Module Title:

Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Creativity

Module Code:

6BUS1239-0901 2025

Assignment Format & Maximum Word count

Pre-recorded Presentation (Group assignment)

Assignment weighting

30%

Coursework Submission:

Time: 23:59

Date: 19th December 2025.

Method: Canvas

Coursework return Date returned to students:

16th January 2026.

Module Leader

Dr Olfa Mejri

First marker

Dr Olfa Mejri

Internal Moderator

Approved

Date: 03/09/25

Module Board name

External Examiner

Approved ☐

Date:

Module Board date

Assessment eligible for an extension on submission date (subject to UPRs)

YES

Retrievable Assessment

NO

Assessment Criteria

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge and Understanding assessed in this assignment:

Evaluate the resource implications and processes involved in developing new products and services.

Learning Outcomes: Skills and Attributes assessed in this assignment:

Apply different techniques for generating product or service developments, enhancements, modifications and innovations.

Formulate a basic plan for creating and introducing a product, service or social innovation.

Transformational Opportunities:

E.g. Use LinkedIn Learning to improve skills

Working collectively to build a consolidated plan/value proposition.

Handling multiple data sources.

Use of presentation/video creation software.

Feedback /Marking criteria for this Assignment

Performance will be assessed using HBS Grading Criteria (Rubric)

Feedback for improvement will be given in writing via your Canvas module site within 4 weeks of submission

Lateness Penalty: For each day or part day up to five days after the published deadline, coursework relating to modules submitted late will have the numeric grade reduced by 10 grade points until or unless the numeric grade reaches the minimum pass mark (UG 40/PG 50).  Where the numeric grade awarded for the assessment is less than the minimum pass mark no lateness penalty will be applied.  If the coursework is submitted more than 5 days after the published deadline, it will not be marked and a grade of zero will be awarded. Please note: Referred coursework submitted after the published deadline will be awarded a grade of zero (0).

Extensions: Students do not have an automatic right to an extension.  If you require an extension, this must be requested 48h in advance of the submission deadline.  Please give your reason(s) for needing an extension. Not all Assessments are eligible for an extension. Please check above.

Retrievable Assessment: This assignment is not retrievable.

Detailed Brief for Individual / Team Assignment

Assignment Title:

New venture creation proposal presentation.

Description of the assignment, task, content and structure:

The group project requires identifying an opportunity for a New Venture Creation (Entrepreneurship) OR a Brand Extension (Intrapreneurship). Both options intend launching a new product or service. Non-profit ideas are excluded.

(!) In the case of Intrapreneurship, it is advised that the group members have a fairly strong connection to the selected company (e.g. previous work experience/internship, plans to join the company) or to its brand (e.g. loyal consumers or/and passionate about their products/values…). In this case, it is important to show how the ‘new product/service’ fits within the existing product range and matches the brand’s strategic aims and values.

The following selection criteria MUST be respected:

MUST present a clear form of innovation (Which should be reflected in the differentiating attributes of the product).

MUST focus on MVP (Minimum Viable Product) version of the business idea.

The proposal target audience: Potential business partners/investors (OR decision makers in the hosting company in the case of Intrapreneurship).

Availability of reliable/accurate secondary data on selected market and product category.

(!) In order to simplify the new venture design and evidently adopt the MVP strategy, it is strongly advised to consider a single product/service rather than a range of products or a complex composition of products and services at the proposal stage.

Detailed task description

In groups, students will be designing a 15mn (max) pre-recorded business presentation of their new venture creation proposal.

The proposal design involves the following stages:

Identifying a new business opportunity

Researching the market (market situation analysis, including competition) and evaluating the idea

Formulating the Value Proposition and determining the Target Segment

Detailed product/service description (key features and distinctive attributes/competitive advantage/s)

Identifying suitable distribution channels

Setting up a funding strategy (Initial investment-need in launching capital- and possible funding options. Detailed operational costs will not be included here for the sake of simplification. The aim is to come up with a reasonable estimation of the launching capital in accordance with the type and scale of business -MVP launch- and accessible resources)

Setting up a marketing communication strategy (Communication channels and promotional strategy in alignment with the type of venture, target audience, launching stage, and accessible resources)

Critical view on proposal (e.g. Data limitation and need for primary research, regulatory barriers…)

It is recommended that the presentation starts by ‘Pitching the idea’ and ends on a conclusion that briefly recalls key points of the idea’s value proposition.

Students should also demonstrate an understanding of the relative importance of each part of the proposal, which should be reflected in both the time allocation and the number of slides dedicated to each section. Not all sections should carry equal weight in the presentation. The quality of the Distribution channels, Funding strategy, and Marketing communication strategy will depend heavily on the strength of the Market analysis (including competition), Segmentation and Target audience description, and Product description. These foundational elements therefore deserve greater emphasis. The Value Proposition needs to be clearly formulated as well.

Finally, a (Readable) Reference List MUST be included at the end of the presentation.

CASE (Academic Skills at HBS) support for presentations: https://herts.instructure.com/courses/104807/pages/presentations

Detailed marking criteria:

Marking criteria

Weighting

Pre-recorded Group presentation

Quality of content

Content coverage: All key areas of the proposal are covered.

Depth of analysis: Insightful information and sound arguments.

Quality of evidence: Use of relevant and accurate data/sources.

Structure: arguments unfolding logically.

Balance: all elements addressed properly and allocated reasonable time depending on their respective relevance.

Referencing: Sources/date (including tables and graphs) must be referenced according to Cite Them Right Harvard referencing style.

Delivery

Engaging introduction (rallying, use of ‘storytelling’)

Balance between different sections.

Smooth transition between presenters.

Clear conclusion/s (reminding key points and deriving logically from presented arguments)

(!) Students must present with their videos on. They also must be at a reasonable distance from camera for their gesture to be readable.

Design

Appropriate, professional, and creative.

Good balance between textual and graphic representation of content.

50%

20%

30%

Total

100%

Any specific instructions:

The HBS Grading Criteria (rubric) will evidence how marks are awarded for individual parts of

the assignment i.e. Presentation and Structure, Intellectual Curiosity and Referencing, Content, Analysis, Discussion.

Group work policy

This assignment is a Group Assignment, which means the coursework grade will be automatically attributed to all group members.

This of course supposes relatively equal contribution to be made to all tasks required to produce the final assessed presentation by all members.

Detailed instructions on how to form groups will be communicated on Canvas and briefed in Unit 1 tutorial. Groups will be confirmed prior to Unit 5/T5.

Students will be given the opportunity to select their group mates and self-assign themselves to a group on Canvas. Those who do not self-assign will be assigned to a group by the module leader.

Maximum group number (unless for the sake of balancing groups OR due to consideration of exceptional reasons): 5 students.

All groups MUST keep track of their group contribution records (e.g. meeting minutes, attendance, contribution to tasks…) on their group space on canvas. This is imperative to eventual uneven group contribution complaints and will form in such cases the first piece of evidence to be inspected.

In the advent of low/insufficient or no contribution by one or more group members, the rest of group members MUST promptly share their concerns with their course instructor (here, myself) for a 1st assessment of the situation and attempt to fix the issue. A review date will be given, and if the situation does not improve according to agreed commitments, the course instructor will then refer to the Group Work Policy and differential marking may be applied (grade will be adjusted according to evidenced contribution).

For additional guidance on group work policy, please refer to CASE (Centre for Academic Skills Enhancement) website resources: https://herts.instructure.com/courses/104807/pages/teamwork?module_item_id=2776492

Use of Generative AI

Your use of generative AI (genAI) tools in this assessment must follow one of the three categories below. Your Module Leader will indicate which category applies:

Category 1 – Authorised use of AI

You are permitted to use genAI tools to create content for your work and to proofread your work. Alternatively, you may use a proofreader or non-genAI proofreading service.

Category 2 – Proofreading only permitted

You are permitted to use genAI tools (or a proofreader or proofreading service) to proofread your work, but you are not permitted to use AI tools to create content. This applies even if the assessment includes marks for English and grammar.

Category 3 – AI use not permitted

You are not permitted to use genAI tools for content creation or proofreading. This category applies where all or most marks are awarded for language proficiency (including spelling, punctuation, and grammar).

Students must comply with the category selected for this assessment. Improper or undeclared use of AI tools may be considered academic misconduct. For further guidance, please visit: https://ask.herts.ac.uk/ai-tools

Academic Integrity, Plagiarism, Essay Mills and other Academic Misconduct Offences

You are NOT allowed to copy any information into your assignment without using quotation marks and a reference – this is ‘plagiarism’ (a type of academic misconduct).

You are NOT allowed to copy from other students (or allow other students to copy from you) – this is ‘collusion’.

You are NOT allowed to copy from your own assignments on other modules – this is ‘self-plagiarism’.

You must NEVER buy assignments from websites (essay mills) – this is called ‘contract cheating’ and it is now illegal in the UK.

Contract cheating is a serious academic misconduct offence and also includes arranging for help with an assessment such that there is also reasonable doubt as to whose work the assessment represents. It extends to input from a fellow student, friend, relative, or any other person, artificial intelligence with or without payment of any kind.

For all references use Cite it Right Harvard style.- Harvard Referencing (see video for support)

Unauthorised use of artificially generated material (AI) in researching or presenting material for an assessment is an academic misconduct offence if you use AI tools in producing your assessment unless the use of AI tools is expressly permitted. However, even if expressly permitted, where you do not declare that you have used an artificial intelligence tool(s) in the production of your assessment, or you are dishonest about the extent to which such tools have been used, you will have committed academic misconduct.

If you commit academic misconduct, your mark will be reduced, or, depending on the severity of the offence you may get 1% for the assignment in question or 1% for the module, and get a disciplinary warning. Repeat offenders normally face disciplinary action.

Student Support and Guidance

Contact [email protected] if you are unsure of the rules or how to avoid academic misconduct, and you will receive help.

Please see the UPRs relating to Academic misconduct here.

Ask Herts information on the use of artificial intelligence tools https://ask.herts.ac.uk/ai-tools.

For further help on module content and assignment details, contact your Module Leader in his or her drop-in / office hours or by email.

Use the Learning Outcomes and HBS Grading Criteria (Rubric) to help inform you of the expectations of the assessment.

Use CASE (Centre for Academic Skills Enhancement) website resources: http://go.herts.ac.uk/CASE . Attend CASE workshops and drop-ins to develop academic skills to meet HBS expectations (see timetable on CASE website homepage or drop-in to CASE in L064, in the LRC).

Visit the Academic English for Business Programme Site for tips on developing your academic English and contact [email protected] if you have any questions.

For help with Turnitin, look for the “Check your work (Turnitin Originality Report)” practice assignment in the Assignment section of all of your modules.  For help with understanding plagiarism and how to make changes to your assignment, contact [email protected].

Use the Online Library to access quality business information resources:

Library Search will help you find books, journal articles and more.

Use the Subject Toolkit for Business to access to industry standard databases.

Use Library SkillUP for guidance for searching and referencing.

Get help: use SkilIUP module chat, visit the Study Success Hub, or book an 1:1 with a librarian.

The relevant HBS Grading Criteria (Rubric) for your assignment should be added as a table immediately below the assignment description. If you are unable to find the Grading Criteria (Rubric), please contact your Module Leader.