1996 Swinburne Higher Education Handbook

people and resources becomes a major concern. There is an
exponential increase in requirements for communication,
organisation, direction, supervision and coordination of the
expanding human and physical resources. This subject draws
more deeply on the theories and principles of organisational
behaviour (first encountered in the subject 'The
Entrepreneurial Organisation') and uses them to solve case
studies and problems (Australian and international) in growth
situations. The emphasis is on managing growth through all
stages of business development. The subject includes a
treatment of major ethical issues as they apply to
entrepreneurship and the development of new organisations.
EF923 Growth Venture Evaluation
3 hours per week equivalent City Prerequisite: EF811
New Venture Financial Planning Assessment: a
combination of personal assignments, group assignments, class
participation and/or exam
A subject in the Master of Enterprise Innovation.
Objectives and Content
This is a case based subject which provides students with the
ability to apply their knowledge of financial principles
(gained in EF811) to analysis and decision making in vital,
practical areas which affect the financing and management of
entrepreneurial ventures. As members of a team, students
conduct a project which evaluates an actual business plan
from the perspective of a venture capitalist. As an individual,
each student writes and orally defends analyses of ten
sophisticated Australian and international case studies
covering key topics in the field of growth venture evaluation
and financing entrepreneurial ventures.
Textbook
Stevenson, H.H. Roberts, M.J. and Grousbeck, H.I. New Business
Ventures and The Entrepreneur. 3rd edn, Homewood, Ill., Irwin,
1989
Recommended reading
Davie, R.S. and Stamm, WJ. Australian Case Studies. 1990 Golis,
C.C. Enterprise and Venture Capital: A Business Builders' and
Inwstors'Handbook. 2nd edn, St Leonards, N.S.W., Allen &
Unwin, 1993
EF924 Advanced Business Plan
40 hours per year City Prerequisites: All year 1 & 2 ME1
subjects Assessment: a combination of personal assignments,
group assignments, class participation and/or exam
A subject in the Master of Enterprise Innovation
Objectives and Content
This subject requires students in supervised teams, to write
their second
business plan. They draw on the experience of their first
effort in EF814 and the growing sophistication in
entrepreneurial management acquired over many subjects.
They produce a business plan of a calibre high enough to
meet the due diligence standards of an investment analyst
operating in an internationally established venture capital
company.
Recommended reading
Timmons, J A, New Venture Creation: Entrepreneursht;b in the
1990's, 4th edn, Irwin, Boston, 1994
EF934 Entrepreneurial Research Project
40 hours per year City Prerequisites: All year 2 MEI
subjects Assessment: a combination ofpersonal assignments,
group assignments, class participation and/or exam
A subject in the Master of Enterprise Innovation
Objectives and content
The concept here is that of the 'mini-thesis'. Each student is
required to demonstrate his or her research capabilities by
advancing knowledge of a selected aspect of Australia's or
the international entrepreneurial environment. After topic
selection and approval, a student's short thesis is developed
to masters level standards of academic rigour and etiquette.
The topic possibilities are as wide as a student's varied
expertise and interests. Class time is based on sharing the
varied research problems and solutions which students
experience as their theses progress, and discussion of
research methodologies appropriate to entrepreneurial
studies.
Textbooks
Neuman, W.L. Social Research Methods, Qualitative and
Quantitative Approaches, Boston, Allyn and Bacon, 1991
Van Wagenen, R.K. Writing a Thesis, Substance and Style,
Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice Hall, 1991
Recommended reading
Emory, W.C. and Cooper, D.R. Business Research Methods, 4th
edn, Homewood, Ill., Irwin, 1991
Hindle, K. Entrepreneurship: A Concise Technical Definition,
Innovation and Entrepreneuship Research Monographs. Swinburne
University of Technology, School of Innovation and Enterprise,
No. 91-07-01, Hawthorn, Vic., Swinburne Press, 1991
EF936 Opportunity Evaluation Techniques
3 hours per week equivalent City Prerequisite: Nil
Assessment: a combination of personal assignments, group
assignments, class participation and/or exam
A first year subject in the Innovation and Enterprise suite of
programs
Objectives and content
What is a feasible opportunity? Many individuals and
companies fail to realise that available opportunities are only
made feasible by systematic application of appropriate
methods, skills and resources. This subject takes students
through a 'screening guide' developed from international
and Australian models. How does an entrepreneur recognise
the 'quality' aspects of a successful venture, the team, the
market, the financial issues, competitor response and tactics?
Are there any fatal flaws, strengths, weaknesses, threats and
opportunities for the proposed venture? Students
simultaneously learn to understand and operate basic
accounting procedures; of double entry book-keeping They
execute a 'practice set of books', working from initial
transactions through to production of integrated financial
statements. Thev learn some im~onant distinctions between
accounting for merchandising and manufacturing entities,