General provisions

The course is given in Master's Programme in Business and Management - specialisation Entrepreneurship.

Entry requirements

Strategy and Contemporary Issues, 15 credits. A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university. Also required is 90 credits in business studies. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. As all teaching takes place in English, very good language skills in English are a necessity to be able to partake in the course.

For incoming exchange students an introductory course at Master's level from previous studies is required. Exceptions can be made from the requirement of 90 credits in business studies, provided that special reasons are considered to exist.

Learning outcomes

This course introduces the nature and processes of entrepreneurship in the early startup phase, allowing participants to experience and learn the tools, skills, and mindset of entrepreneurs. In the course, the participants learn to identify problems and shape opportunities by engaging their imagination and focusing on a lean, iterative entrepreneurial process. The course includes the development of an original business idea.

Having completed the course, participants will have deepened their understanding of ideation, opportunity development, and startup processes. From a practical point of view, participants will be able to:

• identify and shape new business opportunities,
• engage creatively and collaboratively with ideas and conceptual tools,
• design sustainable business models,
• engage in business model validation and iteration,
• analyse the viability of new business opportunities,
• make financial forecasts for the development of new business ventures,
• create a pitch-deck,
• pitch opportunities.

Content

The course includes topics related to the early startup process with particular emphasis on engaging in ongoing business modeling and communicating of business ideas. The main contents and core issues include entrepreneurial processes, business models and sustainable business models, lean start-up, validation, opportunity development, effectual/causational decision making, and financial analysis and forecasting.

Instruction

The teaching format of the course is designed to be interactive and experience-based, with the support of lectures, seminars, and presentations. Project work is conducted in small groups, except in special circumstances. Teaching may also involve activities such as guest lectures and field trips on the core topics of the course. All teaching and mentoring activities end after the conclusion of the course. The course is taught in English. The course contains several compulsory lectures.

Assessment

The student will get one single grade, equivalent to 7.5 credits.

The course is examined by submission of course assignments and an individual oral and written exam. The final grade of the course is determined after taking into account the different parts of the examination. The following grades will be used: Pass with distinction (VG), Pass (G), and Fail (U). Grading criteria are presented in the course guide provided at the start of the course. 

Assignments performed or handed in late will not be graded except in special circumstances. In addition, any remaining assignments and supplements must be completed and handed in by the deadline specified in the course guide, otherwise the entire course (all assignments included) must be retaken during subsequent course sections.

If there are special reasons, the examiner may make exceptions to the specified examination method and allow a student to be examined in another way. For example, special reasons may be given for special educational support from the university coordinator.

Uppsala University does not accept cheating or plagiarism. Suspected incidents of cheating or plagiarism are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, who may issue a formal warning to the student or suspend the student from studies for a certain period.

NOTE: Only completed courses can count toward a degree.

Other regulations

This course substitutes/overlaps Developing Opportunities 2FE883, Opportunity Recognition and Development 2FE884.