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2019/2020  KAN-CMIBO1041U  Entrepreneurship: Theory and Evidence

English Title
Entrepreneurship: Theory and Evidence

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Quarter
Start time of the course First Quarter
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for MSc in Economics and Business Administration
Course coordinator
  • Vera Rocha - Department of Strategy and Innovation (SI)
Main academic disciplines
  • Innovation
  • Economics
Teaching methods
  • Blended learning
Last updated on 28-06-2019

Relevant links
Learning objectives
  • Prove evidence of a comprehensive knowledge of the concepts and theories used in the course
  • Prove evidence of a thorough understanding of both research- and case-based knowledge regarding the different topics covered in the course
  • Be able to actively discuss real business settings, by applying the theoretical knowledge and empirical research findings to interpret them, and critically evaluate the validity of entrepreneurial strategies. More in particular (see the next three points):
  • Critically analyze a business case and assess the pros and cons of different tactics and entrepreneurial strategies based on theoretical and empirical insights
  • Find and evaluate relevant literature and empirical evidence to support the analysis of specific topics covered by the course
  • Critically assess the validity of statements based on empirical research and use this critical thinking to evaluate the strength of the conclusions that can be drawn from specific empirical studies and business cases
Prerequisites for registering for the exam (activities during the teaching period)
Number of compulsory activities which must be approved: 1
Compulsory home assignments
The student must get 1 out of 2 assignments/activities approved in order to attend the ordinary exam.

Assignment 1:
Group assignment in Google Docs/Slides, based on a video or podcast.
Group assignment (3-5 students), where the students will be presented with a video or podcast of an innovative product/business idea. The assignment will cover one or two specific topics of the course curriculum – e.g., entrepreneurial strategy and/or business model testing/design. The students will be asked to come up with a proposed strategy for that product/business in groups, to be submitted via Google Slides/Docs (4 slides/1 page). All the proposals will be shared on Learn and students will be encouraged to vote on the most creative proposal. Oral feedback will be provided in class.

Assignment 2:
Home assignment with peer feedback and general feedback from the instructor.
Home assignment in groups of 3-5 students, where the students are presented with a new business case and a set of questions. The students must write a short and well structured assignment, using theory from the course, research-based evidence, and case-based evidence to answer the questions (maximum 2 standard pages per assignment/group). The goal is to prepare the students for the final exam and give them feedback on their performance and understanding of the learning objectives of the course.
This home assignment will be set up on the platform Peergrade, where each group will be assigned to three other groups, whom they should give feedback to. Clear criteria for peer feedback will be given, and students will be encouraged to justify their feedback. Each group will receive a final score based on the quality of their submission (graded by others) and the quality of the feedback they give to others. The instructor will analyze all the submissions and give general feedback to the students, on Learn and in class.

Students will not have extra opportunities to get the required number of compulsory activities approved prior to the ordinary exam. If a student has not received approval of the required number of compulsory activities or has been ill, the student cannot participate in the ordinary exam.
If a student prior to the retake is still missing approval for the required number of compulsory activities and meets the pre-conditions set out in the program regulations, an extra assignment is possible.

The extra assignment is a 10 page home assignment that will cover the required number of compulsory activities. If approved, the student will be able to attend retake.
Examination
Entrepreneurship: Theory and Evidence:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Size of written product Max. 15 pages
Assignment type Written assignment
Duration Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Autumn
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Description of the exam procedure

The final assignment is an essay where each student will be required to address questions related to the topics of the course. 
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

The course intends to cover the several elements of the entrepreneurial process – the individual entrepreneur, the idea generation and implementation processes, the main challenges faced by the founder (or founding team), and their importance for the success of the new venture. The content of the course will therefore be organized around the following topics:

 

  • Entrepreneurship and Career Dynamics
  • Founding Team Formation
  • Entrepreneurial Strategy
  • Business Model Design and Analysis
  • Entrepreneurial Finance
  • New Venture Growth

 

Each of these topics will be discussed in two lectures in which the following parts will be usually included:

 

  1. a theoretical part, based on lecture notes (textbooks), academic papers, and more applied articles;
  2. an evidence-based part, based on the discussion and analysis of cases and short articles
  3. a part in which theoretical insights and empirical evidence are related to the entrepreneurial practice, based on class discussion sometimes involving external speakers (e.g., entrepreneurs), videos, or real life examples prepared by the students for discussion in class.

 

The order in which these parts are covered may be adjusted in some topics, if relevant.

The participation of students is crucial in all three parts of each topic.

Students are expected to prepare the cases and a set of questions to be discussed in specified classes, and to gather information about a specific topic, research question, or a particular firm, to be debated in certain sessions.

This preparatory work can be done either individually or in groups. The theoretical component of the course will also require preparatory readings of academic and applied articles.

At the end of each topic, we will connect the empirical evidence and entrepreneurial practices discussed in class to the theoretical framework, summarizing key takeaways, practical implications, and new avenues for research (whenever relevant). 
Description of the teaching methods
This course is taught using a combination of cases, lectures based on textbooks and academic papers, and guest speakers/videos, with an emphasis on case discussions in the class. High quality case discussions require an active participation and preparation of the students. Moreover, the application of theoretical knowledge and insights based on readings and cases to practical examples will form an important element of most classes.
Feedback during the teaching period
Feedback will be given during office hours and in class, as a follow up of the different assignments the students will be asked to choose from during the course.
Student workload
Teaching 36 hours
Preparation 100 hours
Exam 70 hours
Expected literature

Wasserman, N. (2013), "The founder's dilemmas: Anticipating and avoiding the pitfalls that can sink a startup", Princeton University Press.

 

A list of more detailed literature and cases will be provided in a compendium before the beginning of the course. Some cases must be downloaded from the Harvard Business School homepage and paid for.

 

 
Last updated on 28-06-2019