Managing High-Growth Businesses

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the circumstances and reasons why businesses experience and/or seek high-growth;
• the strategies and practices used by businesses to deliver growth;
• interventions which can be successfully used to manage the growth process.
• the internal and external barriers that can impair growth;

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• diagnose national and global opportunities for growth, by evaluating the characteristics of economies and societies;
• evaluate the appropriateness of particular growth strategies.
• identify the roles of key internal and external stakeholders in facilitating business growth;
• self-manage the development of learning and study skills, both individually and as part of a collaborative learning group;
• use a wide range of information sources requiring the development of bibliographic skills;
• communicate effectively, in both oral and written form, using and justifying argument within reports, presentations and debates;
• plan and control effectively for successful completion of a personal and group workload;
• understand the limitations of particular growth models in industry sectors;

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• use a wide range of information sources requiring the development of bibliographic skills;
• plan and control effectively for successful completion of a personal and group workload;
• self-manage the development of learning and study skills, both individually and as part of a collaborative learning group;
• communicate effectively, in both oral and written form, using and justifying argument within reports, presentations and debates.

The topics covered in this module will include:

• How high-growth is defined, measured and its importance to the business, stakeholders and the wider economy and society
• Key motivations and contexts which facilitate the growth of firms (planned and unplanned), including the influence of different internal and external stakeholders on the business’ strategy
• Characteristics of high growth firms, e.g.: ‘accidental growth’, venture team competencies, structure and link to entrepreneurship
• The recognition, planning and evaluation of appropriate strategies which support business growth
• Implementation of different strategies and models to facilitate growth, including internationalisation, diversification and acquisitions
• Internal barriers and risks to high-firm growth, e.g.: HRM, capital constraints, cash flow, quality control, coherence of strategy and risk to operations
• External barriers and risks to growth, e.g.: capital constraints, labour market, supply and distribution networks and reputational risk
• Strategies and practices to manage the risks associated with high-growth, in addition to external sources of support
• How different characteristics of businesses affect their risk of growth success or failure, e.g.: small, large, experienced venture team

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching Methods include:

Lectures, interactive case studies, problem-solving activities, directed reading, and private/guided study. Visiting speakers/interaction with entrepreneurs, if available.

Learning activities include:

• Introductory lectures
• Group presentation
• Individual assignment
• Case study / problem solving activities
• In class debate and discussion
• Private study
• Use of online materials

Class activities, such as problem solving activities, discussions and use of case studies will provide opportunities for you to gain feedback from your tutor and/or peers about their level of understanding and knowledge prior to any formal summative assessment. Feedback on the essay and the group presentation will normally be provided through a written report for each individual/group within four week of the submission date.

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Journal of Business Economics. Journal

Entrepreneurship and Regional Development. Journal

Journal of Business Venturing. Journal

Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice. Journal

Family Business Review. Journal

Journal of Small Business Management. Journal

Journal of Economic Geography. Journal

International Journal of Entrepreneurship. Journal

Journal of Management Studies. Journal

British Journal of Management. Journal

Textbooks

Merson, R. (2011). Guide to Managing Growth: Strategies for Turning Success Into Even Bigger Success. London: The Economist.

Carter, S. and Jones-Evans, D. (2010). Enterprise and Small Business: Principles, Practice and Policy. London: Pearson.

Davidsson, P., Delmar, F. and Wiklund, J. (eds.) (2008). Entrepreneurship and the Growth of Firms. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Acs, Z., Audretsch, D., Strom, R. (eds.) (2013). Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External