Consultation Projects, Entrepreneurship Focus (10 cr)

Objectives (course unit)

Learning outcomes of the course unit
This course will cover how innovation supports entrepreneurs through the creation of new businesses opportunities, capturing of new markets and improved organizational effectiveness. The course will focus on the role of innovation in the entrepreneurial process and how innovation can be transformed into ongoing new ventures. Innovation and entrepreneurship theories and concepts will be applied in real life business cases. The course approach is practical: teams of 3-4 students pick up a project from a commissioning company/organization or start project of their own.

After completing the course, students will be able to:
• Understand the role of innovation in the context of entrepreneurship
• Carry out consultation projects with a focus on entrepreneurship
• Accomplish the project, analyze and report the results to customer
• Plan and implement a project independently and as member of a team.

Content (course unit)

• How to utilize innovation in the context of entrepreneurship
• How to convert ideas to innovation?
• How to commercialize innovations?
• How to implement innovation management in start-up companies
• How to consult entrepreneurs on innovation

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2) (course unit)

The student is able to apply the concepts and theories of innovation into practice by carrying out simple consultation projects for startups or SME:s. Under supervision and with the support of a mentor, the student is able to accomplish the project and report the results to the customer. He/she can support a consultation project as member of a team.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4) (course unit)

The student is familiar with the concepts and theories of innovation and can utilize them in a practical small business case consultation project. He/she can independently and as a member of a group carry out consultation project for startups or SMEs. The student is able to plan, implement, and evaluate consultation projects and report the project results to the customer. He/she can contribute to the outcomes of a consultation project as a member of a team.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The student has in-depth understanding of the concepts and theories of innovation and he/she can utilise these concepts in a practical small business case consultation project. He/she can independently, or in a leading role in a team, carry out consultation projects for startups and SMEs. The student is able to plan, implement, and report the project to the customer. The student is able to reflect on his/hers own as well as team work process. He/she can facilitate, contribute and enhance the outcomes of a consultation project as a leading member of a team.

Location and time

The course starts September 15 at 14:15. The place will be announced later by email to enrolled students. This course runs parallel to Innovations and Business Management for a while.
Course ends on Dec. 15. There will be minimum of one coaching session per week, but every other week there's another session for student work and/or coaching. However, the students are expected to be present in all sessions marked in the timetable.

Exam schedules

No exam. Upgrading of the final grade must be discussed individually with the instructors. The grade will be based of teamwork and individual upgrading is difficult. Students are requested to take this into account in their work for the course.

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

The course is based on learning by doing and collaborative learningn. The students solve a real business problem using the tools and methods learned in the course Innovations and Business Management. Active participation in the weekly teamwork sessions is mandatory.

Learning materials

Literature from Innovations and Business Management -course

Student workload

10 credits x 27 hours = 270 hours of student work altogether.
Most of the work is done outside lectures in small teams. It is to be noted that the course requires approximately 20 hours of student work every week during the 3 months that the course is running.

Content scheduling

Teacher coaching sessions every week as per a schedule announced during the first class. Teams are expected to be present and able to work during the coaching sessions. Otherwise teams must plan their working scedule independently.

Completion alternatives

none

Practical training and working life cooperation

Student teams will work with a real business case solving a development problem. The teams are expected to take ownership of their project and be responsible of the communication with the case companies.

Further information

Teacher: Tuula Andersson (tuula.andersson@tuni.fi)