Qualification - Pearson BTEC Level 4 Higher National Certificate and Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Business management
Unit 9 (T/508/0495) - Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
Assignment Title - Entrepreneurial Ventures and exploration of the Entrepreneurial Mindset
Learning Outcomes:
LO1 Explore and illustrate the range of venture types that might be considered entrepreneurial.
LO2 Assess the impact of small businesses on the economy.
ASSIGNMENT BRIEF AND GUIDANCE
Scenario
You currently work as intern for a consultancy firm [named organisation/an organisation of your choice - your own place of work if appropriate], that provides advice and market intelligence to small businesses and entrepreneurs. As part of updating the new website you have been tasked with investigating different types of ventures and their impact upon the economy to put on a webpage. This is a mini research project that is based on a range of different examples, one of which should be a local business.
Task 1
You should choose one example of each type of entrepreneurship, at least one of which should be a local business. You must explore and compare different environments for each of your examples and evaluate their impact and importance on the economy at different levels. Make sure your work shows a critical examination to the scope, development and growth of entrepreneurial ventures.
You should include data and statistics to support your findings. Primary research could be conducted for your choice of local business. Primary research may include the use of interviews, existing videos or questionnaires completed by practicing entrepreneurs. While working on this research ensure to see that you evaluate the differences between small, medium and large business and the contribution they make to the different levels of the economy (local, regional, national) economy by applying relevant data and statistics.
Submission Format
The submission is in the form of an individual written report. This should be written in a concise, formal business style using double line spacing and font size 12. You are required to make use of headings, paragraphs and subsections as appropriate, and all work must be supported with research and referenced using the Harvard referencing system. Please also provide a bibliography using the Harvard referencing system. The recommended word limit is 1,000-1,500 words, although you will not be penalised for exceeding the total word limit.
Second Section
LO3 Determine and assess the key aspects of an entrepreneurial mindset.
LO4 Examine the different environments that foster or hinder entrepreneurship
Scenario and activity:
Continuing from Assignment 1, in your role as an intern at the consultancy firm [named organisation/an organisation of your choice - your own place of work if appropriate] you have been asked to present as a keynote speaker at the annual Business Start-up Show in London. You are to present on 'The Mindset of the Entrepreneur'. Your presentation will be 10 minutes and will include the following:
» Specific examples of entrepreneurs to illustrate the scope of entrepreneurship covering one local entrepreneur, one global entrepreneur and one social enterprise.
» Exploration of their situational factors, similarities and differences.
» Discussion on their shared entrepreneurial traits and characteristics. Ensure to see that you are able to differentiate them form other business managers.
» Analysis of how background and experiences can either hinder or foster entrepreneurship, providing specific examples to support your line of argument.
» Conclusions that are drawn from comparing the different entrepreneurs, their backgrounds and experience and the extent to which it has influenced them. Ensure to see that you can analyse the characteristic traits, skills and motivational drivers of successful entrepreneurs, supported by specific examples.
Submission format
The submission is in the form of a 10-minute individual PowerPoint presentation and 5 minutes allocated for questions. The presentation slides and speaker notes should be submitted as one copy. You are required to make effective use of PowerPoint headings, paragraphs and subsections as appropriate. Your research should be referenced using the Harvard referencing system. Please also provide a bibliography using the Harvard referencing system. The recommended word limit is 1,000-1,500 words, including speaker notes, although you will not be penalised for exceeding the total word limit.
General guidance
For higher grading you are required to consider developing your answers further based on the given learning outcomes and assessment criteria given at the end of the assessment brief. Across the report you are required to provide various examples to enhance the credibility, currency and depth of the answer. You are also required to support your answer by academic and professional sources as well as statistics when relevant. Harvard referencing to be followed in this task (Citations and reference list) should be provided.
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Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria
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Pass
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Merit
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Distinction
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LO1 Explore and illustrate the range of venture types that might be considered entrepreneurial
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D1 Critically examine the scope, development and growth of entrepreneurial ventures.
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P1 Examine different types of entrepreneurial ventures and explain how they relate to the typology of entrepreneurship.
P2 Explore the similarities and differences between entrepreneurial ventures.
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M1 Investigate a diverse range of entrepreneurial ventures to demonstrate an understanding of entrepreneurship in both the public and corporate sector.
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LO2 Assess the impact of small businesses on the economy
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D2 Critically examine how small businesses have an impact on different levels of the economy (local, regional, national) and in an international context.
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P3 Interpret and assess relevant data and statistics to illustrate how micro and small businesses impact on the economy.
P4 Explain the importance of small businesses and business start-ups to the growth of the social economy.
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M2 Evaluate the differences small, medium and large businesses make to the economy, applying relevant data and statistics.
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LO3 Determine and assess the key aspects of an entrepreneurial mindset
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D3 Analyse the characteristic traits, skills and motivational drivers of successful entrepreneurs, supported by specific examples.
D4 Critically evaluate how background and experience influences entrepreneurs, both positively and negatively, by comparing and contrasting examples.
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P5 Determine the characteristic traits and skills of successful entrepreneurs that differentiate them from other business managers.
P6 Assess how aspects of the entrepreneurial personality reflect entrepreneurial motivation and mindset.
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M3 Explore and examine different lines of argument relating to entrepreneurial characteristics.
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LO4 Examine the different environments that foster or hinder entrepreneurship
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P7 Examine, using relevant examples, how background and experience can hinder or foster entrepreneurship.
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M4 Analyse the link between entrepreneurial characteristics and the influence of personal background and experience to specific successful entrepreneurs.
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