ASB3104 ENTREPRENEURSHIP, CAPITAL AND THE FIRM

MODULE DESCRIPTION
Entrepreneurs and small firms are the lifeblood of an economy, and make an
increasing contribution to innovation, wealth creation and employment. This module
will provide a detailed insight into the concepts of entrepreneurship and the role of
small firms within the economy.
Module Objectives
The module provides an insight into entrepreneurship and small business
development. It provides the student with both a theoretical background and practical
relevance of entrepreneurship and small business management. More specifically, the
course aims to:

identify the characteristics of entrepreneurs and appreciate the different types of

entrepreneur that can exist and their role in society

understand the importance of creativity, innovation and leadership in developing

entrepreneurial organisations and how entrepreneurship can be developed within
large organisations

introduce the concept of the small business by examining how such organisations
are defined according to quantitative, qualitative, operational and legal differences

consider the impact of self-employment, understand the important contribution of

small firms to the economy, and anticipate trends which will affect the small firm
sector during the next decade

identify the general patterns of small firm development and consider the regional
and national factors that influencing these

understand the extensive network of support available to the small firm sector, and
to appreciate the role of a number of stakeholders, including public sector
(government, enterprise agencies, local government, training and enterprise
councils), the private sector (private service providers, banks, and venture
capitalists) and the voluntary sector

Learning Outcomes
The module provides an insight into entrepreneurship and small business
development. On successful completion of this module, the student will be able to:

understand the main characteristics that make up the entrepreneur within large and
small firms and the influence of leadership and creativity on the development of
entrepreneurship

identify the differences that exists between different groups such as women,
family and ethnic enterprises

define a small business in both qualitative and quantitative terms, recognise the
strengths and weaknesses associated with the management of a small business and
identify the different legal forms of small business

appreciate the different contributions that the self-employed and small firms have
made to a wide variety of economies throughout the world and begin to assess the
different economic and demographic changes that will affect the growth of small
businesses over the next decade

appreciate the government's influence on the general business and regulatory

environment affecting a small business within a developed

understand the different forms of support mechanisms that are utilised to help
small firms and the role of different actors in this process

Main reading
Kirby, D. (2002) Entrepreneurship, McGraw
Hill
ISBN: 0077098587

Burns, Paul (2016) Entrepreneurship and

Small Business Palgrave Macmillan

Secondary reading
Carter, S. and Jones-Evans, D. (2012) Enterprise
and Small Business, Principles, Practice and
Policy. Pearson education, paperback.

Articles in the Journal of Business Venturing

Policy Research Reports