2010/2011 KAN-CM_J28 Business Plan Writing for Social Enterprises
English Title | |
Business Plan Writing for Social Enterprises |
Course Information | |
Language | English |
Point | 7,5 ECTS (225 SAT) |
Type | Elective |
Level | Full Degree Master |
Duration | One Semester |
Course Period |
Autumn
Pending schedule : Week 36: Thursdag 14.25-17.10 Week 37-38, 40-41, 43-46,48: Thursday 13.30-16.15 |
Time Table | Please see course schedule at e-Campus |
Study Board |
Study Board for MSc in Economics and Business Administration |
Course Coordinator | |
Kai Hockerts | |
Main Category of the Course | |
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Taught under Open University-Taught under open university. | |
Last updated on 29 maj 2012 |
Learning Objectives | |||
At the end of the course students should be able to a. Enumerate variables that contribute towards the creation of social value b. Discuss and compare different approaches towards business plan writing c. How these approaches help capture social impacts d. Apply class room learning to a specific real-world example for which a business plan has to be prepared and defended. | |||
Prerequisite | |||
Basic knowledge of social innovation and entrepreneurship are advantageous. | |||
Examination | |||
Oral exam on the basis of a mini project (individual or group). | |||
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Examination | |||
A mini project can be prepared individually or in groups of two to four students. Individual projects should not exceed 10 standard pages while group projects should not exceed 15 standard page. The mini project and the oral exam are evaluated as a whole. The objective of the oral exam is to discuss and put the written paper into perspective. The oral exam is based on the mini project and its problem statement but the examiners also ask questions and discuss issues from the entire curriculum which students are expected to have read and should be able to apply to their empirical material. | |||
Course Content | |||
This class is aimed at students interested in social entrepreneurship and the launching of social purpose organizations in areas such as for example the voluntary sector, microfinance, fair trade, or the arts and culture. As a participant in this course you will gain hands-on experience with the practice of business plan writing. You are expected to identify a real-world opportunity in the form of an innovation that will create charitable or societal benefits, either being developed in an academic environment or in the private sector. You will then be required to "transfer" that idea into the real world. This will consist of developing a mission statement in which the intended social impact is identified clearly. Furthermore, you will have to identify and describe a business model, determining relevant market segments, income strategies, and financing models. This content will then be assimilated into a specific business plan. The course will be completed with the students presenting their business plans/opportunities to an audience of social entrepreneurship specialists who will provide feed-back help with practitioner contacts. The course will include lecturing and case studies but will consist primarily of team-based work on your social enterprises ideas. Access to successful social entrepreneurs will be provided to the teams. The course's development of personal competences: The course will develop capabilities in social opportunity identification as well as the writing of business plans for social enterprises. You will learn how to identify ideas for social innovation that will help create charitable or societal benefits. Furthermore, you will be introduced to the discipline of business plan writing. As a participant you will practice the use of theoretical texts in a practical context. In particular you will be asked to set up your own social enterprise during the course of the class, which will expose you to the practical challenges associated with launching social ventures. | |||
Literature | |||
Books · Arthur C. Brooks, “ Social Entrepreneurship: A Modern Approach to Social Value Creation”, Pearson Higher Education. · Brian Finch, 2006: “How to Write a Business Plan”, ST Publishing. Articles · Chapter 5 “Alliance Strategies” in: Wei-Skillern et al., Entrepreneurship in the Social Sector, Sage Publications, 2007. · Chapter 6 ”Implementing Growth through Innovation Process,” in: S.J. Harryson, Know-who Based Entrepreneurship: From Knowledge Creation to Business Implementation, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham. available on SiteScape. |