Module: Social Enterprise & Innovation in Practice

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Social Enterprise & Innovation in Practice
Module Code	ENI1004 (ITS: EF5147)
Faculty	DCU Business School	School	DCU Business School
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	10

Description

This module is designed to introduce students to key concepts in social entrepreneurship and innovation. The module will provide the student with an understanding of the special problems and challenges involved in the strategic management of the social enterprise. The main pedagogical objective is to help to develop in the student the capacity to think entrepreneurially and to better understand the organizational and leadership issues involved in being a social entrepreneur. The module will provide the learner with an in-depth understanding of innovation; its various types (incremental to radical) and the contexts within which it can flourish; so that s/he will be able to manage innovation both strategically and tactically at any level in the social enterprise. The learner will become proficient in the application of contemporary tools and frameworks used in the innovation value chain, with a focus on best practice methodologies for New Product, Business Model and Service Development.

Learning Outcomes

1. 1DCDE122-6E4C-0001-CF29-126D1693EA70
2. Identify and critically evaluate innovation strategies in a range of social enterprise situations
3. 1DCDE122-7513-0001-355F-2524D2E0D6B0
4. Analyse different types of Innovation in the public sector
5. 1DCDE122-7DA1-0001-FBD8-5BC51E001B30
6. Identify and assess the role of innovation as a key source of competitive advantage.
7. 1DCDE122-8148-0001-527F-1F851AB01D40
8. Identify strategies, skills and systems necessary for managing innovation
9. 1DCDE122-9809-0001-9776-6257C4161887
10. Create a portfolio of novel and appropriate innovation projects for a nominated social enterprise.
11. 1DCDFFA2-2468-0001-1745-13001F505A90
12. Develop an innovation roadmap for an organisation in the third sector

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	48	A mixture of face to face lectures and webinars
Assignment Completion	40	Individual Assignment
Assignment Completion	40	Group Assignment
Independent Study	122	No Description
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	10080	Part of Term	Semester 1, 2 & 3
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale		Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category		Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Henrique Machado Barros	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Individual Assignment	40%	Week 1
Short Answer Questions	Multipe Choice Questions	20%	Week 1
Assignment	Group Assignment	40%	Week 1

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

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Indicative Reading List

Books:

Ash Amin. (2009) The Social Economy: International Perspectives on Economic Solidarity. London: Zed Books.: 0,
Bridge,S., Murtagh, B., O'Neill, K., (2013) Understanding the Social Economy and the Third Sector. Basingstoke: Palgrave.: 0,
Defourny,J., Hulgård, L., Pestoff, V. (2014) Social Enterprise and the Third Sector: Changing European Landscapes in a Comparative Perspective. London: Routledge.: 0,
Doyle, G. and Lalor, T, (2012) Social Enterprise in Ireland: A People's Economy? Cork: Oaktree Press.: 0,

Articles:

0: Design Thinking Design Thinking, Tim Brown, Harvard Business Review, June 2008, 15008, 1
Managing for Creativity, Florida, R. and J. Goodnight. Harvard Business Review (July/August 2005): 15009, 1,

Other Resources

Online Resource:: Burns, P. (2007) Entrepreneurship and small business, Palgrave- has a supporting online website with student access to (http://www.palgrave.com/business/burnsentrepreneurship/index.asp),