Academic Assignment Guidelines: Entrepreneurship Group Report

There is no penalty for submitting below the word/count limit, but students should be aware that there is a risk they may not maximise their potential mark.

Assignments should be presented appropriately in line with the restrictions stated above; if an assignment exceeds the time/word count this will be taken in account in the marks given using the assessment criteria shown.

• A description of the entrepreneur/s who started your chosen business, including reflective comment on his/her/their current motivations and behavioural characteristics and whether your observations of his/her/their behaviour reflects the ‘norms’ of ‘typical’ entrepreneurial behaviour-sets
• Discussion of how he/she/they identified the original entrepreneurial idea at the start-up/pre-start-up stage. Assessment as to whether they formally researched and evaluated the business idea in detail before entering the market, or whether they just ‘went for it’
• Comment on what he/she/they see as being unique and different about their organisation and whether you perceive these differences as being appropriate for the challenges faced by the organisation in today’s fast-moving and competitive environment, and whether the organisation is sustainable in this respect.
• Based on the theory, insights and observations that you have derived from this module, you should provide 2-3 recommendations and rationale to the entrepreneur as to what you would suggest should be done to ensure sustainability of the organisation. The recommendations should be consistent and appropriate to the organisation’s resources
• Based on the theory insights and observations that you have derived from this module, you should provide recommendations and rationale as to what the entrepreneur/s could do to ensure that the organisation develops (from new) or enhances (an already existing) entrepreneurial culture. Recommendations should be consistent and appropriate to the organisation’s resources and justified with appropriate reference to theory. You might like to refer to local business support agencies and other business support providers if you feel that they would be of value to the organisation.

You will need to draw from a range of academic theories, models and insights that you have studied and derived from your study of this module, using a good range of credible academic references.

Suggested structure and headings for your Group Report:

The word count detailed below for each section of the Group Report is indicative only

1.Introduction

2.Account and Findings of Entrepreneur/s behavioural characteristics, and motivation in relation to contemporary enterprise and entrepreneurial theory

3.Account and findings of current business model and its suitability with respect to contemporary business pressures

4.Conclusions and recommendations to ensure sustainability of the organisation

5.Conclusions and recommendations to ensure that the organisation remains entrepreneurial

To achieve higher marks, you should

• Draw information from a wide range of relevant academic sources
• Demonstrate good application of learning
• Reference accurately in Harvard SSU format

The idea of researching may seem daunting. Remember that the higher education environment requires a slightly different approach to learning than you may have experienced at further education level. Don’t expect your learning to be all one-way, from tutor to student. You will be expected to generate your own knowledge from a variety of sources: lectures, tutorial discussions with tutors and other students, independent reading / research, and work experience (if possible).

It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you review the PDF document - Groupwork Booklet on the SOL in week 3 seminar section. The document is entitled ‘Making groupwork work’. You should also use the ‘Group Contract Template’ (also on the same page on the SOL), to support your group work assessment and ensure that you are all high performing team members, that each take responsibility for completing the summative assessment.

For this group report students will be allocated one overall mark. It is intended that they should share the group grade, however, in exceptional circumstances, where it is clear that one or more member of the group is not contributing, the non-contributing member/s may receive an individual grade that reflects their contribution".

Please refer to the ‘Making groupwork work booklet’ on the assessment tab for additional instructions relating to the operation of your group.