Content (Syllabus outline)
1. Understanding gazelles: Global trends, economic contribution of gazelles, definitions and criteria, impact on sustainable development, gazelle categorisation and methodology, government initiatives and sustainable contribution.
2. The phenomenon of corporate growth: Drivers of corporate growth, the concept of corporate growth, growth rates, causes of corporate growth.
3. Models of entrepreneurial growth: Linear growth theory, Accelerated growth model, S-curve growth model, Network spread and Metcalfe's law, Diffusion of innovation theory, Blue Ocean Strategy.
4. Growth challenges and leadership: leadership and management of growing companies, personal qualities of leaders, the dynamic entrepreneur as leader.
5. Developing a growth strategy: Market penetration, conducting a strategic review, scaling and growth strategies, expansion and development, diversification.
6. Financing for sustainable growth: Sources of finance, bank loans, ethical and sustainable finance, angel and venture finance, crowdfunding.
7. Talent management and organisational culture in a growing company: The meaning and definition of talent, the impact on the
competitiveness of the company, the processes of attracting, developing and retaining talent, the importance of culture and the key elements of culture.
8. Corporate maturity, success and failure: Reasons for business failure, failure in large companies, corporate philanthropy.
9. The path to sustainable growth: The meaning of sustainable growth, strategies for sustainable growth, challenges and obstacles to achieving sustainability.
Learning and teaching methods
- lectures
- guest lectures
- case studies analysis and presentations
- active team work
- active individual work
- group discussions
- analyzing and planning growth of existing firm
- use of the GVIN database
Intended learning outcomes - knowledge and understanding
Development of knowledge and understanding:
Students:
1. Acquire specific knowledge in the field of understanding the importance and specialties of business growth.
2. Have a detailed knowledge of theories in the specific field of managing the key aspects of business growth and the integration of sustainable practices that support them.
3. Are able to explain key concepts, legality and interconnections in the field of business growth models.
4. Develop skills to review the gained results in the field of evaluation of potential financial projects which are essentiality connected with successful business growth, including assessing the effectiveness of digital tools for sustainability reporting and analysis.
5. Learn how to analyse and synthesise different approaches in dealing with growing pains.
6. Are able to upgrade and design analysis regarding business growth planning.
7. Are aware of personal and professional responsibility in the field of implementing business growth strategies, including adherence to sustainability and digital ethical standards in the business world.
Intended learning outcomes - transferable/key skills and other attributes
Cognitive/Intellectual skills:
Students:
1. Understand and apply critical analysis and theory development and their usability in solving real and abstract professional problems, without guidance.
2. Get the ability to search for and synthesize new information from the field of business growth in literature and praxis, including digital resources and tools for sustainability analytics.
3. Synthesize different knowledge and procedures and are aware of importance of use of professional literature.
4. Can select appropriate techniques for problem solving and are able to evaluate the importance and significance of data, using digital analytics platforms to understand the data in more depth.
5. Can identify key aspects of problem from different viewpoints.
Key/Transferable skills:
Students:
1. Further develop skills and expertise in the use of knowledge in a specific working area.
2. Upgrade the ability to become an autonomous learner.
3. Upgrade the ability to apply information technology, including advanced digital tools and technologies that support sustainable development.
4. Upgrade the ability for teamwork and team leadership.
5. Further develop their communication skills in an effective manner to effectively solve conflicts.
Practical skills:
Student:
1. Get practical experience in the field of managing business growth, using digital tools and technologies to monitor and improve sustainable practices.
2. Is able to act autonomously with minimal guidelines and supervision, with the ability to use digital tools for independent analysis and decision-making.
Readings
Obvezna študijska literature (Compulsory textbooks):
1. Širec, K. (2024). Obvladovanje trajnostne rasti podjetja. Maribor: Ekonomsko-poslovna fakulteta (v pripravi).
2. Širec, K. & Crnogaj, K. (2020). Obvladovanje rasti podjetja: študijsko gradivo. Maribor: Ekonomsko-poslovna fakulteta.
Dodatna študijska literature (Additonal textbooks):
3. Tajnikar, M. (2006). Tvegano poslovanje: Knjiga o poslovanju rastočih poslov. Ljubljana: Ekonomska fakulteta.
4. Širec, K. & Crnogaj K. (2010). Slovenske gazele in njihov družbeno-ekonomski pomen. V: Širec, K., Rebernik, M. (ur.): Vrzeli slovenskega podjetniškega okolja: Slovenski podjetniški observatorij 2009/10, Univerza v Mariboru, Ekonomsko-poslovna fakulteta, Maribor, str. 45 – 60.
5. Izbrana poglavja in teme iz: Global Entrepreneurship Monitor ter Slovenski podjetniški observatorij, zadnja izdaja, dostopno na spletnih straneh Inštituta za podjetništvo in management malih podjetij http://ipmmp.um.si/.
Izbrana poglavja iz:
6. Antončič, B., Ruzzier, M. & Bratkovič, T. (2008). Primeri iz podjetništva: problematika rasti podjetja. Koper: Društvo za akademske in aplikativne raziskave.
7. Burns, P. (2022). Entrepreneurship and Small Business; Start-up, Growth and Maturity. New York: Palgrave Macmillan Education, 5th edition.
Izbrane študije primerov (Selected case studies).
Predpisani članki iz tujih revij (bodo vedno aktualizirani)/(prescribed articles from international reviews)
Časopisi in revije (magazines and rewievs):
Finance, Podjetnik, Manager, Gazela-SLO
Additional information on implementation and assessment Type (examination, oral, coursework, project):
- coursework 10%
- seminar paper 30%
- written exam 60%
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 pass mark in the written examination is a prerequisite for a 30% pass mark in the seminar work and a 10% pass mark for coursework.
