The seventh session began with a lecture on the role of enterprise in general and more specifically of the role that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play the economy. Students received key
definitions and the class discussed issues stemming from UK governmental policy
initiatives created to support
businesses. The discussion highlighted the 2011 UK Plan for Growth. The lecture then moved on to discuss the ‘startup generation,’ specifically the
changing views and opinions that young people display towards starting up a
business.
The session then turned its focus inward to the
second assessment. The requirements of the second assessment were discussed and
the lecturer underscored the different challenges that students may encounter
while working with larger groups (as compared to the first assessment) and some
strategies for groups organization, including the Belbin Team Roles model. The class was asked to consider what tasks would be involved in the assignment
and to find a way to identify the preferences and abilities of the group members
as to allocate the tasks to individuals with the respective preferences and skill
sets. For the remainder of the session, the class divided into their groups for
the second assignment to apply the principles covered during the
lecture to their group.
One of the key aims of the session was for the students to
understand the role of enterprise and SMEs in the economy and the role the
government plays in the process. The other key aim was to ensure students
understood the second assessment and to impart strategies for the students to
apply when organizing themselves as a group and undertaking the activity
associated with the second assessment.
The second assessment will see the students organizing and managing a theme night for students at the University of Worcester. The groups will compose a business plan that will detail the management, marketing, and financing of the theme night, as well as the resources necessary to carry it out. They will then enact the plan to run a successful event, for which they will work collaboratively with the University’s Student Union.
The second assessment will see the students organizing and managing a theme night for students at the University of Worcester. The groups will compose a business plan that will detail the management, marketing, and financing of the theme night, as well as the resources necessary to carry it out. They will then enact the plan to run a successful event, for which they will work collaboratively with the University’s Student Union.
