Objectives and competences
n this course students:
1. Enhance their theoretical knowledge in the field of business environment and are able to apply it.
2. Consolidate and upgrade theoretical knowledge in the field of business environment and its application in practice.
3. Gain the ability to apply their theoretical knowledge in practice in the business and entrepreneurial environment field.
4. Acquire applicable approach to understand interdependency between business, economic and political systems, interest groups, the media, regulatory and antitrust agencies and international organizations that influence the strategy and business decisions of enterprises.
5. Get acquainted with the quality of the Slovenian entrepreneurial ecosystem compared to Europe and other world countries.
6. Acquire advanced knowledge of basic theoretical approaches in the field of entrepreneurship, business economics, macroeconomics and organisation.
Content (Syllabus outline)
I. Business environment of the company
1. Definition of the company's business environment
2. Elements of the company's business environment
- Macroenvironment
- Microenvironment
- Internal environment
- Natural environment and sustainable development
3. The business enterprise in focus
4. Globalization and key dimensions of business environemnt
• Cultural and social environment
• Economic (business) environment
• Political environment
• Legal environment
• Tehnology and innovation
II. Entrepreneurial ecosystem
5. Definition of entrepreneurial ecosystem
6. Models of entrepreneurial ecosystems
7. Actors and determinants of entrepreneurial ecosystems
• Entrepreneurship education
• Government policies and programs
• Entities of the innovative environment (accelerators, incubators, ...)
Learning and teaching methods
Lectures
Guest lectures
Case studies
Group discussions
Active teamwork
Seminar paper
Intended learning outcomes - knowledge and understanding
Development of knowledge and understanding
Students:
1. Gain detailed knowledge of business and entrepreneurial environment and are able to take good business decisions.
2. Learn to understand and analyse interconnections and interdependencies of enterprises, state, interest groups and individuals.
3. Develop the skills of information selection from public and media for business decisions.
4. Can demonstrate awareness of wider social and environmental ethical issues in areas of business operations in national and international business environment.
Intended learning outcomes - transferable/key skills and other attributes
Development of knowledge and understanding
Students:
1. Gain detailed knowledge of business and entrepreneurial environment and are able to take good business decisions.
2. Learn to understand and analyse interconnections and interdependencies of enterprises, state, interest groups and individuals.
3. Develop the skills of information selection from public and media for business decisions.
4. Can demonstrate awareness of wider social and environmental ethical issues in areas of business operations in national and international business environment.
Cognitive/Intellectual skills
Students:
1. Understand and apply critical analysis and theory development and their usability in solving real professional problems, with minimum guidance.
2. Get the ability to search for and synthesize new information from the field of business and entrepreneurial environment in literature and praxis.
Key/Transferable skills
Students:
1. Further develop skills and expertise in the use of knowledge in a specific working area.
2. Appreciation of diversity and multiculturality
3. Upgrade the ability to become an autonomous learner.
4. Upgrade the ability to apply information technology.
5. Upgrade the ability to work in pairs and groups.
6. Further develop their communication skills in an effective manner to effectively and professionally communicate.
Practical skills:
Students:
1. Get practical experience in the field of analysing business and entrepreneurial environment and decision making
2. Are able to act autonomously with defined guidelines and certain level of supervision.
Readings
1. Crnogaj, K. (2025). Poslovno okolje podjetja in podjetniški ekosistem. Gradivo za študij. Maribor: EPF UM (v pripravi).
2. Antončič, B. s soavtorji (2022). Podjetništvo. Glavni dejavnik razvoja. Ljubljana: Ekonomska fakulteta
3. Viri za izdelavo seminarske naloge, ki jih poiščejo študenti sami glede na konkretno izbrane probleme, ki jih v nalogah obravnavajo.
4. Izbrani poslovni primeri (selected business cases).
Additional information on implementation and assessment • Written examination 60%
• Seminar paper 30%
• Coursework 10%
Written exam or written assessment with midterm tests. The written assessment includes two midterm tests. Students shall pass the written examination if they achieve a total of 56% of the maximum possible marks in both intermediate tests.
A passing grade of the written exam is a prerequisite for considering the 30% of the achieved grade from seminar paper and 10% of the achieved grade from coursework.
