NBS8134 : Business Enterprise Policy
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Professor Jonathan Sapsed
- Owning School: Newcastle University Business School
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
Despite free market rhetoric governments continue to initiate and operate policies to support business enterprise. Any entrepreneur or established firm is likely to become involved with business enterprise policy at some stage whether applying for resources or to participate in activities that are otherwise not available. Entrepreneurs may also become involved in policy as agents who contribute to its execution, such as providing advice or other services to support other businesses. This course will address fundamental questions on business enterprise policy including (1) what support do new or established firms need? (2) why should government support firms? (3) how does government policy support firms? and (4) what are the rationale for policy interventions and how can these be identified and applied? Answering these questions requires a working understanding of theories, such as market failure, systems failure, network entrepreneurship and appropriability regimes, yet the module also intends to develop students’ practical skills in diagnosing business needs and delivering innovation support services.
Outline Of Syllabus
The module is taught and delivered via a series of 6 (2 hours) practical lectures, a field-trip to a relevant business and creative development organisation in the north east region, as well as visiting external experts experienced in business enterprise policy.
The lectures will cover the following topics:
What support firms need?
Why support firms? Market failure and system failure
What support is available?
How to support firms: Resources and activities
Networks and intermediaries
Appropriability regimes and Systems of Innovation
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 30:00 | 30:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 34:00 | 34:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | Present in Person |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 6 | 2:00 | 12:00 | In person practical lectures |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Fieldwork | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Regional fiedltrips |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Online synchronous drop-in surgery/Q&A moderated discussion on assignment |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 18:00 | 18:00 | N/A |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The lectures will be interactive in that students will be expected to comment on the content, to reflect on readings and to be ready to speak in an informed way on the themes of the module. There will also be group tasks as opportunities to test and apply concepts, including with the external experts.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | M | 100 | Critical engagement with policy of interest |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | 1 | M | Individual presentation outlining plans for summative assessment, with peer and Course Leader feedback |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Essay is focussed on the critical examination of policy of students' choice.
Formative feedback gives students the opportunity to present their initial ideas and receive feedback.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- NBS8134's Timetable