BMOL40130 Feasibility and Business Plan

Academic Year 2021/2022

This course is designed to help you understand the concepts, frameworks and techniques needed to bring a scientific discovery to commercialisation with a compelling business plan. We divide the course into two major parts. First, you will attend workshops presenting the basic assumptions behind the design of a business plan. In particular, we draw on concepts from Business Strategy to help you understand the core tools available for business planning. Second, in teams, you will work with scientists on developing a business plan for an existing scientific discovery. As part of the work you will have to analyse the opportunities and challenges in the industry and the business capabilities necessary to commercialise the scientific discovery.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:


• Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of strategic planning and its application to existing scientific discovery.
• Understand the challenges of commercialising a scientific discovery.
• Apply different frameworks (including industry analysis, competitive strategy, resource, capability, financial and risk tools) to the formulation of a competitive business plan.
• Develop sources of competitive advantage for scientific discoveries.
• Understand the drivers of project and business plan implementation performance.
• Apply individually and in groups tools in project planning, delivery and execution.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

12

Autonomous Student Learning

400

Total

412

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Group work; Lectures; Critical writing; Problem-based learning; Case-based learning; Real case learning. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Group Project: Business Plan Presentation
Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

25

Assignment: Individual assignment 2: Pre-Business Plan
Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

35

Assignment: Individual assignment 1: Case Study Questions
Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

15

Group Project: Business Plan Document Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

25


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

The lecturer will discuss with each team an early draft of their business plan 2-3 weeks prior to the submission date. The lecturer will also provide with feedback on individual and group final assignments upon request.