• University of Exeter Business School
• Module

Acting Entrepreneurially

Module description

This module is one of the modules included in the With Proficiency In (WPI) Entrepreneurship programme, and available mainly to second year students.

The module is designed to introduce students to how individuals behave entrepreneurially to create sustainable value using their available means. The module’s core components (e.g., Sustainable Value Creation; Effectual Entrepreneurship) are delivered online covering how to explore the feasibility, desirability, and viability of entrepreneurial ideas. We use a practice-based approach enabling students to experience the early stages of an entrepreneurial process through the development of their own entrepreneurial idea (which can be based on for-profit or non-profit logic).

No pre-requisite or co-requisite modules are required to take this module but please note that this module cannot be taken if you have previously studied BEM2032 Startup Entrepreneurship or BEM2046 Entrepreneurial Value Creation.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of the module is to introduce students to the multiple facets of Effectual and Sustainable Entrepreneurship and engage them with contemporary issues in entrepreneurial thinking.

The online lecture content is designed to provide context, entrepreneurial cases, and basic tools (canvases, methods, etc.). A series of practically oriented Tutorials are aimed at engaging students in mastering how entrepreneurial individuals think in terms of creating, delivering, and capturing sustainable value using Effectual principles. These Tutorials give participants the chance to expose and discuss their entrepreneurial projects and will provide formative assessment for the module assignment.

Our belief is that the practices you learn in this module will help you solve problems and address needs in your life no matter what professional career you embark on.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Develop an entrepreneurial project based on Effectual Entrepreneurship;
• 2. Apply Sustainable Value Creation framework to an entrepreneurial project;
• 3. Explore the viability, feasibility, and desirability of an entrepreneurial project.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Demonstrate responsibility, self-efficacy and resourcefulness;
• 5. Compose a vision and mission for an entrepreneurial project.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Develop a critical and creative approach to the creation of value adding and sustainable activities.

Syllabus plan

The module will cover the following topics:
• Effectual Decision-making
• Sustainable Value Creation
• Value Proposition Design
• Testing Fundamental Hypothesis of Value Creation
• Business Model Generation
• Effectual Action & Networking

This module does not assume that students have any prior business courses or experience. Instead, this module is intended for interdisciplinary pathways and, therefore, is encouraged for non-business students as well as experienced business students.

Additional Information:

Employability
By honing Effectual reasoning logic, students will have the ability to create value within an organisation, or through self-efficacy by proposing their own entrepreneurial project.

Sustainability
By understanding both the global challenges and the organisational and technological responses at our disposal, students will be equipped to deploy Effectual principles that creates a positive and sustainable impact beyond mere economic value creation.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Read, S., Sarasvaty, S., Dew, N. & Wiltbank. (2016) Effectual Entrepreneurship. 2nd Edition. Routledge.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Key words search

Entrepreneurship, Effectuation, Sustainable Value Creation, Business Models