The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Mindset
| Module title | The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Mindset |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEM2062 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Bill Russell (Convenor) Mr Raphael Dennett (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 10 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 500 |
|---|
Module description
The module is offered within the With Proficiency in Innovation and Entrepreneurship pathway.
The module explores what it means to think like an entrepreneur, and how individuals in all types of structure (commercial start-ups, scale ups, and large firms; humanitarian and public sector) can use entrepreneurial practices to solve problems and deliver value in changing contexts.
The module confirms that innovation is best managed as a high velocity reinvention process that can be organised, whether in a start-up venture or in renewing a government department or an established company.
The module’s core component is delivered online, and explores research on the entrepreneurial thinking, skills and capabilities that innovative entrepreneurs – often seen as change leaders - use to challenge the status quo. The module catalyses the entrepreneurial thinking of participants, empowering them to deploy a range of innovation tools, with a particular focus on creativity and problem solving.
Personal development will be accelerated through collaboration centred workshops.
No pre-requisite or co-requisite modules are required to take this module. The module is designed as part of the With Proficiency in Innovation and Entrepreneurship pathway, and is suitable for non-specialist students, students from disciplines outside business, and will be accessible for learners with no business experience or training.
If you have completed BEM2036 Thinking Entrepreneurially, you should NOT take this module.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aim of the module is to allow participants to both build and understand innovation and entrepreneurial mind-sets in relation to sustainable value creation, focused on the future of enterprise.
A blended approach using online and workshopping will be used. The aim of the online content is to introduce and build an understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship practice. The series of workshops are aimed to engage the participant with building their innovation and entrepreneurial mind-sets and develop an understanding of how change leaders can apply this to create value and impact. These workshops will give the participant the chance to practice thinking entrepreneurially to deliver innovation outcomes.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Explain the defining characteristics of the innovation and entrepreneurial mind-sets;
- 2. Employ specific entrepreneurial practices and problem-solving approaches.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Practice entrepreneurial and innovation approaches to address the needs and problems of themselves, others, and the broader community and world;
- 4. Practice the innovation process of ideation, analysis and iteration of ideas and solutions.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Critically analyse and reflect upon personal innovation and entrepreneurship skills and practices.
Syllabus plan
The module will cover the following topics:
Learning entrepreneurship is about learning a new mindset (a new way of approaching) the problems we all have in life. The entrepreneurial approach focuses on using action to identify and then address the needs and problems of ourselves, others, and the broader community and world. The goal is to create solutions to people’s problems and address people’s needs using an empathetic, iterative innovation process.
Successful innovation is like learning to play the violin or learning to water-ski – you just have to do it! So, most work in this class will be experiential – you will learn through doing innovation rather than just reading about it. So, this class is focused on practicing entrepreneurial skills and mobilising the innovation process then reflection on what you learn in a safe environment.
What will you learn? You will gain the ability to use innovation and entrepreneurial practices that embrace 1) learning through action, 2) solving problems with the means you have at-hand, 3) developing empathy, 4) embracing and leveraging failure, 5) validating and improving ideas, and 6) testing and iterating your solutions.
Each student will complete assignments that assess your understanding of the entrepreneurial mindset and innovation process. It will further your ability to analyse an idea and then act to gain feedback on your ideas.
Our belief is that the practices you learn in this class will help you solve problems and address needs in your life no matter what career you embark on. Therefore, this class is encouraged for non-business students as well as experienced business students. This class does not assume that students have any prior business courses or experience.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | 122 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 10 | Online Asynchronous Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 18 | Workshops |
| Guided Independent Study | 40 | Pre and post workshop activities |
| Guided Independent Study | 82 | Out of class innovation and entrepreneurship exercises and project work |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written Assignment | 500 Words | 1 and 5 | Peer Feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Assignment | 100 | 3000 words | 1-5 | Written Feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written Assignment | Written Assignment (3000 words, 100%) | 1-5 | Referral/deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Rita Gunther McGrath; Ian C. MacMillan (2000) The entrepreneurial mindset: Strategies for continuously creating opportunity in an age of uncertainty, First eBook edition
- Tom Chatfield (2021) How to think: Your essential guide to clear, critical thought
- John Bessant; Joe Tidd (2024) Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 4th ed
- Peter F. Drucker (2014) Innovation and entrepreneurship, New edition
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None. |
| Module co-requisites | Cannot be taken with BEM2036. |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 15/01/25 |
| Last revision date | 11/03/25 |
