Module: High-Technology Entrepreneurship

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	High-Technology Entrepreneurship
Module Code	ENI1002 (ITS: EF327)
Faculty	DCU Business School	School	DCU Business School
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	10

Description

The purpose of this module is to study the theory and practice of entrepreneurship in the context of high technology venture creation. Students will develop an understanding of the new venture creation process, including getting experience of the tasks and skills involved in developing a proposal for a new venture.The module requires students to synthesise and apply knowledge from across their programme.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify and assess the role, characteristics and motivations of high technology entrepreneurs.
2. Recognise, analyse and evaluate opportunities for new business product, process and services innovations.
3. Evaluate key strategies for successful new venture creation
4. Research, assess and defend a business plan for a new technology-based venture
5. Practice enhanced team working, planning, negotiation and problem solving in a high-technology product development environment

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	40	Entrepreneurship Theory, New Business Planning, Case studies and Guest Lectures
Seminars	10	Covering idea generation and evaluation, business plan review and consultation
Directed learning	40	Reading core texts and case studies, product and market research and analysis
Group work	65	Researching, analysing and collating business plan
Group work	25	Weekly Meetings and Progress Reports
Assignment Completion	20	Group preperation for New Busienss Idea Presentation Semister 1
Assignment Completion	30	Individual Case Study Semester 1
Assignment Completion	20	Group Preperation for Busines Plan Presentation Semester 2
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	10075	Part of Term	Semester 1 & 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Colm O'Gorman	Module Teacher	Teresa Hogan

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Research Paper	An essay that explores the new venture creation process in the context of a 'high-technology' new venture	50%	Sem 1 End
Assignment	For a new 'high tech' venture, identification of new business opportunity, assessment of feasibility and development of a written business proposal/plan and presentation of the proposal (business pitch). (Group Assignment)	50%	Sem 2 End

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Theories of entrepreneurship
What role do entrepreneurs perform?

Ideas for new ventures
Sources of new business ideas

New venture creation processes
The origins of successful new ventrues

Resourcing new ventures
The financing of high technology start-ups; venture capital

'Scaling' high tech ventures
Growth processes and internationalisation processes in high tech ventures

High-technology entrepreneurs
The characteristics and motives of entrepreneurs

Feasibility assessment
Assessing feasibility of new venture ideas

Financial Planning
Financing requirement, investor's view, financial projections, cashflow, profit and loss account, balance sheet, breakeven analysis, sensitivity analysis. New product pricing.

Tools and techniques for new ventures
Developing new business proposals, business model canvas, business plans

Business Pitch
How to 'pitch' a new business idea

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None