Universitat Internacional de Catalunya - Barcelona

Entrepreneurship

• code 10291
• course 4
• term Semester 1
• type op
• credits 6

Main language of instruction: English

Other languages of instruction: Spanish,

Head instructor

Lc. Luis Custodio JOVER - lcjover@uic.es

Office hours

By appointment and agreed upon between teacher and student

In a changing global environment such as the one in which we live, innovation and entrepreneurship are the main strategic option for the future, not forgetting that both go hand in hand: we can not create innovative companies because innovation is the main factor of competitiveness of companies New Creation. This course aims not only to promote the entrepreneurial spirit among the students but also to give the tools so that they themselves can turn their ideas into real projects. The subject is based on the knowledge learned during the degree and serves as preparation for the Final Grade Work: the creation of a business plan.

Teachers: Nina Magomedova and Luis Jover.

No pre-course requirements

After successfully completing the course, students will be able to: 

• Understand what features are required as an entrepreneur  

• Identify where ideas come 

• Understand the game rules for innovation and entrepreneurship

• Understand who are the "players" involved in the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem and how they relate to each other 

• Know how to use analytical tools to determine if an idea is also an opportunity, to understand its potential, to protect that idea in terms of intellectual property and to support decision-making  

• Learn to design business models 

• Learn how to analyze the feasibility of a business project 

• Learn how to prepare a business plan 

• Access funding sources and know the main factors needed to negociate in order to obtain capital 

• Understand that entrepreneurship is not limited to start-ups but also can be applied to established businesses as a means of detecting new growth opportunities

• 01 - To be familiar with, understand and apply the methods, techniques and instruments specific to accounting.
• 02 - To be familiar with and know how to interpret and apply current accounting standards.
• 04 - To understand and know how to use financial terms within a business framework.
• 05 - To understand the functions of corporate finance departments.
• 06 - To know how to apply the main policies for capital structure and asset management.
• 13 - To be familiar with and understand the terms and processes of company management.
• 14 - To be familiar with and understand the legal framework of trade law and be able to apply it in practical cases related to the business world.
• 24 - To be able to carry out a financial, social and historical analysis of the environment in which a company operates.
• 25 - To understand the commercial function of a company and its objectives.
• 26 - To comprehend and use the basic concepts of marketing and the main sectorial policies and understand the commercial environment in which these companies operate.
• 27 - To be able to read and understand literature on economic and business issues.
• 32 - To acquire problem solving skills based on quantitative and qualitative information.
• 33 - To be able to search for, interpret and convey information.
• 34 - To develop the ability to predict situations and anticipate events, as well as be able to recognise and interpret an economic situation within a specific context.
• 37 - To be able to apply managerial methods, tools and techniques.
• 38 - To be able to connect the main variables (both formal and informal) which influence human behaviour in an organisation.
• 39 - To acquire the ability to solve problems and make decisions based on relevant information, applying the appropriate methods and situating the problem within the organisation as a whole.
• 41 - To be able to descriptively summarise information.
• 48 - To be able to identify the information needs in order to manage the main departments within organisations.
• 50 - To acquire the ability to relate concepts, analyse and synthesise.
• 51 - To develop decision making skills.
• 52 - To develop interpersonal skills and the ability to work as part of a team.
• 53 - To acquire the skills necessary to learn autonomously.
• 56 - To be able to create arguments which are conducive to critical and self-critical thinking.
• 59 - To skilfully use software and ICTs.
• 63 - To be able to analyse business related behaviour and decisions and evaluate them from an economic, social and ethical point of view.
• 64 - To be able to plan and organise one's work.
• 65 - To acquire the ability to put knowledge into practice.
• 66 - To be able to retrieve and manage information.

After finishing the course the student will know:

1. The nature of the entrepreneurship
2. Check the feasibility of the entrepreneurial project
3. Techniques that help develop creativity
4. Financing tools available for entrepreneurs
5. How to develop the marketing plan to be able to produce, promote, distribute and sell a product in an effective way
6. Develop a robust business plan
7. The key factors of success and failure of other entrepreneurs
8. Legal forms of a company
9. Challenges of family businesses
10. Digital tools to develop a business idea

The English Group Syllabus is as follows:

1. The entrepreneur

• What is entrepreneurship
• What is an entrepreneur
• Traits of an entrepreneur
• Locus of Control
• Risks of entrepreneurship

2. Viability of the business

• Idea development and opportunity spotting
• Macro/Micro approach
• Research
• SWOT analysis

3. Ideas and Creativity

• Creativity - born, bred or learnt
• Lateral thinking and stimulating creativity

4. Financing the venture

• Equity, debt and formats of finance
• Own and family financing
• External fund raising and venture capital
• Angel investors

5. Marketing

• Product
• Price
• Place
• Promotion

6. Business Plan

• What is a business plan?
• Key components
• Canvas Model, SWOT Analysis, PEST Analysis
• Executive Summary
• Cashflow modelling
• Protecting your idea
• The 'elevator' pitch

7. Success and Failure

• Case studies
• Crawl out costs
• Handling success and failure

8. Starting the business

• Sole proprietorship, partnership, limited companies
• Starting a company
• Franchising
• Patents, trademarks and intellectual properties

9. Family Business

• What is a family business
• Family business & entrepreneurship
• Strengths and weaknesses of a family business
• Succession planning

10. Communication

• The message
• The audience
• Communication techniques
• Overcoming cultural and language barriers

The course will be based on a combination of theoretical and practical. The methodology of the sessions will be based on lectures, exercises, discussion of case studies, viewing videos, teamwork and tutorials. 

Students will design a business model based on an idea, conduct fieldwork and will contact potential customers, competitors and suppliers to validate the model. They should modify the model until it works, and defend it to the class at the end of the course. This exercise will be very useful to develop the Business Plan for the final degree project. 

The course will feature special guests who will come to share their experiences. Students are expected to participate in these sessions. 

The course requires individual study, classroom exercises, an exam at the end of the course and group work.

Indispensable conditions for being evaluated are handing in all assigned work and attendance to at least 70% of classes.

1/3 class participation 

1/3 corresponds to the following: 

• 1/2 Preparing a business plan in teams
• 1/2 Individual presentation of a case, whether a success or a failure 

1/3 exam: 

 • will consist of a multiple choice test 

• Book: Generación de modelos de negocio
• Book: Visionomics
• Book: Technology Ventures: From idea to enterprise
• Book: Los 7 hábitos de la gente altamente efectiva
• Book:  El método Lean Start-up
• Book:  Capitalismo 2.0 El poder del ciudadano para cambiar el mundo
• Book:  Emprender es posible
• Book: Emprender con éxito
• Book:  El Manual de las start-ups
• Book:  Emails a un joven emprendedor