Department of Biology & Biochemistry, Unit Catalogue 2006/07

BB30155 Developing entrepreneurial skills in biological science

Credits: 6

Level: Honours

Semester: 1

Assessment: CW100

Requisites:

While taking this unit you must take BB30042 or take BB30163 or take BB40130

Aims:
* To provide an explanation of the strategic development of products
* to provide a step by step explanation of the development of a new product; including technical; manufacturing and sales decisions taken
* to provide an explanation of 'intellectual property' and how to protect it
* to provide an analysis of problem solving and techniques for generating ideas
* to provide a technical brief of Metarhizium anisopliae and its application against the black vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus
* to provide a step by step explanation of how to build a business plan
* to provide an understanding of financial management; to provide an understanding of how to develop a marketing plan.
Learning Outcomes:
After taking this unit the students should be able to:
* discuss why a product is commercially attractive and how a commercial strategy is developed.
* demonstrate an appreciation of the factors that influence new product development and how a commercial strategy can influence product development.
* demonstrate an understanding of IPR, trade marks, copyright and patents and their use in commercialisation.
* define a problem and use some standard techniques for generating ideas to solve problems.
* demonstrate an understanding of the value of a business plan and how to build one.
* demonstrate the principles of how to collect and manage market information .
* Work singly and with others to present a case.
Skills:
Teamwork, communication skills, presentation and writing skills, creative thinking.
Content:
A commercial approach to product design; product development: a case history; protecting, developing and exploiting ideas; creative thinking; the insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae, a technical brief; building a business plan; financial know how; developing a marketing plan.

University | Catalogues for 2006/07