MBA ELECTIVE OUTLINE: CORPORATE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION

Dr Jonathan Marks & Prof Helena Barnard

OVERVIEW

Max class size

40 students

The world of the entrepreneur is not limited to the creation of a start-up venture – at least not in the traditional understanding of the entrepreneurial process. Theoretical and practitioner definitions and understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship reflect a broadly inclusive mode of entrepreneurialism that is equally at home in a corporate setting. This elective course is ideally suited for MBA students who wish to gain insight and understanding into the application of the principles, attitudes, behaviours and actions related to innovation and entrepreneurship within a corporate setting. Corporate innovation and entrepreneurship (or intrapreneurship) lends itself to an experiential learning style, and with this in mind the elective will take on a philosophy of discovery and experimentation. Through activity, case study, action learning, and experiential assessment, this elective will help students develop a deep understanding of corporate venturing. The course will be built around a project located in a local corporate setting (either the students’ current employer, or a participating South African firm). The elective will bring together aspects of the broader MBA course (for example strategy & change management), as students understand the role of culture and the business environment in nurturing and developing new ventures. The style of learning will be fun and engaging and requires energy, enthusiasm and commitment from all students.

FORMAT

This very interactive and practical elective will take place over four consecutive days

METHOD OF ASSESSMENT

Students will work on a suite of assessment activities including an environmental analysis, feasibility study & internal marketing campaign. The assessment will include class participation, syndicate work and an individual submission.

RESUMES

Dr. Jonathan Marks is a recently appointed senior lecturer at GIBS. Jonathan has an MBA and a PhD from the University of Cape Town. He was founding director of the Raymond Ackerman Academy of Entrepreneurship, and was responsible for Entrepreneurship Knowledge Management at the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation. Jonathan has taught entrepreneurship and related courses at UCT for over a decade, introducing students from diverse disciplines (including science, engineering & humanities) to the principles of entrepreneurship. Jonathan continues to consult to a range of organizations, both for profit and non-profit, on issues related to entrepreneurship, venture planning, entrepreneurial thinking and entrepreneurial strategy.

MBA ELECTIVE OUTLINE: CORPORATE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION

Dr Jonathan Marks & Prof Helena Barnard

Prof Helena Barnard completed her PhD at Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA. She holds an MBA from the Graduate School of Management at the University of Pretoria, and was awarded the Old Mutual Gold Medal as top MBA student in 1998. Helena worked at Home Depot in the USA from 1999 to 2004. During her tenure there she was responsible for back-end operations training development to support the strategic repositioning of the company. She steered the “Minutes Per Bill” project for the Mid-Atlantic division, realising US$16 million savings in the first year. Helena is the Director of Research at GIBS, and is in charge of the doctoral programme. She has been awarded a National Research Foundation (NRF) rating for a 5-year period. These ratings are made by the NRF to faculty who have established or are establishing an outstanding record for academic research.