MEng Materials Science and Engineering with Metallurgy

Students will carry out research in groups (of approximately 5) to develop a sound business plan that will exploit one or more aspects of materials science and/or engineering to create an innovation to improve the material sustainability of our world. This new disruptive technology could focus on renewable energy generation, sustainable construction, plastics recycling or any other aspect of sustainable materials. The business plan must be built from a strong foundation of social responsibility, circular economics and sound financial planning. 

1. The unit aims to:

   1. Develop the student’s ability and awareness for the most important elements of business plan development and the essential elements of business plan presentation.
   2. Encourage an awareness of social responsibility in materials and business research
   3. Make students aware of the legal and IPR framework for business innovation and finance.
   4. Encourage the students to engage in group research, delegating tasks, self-organisation and group evaluation.
   5. Develop the students writing and presentation skills and prepare them for polemic discussions and encourage them to learn to defend their conclusions.
   6. Encourage the development of advanced analytical and reflective skills.
   7. Give confidence in the use of skills, team working and communication of ideas.

A greater depth of the learning outcomes will be covered in the following sections:

• Knowledge and understanding
• Intellectual skills
• Practical skills
• Transferable skills and personal qualities

• Understand the thought processes and complexities involved in formulating a business plan. The money, people, risks, market, sustainability and social responsibility combined with a relevant executive summary.
• Understand the legal and IPR framework for financing innovation and sources of research funding for projects.
• Appreciate the dynamics and correlation between external political and economic factors as well as the material technicalities of product development.
• Formulate and understand financial statements and present them in a convincing way.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the effect of changing variables on other elements of the business plan. Appreciate the interconnectivity of the business plan elements and interconnected directors’ roles. 
• Be able to argue and defend the group research in a virtual or offline polemic environment.

• Presentation and discussion skills in a virtual and/or in-person.

• Communication and defence of ideas through oral discussion.

Feedback given (Written and verbal)

Students are not required to purchase any textbooks for this module. The following are recommended:

Essential:

Beaver, G. (2002) Small Business, Entrepreneurship & Enterprise Development, FT Prentice Hall

Robbins, S. & Hunsaker, P.L. (2003) Training in Interpersonal Skills International Edition, 3rd edition, Pearson Education, New Jersey

Recommended:

Adair, J. (1986) Effective Team Building: How to Make a Winning Team Gower

Caproni, P. (2000) The Practical Coach Pearson Education, New Jersey

Carter, S. & Jones-Evans, D. (2000) Enterprise & Small Business: Principles & Practice FT Prentice Hall

Fry, R. (1997) Manage Your Time Kogan Page (out of print although Hollings Library has a copy)

Gill, R. (2006) Theory & Practice of Leadership Sage, London

Johnson, D.W. & Johnson, F.P. (2006) Joining Together: group theory and group skills 9th edition, Pearson Education Inc, Boston, USA

Lambing, P. & Kuehl, C.R. (2000) Entrepreneurship FT Prentice Hall

Patten, D. (2001) Successful Marketing for the Small Business Kogan Page

Solomon, P. (2004) Financial Accounting: A New Perspective McGraw-Hill/Irwin, New York

Management Today

Marketing Business

Small Business Economics

Management Decision

Management Case Quarterly

The Guardian

The Independent

The Telegraph

www.bized.co.uk

www.businesslink.org

www.fsb.co.uk

www.bvca.co.uk

www.dti.gov.uk/for_business.html

www.sbs.gov.uk

www.smallbusiness.co.uk

www.youngenterprise.co.uk