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2025/2026  KAN-CSIEO2004U  Organizing Growth

English Title
Organizing Growth

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory (also offered as elective)
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Quarter
Start time of the course Third Quarter
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for Markets & Innovation
Course coordinator
  • Christina Lubinski - Department of Business Humanities and Law (BHL)
Main academic disciplines
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Innovation
  • Management
Teaching methods
  • Blended learning
Last updated on 28/04/2025

Relevant links
Learning objectives
To achieve the grade 12, students should meet the following learning objectives with no or only minor mistakes or errors:
  • Utilize different frameworks to evaluate entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial ventures
  • Discuss the key activities, resources and relationships necessary to develop an early-stage startup into a business
  • Undertake iterative testing and revision of business plans based on primary and secondary research over the course of an entrepreneurial startup
  • Understand the challenges and opportunities related to external funding and other external resources as ventures grow to maturity
  • Organize businesses for growth stages and evaluate sequential strategies for doing so
  • Evaluate dilemma situations with regards to entrepreneurial exits
Course prerequisites
None
Examination
Organizing Growth:
Exam ECTS 7.5
Examination form Oral exam based on written product

In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and the individual oral performance, see also the rules about examination forms in the programme regulations.
Individual or group exam Oral group exam based on written group product
Number of people in the group 2-5
Size of written product Max. 10 pages
Assignment type Written assignment
Release of assignment An assigned subject is released in class
Duration
Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
10 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and external examiner
Exam period Spring
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
2-3 students will be examined for 30 minutes, 4-5 students will be examined for 45 minutes. Students with exemption to do an individual exam, will be examined for 20 minutes.
Description of the exam procedure

2-3 students will be examined for 30 minutes, 4-5 students will be examined for 45 minutes. Students with exemption to do an individual exam, will be examined for 20 minutes.

 

 
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

Organizing Growth

 

Organizing Growth explore the later stages of the life cycle of entrepreneurial ventures and intrapreneurial activities. It expands on the idea of “entrepreneurial processes” by thinking through the challenges of (i) orchestrating people for growth, (ii) designing partnerships to facilitate growth strategies and (iii) striking deals with resource providers. The “POCD”-framework (People, Opportunity, Context and Deals) provides students a big-picture analytical tool to both manage and analyze startups at different stages in their life cycle.

 

Among the topics covered are managing founding teams through different growth challenges, working with resource providers, in particular venture capitalists, designing and iterating founder agreements, and evaluating opportunities for exit.

 

We emphasize the skills, capabilities, and judgment needed to effectively manage entrepreneurial ventures. The course is interdisciplinary in its approach to entrepreneurship, integrating entrepreneurial history, strategy, sociology and finance. It teaches students how to orchestrate resources, legitimize new stages of development, and explore opportunities for exits. It will involve both quantitative and qualitative modes of reasoning about entrepreneurial decision making. 

 

Students will learn through a combination of studio exercises, lectures, case discussions, and real-world applications. 
Research-based teaching
CBS’ programmes and teaching are research-based. The following types of research-based knowledge and research-like activities are included in this course:
Research-based knowledge
  • Classic and basic theory
  • New theory
  • Teacher’s own research
Research-like activities
  • Development of research questions
  • Data collection
  • Analysis
  • Discussion, critical reflection, modelling
  • Activities that contribute to new or existing research projects
Description of the teaching methods
The pedagogy for the class is, primarily, studio-based learning. Using knowledge from assigned readings, short (video and in-class) lectures and cases, students engage in experimental exercises, simulations, role plays and group assignments.
Feedback during the teaching period
In-class feedback on compulsory assignment.
Video feedback on selected case discussion.
Office hours
Student workload
Course activities (including preparation) 136 hours
Exam (including exam preparation) 70 hours
Expected literature

Expected literature (subject to change):

 

  • Leach, J. C., & Melicher, R. W. 2015. Entrepreneurial Finance (5th ed.). Stamford, CT, USA: Cengage Learning.
  • Wasserman, N. (2012). The Founder's Dilemmas: Anticipating and Avoiding the Pitfalls That Can Sink a Startup. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.
  • Feld, B. and J. Mendelson (2011). Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist. Hoboken, N.J., Wiley.
  • Feld, B. and M. Ramsinghani (2014). Startup Boards: Getting the Most Out of Your Board of Directors. Hoboken, New Jersey, Wiley.
  • Harvard Business School Publishing coursepack (cases and technical notes).
Last updated on 28/04/2025