Mid-Term Assessment
Academic Year 2015-2016
Percentage of Module Grade: 40%
Objectives of the Assessment:
The objective of this assessment is to test the following Intended Learning Outcomes of the module:
1. Critically discuss theoretical and applied aspects of the nature, structure and development of
entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial firms
2. Show a critical understanding of organizational processes involved in creating new ventures
3. Critically appraise competing theories and concepts of entrepreneurship and relate applicable
theories to understanding current issues and practice
Project Description
Students should choose ONE of the following tasks:
TASK 1:
The objective of the current assignment is to have students consolidate their class learning through
their analysis of a practical case of their choice. Students for that reason will pick a successful case
of a firm (high growth and profitability). Students are encouraged to choose an organisation within
the industry of their own interest/passion. We would suggest organisations in the emerging markets
(such as Brazil, South Africa). However, other case-study companies may by chosen with the
approval of the lecturer. Herein you will find a list of suggested names you may be inclined to
delve into for your paper.
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What do you need to do? Students should understand and explore the company’s history and its
development till today using the Greiner model. As you know, this theory is made up of a series of
stages with their ensuing moments of crises. Therefore, you are asked to perform the following:
a) Critically analyze the organization of you choice within the first two stages of the Greiner
model.
b) Critically discuss the evolution of the company’s main business model and business concept.
The business concept is an idea which has a well defined positioning policy, product/service
definition, business model.
c) Possibly utilize the Timmons model to place: Opportunity evolution, Resources (Financial
and non-financial) and Team. Critically evalutate how the various components of the model
have changed over the initial years. Try to match the evolution of the business concept and
the Timmons model for an explanation of their success.
d) Place the entrepreneur- founder in the equation. Critically analyze how the entrepreneur has
led his company through the various business changes discussed in previous points. Identify
the type of leadership exercised and the commercial and financial results obtained. Use a
leadership framework while doing so in order to shed light on the particular aspects of the
work undertaken to build a successful company. Also, critically evaluate the culture of the
organization throughout the changes undertaken.
e) Critically evaluate policies the firm may have undertaken to overcome common traps typical
of Emerging market such as corruption, lack of sufficient infrastructure, scant availability of
financial instruments to finance business growth.
IMPORTANT: Students may choose to concentrate their analyses on fewer than the five points
above, if they wish to explore some of them in greater depth. However, the word-count should still
be respected.
You must support the paper with specific academic text and journal references in the critical
discussion.
Our suggestions of organisations in Brazil and in South Africa are:
Natura (cosmetic Industry) – Brazil
Rock in Rio ( Music business) – Brazil
Bidvest (diversified) – South Africa
Rupert (luxury) – South Africa
TASK 2:
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Each student should produce a report in which s/he demonstrates his/her entrepreneurship.
Students should prepare a proposal for an entrepreneurial opportunity. The basic business idea
should be developed to describe in detail the main elements of the business, and due emphasis
should be put on the factors that make the idea a genuine business opportunity. In doing so it is
important that the theories and material discussed in class (as well as other sources) be applied in a
critical manner.
You must support the paper with specific academic text and journal references in the critical
discussion.
Structure of the Report
Cover Page
Table of Contents
Introduction (brief)
Body of the Report
Summary & Conclusion
Bibliography
NOTE: The title page should include the name of the course, the title of the project, the student’s
full name, the lecturer’s name and the date. The table of contents should include all the headings
with appropriate page numbers, including the Bibliography and the Appendices.
Format of the Project:
The project should be prepared as a neatly typed Word document (Times New Roman or Arial),
with 1.5, or double, spacing and page numbering.
The written project is expected to consist of approximately 2,500 words (not counting tables or in –
serts, introduction and conclusions). Tables or work/data taken from other sources maybe included
in an appendix.
All sources must be referenced in the text and a full bibliography must be provided (including visited websites) in the Harvard style. All work must adhere to the University regulations on ‘Cheating,
Collusion and Plagiarism’. A spelling and grammar check should be done.
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Projects must be delivered by email to the lecturer and the academic office, and be loaded on Tur –
nitin by midnight on 22nd May 2016. Only when this has been done will the project be considered
submitted. Late submission will carry a penalty of 10% per day (for example after one day grade x
90%, two days grade x 80% etc.)
A paper copy of the project must be delivered to the lecturer at the start of the next class after the
deadline.
Turnitin Code: TBA
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Core Text and Recommended Reading
“Entrepreneurship” by Hisrich, Peters and Shepherd, Seventh Edition, McGraw-Hill 2008- ISBN:
978-007-125952-1
“Entrepreneurial Small Business” by Jerome A. Katz (Author) Irwin/McGraw-Hill (December
2005) ISBN-10: 0072967986, ISBN-13: 978-0072967982
Additional Readings
Amabile, T. M. “Creativity in Context: Update to the “Social Psychology of Creativity”, Publisher:
Westview Press Inc, (October 1st, 1997), ISBN: 0813330343, ISBN 13: 9780813330341
“Harvard Business Review: on Leadership”. Harvard University Press.
“Harvard Business Review on Breakthrough Thinking”. 1999 Harvard Business Review. Harvard
University Press
Johansson, Frans (2006) “The Medici Effect: what elephants and epidemics can teach us about
innovation” Harvard Business School Press, Boston, Massachusetts
Zhou, J. and Shalley, C.E. (2008) Eds. “Handbook of Organizational Creativity” Lawrence Erlbaum
Associates, ISBN: 0-8058-4072-9
Web Sites:
http://www.bola.biz/index.html Business Open Learning Archive.
http://www.bized.ac.uk/ Case studies and learning materials.
http://www.mallenbaker.net/csr/ Corporate Social Responsibility
http://www.economist.com/ Web site of the Economist
http://www.findarticles.com/ Free article web site resource.
http://www.questia.com/Index.jsp Online library. Limited free access
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GENERAL GRADING CRITERIA
Excellent work: 70%+ Above satisfactory work:
60% – 69%
Satisfactory:
50 – 59%
Failure: Below
satisfactory
work: < 50%
Relevance
40%
Excellent knowledge and
understanding of material and
an imaginative sense of its
relevance across a range of
issues, and context or policy
situation; excellent use of
course material and other
relevant information to support
argument
Good use of course material
and other information; well
chosen to support
arguments relevant to
question
Some use of appropriate course
materials and experience to
support arguments; capacity to
identify relevance, but may be
rather narrowly focused and
miss out important areas
Little or no sign of
relevance
Content
30%
Independent and creative, and
demonstrates clear thinking;
ability to analyse and critically
evaluate material
Good knowledge and
understanding of the
material, across a broad
spectrum, combined with an
ability to evaluate, analyse
and reflect on key issues
Adequate understanding and use
of course and other relevant
material; mostly descriptive, but
with some grasp of key course
themes and issues and a
capacity to discuss these in
context
Very limited
knowledge and
understanding and
the issues
involved
Depth
20%
A sensitive awareness of
conflicting arguments and
ideas and of their provenance.
Clear grasp of implications.
Well organised use of most
of the major points with an
ability to draw upon them
creatively and critically;
awareness of conflicting
arguments and ideas and
attempt to address them in
context
Some attempt to address the
conflicting arguments and ideas
from the course, some signs of
an attempt to take an evaluative,
analytical and critical stance;
some appropriate use of
concepts, but with only limited
evidence of independent
thinking
Lack of awareness
of conflicting
arguments and
ides
Structure
10%
Excellent organisation of
material; clear, logical flow of
argument; good sign-posting
throughout
Good, clear framework and
reasoned argument with
evidence of careful thought
Framework is apparent with an
introduction, argument and
conclusion, but the logical flow
and coherence is not always
consistent and may be difficult
to follow
Little or no
evidence of
planned structure
and organisation
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