Entrepreneurship in context

This module will equip you with an entrepreneurial mindset and help you learn about entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurial initiatives go beyond new venture creation. They also involve the use of entrepreneurial skills and knowledge in established organisations to initiate innovation, change and organisational development. The module uses a range of approaches to help you learn about different forms of entrepreneurial practice, such as corporate, social and family entrepreneurship, and the contexts in which they emerge. As a result, you'll develop a deep understanding of entrepreneurship by connecting your experiences to relevant concepts and research evidence.

Vocational relevance

This module is relevant to any managerial career, particularly if you're considering the creation of a commercial or social enterprise. It will also be relevant if you are involved in the leadership and governance of strategic change initiatives in your organisation or interacting with entrepreneurial individuals and organisations to address pertinent societal problems.

Qualifications

BB851 is an optional module in our:

Excluded combinations

Sometimes you will not be able to count a module towards a qualification if you have already taken another module with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this module, visit our excluded combination finder or check with an adviser before registering.

Module

Module code
BB851
Credits

Credits

  • Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
  • One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
  • You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
  • For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
15
Study level
Across the UK, there are two parallel frameworks for higher education qualifications, the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (FHEQ) and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). These define a hierarchy of levels and describe the achievement expected at each level. The information provided shows how OU postgraduate modules correspond to these frameworks.
OU Postgraduate
SCQF 11
FHEQ 7
Study method
Distance learning
Module cost
See Module registration
Entry requirements

Find out more about entry requirements.

What you will study

You'll learn about the application of enterprise behaviours to create economic, social, environmental or cultural value in various contexts, among them private and public organisations as well as small enterprises and large corporations. Specifically, this module goes beyond new venture creation (entrepreneurship) and considers the application of entrepreneurial skills and knowledge in established organisations (intrapreneurship, corporate entrepreneurship) to initiate innovation, change and organisational development. The skills you'll develop, and the concepts and frameworks you'll explore, can be applied to a managerial role in an established organisation as well as if you're planning to start your own commercial or social venture or join your family's business. 

The contents and activities included in this module are designed in a way that makes them applicable to different types of organisations. It illustrates that entrepreneurship has many different, sometimes unexpected forms and emerges in various contexts. The module uses a range of approaches to help you learn about entrepreneurship and forms of entrepreneurial practice. These include the use of cases of entrepreneurial experience, videos, tasks involving the collection and analysis of data and information, excerpts from a dedicated textbook, news items, online discussions with other students, and self-directed learning. By the end of this module, you should have a greater understanding of what entrepreneurship means and be able to integrate your learning into your work practices.

You will be required to study up to seven hours per week for six months.
 

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

Throughout your module studies, you’ll get help and support from your assigned module tutor. They’ll help you by:

  • marking your assignments (TMAs) and providing detailed feedback for you to improve
  • guiding you to additional learning resources
  • providing individual guidance, whether that’s for general study skills or specific module content
  • facilitating online discussions between your fellow students in the dedicated module and tutor group forums.

Module tutors also run online tutorials throughout the module. Where possible, recordings of online tutorials will be made available to students. While these tutorials won’t be compulsory for you to complete the module, you’re strongly encouraged to take part. If you want to participate, you'll likely need a headset with a microphone.

You will learn by working online in structured activities supported by a wide range of resources, including specially designed books and a world-class online library. Activities generally require online participation over two to six weeks and contribute to your reflective practice and your assessment.

Assessment

The assessment details can be found in the facts box.

Course work includes

1 Tutor-marked assignment (TMA)
End-of-module assessment

Future availability

Entrepreneurship in context starts once a year, in November. This page describes the module that will start in November 2024. We expect it to start for the last time in November 2027.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

Entry requirements

If you're taking this module as part of the Master of Business Administration, it is recommended you will have completed the first 105 compulsory credits of the MBA. 

Alternatively, as it is possible to study this module on a standalone basis, you will need to ensure that you have the knowledge and experience to study at postgraduate level. Please note that if you wish to study towards a qualification at a later date, you must meet the entry requirements for that qualification.

You will also need an appropriate capability in the English language, sufficient to work effectively at postgraduate level; generally this means capability equivalent to an International English Language Test System (IELTS) score of 6.5. To assess your English language skills in relation to your proposed studies, you can visit the IELTS website. If you are unsure whether your skill level in English is adequate you may find it helpful to look at our Skills for OU Study site.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.

Register

Start End England fee Register
02 Nov 2024 Apr 2025 £1680.00

Registration closes 10/10/24 (places subject to availability)

Register
This module is expected to start for the last time in November 2027.

Future availability

Entrepreneurship in context starts once a year, in November. This page describes the module that will start in November 2024. We expect it to start for the last time in November 2027.

Additional costs

Study costs

There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.

Ways to pay for this module

We know there’s a lot to think about when choosing to study, not least how much it’s going to cost and how you can pay.

That’s why we keep our fees as low as possible and offer a range of flexible payment and funding options, including a postgraduate loan, if you study this module as part of an eligible qualification. To find out more, see Fees and funding.

Study materials

What's included

As well as the individual tuition provision, you'll have access to regular opportunities for engagement with other students, university library access, an extensive variety of specially written resources presented in different media (print and online) and designed exclusively for this module, audio-visual material, published articles, case studies and a set of interactive tools to help you develop your entrepreneurial mindset.

Computing requirements

You’ll need broadband internet access and a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11) or macOS Ventura or higher.

Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.

To join in spoken conversations in tutorials, we recommend a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).

Our module websites comply with web standards, and any modern browser is suitable for most activities.

Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all current, supported versions of Android and iOS. It’s not available on Kindle.

It’s also possible to access some module materials on a mobile phone, tablet device or Chromebook. However, as you may be asked to install additional software or use certain applications, you’ll also require a desktop or laptop, as described above.

If you have a disability

Elements of this module are delivered online and include the use of real-time online discussions and an interactive whiteboard space, so time spent using a computer and the internet will be extensive. If you use assistive technology or have a hearing or speech impairment and have concerns about accessing this type of virtual environment and materials, contact The Open University to discuss it further before registering.

Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader. Alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future.

To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages.

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