Module Code - Title:
EP4007
-
ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT AND GROWTH
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
How best to scale up and expand the small enterprise into international markets are key managerial challenges facing the owner-manager and if not accomplished effectively can lead to the demise of a potentially successful business. When managed successfully, it provides interesting, creative, and rewarding experiences for the owner-manager. In the small enterprise context there is a constant pressure to create and sustain a competitive advantage and to achieve this, the owner-manager needs to become sophisticated in their management practices and strategic thinking. This requires the owner-manager to move from the "entrepreneurial" to "professional" manager and leadership roles. This module will provide students with a strong theoretical knowledge of the challenges of managing a new and growing enterprise with an international perspective and will develop their skills and competencies to apply and integrate this knowledge to the realities of small enterprises.
Syllabus:
The aim of the module is to provide students with an understanding of components of management and the process of strategy development to achieve firm growth and the creation of a competitive advantage in international markets. The module will develop a critical awareness and a detailed understanding of the challenges facing the entrepreneur/owner manager as they manage and grow their enterprise. The content will explore a range of classical and contemporary theories around enterprise management and the challenges and difficulties in implementing these in the growing enterprise. It will provide students with an understanding of the components of and the process of strategy development, implementation and evaluation by reviewing the various growth strategies available to the owner-manager to achieve international growth.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
• Identify and critically engage with the primary managerial and leadership roles and functions that impact on successful growth and internationalisation of a small enterprise.
• Demonstrate how the characteristics of entrepreneurial management can affect the strategy for managing the new or growing enterprise
• Assess the key aspects of strategy formulation and implementation and evaluation as they applies to small firm growth and internationalisation
• Determine how to achieve optimum benefits from the limited resources available to small firms, as well as how to plan for international growth
• Analyse the international competitive business environment to determine, analyse and assess business growth opportunities
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
• Evaluate trends and new thinking in growth management strategies for both domestic and international markets
• Reflect on their own level of managerial skills and competencies, analytical and critical thinking and leadership skills
• Recognise the importance of teamwork and managing people and time resources to achieve results
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
While conveying current research and theory, Small Business Management and Strategic thinking the lectures will take a pragmatic "how-to" perspective illustrating many practical examples and applications from the world of the small enterprise and develop the attributes of knowledge, proactivity, creativity, collaboration and communication in students. Guest practitioner speakers will be used to provide insights into the management styles and practices adopted in small firms. Government agency representatives will provide presentations on goverment supports available to small firms for capability and competency development. Tutorials will serve as important workshops for interactive discussions, role playing exercises, case study analysis and presentations.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Byrd, Mary Jane and Megginson, Leon (2012)
Small Business Management: An Entrepreneur's Guidebook,
, McGraw Hill, London
Gray, Thomas (2014)
Business Techniques for Growth
, H Gray Incorporated , USA
Other Relevant Texts:
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
BBBUSTUFA - BUSINESS STUDIES
BEBIENUFA - BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
BEAEENUFA - AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING
BECAEDUFA - Computer Aided Engineering and Design
BEELENUPA - Electronic Engineering
BSEQSCUFA - EQUINE SCIENCE
BEMAENUFA - Manufacturing Engineering
BEMEENUFA - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Autumn
Module Leader:
yvonne.costin@ul.ie