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Unit of study_

SIEN6007: Entrepreneurship: Lean Startup

Intensive June, 2023 [Normal day] - Remote

Being able to identify and exploit new business opportunities is critical to all sizes of businesses. Identifying new markets, developing new products and implementing new business models are highly-regarded and valuable skills for entrepreneurs and business managers alike. This unit is structured around learning from engaged practice in order to explore the special problems and opportunities associated with entrepreneurial start-ups. Students engage with start up and early stage businesses to deliver a plan to help them become profitable. Topics include opportunity recognition, strategy development, business model design, customer acquisition and retention, financial model development, as well as entrepreneurial and creative leadership.

Unit details and rules

Unit code SIEN6007
Academic unit Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
IBUS6011
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Jarrod Vassallo, jarrod.vassallo@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation group assignment Business progress presentations
n/a
50% Multiple weeks 4 x 10 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment hurdle task Ideation
n/a
0% Week 01
Due date: 26 May 2023 at 23:59
3 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO5
Presentation group assignment Startup pitch and Q&A
n/a
15% Week 06
Due date: 30 Jun 2023 at 18:00

Closing date: 30 Jun 2023
10 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Reflective report
n/a
35% Week 06
Due date: 03 Jul 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 03 Jul 2023
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
hurdle task = hurdle task ?
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Ideation (0%): Students record a short video (less than 3-minutes) to explain the results of their customer discovery interviews. This assessment is listed as a HURDLE TASK which means you must complete the assessment in order to pass the unit. Students who fail to complete this assessment, even when their aggregate mark for the entire unit of study is above 50%, will be given a Fail grade for this unit. As a result, a student's academic transcript will show a Fail grade and the actual mark achieved if the final mark of the unit is between 0-49 and a Fail grade and a capped moderated mark of 49 for all other final marks.
  • Business progress presentations (50%): These group presentations will be held in weeks 5, 7, 9 and 11, and are a way for students to share their startup progress over the past fortnight. Students will receive feedback and guidance after each presentation.
  • Startup financials and traction​ (15%): This is a group presentation in the final week of the course, to a panel of industry guests. This takes the form of a 5-minute startup pitch, demonstrating their business desirability, feasibility and viability.
  • Evidence-based decision-making (35%): This individual assignment is a Reflective Report of up to 2000 words, reflecting on how they identified, gathered and used evidence to make decisions and develop their startup. 

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

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Fail

0 - 49

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

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

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.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

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 Problem and Customer Discovery, Lean Startup Approach, Assessment Overview Block teaching (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 02 MVPs, Risky Assumptions, Research Goals and Hypothesis Testing, Value Propositions, Customer Journey Mapping Block teaching (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Solution ideation/ Lean Experiments/ Prototyping and User Testing Block teaching (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 03 Progress Presentation #1 and Feedback Block teaching (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Business Models; Marketing and Early Adopters Block teaching (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 04 Progress Presentation #2 and Feedback Block teaching (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Pitching, Metrics and Financial Viability Block teaching (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 05 Progress Presentation #3 and Feedback Block teaching (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Pitch Doctor Session Block teaching (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 06 Progress Presentation #4 and Feedback Block teaching (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Demo Day: Group Final Presentations, Entrepreneurship: Reflections and Critique Block teaching (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: All lectures and seminars are recorded and will be available on Canvas for student use. Please note the Business School does not own the system and cannot guarantee that the system will operate or that every class will be recorded. Students should ensure they attend and participate in all classes.

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.

Required readings

No prescribed text - readings for individual lessons will be placed on Canvas (LMS)

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. Apply theory critically and insightfully to entrepreneurship practice
  • LO2. Generate and use evidence creatively and adaptively in entrepreneurship practice
  • LO3. Collaborate effectively with others to create a startup
  • LO4. Identify and progress on key strategic issues relating to startups
  • LO5. Evaluate and pivot a potential business opportunity

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.

This is the first time this unit has been offered

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.