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Unit outline_

ENGD3001: Technological Innovation through New Ventures

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This course is designed to provide students with the challenging experience of transforming a good idea, of their own choosing, into a commercial reality. It provides the opportunity for students to assess and develop their entrepreneurial skills. It develops the key competencies of opportunity identification, creativity, vision, ideas assessment, self-awareness, motivation, mobilising resources, financial and economic literacy, planning and management, coping with uncertainty and the pursuit of learning through experience.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
must be in the Dalyell stream
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Ehssan Sakhaee, ehssan.sakhaee@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Ben Lindsay, benjamin.lindsay@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Online task Tutorial Presentations & Activities
presentations and activities in tutorials.
5% Multiple weeks 30 seconds/engagement in activities
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO3 LO2
Presentation Weekly Team Updates
check in by tutor
5% Multiple weeks 1-2 mins
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO8 LO5
Assignment Weekly Discussion Posts
Submit a post by Wednesday and response to another member by Sunday (1%)
10% Multiple weeks 100-200 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7
Assignment Reflection Report
Reflection on all your learning throughout the journey.
15% STUVAC 2000 - 3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO10 LO9 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Presentation Individual pitch
30-second pitch of a problem you have identified.
5% Week 03 30 seconds
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO3 LO2
Assignment Tech Startup Research
research a tech startup that offers a product or service.
10% Week 04 2000-2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Assignment group assignment Business Model Canvas
submit your business model canvas on the BMC template.
5% Week 07 1 page
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4
Assignment group assignment Business Plan
30% Week 12 30-50pages
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO5
Presentation group assignment Final Pitch
Final pitch to class (in tutorial)
15% Week 12 3minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Proposal: Project Proposal identifying and evaluation three viable possible projects
  • Essay: Written case study of business planning
  • Project Report 1 – Draft Business Plan
  • Presentation/Seminar: Group presentation of their business plan
  • Report: An individual report, which describes the major stages in the project development, analyses the major issues in team development and effective operation and reflects upon what was learned at an individual and group level

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to Entrepreneurship Lecture (1 hr) LO6 LO7 LO9
failure resume pitch + activities Workshop (2 hr) LO7 LO9
Week 02 From Problems to Innovation, The Rise & Fall of Startups & Companies Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO6
problem identification and their root causes Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 03 Ideation and Design Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO10
Pitching identified problems, investing, and team formation around top problems. Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 04 Entrepreneurial Teams Lecture (1 hr) LO7 LO8
Teamwork and innovation Workshop (2 hr) LO3 LO7 LO9
Week 05 Design Thinking Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO6
Develop and refine your business model Workshop (2 hr) LO4 LO8
Week 06 Financial planning Lecture (1 hr) LO4 LO6
Develop and refine your marketing plan Workshop (2 hr) LO4
Week 07 Exploration of financial planning issues Workshop (2 hr) LO4
Sales & Marketing Lecture (1 hr) LO3 LO6
Week 08 Presentation by a guest lecturer from the VC industry Lecture (1 hr) LO6
Guest Session Workshop (2 hr) LO6
Week 09 Intellectual Property and Legal Matters Lecture (1 hr) LO6
Business plan preparation Workshop (2 hr) LO4 LO6
Week 10 Guest Session Lecture (1 hr) LO6
Preparing your presentation Workshop (2 hr) LO6
Week 11 Guest Session Lecture (1 hr) LO6
Final Pitches Workshop (2 hr) LO6
What Next : taking your ideas and projects to the next level Lecture (1 hr) LO5
Developing the final business plan Workshop (2 hr) LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 12 Reflection on Learning & Reflection Report Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. identify and analyse complex, non-linear problems and develop possible solutions where data are limited and the principal variable is people.
  • LO2. develop a systems / holistic perspective of problems to understand root causes of problems and possible solutions to address root causes.
  • LO3. demonstrate enhanced communication skills, including presentation, engagement and microphone techniques, particularly to a large public audience
  • LO4. demonstrate a well-developed understanding of the process of business planning
  • LO5. demonstrate enhanceded leadership, project management, and teamwork skills.
  • LO6. understand the process of innovation, entrepreneurship and startups and how to apply it.
  • LO7. become increasingly more comfortable with failure and uncertainty, and identifying and developing an "entrepreneurial mindset".
  • LO8. work in a team and overcome the various interpersonal challenges involved in working with others.
  • LO9. lead self around the various mental challenges faced in an entrepreneurial journey : uncertainty, interpersonal challenges with team and failure.
  • LO10. creatively solve problems and think outside the box to generate innovative ideas for complex challenges.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Feedback from last semester's Unit of Study Survey (USS) was used to revise the course.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.