BE956-7-PS-SO:
Comprehensive Business Plan
2023/24
Essex Business School
Southend Campus
Spring & Summer
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 28 June 2024
60
08 November 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MSC N10012 Entrepreneurship and Innovation,
MSC N10018 Entrepreneurship and Innovation,
MSC N10024 Entrepreneurship and Innovation,
MSC N100MO Entrepreneurship and Innovation,
MSC N20912 Global Project Management,
MSC N20924 Global Project Management,
MSC N209MO Global Project Management
Students studying this module will have the opportunity to develop a business plan to start a new business operation, to expand an existing business operation, to raise finance, generate new market opportunities and/or implement other business goals.
Using a range of analytical models, students will be able to assess macro and micro environmental factors, and develop sound managerial decisions for business growth.
The aims of this module are:
- To give students an opportunity to manage a research project from beginning to end under the guidance of an individual supervisor.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate evidence of a thorough and comprehensive understanding of relevant literature in the field of management science and entrepreneurship.
- Locate and read relevant literature and produce summaries and critical analysis of the relevant literature.
- Demonstrate critical thinking involving the consideration of alternative approaches and research methods.
- Apply an appropriate design methodology to achieve aims and objectives of research project.
- Use Gantt charts and time management techniques to plan and manage a research project.
- Record plans, ideas, results, and reflections in a written journal.
- Work as an individual to specify and design research project under the guidance of a supervisor.
- Demonstrate written communication and analytical skills though the writing of the interim report and reflective journal, and final project report.
- Discuss ideas informally with academic supervisors.
An effective business plan will successfully map out key details of the business venture that the entrepreneur and managers can refer to throughout the businesses development, and evoke the confidence and attention of potential financiers.
Students will be expected to draw on appropriate literature to construct a research framework and theoretical context, explain the logic of research methodology, the rationale for data collection and analysis and draw relevant empirical findings.
To develop their own dissertations/plans, students will employ the theory and practical skills learnt in Research Methods modules. They will use as appropriate for their project: quantitative research methods (i.e. linear regression analysis); qualitative research design (i.e. case study, in-depth interviews) or a mixed methods approach. They will demonstrate the ability to collect and use primary or secondary data and analyse these to address their proposed research questions.
No information available.
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Saunders, M.N.K., Lewis, P. and Thornhil, A. (2023)
Research methods for business students. Ninth edition. Harlow, England: Pearson. Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/2329759.
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Blumberg, B., Cooper, D.R. and Schindler, P.S. (2014)
Business research methods. Fourth edition. London: McGraw-Hill Education. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?pq-origsite=primo&docID=6212393.
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Charles A. Scherbaum and Kristen M. Shockley (2015)
Analysing quantitative data for business and management students. Los Angeles: SAGE. Available at:
https://methods-sagepub-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/book/analysing-quantitative-data-for-business-and-management-students.
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Jean-Claude Usunier, Hester van Herk and Julie Anne Lee (2017)
International & cross-cultural business research. Los Angeles: SAGE. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5942905.
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Matthew B. Miles, A. Michael Huberman and Johnny SaldaƱa (2019)
Qualitative data analysis: a methods sourcebook. 4th edition. Los Angeles, California: Angeles. Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/649691.
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John Duignan (2014)
Quantitative methods for business research: using Microsoft Excel. Australia: Cengage Learning. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5132697.
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Kawasaki, G. (2015)
The art of the start 2.0?: the time-tested, battle-hardened guide for anyone starting anything. Revised and updated edition. UK: Portfolio Penguin. Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/617067.
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Barrow, Colin; Barrow, Paul, 1948-; Brown, Robert, 1937- (2018)
The business plan workbook?: a step-by-step guide to creating and developing a successful business. Ninth edition. London: KoganPage. Available at:
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1690590&site=ehost-live.
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Joseph Covello and Brian Hazelgren (2006)
The complete book of business plans?: simple steps to writing powerful business plans. 2nd ed. Naperville, Ill.: Sourcebooks. Available at:
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=252037.
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Brian R. Ford, Jay M. Bornstein and Patrick T. Pruitt (2007)
The Ernst & Young business plan guide. 3rd ed. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley. Available at:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=706407.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Coursework |
Comprehensive Business Plan |
11/09/2024 |
100% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
100 per cent Coursework Mark
Reassessment
100 per cent Coursework Mark
Module supervisor and teaching staff
No
No
No
Dr Ping Zheng
Canterbury Christ Church University
Available via Moodle
Of 18 hours, 18 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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