Sustainable Value Creation

22B1834

Bachelor

English

5.0

winter- and summerterm

1 semester

To develop knowledge of and appreciation for entrepreneurial management through the study of new ventures, intrapreneurship in corporate settings and the management of small firms. In this module, entrepreneurship is understood and presented as an opportunity for sustainable growth, not only offering pecuniary rewards for the owners but in addition generating positive societal impacts. Consequently, ethical considerations and responsible decision-making of the entrepreneurial team are particularly focused on. 

The module aims at exploring the various dimensions of new venture creation and sustainable growth by addressing planning and implementation issues, such as conceptualizing, developing, and managing successful new ventures. 

The module is designed to provide a broad overview of entrepreneurial activities and challenges, including but not limited to identifying a viable business opportunity with positive impacts, gathering funding for and launching a business, managing the organization in a period of growth and harvesting the rewards.

1. Defining Sustainable Entrepreneurial Ventures: Constraints, Rewards and Economic/Social Contributions

2. Characteristics and Competences of Entrepreneurs and Entrepreneurial Teams

3. Strategic Management for Entrepreneurs and Ethical Considerations

4. Managing Creativity

5. New Business Planning: Feasibility Analysis

6. New Business Planning: Business Model Generation

7. New Business Planning: Writing and Presenting a Business Plan

8. Business Model Analysis of Sustainable Ventures

9. Building the Financial Plan

10. Implementing the Operating Plan

The total workload for the module is 150 hours (see also "ECTS credit points and grading").

• Portfolio exam or
• Written examination

The portfolio consists of 100 points: 60 points for a presentation (PR) and 40 points for a homework assignment/essay (HA).  

Written examination: in accordance with the valid study regulations

Presentation (PR): approx. 20-30 minutes

Homework assignment/essay (HA): approx. 5-10 pages

The requirements are specified in the relevant class.

As successful entrepreneurs need to orchestrate resources across all business functions, this module requires students to draw on knowledge, skills and competences acquired in all previous modules. Entrepreneurship as an interdisciplinary activity builds on all foundation courses from the first stage of the study programme.

Students who successfully complete this module can explain the particular challenges and opportunities associated with entrepreneurial activities in both start-up businesses as well as corporate settings (i.e. intrapreneurship). Furthermore, students are capable of performing a business model analysis and employ various techniques to identify viable ideas for sustainable entrepreneurial ventures.  

Students who successfully complete this module can select and apply theories, frameworks, concepts as well as tools from areas of strategic management, finance, managerial economics, marketing, operations management and organizational behavior to the specific challenges of sustainable entrepreneurial ventures. They can forecast the impacts of the business idea and organise resources for a successful implementation.

Students who successfully complete this module can apply the studied methods and tools to specific business problems in the form of contemporary real-world business applications and/or case studies and address them effectively. They are able to critically analyse business ideas and assess their likely impacts regarding the economic, environmental and social dimensions. By considering the triple bottom line and adhering to highest ethical standards, students are able to diagnose not only the economic viability of new ventures but also conclude regarding the overall societal value that is being generated. The methodological competences enable students to develop entrepreneurial thinking: They can conceive of promising business ideas, design a corresponding novel business plan and put the latter in practice, thereby observing the needs of various stakeholders and generating societal value. 

Students who successfully complete this module recognize and are able to address the particular challenges and opportunities associated with entrepreneurial activities in both start-up as well as corporate settings (i.e. intrapreneurship). They can apply business model analysis and use the insights to conclude regarding the societal value of ventures, adopt techniques to identify and develop sustainable ideas for entrepreneurial/intrapreneurial ventures and develop recommendations to improve existing business models. This enables them to assess various commercial options and make responsible decisions that stimulate value creation in business contexts. Furthermore, students are able to plan, implement, supervise and critically review entrepreneurial activities in practice.

Students who successfully complete this module are empowered to think and act as entre- and intrapreneurs. They can generate new ideas with positive impacts on societies, compile and analyze data with scientific methods and process fragmented pieces of information so that hidden patterns are recognized and can be interpreted. This empowers students to make evidence-based decisions. 

Students who successfully complete this module can identify and describe advantages and disadvantages of new business models and communicate them effectively to those stakeholders having an interest in the new venture. Furthermore, students are able to express the key elements of a new business idea precisely to gain support for their venture. They actively seek feedback regarding their ideas, lead entrepreneurial teams and leverage diversity as a source of creativity and value-generation. They are able to deal with setbacks and understand iterations as opportunities for improvement. Finally, they enthuse others for their ideas and motivate their teams.

Students who successfully complete this module develop a professional self-image as responsible entrepreneurs/intrapreneurs and behave accordingly in their careers. They reflect on their behaviour in terms of business but also societal impact and develop a strong urge to identify areas of improvement and address them to improve economic, environmental and social matters.

The module allows students to develop a sustainable business plan in a preferred industry or domain. Consequently, the module highlights the strong interrelations between various management aspects and how they are successfully put into practice in a specific entrepreneurial/intrapreneurial context with societal value. Finally, students with an appreciation for the value-generating power of entrepreneurship will adopt entrepreneurial thinking not only in succeeding modules but also in their professional behaviour.

• International Management, B.A.

• Hofmann, Kay Hendrik

• Hofmann, Kay Hendrik