.edu.au/academicintegrity/students