University of Technology Sydney

81516 Initiatives and Entrepreneurship

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Creative Intelligence and Innovation: TD School
Credit points: 8 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 81515 Leading Innovation
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 94662 Fundamentals of Innovation

Description

This subject exposes students to the practices required to be 'entrepreneurial' in different professional contexts, ranging from tech- or social-start-ups, to intrapreneuring in public, private or third-sector organisations, and academic, arts and/or scientific contexts. This subject takes students on an entrepreneurial journey to develop impactful initiatives that provide value for different stakeholders (customers, the environment, the broader community, etc.) aligned with students' motivations, talents, and values. The journey includes creating and identifying opportunities, shaping initiatives, experimenting, communicating potential value to different stakeholders to gain feedback, and making decisions about whether to pivot, persevere or abandon entrepreneurial ideas. In this subject, students reflect on the role of entrepreneurial initiatives within broader social and economic systems, including considerations about ethics and impact.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Identify and evaluate entrepreneurship opportunities that create value for different stakeholders and align with specific social, cultural, economic and regulatory contexts.
2. Test the value and impact of an entrepreneurial idea through experimentation and engagement with stakeholders and experts.
3. Effectively communicate an entrepreneurial idea to diverse audiences and adapt your approach based on feedback.
4. Critically reflect upon entrepreneurial practices and issues and articulate your own position within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject contributes specifically to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes:

  • Develop reflexive connection with an evolving self, demonstrating ethical and intellectual positions that reflect well-considered values that enable greater purpose and inclusivity. (CII.4.1)
  • Critically reflect on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’s contexts across innovation and entrepreneurship to inform professional capability and practices to work effectively with and for Indigenous Australians. (CII.5.1)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

The subject provides opportunities for you to explore the complexity of entrepreneurial action in real-world contexts. In this subject, you will extend your capacity to create entrepreneurial opportunities using various methods, tools and approaches as part of a transdisciplinary team. You will further develop your skills in examining and evaluating the potential outcomes of your initiatives for stakeholders and the broader system. The subject will encourage you to develop innovative yet practical ideas within a broad ethical framework. You will have multiple opportunities to communicate and pitch your ideas to stakeholders and decision-makers.

Your experiences as a student in this subject support you in developing the following graduate attributes (GA):

• GA 2 Create value in problem-solving and enquiry
• GA 4 Imaginative and ethical citizenship
• GA 5 Entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial skills

Teaching and learning strategies

Learning will take place in a collaborative, immersive and experiential environment. Each student's entrepreneurial journey will be different. A key learning strategy is 'learning by doing', whereby each student will engage with an entrepreneurial initiative that they aspire to launch as a real enterprise or project, with learning occurring as they enact the entrepreneurial initiative. Students who discover their initiative does not have service/product/market fit or is otherwise unfeasible or undesirable will be encouraged to pivot at the point where this learning occurs.

Students will be encouraged to collaborate with stakeholders in an ethical way as they develop their initiatives. The learning is a form of 'situated learning', where students will inhabit a liminal space between the university and real-world industry contexts as they engage in entrepreneurial work.

The entrepreneurial journey is a process of experimentation, following an iterative trial-and-error approach. Formal and informal workshops and learning experiences will be facilitated to support students' learning. To immerse students in this experience, we provide a series of frameworks to support the learning journeys of individual students and teams to suit their individual needs.

UTS Staff, peers, and invited entrepreneurs and experts will continually give formative feedback as part of formal mutual learning sessions as students develop their initiatives.

Content (topics)

  • Alternative forms of entrepreneurship (e.g. social entrepreneurship, sustainable entrepreneurship)
  • Entrepreneurial antecedents and motivations
  • Value creation, value capture and value propositions
  • User segmentation and experience mapping
  • Entrepreneurial ecosystems
  • Strategy and enterprise model
  • Entrepreneurial finance
  • Social impact measurement
  • Entrepreneurial pitching

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Video pitch - Problem/Opportunity space

Intent:

A detailed assessment Brief outlining specific requirements for each assessment task will be available on Canvas. Ensure you consult these briefs before you undertake the assessment tasks.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 3 and 4

This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s):

.4, .6, CII.4.1 and CII.5.1

Type: Presentation
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 25%
Length:

60 second video

Assessment task 2: User and stakeholder insights

Intent:

A detailed assessment Brief outlining specific requirements for each assessment task will be available on Canvas. Ensure you consult these briefs before you undertake the assessment tasks.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 2, 3 and 4

This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s):

.2, .2, .3 and .4

Type: Report
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 35%
Length:

4 pages max

Assessment task 3: Group pitch, Response to questions + Pitch Deck

Intent:

A detailed assessment Brief outlining specific requirements for each assessment task will be available on Canvas. Ensure you consult these briefs before you undertake the assessment tasks.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 2 and 3

This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s):

.3, .4, .6 and CII.5.1

Type: Presentation
Groupwork: Group, group and individually assessed
Weight: 40%
Length:

6-minute Pitch + 5-minute Q&A + Pitch Deck

Minimum requirements

Students must attempt each assessment task and achieve an overall passing mark in order to pass this subject.

Late penalties apply to all assessment tasks as outlined in the TD School Student Guide. Please consult this booklet for other useful information including Special Consideration, Plagiarism, Extensions, and Student Support Services.

A minimum of 80% of attendance of classes (as outlined in the timetable) is required

Required texts

Recommended and required resources will be provided via UTS Canvas

Recommended texts

Recommended and required resources will be provided via UTS Canvas