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Thompson Rivers University
Thompson Rivers University

BUSN 6311: Innovation and Entrepreneurship

NOTE: For registration please contact Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics General Program Inquiries (Email: mba@tru.ca or Tel: 1-877-663-4087).

Students acquire the knowledge and skills needed to manage the development of innovations, to recognize and evaluate potential opportunities to monetize these innovations, to plan specific and detailed methods to exploit these opportunities, and to acquire the resources necessary to implement these plans. Topics include entrepreneurial thinking; innovation management; opportunity spotting and evaluation; industry and market research; business strategy; business models and business plans; financial forecasting and entrepreneurial finance; pitching to resource providers and negotiating deals; and launching new ventures.

Learning outcomes

  • Think critically and creatively about the nature of business opportunities, resources, and industries.
  • Describe the processes by which innovation is fostered, managed, and commercialized.
  • Spot new business opportunities in the environment, whether by recognition, development, or creation.
  • Effectively and efficiently evaluate the potential of new business opportunities.
  • Assess the market potential for a new venture, including customer need, competitors, and industry attractiveness.
  • Develop a business model for a new venture, including revenue, margins, operations, working capital, and investment.
  • Develop pro forma financial statements that reflect business model decisions and that can be used to determine future funding requirements.
  • Write a clear, concise, and compelling business plan for a new venture.
  • Identify appropriate sources of financing for an entrepreneurial business plan.
  • Develop a compelling sales pitch to acquire financing necessary to a new venture.
  • Explain the operational implications of common terms and conditions for early-stage investment deals.
  • Describe the process by which new ventures are created and launched.

Course topics

  • Module 1: Entrepreneurial Thinking
  • Module 2: Innovation Management
  • Module 3: Opportunity Spotting
  • Module 4: Opportunity Evaluation
  • Module 5: Industry and Market Research
  • Module 6: Strategy and Business Models
  • Module 7: Financial Forecasting
  • Module 8: Business Plans
  • Module 9: Entrepreneurial Finance
  • Module 10: Pitching to Resource Providers
  • Module 11: Negotiating Deals
  • Module 12: New Venture Creation

Required text and materials

Online students are responsible for sourcing and ordering their own textbooks. Please see the list of required textbooks here: https://www.tru.ca/distance/courses/MBA_Textbook_List.pdf.

Please note that publishers may offer several package options that include additional resource material not required in your course. You may purchase a package of your choice as long as it includes the correct author, title and edition listed for your course.

If you have any questions about obtaining the correct textbook, please contact OLMaterials@tru.ca. They will be happy to assist you.

Assessments

Please be aware that should your course have a final exam, you are responsible for the fee to the online proctoring service, ProctorU, or to the in-person approved Testing Centre. Please contact exams@tru.ca with any questions about this.

To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 70% or higher on the overall course, and 50% or higher on the final mandatory examination.

Assignment 1: Business Plan Part A 15%
Discussions 1-3 5%
Assignment 2: Business Plan Part B 35%
Discussions 4-6 5%
Final Exam (mandatory) 40%
Total 100%

Open Learning Faculty Member Information

An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students. Students will receive the necessary contact information at the start of the course.

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