Course syllabus for Growth - Managing your firm

Tillväxt - att växa ditt eget företag

Specific entry requirements

A minimum of 120 credits is required.

Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to: - Analyse and explain why company grows and what it implies for the society as a whole - Explain various types of resources and its importance for the companies' growth - Explain the concepts of competitive advantages and analyse the competitive advantages at companies with a high growth - Describe the concepts of international growth and explain to whom and why it may be appropriate - Describe different types of venture capital, using different models of corporate valuation and argue for their importance for companies in various stages - Explain the concepts of exit model. For whom and why a certain exit model may be appropriate - Adapt personal goals and strategies at a company level to change personal and business conditions - Argue for common the challenges when a decision is made to expand and get a company to grow - Understand and show how a company can remain entrepreneurial even in a growth stage

Content

The aim of the course is to give the students an understanding of the problems and opportunities that are connected to lead growth in entrepreneurial ventures. The course aims to introduce a number of concepts, frameworks, and rules of thumb that make it possible for people to act entrepreneurially in organisations of all sizes and types. The course focuses on the decisions and actions that owners and managers are taking to identify and select opportunities, obtaining and allocating resources, challenge and lead staff and align personal goals and corporate strategies to changing personal and business relationships. In this process, the course examines the management challenges that are typical of different stages of company development - start-up, growth, changes of direction, etc. By using this framework, the course will address issues of particular importance for rapidly growing companies such as networking, management of limited resources, liquidity planning, delegation, and professionalisation of the business as it grows, crisis management. At the same time, certain caution is exercised to avoid stifling the entrepreneurial spirit as the organisation becomes larger and more complex.

Teaching methods

The course will mix lectures with debates, discussions and seminars with students as well as with market leaders in the field. Workshops and seminars are compulsory as well as some lectures. In case of absence contact the course administration for, possibly, a complementary assignment. Compulsory parts are given in the schedule.

Examination

The final grade is based on three factors: - Individual case assignments - A book review - A written report A student who has failed in the regular examination, is entitled to participate in five more examinations. If the student has failed six examinations/tests, no more examination is offered/examination session. The number of times that the student has participated in one and the same examination is regarded as an examination session. Submission of a blank examination is regarded as an examination. An examination for which the student registered but not participated in, will not be regarded as an examination.

Transitional provisions

The examination will be provided during a period of two years after a close-down of the course. Examination may take place under a previous reading list, up to the next course occasion.

Other directives

Language of instruction is English. The course is provided in the context for Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship (SSES). Responsible department: School of Economics in Stockholm (HHS)