Foundations of Entrepreneurship

ENIN 200/3.0

Entrepreneurs writing down ideas.

Overview

This course will cover frameworks used to evaluate how disruptive and incremental innovations bring about changes in the market, and in society, by prompting new business models, technologies, and paradigms.  Through online lectures and entrepreneurial exercises that focus on specific real-world opportunities, you will learn about the foundational concepts required to understand the dynamics of today’s multi-sided markets and how to tap into, and execute, the innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities they make possible. 

Drawing on the most current and best practices in entrepreneurial training in and around the world, course topics will include:

  • design and systems thinking
  • value propositions
  • customer empathy
  • the business model canvas
  • agile project and risk management
  • venture financing
  • intellectual property management
  • corporate responsibilities and culture

You will practice generating ideas that form the basis for potential new businesses and social initiatives, and then learn how to transform those ideas into business pitches – the feasibility of which the class will assess collaboratively.  

This course is part of the Queen’s Certificate in Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Creativity. The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Certificate is the first of its kind, bringing together nine different Faculties, Schools, Departments and service units. Housed within the Faculty of Arts and Science and the Dan School of Drama and Music, this certificate was designed to allow students to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and to execute intrapreneurial innovation. Students will have the opportunity to study and practice skills in marketing and promotion as well as finance and business planning. Through a variety of interdisciplinary courses, students will be challenged to brainstorm, research, design, and present a new product or service to peers, end users, leadership teams, potential investors and to online and digital publics.

Please note: This course is typically offered in the fall term

In this course, learners will acquire the theory and applied skills needed to create and execute an innovation – a distinctive idea of value put to practice. Learners will discover theoretical and applied knowledge on the economics and organizational dimensions of innovation and entrepreneurship. Learners will be challenged to apply principles, concepts and frameworks to real world situations. 

This course will cover frameworks used to evaluate how disruptive and incremental innovations bring about changes in the world by prompting new business models, technologies, and paradigms. Additionally, this course will explain the foundational concepts required to understand the dynamics of today’s multi-sided markets and how to tap into the innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities they make possible. These concepts will be accomplished through online lessons that discuss specific real-world companies, organizations, and initiatives.

Learners will then practice generating ideas that form the basis for potential new businesses and social initiatives. They will practice transforming those ideas through market research, into business pitches – the feasibility of which the class will assess collaboratively. As a result, when learners complete this course they will have a firm grasp on the foundational strategies they need to launch their own entrepreneurial venture and/or successfully innovate within an existing organization.

Note: When you search on SOLUS for this course, please use "Entrepreneur & Innov - Ugrad" for the Subject.

Learning Outcomes

After completing ENIN 200, students will be better equipped to:

  • Differentiate between various approaches to corporate and social innovation, including public sector and social service innovation.
  • Apply new approaches to solving business and social problems, including observing and mapping systems with greater clarity, diagnosing issues, experimenting, iterative and developing flexibility in thinking and action.
  • Demonstrate active listening skills to articulate effective communication with peers and consider their perspective on diverse issues.
  • Analyze innovative ideas and identify windows of opportunity where innovation is likely to succeed.
  • Gather, organize and summarize information necessary to reframe a design problem as an entrepreneurial opportunity.
  • Formulate and communicate ideas using rapid prototyping, brainstorming, and visual storytelling tools to generate business models and concept designs.

Terms

Fall 2024
Course Dates
Delivery Mode
Online

Evaluation

5% - Team Building Activity & Discussion
10% - Quizzes (x10)
30% - Pitch 1
35% - Pitch 2
20% - Tests (x2)

**Evaluation Subject to Change**

Live Sessions

This course has optional live sessions (e.g. webinars, synchronous activities).

Textbook and Materials

ASO reserves the right to make changes to the required material list as received by the instructor before the course starts.

Required Texts

  • Deshpande, D. (nd). On Entrepreneurship and Impact
    A pdf of the textbook will be made available via the course in onQ.
  • Osterwalder, Al, and Y Pigneur (2010). Business Model Generation.  Wiley Publishing
    A free, online version of the book can be accessed via the Library.
    For those wishing to purchase the book, it is widely available online.
    Note: Please ensure that you purchase the correct edition (2010).

Recommended Texts (Recommended for this Course and Other Courses in the Program)

  • Kawaski, G. (2015). The Art of the Start 2.0. Portfolio Publishing.

Any additional readings will be provided via the course and/or the eReserves (access via onQ)

Time Commitment

Students can expect to spend approximately 10 hours a week (120 hours per term) on this course.