UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA

KOLEJ PERNIAGAAN

COURSE CODE: BPME 3013

COURSE: BUSINESS GROWTH MANAGEMENT
PREREQUISITE: SADE 1013 FUNDAMENTALS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

1.0 SYNOPSIS

This course requires students to apply the skills and knowledge gained in other
courses of entrepreneurship. This course will preliminarily focus on issues in
managing a growing business such as identifying and sharing of vision, managing
limited resources, staff recruitments, training and development as well as capital
formation. This course will also concentrate on the strategies for growth-stage
businesses to expand operations significantly as well as some challenges faced by
many growth-stage business owners in managing the business’ internal operations
effectively and efficiently.

2.0 OBJECTIVES

Upon successful completion of the course, the students should be able to:

2.1 explain the concept of growth-stage businesses.

2.2 compare strategies in expanding growth-stage businesses’ operations.
2.3 discuss the important issues and/or challenges in managing a growth-stage
business.

3.0 LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of the course, the students should be able to

3.1 explain the concept of growth-stage businesses.

3.2 compare the strategies to expand growth-stage businesses.
3.3 discuss the important issues and challenges that might affect the management of
growing businesses.

4.0 MAIN REFERENCES

Barringer, B. R., & Ireland, R. D. (2015). Entrepreneurship: Successful launching

new ventures. (5th edition). US: Prentice Hall.

Allen, K. R. (2009). Launching new ventures: An entrepreneurial approach. US:

Houghton Mifflin Company.

Kuratko, D. F., & Welsch, H. P. (2004). Strategic entrepreneurial growth (2nd ed.).
US: South-Western.
Sherman, A.J. (2001). Fast-track business growth: Smart strategies to grow without

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 getting derailed. US: Kiplinger Books.

Wilson, P., & Bates, S. (2003). The essential guide to managing small business
growth. England: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

OTHER REFERENCES

Allen, K. R. (1999). Growing and managing an entrepreneurial business. US:

Houghton Mifflin.
Barringer, B. R., & Ireland, R. D. (2008). Entrepreneurship: Successful launching
new ventures. (2nd edition). US: Prentice Hall.
Gray, C. (1991). The Barclays guide to managing growth in the small business. UK:
Basil Blackwell Ltd.
Kuratko, D. F., & Hodgetts, R. M. (2007). Entrepreneurship: Theory, process,
practice (7th ed.). US: Thomson South-Western.
McKeran, D. (1990). Planning for growth: The key to business development. UK:
Gold Arrow Publications Ltd.
Zimmerer, T. W., & Scarborough, N. M. (2005). Essential of entrepreneurship and
small business management (4th ed.). US: Prentice Hall.

5.0 CONTENTS

NO. TOPICS HOURS

1 1.0 Introduction 6
1.1 An overview: The concept of entrepreneurship and small
business
1.2 Characteristics of a successful entrepreneur
1.3 Decision to become an entrepreneur
1.4 Organisational life cycle and entrepreneurial process
1.5 The definition of business growth
1.6 Understanding the growth stage
1.7 Common traits and best practices of successful rapid-growth
companies
1.8 The main problems facing the growing business:
1.8.1 Lack of time
1.8.2 Growth in confusion
1.8.3 Low staff morales
1.8.4 Overcrowding
1.8.5 Weak financial records and cash management
1.8.6 Management problems/Management of change
1.8.7 Inappropriate marketing
1.8.8 Lack of forward planning
1.9 Platforms for accelerating growth:
1.9.1 Operational growth
1.9.2 Innovative growth
1.9.3 Strategic growth

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NO. TOPICS HOURS
2 2.0 Challenges/Obstacles faced by growing businesses
2.1 Cash flow management 3
2.2 Price stability
2.3 Quality control
2.4 Capital constraints
2.5 Understanding the challenges/obstacles of managing
growing businesses
2.6 Building the adaptive firm
2.7 The transition from an entrepreneur to a manager
2.8 Balancing the managerial and entrepreneurial mindsets
2.9 Managing ‘paradox’ and ‘contradiction’
2.10Confronting the growth wall
2.11Strengthening the ethics in growing business
2.12Making change happen

3 3.0 Entrepreneurial environment

3.1 SWOT Analysis 3
3.1 Strengths (eg: KSF, competitive advantage etc)
3.2 Weaknesses
3.3 Opportunities
3.4 Threats
3.2 Feasibility analysis
3.3 Planning for business growth
3.3.1 Preparing the business growth plan
3.3.2 Common myths regarding business growth plans
3.3.3 The importance of strategic planning for business growth
3.3.4 Planning for business growth
4 4.0 Ethical and legal issues related to managing growing 6
businesses
4.1 Introduction to ethical and legal issues in growing businesses
4.2 Establishing business codes
4.2.1 Ethical issues and making a business decision
4.2.2 Legal forms of businesses
4.2.2.1 Sole proprietorships
4.2.2.2 Partnerships
4.2.2.3 Corporations
4.3 Managing a growing business in terms of
4.3.1 Time management
4.3.2 Human capital management
4.3.2.1 Job analysis
4.3.2.2 Preparing job descriptions
4.3.2.3 Recruiting and training
4.3.2.4 Motivating and compensating staff
4.3.2.5 Staffing alternatives
4.3.3 Developing the right team for growth
4.3.3.1 Analysing job requirements
4.3.3.2 Structuring the organisation
4.3.3.3 Producing clear job descriptions
4.3.3.4 Controlling the workforce

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NO. TOPICS HOURS
4.4 Premises management
4.4.1 Identify the needs of premises
4.4.2 Effective use of premises
4.5 Capital requirements for business growth & keep finance
under control
4.5.1 Sources of capital
4.5.2 strategies for raising capital
4.5.3 The usage of capital/finacial information
4.5.4 Aviod the practice of overtrading
4.5.5 Financing growth
5 5.0 The importance of intellectual property for growing businesses 3
5.1 What is intellectual property (IP)?
5.2 Protecting and leveraging your intangible assets
5.3 Determining what IP to legally protect
5.4 Patents
5.5 Trademarks
5.6 Copyright
6 6.0 Growth strategies
6.1 Factors that affect growth 9
6.1.1 Entrepreneurs own desires and characteristics
6.1.2 Target market characteristics
6.1.3 Competitors characteristics
6.1.4 Levels of innovation of an industry
6.1.5 Forecasting of an industry
6.1.6 Barriers to enter an industry
6.2 Growth strategies
6.2.1 Strategic innovation
6.2.2 Growing within the current market
6.2.3 Growing within the industry
6.2.4 Growing outside the industry
6.2.5 Growing by going global
6.3 Identify and compete with competitors
6.4 Facing the challenges of globalisation and liberalisation
6.5 Evaluating a firm’s overall suitability for growth through
international market
7 7.0 Managing the risks and stress
7.1 Types of risks 3
7.2 The importance of risk management
7.3 Taking risk in uncertain times
7.4 Dealing with stress
7.5 Sources of stress
7.6 The importance of dealing with stress
8 8.0 Managing the challenges and issues of growth
8.1 Managing disputes, the darkside of growing and other issues 9
on organisations
8.2 Bankruptcy
8.3 Technology and growing business
8.4 Other Issues
8.5 Group presentation

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 NO. TOPICS HOURS
TOTAL 42

6.0 TEACHING METHODS

Lectures and discussions.

7.0 EVALUATION

Course work 60%

Final examination 40%