Management School – Undergraduate Coursework Specification 2023-24
Module Code: MGT380 Coursework Code: 1
Module Title: New Venture Creation
Date Available: Monday, 5th February, 2024
Submission details: Wednesday, 15th May 2024, 12pm (noon)
Electronic submission only through Blackboard.
You can submit your assignment multiple times to the submission link on the module Blackboard site. Each time you submit you will receive a Similarity
Report. You can check this and improve your referencing before the final deadline.
After 3 submissions you will need to wait 24hrs before you receive a new report.
Please note: each new submission replaces any previous submission. It is not possible to retrieve a previous submission.
Your final submission must be made before the deadline to avoid late penalties.
You should note that the time of submission is taken from once the document has been successfully uploaded and confirmed – this may take more than five
minutes during busy periods. Late penalties will be applied to any work submitted from 12.01pm on 15th May 2024 onwards. Details of how to calculate a
late penalty can be found in your programme Handbook. It is your responsibility to ensure the correct document/file has uploaded successfully.
When submitting students must:
1. Include a completed cover sheet (available from Blackboard (MOLE))
2. Use ‘Student Number, MGTXXX-1’ (e.g. 190011001 MGT380-1) as the document’s file name and also as the Assignment Title in Turnitin.
A penalty of 5 marks will be added for each student who does not comply with this.
Contribution to Final Mark for Module: 100 %
Maximum Word Length: 3000 words
Images, figures, tables, appendices, and list of references are not included in the word count. However, there is a limit on how many pages of appendices and
tables can be used. This limit is: No more than 3 pages in total of tables and No more than 5 pages in total of appendices. Tables or appendices exceeding
these pages limits will not be assessed. If you exceed the word length even by one word, you will be penalised. For details see the Management School
Handbooks.
Please note that SUMS does not have a word count tolerance - it is a stated maximum as outlined above.
Requirements:
One 3000-word written business plan to present, evaluate, and justify the design and foundations of a new venture. The document has a two-fold purpose. First,
it can guide you in the first year of setting up, running, leading, and funding the new venture, thus it needs to provide enough detail so the learner can refer
back to it to make decisions. Second, it can be used as a sales document to present the venture and the need for it/financial benefits to funders, banks, support
organisations or partners. The assignment requires the application of knowledge and skills gained by the student over the course of his/her management degree,
drawing on key areas of marketing, strategy, operations, OB, HRM, and finance and accounting. There is no template for the report, but it needs to address the
following topics:
• Executive summary
• Key product/service and customer needs it addresses
• Marketing plan with specific customer targets, relationships, strategies, and core messages
• Production, distribution, and reach
• Key resources and how they will be managed effectively (including human resources)
• Key partners and suppliers
• Strategic advantages and competitive analysis
• Financial feasibility and viability – fully developed costs structure and revenue streams
• Contingency planning (including a sensitivity analysis of different forecast sales/costs, risk management)
• You may also consider intellectual property protection for your venture if appropriate and relevant

Major decisions and forecasts should be realistic, credible, and evidenced. Good reports will present evidence in a credible and convincing manner.
There are no formatting requirements for the business report to allow you to express your creativity and use design elements to enhance the persuasive power
of the report and bring the new venture to life.

Assessment
criteria
<40%
Fail
40-44%
Pass
45-49%
3rd class
50-59%
2.2
60-69%
2.1
70-79%
1st class
80% and above
1st class
Presentation
and Structure

Poorly structured,
formatted, and
organised
document that lacks
clarity, coherence,
and creativity. Poor
attention to design
details (e.g. page
numbers, consistent
style, etc.).
Meaning is
frequently unclear
with many
grammatical or
spelling errors.
Some evidence for
clear structure, but
format and
presentation of
document lack
creativity and
persuasive flow.
Minimal attention
to design details
(e.g. page numbers,
consistent style,
etc.). Meaning is
clear, despite
frequent
grammatical and
spelling errors.
Mostly clear
structure with
logical flow.
Limited use of
design to present
the idea
coherently and
persuasively.
Meaning is
mostly clear and
easy to follow,
despite several
grammatical and
spelling errors.
Clear structure
and
presentation
with good
logical and
persuasive
flow. Good
use of basic
design
elements to
present the
idea
coherently and
persuasively.
Meaning is
clear and easy
to follow with
very few
grammatical
errors
Well presented,
clearly
structured, and
original report,
with good use of
design to
present core
ideas and
messages.
Meaning is clear
and easy to
follow with no
grammatical or
spelling errors.
This is a creative
and professional
report that is
coherent and
consistent. The
design of the
document is
consistent with
the venture’s
brand and vision.
Meaning is clear
and easy to
follow with no
grammatical or
spelling errors.
This is an excellent
report, presented
creatively,
beautifully, and
coherently. The
design of the
document is
exceptional to
bring the venture
and its brand to
life. Meaning is
clear and easy to
follow with no
grammatical or
spelling errors.
Product/service
Description

Poor
product/service
design with
limited and
unclear features.
No intellectual
property
protection
considered if
relevant.
Mediocre
product/service
design with
limited features.
Limited
evidence of
research or
understanding of
issues pertaining
to intellectual
property
Basic but
coherent
overview of
product and/or
service. Some
evidence of
research or
consideration
of intellectual
property
Sound overview
of product
and/or service
with clear
explanation for
core features.
Some evidence
of research on
intellectual
Good and clear
overview given
of product
and/or service
with significant
explanation of
features. Where
relevant
significant
discussion
relating to
Clear, concrete,
and concise
overview of the
product/service
with developed
explanation of
features. Where
relevant in-depth
discussion and
evidence of
research relating
Excellent, clear,
concrete, and
concise overview
of the
product/service.
Detailed and
connected
illustration of
product/service
design with its
features. Where
protection if
relevant.
protection if
relevant.
property
protection.
intellectual
property
protection
included.
to intellectual
property
protection
included.
relevant in-depth
discussion and
evidence of
research relating
to intellectual
property
protection
included.
Market
analysis,
research and
planning

No analysis of
key marketing
and competitive
challenges. No
evidence of
market research
completed. No
attempt to link
sales estimates
with market
research.
Limited market
analysis, which
lacks detail in
terms of
outlining
customer needs
and competitive
challenges. Poor
use of research
to justify targets,
design,
decisions, and
estimates.
Basic analysis
of the market
and key
competitive
challenges.
Some research
completed but
limited use of
findings to
justify targets,
design,
decisions, and
estimates.
Sound analysis
of market and
competitive
challenges and
opportunities.
Good use of
evidence to
justify targets,
design,
decisions,
and/or
estimates.
Meaningful and
well used
research to
develop market
and competitive
insights. Clear
links between
research insights
and targets,
design,
decisions, and
estimates.
Excellent research
and
understanding of
market and
competitive
challenges.
Detailed
overview of
market
segmentation.
Clear and
credible evidence
and justification
given for targets,
design,
decisions, and
estimates.
In-depth, multi-
dimensional, and
well executed
research to
develop
meaningful and
unique market
and competitive
insights.
Meaningful and
detailed customer
profiling with
clear customer
needs and how
they are
addressed. Clear,
credible, and
compelling
evidence and
justification given
for targets,
design, decisions,
and estimates.
Operations

No attempt to
give details of
operation in the
first years of
business.
Limited
presentation of
an operations
plan with
confused
understanding of
Basic
operations
plan outlined
with some
awareness of
generic
Sound
operations
plan developed
with clear
awareness of
key
Good operations
plan that
addresses the
needs of the
venture and
demonstrates
Credible and
thorough
overview of the
main operational
challenges of the
venture and
Compelling,
credible, and
thorough
overview of the
specific
operations of the
generic
operational
challenges and
needs.
operational
challenges,
needs, and
strengths.
operational
challenges,
needs, and
strengths.
awareness of its
implications and
limitations.
implications for
resources and/or
partnerships.
venture and
implications for
resources and
partnerships.
Financial
forecasting
Lacks reasonable
and justified
awareness of
financial
implications of
the venture idea.
Limited effort to
demonstrate
financial
implications of
the venture idea
and how they
will be
addressed
successfully.
Basic
presentation
of financial
implications
of the venture
idea and how
they will be
addressed
successfully.
Some or
incomplete
links to
market and
operations
planning.
Sound
presentation of
financial
implications of
the venture
idea in yearly
format, their
fluctuations,
and how they
will be
addressed
successfully.
Some clear
links to market
and operations
planning.
Some
estimates are
questionable
or missing.
Good presentation
of month-by-
month cash flow
forecasts for the
first year. There
may be some
indication of
cash flow
forecasts up to 3
years but not
fully developed.
Complete links
to market
research and
operations
given. Some
estimates are
overoptimistic.
Clear details of
start-up capital
needs.
Well-developed
presentation of
month-by-month
cash flow
forecasts for the
first year. Some
indication of
cash flow
forecasts for up
to 3 years that is
well developed.
Clear links to
design, market,
and operations
decisions and
their costs. A
credible business
idea with good
evidence for
financial
viability and
desirability.
Clear details of
start-up capital
and how they
will be
addressed.
Excellent
presentation of
month-by-month
cash flow
forecasts for the
first year. Some
indication of cash
flow forecasts for
up to 3 years
demonstrating the
longer-term
viability of the
venture. Robust
links to design,
market, and
operations
decisions clearly
shown and
accounted for.
Overall, a highly
credible business
idea with
thorough
evidence for
financial viability
and desirability.
Clear details of
start-up capital
and how they will
be addressed.
Referencing: you must reference your work correctly using the Harvard method using either in-text citations, endnotes or footnotes. Failure to do so will
result in the deduction of marks and possible proceedings under the University's Regulations as to the Use of Unfair Means.
Independence of working:
You are reminded of the University's Regulations on the Use of Unfair Means and academic integrity which are outlined in the School's Handbooks. If there
is a suspicion that your work is not your own and that you have used unfair means or there is suspicion of a breach of academic integrity in writing this
assessment then you may be referred to our unfair means officers to consider your work. Therefore, you are advised to ensure that you undertake the relevant
guidance on the module site or programme level sites that you have access too. If you cannot access these, please contact the Student Experience Office.
Other Submission Details:
• Use the standard Management School cover sheet
• Have the accurate word count given on the cover sheet
• Use 1.5 line spacing
• Have all pages numbered except the first
• Be properly spell checked
• Be made attractive with suitable use of headings, paragraphs and sections
• Be properly referenced to the Management School version of Harvard referencing
Resit:
One 3000-word written business plan to present, evaluate, and justify the design and foundations of a new venture.
Please note that the idea submitted for the resit needs to be different from the original idea submitted during the semester. However, all criteria
remain the same.
Other matters: Generative AI guidance for MGT380 assessment
Restrictions on use of GenAI:
Some restricted use of Generative AI (GenAI) tools is permitted in some aspects of your MGT380 assignment preparation, but you must ensure that the work
you submit is entirely your own. It is unacceptable to submit assignment content that has been generated by GenAI. If you use GenAI tools to generate work
and intentionally pass this off as your own, this will be considered as using unfair means. Please see University guidance on unfair means and AI.
Risks of GenAI use and alternative approaches:
Using GenAI tools in your work can present a number of risks. For example, how do you know that information generated by AI tools is accurate? It is also
known that GenAI tools are likely to provide inaccurate references or sources for the information presented. Reliance on GenAI can also put limits on the
scope of your research, as well as your critical analysis and conclusions. Instead, there are many quality sources of organisation and industry data for you to
explore (for example you have access to a range of Databases such as “Mintel Reports” and “FAME” from the University Library) as well as quality
academic outputs (See Reading List on Blackboard and references included on the lecture slides).
Please carefully review the University guidance on using GenAI.
Types and permitted uses of GenAI:
• You are permitted to use GenAI for the purposes of checking and improving your grammar, vocabulary or spelling for your MGT380 assignment.
• You are permitted to use GenAI for initial background research on potential organisations or industries for your MGT380 assignment (e.g., Google
Gemini). Please note, to reiterate, it is unacceptable to submit assignment content that has been generated by GenAI.
Declaring use of GenAI in your assignment:
If you use GenAI tools (e.g. for initial background research or to improve your grammar, vocabulary or spelling), you must disclose this by using the
Acknowledge, Describe, Evidence template. Include the completed template as an appendix to your assessment. If you have used GenAI for language
improvement, you could be asked to submit the draft (pre-GenAI) version of the work alongside the final version.