Newcastle University

Aims

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of enterprise and its role in contemporary society. The module introduces the concept of enterprise as an integrated framework for the study of enterprise, entrepreneurship and small business. It aims to provide students with the skills to critically analyse notions of enterprise and to situate enterprise within its broader organisational and societal context.

Original Summary:
This module provides an integrated approach to the study of enterprise, entrepreneurship and small business. The module adopts a critical and broad-ranging social science approach to the subject and aims to provide students with the ability to analyse enterprise from an international perspective within the context of a wide range of management, organisation studies and social science debates. The module focuses on the conceptual aspects of enterprise, rather than practical and technical aspects which are served by the Business Enterprise module (BUS2011).

Outline Of Syllabus

1. Introduction: enterprise as an integrating concept. Definitions. The place of enterprise in the 21st century. 2. The study of enterprise - who is studying what and where and how? 3. Enterprising entities(1): the firm. 4. Enterprising entitites (II): the entrepreneurial self. 5. Managing in smaller/entrepreneurial entities. 6. Working in entrepreneurial entities. 7. Reflecting on practice(I): how owner managers start, finance and grow an enterprise. 8. Reflecting on practice(II): how owner managers develop and grow an enterprise. 9. Other applications of enterprise(I): Corporate entrepreneurship. 10. Other applications of enterprise(II): Social enterprises. 11. Economic contexts of enterprise: Enterprise as an economic panacea(I): Flexibility, Gloabalization and Changing Organizational Relationships. 12. Economic contexts of enterprise: Enterprise as an economic panacea(II): Innovation and Technology. 13. Social contexts of enterprise: Diverstiy and marginality. 14. Political Contexts of enterprise: Governments and Smaller Enterprise. 15. Conclusion: Integrating the field.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The lectures will be used to introduce the students to the main theories and debates around enterprise and will introduce an integrating framework to synthesize these debates. A critical approach will be taken in the lectures to demonstrate to students how a critical social science approach can be taken to the study of enterprise.

Seminars will commence in the second half of semester 1 and will be used to permit more detailed discussion of specific issues. These seminars will use case studies and video material to ilustrate key aspects of enterprise and will give students the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to critically analyse the material.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The exam will test students' knowledge of the subject. Short answer questions enable an assessment of their ability to critically engage with a wide range of the subject material.
A coursework essay assessed in two parts (the plan and the actual essay) enables students to focus on an area within the syllabus of particular interest to them.
The essay plan enables the students to demonstrate their ability to structure an argument and to use information literacy skills to identify and evaluate literature. The students will also receive detailed feedback to assist them in the completion of the actual essay.
The 2,000 word coursework essay assesses the students' deep understanding of an aspect of the module