School of Computing

Module details

CO845 New Enterprise Development (30 credits)

Syllabus

  • The business plan structure and content and the importance of the business planning process.
  • Initial development and evaluation of the business idea and identification of potential markets and customers.
  • Identifying the appropriate management structure and potential team members, the skills and knowledge required for success, and any appropriate development needs, or professional business intervention.
  • Identification of relevant Intellectual Property protection requirements and opportunities for the commercialisation of IP assets. Understanding of the processes and procedures for ensuring IP protection, and options and limitations of enforcing that protection.
  • Choosing the appropriate trading status for the new business, requirements to ensure and maintain legal compliance, and policies to ensure best practice in the governance of the business.
  • Market research and segmentation, competitor analysis, development of appropriate marketing strategies and distribution networks. Integration of customer care and quality monitoring systems.
  • Identifying and quantifying resource requirements of the business and the implications for capital investment - physical resources (land, premises, plant & equipment, transport, materials, etc) and present and future staff requirements.
  • Negotiation skills to ensure best value from suppliers, for sales and customer contracts, and for obtaining funding for the business.
  • Financial planning processes: budgetary planning, cash flow and profit forecasts, break-even analysis. Formulation of financial requirements to establish the business. Credit control and financial monitoring.
  • Funding requirements and capital investment - relevance of personal investment, loan capital, bank security requirements, ensuring investment readiness, accessing and bidding for business angel capital and venture capital, and managing the due diligence process.
  • Obtaining share and loan capital for conventional business start-up situations, boot-strapping where funding is limited. Escalator growth funding for high-growth / high-tech companies each stage: research & development, seed-funding, development and longer-term growth.
  • Implementation of the business: project planning the implementation, risk analysis of potential delays and problems, contingency plans to mitigate risks, longer-term development plans including growth and exit strategies.

Note

This web page provides advance information about a module due to run in the coming academic year. We believe the details are accurate at the time of writing but they may be subject to change.

School of Computing, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NF

Enquiries: +44 (0)1227 824180 or contact us.

Last Updated: 08/04/2011 15:43