MMM52ENT-Applied Challenge

Module Provider: Leadership, Organisations and Behaviour
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring / Summer term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Mr Keith Heron
Email: keith.heron@henley.reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This is an opportunity for students to visit or virtually visit a particular country, or UK region, to engage with start-up entrepreneurs and business organisations to explore business development issues and provide a consultancy investigation and analysis to help these start-ups and organisations with possible business solutions.

It is possible, with regard to the Covid-19 situation, that this module will be delivered in a virtual format. However, this is still a dynamic experience involving real entrepreneurs and their projects and partner institution students and if it is in virtual mode there will be a real life enhancement involving direct interaction with business stakeholders

The chosen country partner’s institutions play a key role in setting up the itinerary and hosting the visit. Students will work in multinational teams for 5 continuous working days to develop international capabilities, deeper appreciation of applied business, and build their global network.

Aims:

The module aims to provide students with an opportunity to:

 

- develop a broad understanding of the structure of business environment in a particular country (or UK region), which may include the roles of government and nongovernmental organizations;

- understand the changes occurring in the economy, business structure, and politics of a country/region and the impact of these changes on the business environment;

- advance multicultural understandings, and developing cross-cultural competencies;

- enrich and deepen in a timely manner the structured curriculum of a MSc programme with an element of international experience;

- develop team working and inter-personal skills and practice consultancy investigation capabilities and communicate these in oral, virtual and written communication modes.

 

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module students should have demonstrated an ability to:

-enhance their multicultural and international competence in a particular country/region;

-demonstrate skills in critical and multicultural thinking for practice to support their educational experiences as well as to support business practice in a global world;

explain the relationships between possible economic, fiscal, political and technological variables, factors and conditions affecting business operations and the behaviour of entrepreneurs and companies in a particular country/region;

-demonstrate a knowledge of the strategies involved in starting and doing business in a particular country/region;

-demonstrate team-working and inter-personal skills and practice consultancy investigation capabilities and communicate these in oral, virtual and written communication modes.

Additional outcomes:

Students will master the ability to discuss and influence progressive ideas for action towards issues of business, managerial capabilities, human resources development in a context of a particular country and its entrepreneurs. In addition, students will also develop generic skills for accessing and developing ongoing appreciation of issues related to an international context.

Outline content:

Spring term or exam period classes will introduce students to general knowledge relevant to the international applied challenge.

-The detailed programme of the time abroad/in a region will be provided to the students in Spring term prior the visit.;

-Students will have to sign a letter, stipulating some formalities in respect to the module, namely study tasks during the time in a particular country, conditions of confidentiality of information, which they may have access in relation to the Company or its clients or staff (related to the company visits), the obligations outlined above extend to information contained in any documents, reports, spreadsheets or other materials produced by students regarding the placement in support of the module; data protection. 

Global context:

The module is specifically designed to ensure that students have an opportunity to broaden and enrich their global perspective by studying and interacting with local firms/start-ups/organisations within a different international context.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		2	5
Practicals classes and workshops			30
Guided independent study:
Group study tasks			63
Total hours by term	0	2	98
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Report	70
Oral assessment and presentation	30

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

1) Group Case Study Presentation during study visit.

Feedback will be given both from the academics and the peer community of learners.

This counts 30% of the overall mark.

Presentation: Final day of Study Visit (Summer)

 

2) An individual written reflective report (1200 words) which counts 70% of the overall mark.  

Submission: study visit + 1 week. 

Formative assessment methods:

Student teams will interact with students or entrepreneurs from the study visit location and establish connections for transmitting and receiving information. The formative feedback will be in the context of supervised time in workshop while teams will be preparing their work. The formative feedback will also enable students to reflectively adapt their group presentation to their individual report. These are the two assessed components in this module.

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy “Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes”, which can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

A weighted average of 50% or more required.

Reassessment arrangements:

An individual project (2,000 words) (capped at 50 percent).

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

 

For international travel, each student will cover their visa and personal costs for subsistence during most of the time in the foreign study visit location.

Not applicable if delivered in Virtual mode.

All other costs are to be covered by the programme and module budget, special funds, and the overseas host. We estimate costs for subsistence are no more than 40 £ per day X 6 days. Flights and accommodation with breakfast is included in the costs covered by the University.

In the event that the module is conducted in virtual mode, no refund will be granted since the Business School still incurs considerable administration costs for international partners and mentor/coaches. A small residual budget will then be allocated to a short enhancement visit, if travel conditions and/or Covid conditions allow.

Last updated: 30 March 2023