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Module (6 Credits)

Entrepreneurship with Purpose

Name in diploma supplement
Entrepreneurship with Purpose
Responsible
Admission criteria
See exam regulations.
Workload
180 hours of student workload, in detail:
  • Attendance: 60 hours
  • Preparation, follow up: 60 hours
  • Exam preparation: 60 hours
Duration
The module takes 1 semester(s).
Qualification Targets

The students

  • Know different forms and meanings of entrepreneurship, e. g. social entrepreneurship, innopreneurship and others.
  • investigate their own values and personal purpose and get to know how this relates to entrepreneurial endeavors.
  • know the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) of the United Nations (UN) and can categorize business ideas from enterprises and their own ideas into the SDGs.
  • know different methods and tools for ideation processes and apply these in a team to create own ideas that are addressing social and/or ecological challenges on a local or global level.
  • allocate their ideas within the SDGs as a framework of reference for purposeful entrepreneurship.
  • know and apply business model framework(s) to design their own business ideas that are addressing social and/or ecological challenges on a local and/or global level with the SDGs as a framework of reference.
  • know and apply (digital) tools and methods for effective team organisation and management.
  • know elements of Theory U as a process and method for change management, transformation and leadership development (Otto Scharmer, Presencing Institute).
  • apply chosen methods and tools from Theory U individually, in teamwork and in relation to their business ideas.
  • start to develop an understanding of systemic connections regarding our natural ecosystems and their relevance for entrepreneurial endeavours.
Relevance

This module gives students the opportunity to reflect upon their own values and personal and professional goals in line with their personal sense of purpose. In the course, they work on how they can potentially align this within teamwork and, for the future, in a professional context of their own career.

The development of ideas for addressing social/and or ecological challenges on a local and/or global level equips them with a sense of agency in a world that is characterized by poly-crises. The tools, methods and skills they learn through entrepreneurship education can be transferred to both different professional and personal contexts and thus enhance and deepen the students' set of competences for designing their own and societal futures. Theory U is suggested as a valuable method and process for self-development and future-oriented competencies and knowledge directed towards taking action to tackle local and/or global challenges through (entrepreneurial) endeavors. It is a well-applied method in transformation processes, change management and leadership development on both individual and organizational level.

Communication and social skills are trained and enhanced throughout the course in form of regular presentations (e. g. pitches), discussion rounds, teamwork and an English-speaking setting.

Module Exam

Zum Modul erfolgt eine modulbezogene Prüfung in Form einer Präsentation mit anschließender Diskussion (in der Regel: 20-30 Minuten).

Usage in different degree programs
  • BWLVertiefungsstudiumWahlpflichtbereichBereich Volkswirtschaftslehre, Rechtswissenschaft, Wirtschaftsinformatik, InformatikVertiefungsbereich Wirtschaftsinformatik4th-6th Sem, Elective
  • VWLVertiefungsstudiumWahlpflichtbereichBereich BWL, Recht, Wirtschaftsinformatik, InformatikVertiefungsbereich Wirtschaftsinformatik4th-6th Sem, Elective
  • WiInfVertiefungsstudiumWahlpflichtbereichVertiefungsrichtung "E-Entrepreneurship und IT-Management"5th-6th Sem, Elective
  • WiInfVertiefungsstudiumWahlpflichtbereich: Wirtschaftsinformatik und Informatik5th-6th Sem, Elective
Elements
Name in diploma supplement
Entrepreneurship with Purpose
Organisational Unit
Lecturers
SPW
4
Language
English
Cycle
winter semester
Participants at most
35
Preliminary knowledge

basics of the Business Model Canvas

Abstract

In this class, students learn about the characteristics of entrepreneurial ventures that are driven by a dual mission: a strong social, societal and/or ecological purpose alongside an economic mission. They learn about, discuss, and reflect upon social and economic purpose during ideation, team building and business modelling. They get acquainted with ideas, tools, processes and methods from various "practices" in impact-driven businesses and organisations, like Theory U, New Work and Design Thinking.

The class invites students to reflect upon and critically explore if and how social/ecological and economic purposes can be aligned in entrepreneurial ventures. Individually and in teamwork, they learn to reflect upon how personal values can drive the various blocks of a venture creation process. They experiment in teams to deal with potentially conflicting values and interests and align them in a collectively created idea.

Both the process and method Theory U by Otto Scharmer and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) give structure to the course as they are used as method to explore individual values and mindsets and frame teamwork and, respectively, as a framework of reference for sustainability.

Contents
  • Forms of and ideas on entrepreneurship
  • Theory U
  • SDGs
  • Business Model Canvas - applying it on entrepreneurial cases and own business ideas
  • Agile work and design thinking
  • Excursion
  • Market research
  • Challenges for teams and entrepreneurs with purpose
  • Final event with poster presentation and joint reflection on learnings
Literature

Literature and other form of learning material will be announced in the course.

Teaching concept

Lecture and practice. Teamwork. Learning by doing and learning by thinking. Self-learning and teamwork sessions.

Integrierte Veranstaltung: Die Veranstaltung entspricht einem Vorlesungsanteil von 2 SWS und einem Übungsanteil von 2 SWS.

Participants
Lecture with integrated exercise: Entrepreneurship with Purpose (WIWI‑C1218)
Module: Entrepreneurship with Purpose (WIWI‑M0949)