Entrepreneur Within

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

136 hours

Entry to the Master of Entrepreneurship

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

The purpose of this subject is to help students develop the personal insights, ethical decision-making skills and interpersonal capabilities that will be critical to being a successful entrepreneur. The subject will look at four interrelated cognitive and emotional domains. First, self understanding, which will address where being an Entrepreneur fits into the student’s life/career; what strengths they bring; what the particular challenges will be for them and how to set up and use opportunities for reflective learning. Second, self management skills, which will focus on those which are especially important for entrepreneurs including: the resilience skills to handle pressure and failure, time and priority management skills, and the skills to manage success. Third, ethical decision making, which will explore a person’s values, different methods of making ethical decisions, the identification and management of cognitive biases and the application of ethical decision making skills to the type of concrete dilemma’s faced by entrepreneurs. Finally, skills to manage others and your network. Key elements addressed include: the insight into others needed to help build effective teams and how to manage team dynamics, approaches to influencing/motivating others, the mindsets and skills required for delegation and capabilities needed for effective leadership.

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• describe the development of personal skills and values;
• evaluate ethical issues in starting and growing an enterprise, understand the frameworks for ethical decision making and demonstrate an awareness of how cognitive bias and other aspects of cognition can distort good decision making;
• demonstrate the ability to manage self and others and the ability to handle themselves under pressure, give feedback, collaborate, network and delegate;
• demonstrate the capacity to reflect and learn in the context of entrepreneurial leadership.

• Reflective assignment on strengths, challenges and goals (500 words). Due end of February (10%)
• A reflective assignment at the end of each of the product/service development subject on “How am I managing myself, others and my network?” 3 in total (3x 500 words) (1500 words total). Due mid-March, mid-June & mid-November (30%, 3 x 10%)
• How do I make ethical decisions? – take home case study (1000 words). Due Week 3, Semester 1 (20%)
• How do I manage my blind spots and biases? – reflective assignment (500 words). Due Week 8, Semester 2 (10%)
• Narrative assignment on “Who am I as an entrepreneur?” (1500 words). Due Week 12, Semester 2 (30%)

You will be advised of the prescribed texts by your lecturer.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

High level of development:

• Develop problem-solving skills through tutorial exercises
• Develop creative ways of solving unfamiliar problems, through the tutorial exercise series
• Learn to adopt new ideas, from participation in the lecture program

Moderate level of development:

• Think critically, and organise knowledge, from consideration of the lecture material
• Plan effective work schedules, to meet the regular deadlines for submission of assessable work
• Present an argument, by reflecting on those presented in the lecture series.