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Unit outline_

ENGG5102: Entrepreneurship for Engineers

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study aims to introduce graduate engineering students from all disciplines to the concepts and practices of entrepreneurial thinking. Introduction to Entrepreneurship will offer the foundation for leaders of tomorrow's high-tech companies, by providing the knowledge and skills important to the creation and leadership of entrepreneurial ventures. The focus of the unit of study is on how to launch, lead and manage a viable business starting with concept validation to commercialisation and successful business formation. The following topics are covered: Entrepreneurship: Turning Ideas into Reality, Building the Business Plan, Creating a Successful Financial Plan, Project planning and resource management, Budgeting and managing cash flow, Marketing and advertising strategies, E-Commerce and Entrepreneurship, Procurement Management Strategies, The Legal Environment: Business Law and Government Regulation, Intellectual property: inventions, patents and copyright, Workplace, workforce and employment topics, Conflict resolution and working relationships, Ethics and Social Responsibility.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
ELEC5701
Assumed knowledge
? 

Some limited industry experience is preferred but not essential

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Mahyar Shirvanimoghaddam, mahyar.shirvanimoghaddam@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Arek Yapoudjian, arek.yapoudjian@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 April 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation Business Plan Presentation
Presentation- Group Work
25% Multiple weeks n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Participation Class Participation
Participation in class activities and discussions.
5% Multiple weeks During weekly lectures/tutorials
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Small continuous assessment Individual assignment
Tutorial Case Studies
20% Multiple weeks During Tutorial sessions and submitted w
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Assignment group assignment Assignment 1: Business Opportunity
Group work
5% Week 04
Due date: 17 Mar 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 17 Mar 2024
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO8 LO10
Assignment group assignment Assignment 2: Business Concept
Group Work
5% Week 06
Due date: 31 Mar 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 31 Mar 2024
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Assignment group assignment Assignment 3: Financial Analysis
Group work
5% Week 08
Due date: 21 Apr 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 21 Apr 2024
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Assignment group assignment Assignment 4: Executive Summary & Conclusions
Group Work
5% Week 09
Due date: 28 Apr 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 28 Apr 2024
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Assignment group assignment Final Business Plan Submission
Group Work
30% Week 13
Due date: 26 May 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 26 May 2024
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Engineering entrepreneurship: turning ideas into reality Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO7
Week 02 Innovation and technology strategy in engineering firms Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO6 LO8
Lab 1 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 03 Industry, market and customer needs analysis in major engineering sectors Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Lab 2 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 04 Recognizing and screening technology opportunities Lecture (2 hr) LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO10
Lab 3 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 05 Tools for mapping technology advances - horizon scanning, patent data analysis, data mining Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO6 LO7 LO10
Lab 4 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 06 Collaboration strategies and Disruptive Business Models) (E-commerce and engineering entrepreneurship Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO9
Lab 5 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 07 Creating a successful financial plan, budgeting and managing case flow Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO5 LO6 LO7
Lab 6 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 08 Moving from R&D to operations Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO8
Lab 7 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 09 The legal environment: business law and government regulation Lecture (2 hr) LO8 LO9 LO10
Lab 8 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 10 Intellectual property: inventions, patents, and copyright Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Lab 9 Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 11 Project Demonstration and Discussion Presentation (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 12 Project Demonstration and Discussion Presentation (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 13 Project Demonstration and Discussion Presentation (3 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. Communicate with financial, design, development, marketing and production departments
  • LO2. understand the team working skills and requirements for effective collaboration
  • LO3. understand what venture project stakeholders requires of them and what they can require of others
  • LO4. analyse the roles of engineers in creating productive, economic, successful venture projects in a variety of engineering projects
  • LO5. analyse the social, ethical and legal issues that arise from venture economic activities
  • LO6. understand the main operational requirements of a venture entrepreneur working in industry
  • LO7. understand the requirements of financial, supply chain, development team, marketing and production interfaces
  • LO8. understand the requirements of a quality system
  • LO9. identify and record the intellectual property content of their work
  • LO10. develop the ability to build and present a business plan for a technology idea.

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.

The tutors will closely work with the students on their projects.

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.