MNE3701/101/3//2022
Tutorial Letter 101/3/2022
Entrepreneurship and Small Business
Management
MNE3701
Semesters 1 and 2
Department of Applied Management
This tutorial letter contains important information about your module.
BARCODE
CONTENTS
Page
1
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 3
2
PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES ........................................................................................................ 3
2.1
Purpose .......................................................................................................................................... 3
2.2
Outcomes ....................................................................................................................................... 4
3
CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION ............................................................................................ 4
4
LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS .................................................................................... 4
4.1
Lecturer(s) ...................................................................................................................................... 4
4.2
Department ..................................................................................................................................... 5
4.3
University ........................................................................................................................................ 5
5
RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................. 7
5.1
Prescribed book(s) .......................................................................................................................... 7
5.2
Recommended book(s) .................................................................................................................. 7
5.3
Electronic reserves (e-reserves) ..................................................................................................... 7
6
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................................................. 8
6.1
First-Year Experience Programme @ Unisa .................................................................................. 8
7
STUDY PLAN ................................................................................................................................. 8
8
PRACTICAL WORK ....................................................................................................................... 9
9
ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................... 9
9.1
Assessment criteria ........................................................................................................................ 9
9.2
Assessment plan .......................................................................................................................... 10
9.3
Assignment due dates .................................................................................................................. 10
9.4
Submission of assignments .......................................................................................................... 11
9.5
The assignments .......................................................................................................................... 11
9.6
Other assessment methods .......................................................................................................... 11
9.7
The examination ........................................................................................................................... 11
10
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY .......................................................................................................... 11
10.1
Plagiarism ..................................................................................................................................... 11
10.2
Cheating ....................................................................................................................................... 12
10.3
More information about plagiarism can be downloaded on the link below .................................... 12
11
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ................................................................................................ 12
12
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS .......................................................................................... 12
13
SOURCES CONSULTED ............................................................................................................. 12
14
IN CLOSING ................................................................................................................................. 12
2
MNE3701/101/3/2022
Dear Student
1
INTRODUCTION
We have pleasure in welcoming you to this module on Entrepreneurship and Small Business
Management and trust that you will find it a rewarding and interesting area of study. This module
is offered online. Thus, you will only access your study material and interact with the lecturer
through myUnisa. We shall do our best to make your study of this module successful. You will be
well on your way to success if you start studying early in the semester and resolve to do the
assignments properly. You will receive several tutorial letters during the year. A tutorial letter is
our way of communicating with you about teaching, learning and assessment.
Tutorial Letter 101 contains important information about the scheme of work, resources and
assignments for this module. We urge you to read it carefully and to keep it at hand when working
through the study material, preparing the assignments and addressing questions to your lecturers.
In Tutorial Letter 101, you will find assessment criteria as well as instructions on the preparation
and submission of the assignments. This tutorial letter also provides all the information you need
regarding the prescribed study material and other resources and how to obtain it. Please study
this information carefully and make sure that you obtain the prescribed material as soon as
possible.
We have also included certain general and administrative information about this module. Please
study this section of the tutorial letter carefully.
Right from the start we would like to point out that you must read all the tutorial letters you receive
during the semester immediately and carefully, as they always contain important and, sometimes,
urgent information.
Since this is a fully online module, you need to use myUnisa to study and complete the learning
activities for this course. You need to visit the website for MNE3701 on myUnisa frequently. The
website for your module is MNE3701-22-S1/MNE3701-22-S2.
Since this is a fully online module, you need to go online to see your study material, complete the
learning activities for this course as well as interact with you lecturer. Go to the website here:
https://my.unisa.ac.za and log in with your student number and password. You will see MNE370122-S1/MNE3701-22-S2 in the row of modules in the orange blocks across the top of the webpage.
Remember to check in the – More – tab if you cannot find it in the orange blocks. Click on the
module you want to open.
We wish you success on your journey!
2
PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES
2.1
Purpose
The purpose of this module is to empower you, the student, with the competencies (knowledge,
skills, values and attitudes) necessary to understand entrepreneurship and manage a small
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business.
The module is delivered via myUnisa, the internet, peer group interaction, and community
engagement in some of the activities. Your lecturers will interact with you on myUnisa and via
email.
2.2
Outcomes
For this module, there are several outcomes that we hope you will be able to accomplish by the
end of the course:
• Specific outcome 1: Students can develop a new venture business plan and present it to
investors.
• Specific outcome 2: Students can apply small business marketing concepts and
principles relating to customer relations, product, pricing, promotion and distribution
channel strategies in the market environment.
• Specific outcome 3: Students can manage the operations of a small business in an
ethically and socially responsible manner regarding professionalism, human resource
management, operations management and computer-based technology.
• Specific outcome 4: Students can demonstrate the ability to evaluate a small business’s
financial performance, manage its assets and understand the impact of business risk.
3
CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION
Unisa has implemented a transformation charter based on five pillars and eight dimensions. In
response to this charter, we have placed curriculum transformation high on the teaching and
learning agenda. Curriculum transformation includes the following pillars: student-centred
scholarship, the pedagogical renewal of teaching and assessment practices, the scholarship of
teaching and learning, and the infusion of African epistemologies and philosophies. These pillars
and their principles will be integrated at both programme and module levels as a phased-in
approach. You will notice a marked change in the teaching and learning strategy implemented by
Unisa, together with how the content is conceptualised in your modules. We encourage you to
embrace these changes during your studies at Unisa in a responsive way within the framework
of transformation.
4
LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS
4.1
Lecturer(s)
The contact details for the primary lecturer responsible for this module for the 2022 academic
year are as follows:
Primary lecturer
Contact details
Mr SJ Chiromo
echirosj@unisa.ac.za
Telephone
012 429 6196
The contact details for the secondary lecturer for this module are as follows:
Secondary lecturer
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Contact details
MNE3701/101/3/2022
Ms Winnet Sami
samiwt@unisa.ac.za
The contact details of the Entrepreneurship Section Head are as follows:
Entrepreneurship Section Head
Contact details
Ms Nonceba Ntoyanto
ntoyan@unisa.ac.za
Only queries about the content of this module should be directed to the primary lecturer, not
administrative queries. Please have your study material with you when you contact the lecturer.
When you contact the lecturer via e-mail, please remember to always include your student
number in the subject heading. This will help us to assist you.
Lecturer availability
The lecturer for this module will be available to take phone calls on academic matters and/or to
attend to students who may prefer to visit personally for academic engagement. However, the
days and times of the lecturer’s availability will be communicated on the module page on myUnisa.
These days and times are subject to change from time to time to accommodate the lecturer’s
work schedule and other commitments. The changes in the days and times will be communicated
by the lecturer in advance through the announcement option on myUnisa as and when this
happens. Students are advised to check the module page on myUnisa before making phone calls
or visiting the lecturer’s office for academic enquiries/engagements.
4.2
Department
Please note that the contact details for the Department of Applied Management are listed below.
Department of Applied Management
Contact details
Help Desk
012 433 4696
dam@unisa.ac.za
Department secretary
4.3
groensf@unisa.ac.za
University
To contact the university, you should follow the instructions in the Study @ Unisa brochure.
Remember to have your student number available when you contact the university.
Unisa students, who are experiencing difficulties in getting timely responses to queries, are invited
to use the contact details that are provided in the schedule below or to send details to the student
help desk. Students must check the list carefully and only send an enquiry to one email address
at a time. This will ensure that there is no confusion as to who must respond. This arrangement
is being implemented as a further measure of improving the quality of assistance and support
being provided to current and prospective students. Unisa continuously assesses, through
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surveys, the quality of service provided to students with a view to implementing improvements in
its strategies.
Several administrative processes, including the ease and convenience of fee payment, and clarity
and availability of information about examinations, as well as examination timetables, are
available on the following platforms:
UNISA website
http://www.unisa.ac.za & http://mobi.unisa.ac.za
All study-related information is now available on the new Unisa corporate
website in both web and mobi formats
Internet
https://my.unisa.ac.za/portal & https://my.unisa.ac.za/portal/pda
Students can access their own information via myUnisa website or the mobi
site
E-mail
info@unisa.ac.za for general enquiries
study-info@unisa.ac.za for application and registration-related enquiries
(prospective and registered students)
assign@unisa.ac.za for assignment enquiries
exams@unisa.ac.za for examination enquiries
despatch@unisa.ac.za for study material enquiries
finan@unisa.ac.za for student account enquiries
gaudeamus@unisa.ac.za for graduation enquiries
myUnisaHelp@unisa.ac.za for assistance with myUnisa
myLifeHelp@unisa.ac.za for assistance with myLife email accounts
Add module code and student number to subject line of all emails.
SMS
The SMS numbers are only for students residing in South Africa.
International students are urged to make use of the e-mail address:
info@unisa.ac.za.
43578 for applications and registrations
43584 for assignments
43584 for examinations
43579 for study material
31954 for student accounts
43582 for myUnisa and myLife.
Fax
+27 (0)12 429 4150
Students can fax their enquiries to this number, whereafter it will be
distributed to and processed by the relevant department.
Physical
address
University of South Africa
Preller Street
Muckleneuk
Pretoria
Postal address
University of South Africa
PO Box 392
Unisa
0003
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MNE3701/101/3/2022
5
RESOURCES
5.1
Prescribed book(s)
To complete this module successfully, you must purchase the prescribed book. Your prescribed
textbook for this module for this year is:
Longenecker, JG, Petty, JW, Palich, LE, Hoy, F, Radipere, S & Phillips, M. 2017. Small Business
Management: Launching and Growing Entrepreneurial Ventures. SA edition. Cengage Learning.
ISBN-:978-1-4737-3448-7
This book is available at the booksellers as indicated in the Study @ Unisa brochure.
5.2
Recommended book(s)
There are no other recommended books for this module.
5.3
Electronic reserves (e-reserves)
There are no electronic e-reserves for this module. Refer to your Study @ Unisa brochure for
further information.
5.4 Library services and resources information
The Unisa Library offers a range of information services and resources:
•
•
•
For brief information, go to https://www.unisa.ac.za/library/libatglance
For more detailed library information, go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library
For research support and services (e.g., personal librarians and literature search
services), go to http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Libraryservices/Research-support
The library has created numerous library guides: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za
Recommended guides:
•
•
•
•
•
Request and find library material/download recommended material:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/request
Postgraduate information services: http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/postgrad
Finding and using library resources and tools:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/Research_skills
Frequently asked questions about the library:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
Services to students living with disabilities:
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/disability
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Important contact information:
•
Ask a librarian: https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
•
Technical problems accessing library online services: Lib-help@unisa.ac.za
•
General library-related queries: Library-enquiries@unisa.ac.za
•
For queries related to library fines and payments: Library-fines@unisa.ac.za
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STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
The Study @ Unisa website is available on myUnisa: www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies
The website has all the tips and information you need to succeed at Unisa. It is also advisable to
have contact with fellow students. One way of doing this is to form study groups on myUnisa.
6.1
First-Year Experience Programme @ Unisa
For many students, the transition from school education to tertiary education is beset with anxiety.
This is also true for first-time students to Unisa. Unisa is a dedicated open distance and e-learning
institution. Unlike face-to-face/contact institutions, Unisa is somewhat different. It is a mega
university, and all our programmes are offered through a blended learning mode or fully online
learning mode. It is for this reason that we thought it necessary to offer first-time students
additional/extended support so that you can seamlessly navigate the Unisa teaching and learning
journey with little difficulty and few barriers. In this regard we offer a specialised student support
programme to students entering Unisa for the first time. We refer to this programme as Unisa’s
First-Year Experience (FYE) Programme. The FYE is designed to provide you with prompt and
helpful information about services that the institution offers and how you can access information.
The following FYE programmes are currently offered:
•
FYE website: All the guides and resources you need to navigate through your first year at
Unisa can be accessed using the following link: www.unisa.ac.za/FYE
•
FYE e-mails: You will receive regular e-mails to help you stay focused and motivated.
•
FYE broadcasts: You will receive e-mails with links to broadcasts on various topics related to
your first-year studies (e.g., videos on how to submit assignments online).
•
FYE mailbox: For assistance with queries related to your first year of study, send an e-mail to
fye@unisa.ac.za
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STUDY PLAN
Since this is only one of many modules you might be registered for, you will have to schedule and
plan your time this year in order to complete this module successfully. We all have different
learning styles and preferences. However, consider the following guidelines:
•
•
•
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Allocate time to work through each learning unit and do the activities.
Allow extra time for work that seems difficult or work with which you are experiencing
problems.
Allow time for personal responsibilities (family responsibilities, work obligations, social
obligations, leave) when compiling a study plan.
MNE3701/101/3/2022
•
•
Make use of your most productive time for study (late evening or early morning).
Remember that it is more effective to study for one hour on a regular basis (every day)
than for ten consecutive hours every second week. Decide how many hours you are going
to spend on your studies each week. We recommend that you put one to two hours aside
each day.
•
Keep a record of your progress. It will be gratifying to see what you have accomplished,
and it will inspire you if you fall behind. Be prepared for disruptions to your study
programme due to unforeseen circumstances. You should, therefore, monitor your
progress so that you can catch up immediately if you fall behind. Remember that it is easier
to catch up on one week's lost hours than that of an entire month.
•
Examination dates are subject to change, which means that you will have to adapt your
study plan accordingly if any changes occur.
The textbook is the framework of what we will cover during the semester. Work through it from
the beginning, one chapter at a time. The following is a recommended time schedule, which may
be used as a guideline for studying this module:
Activity
Hours
Reading relevant chapters in the prescribed book
40
Doing the activities in the textbook
10
Doing the assignments
10
Studying the prescribed book
50
Final revision
10
TOTAL
120
You can also use the electronic schedule on myUnisa or the study plan document in the brochure,
Study @ Unisa, to compile a comprehensive plan for all your modules if you prefer. Your approach
to this module should start with understanding the learning outcomes and then you will need to
master the key concepts listed in the prescribed textbook to achieve the learning outcomes for
this module.
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PRACTICAL WORK
There is no practical work for this module.
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ASSESSMENT
9.1
Assessment criteria
•
To complete this module, you will be required to submit SIX assignments.
•
All information on when and where to submit your assignments will be made available to you
via the myUnisa site for your module.
•
Due dates for assignments, as well as the actual assignments are available on the myUnisa
site for this module.
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•
Your assignments will comprise a combination of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and
essay-type assignments.
•
The assignment weighting for the module is 100%.
The module is assessed through continuous assessment. This means that you are not going to
write an examination, but that all the assignments that you complete throughout the year will
contribute towards your final mark. Continuous assessment refers to the ongoing periodic and
systematic assessment and evaluation of students during the process of learning using a variety
of assessment methods throughout the tuition period. It is an alternative to a single, final
summative assessment, as only these cumulative assessments contribute to the final mark.
WEIGHTING OF ASSESSMENTS
9.2
Assignment
Specific outcomes
Weightings
Assignment 01
Assignment 02
Assignment 03
Assignment 04
Assignment 05
Assignment 06
1
2
3
4
2&4
1-4
10%
15%
15%
15%
15%
30%
Accumulative
weight
10%
25%
40%
55%
70%
100%
Assessment plan
•
All information on when and where to submit your assignments will be made available to you
via the myUnisa site for your module.
•
Due dates for assignments, as well as the actual assignments are available on the myUnisa
site for this module.
•
Your assignments will comprise a combination of multiple-choice questions and essay
questions.
9.3
Assignment due dates
•
No assignment due dates are included in this tutorial letter.
•
Assignment due dates will be made available to you on the landing page of myUnisa for this
module. We envisage that the due dates will be available to you upon registration.
•
Please start working on your assignments as soon as you register for the module.
•
Log on to the myUnisa site for this module to obtain more information on the due dates for the
submission of the assignments.
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MNE3701/101/3/2022
9.4
Submission of assignments
•
Modules offered by Unisa are either blended (meaning that we use a combination of printed
and online material to engage with you) or online (all information is available via the internet).
In all cases of online engagement, we use myUnisa as our virtual campus.
•
From 2022, the myUnisa virtual campus will be offered via a new learning management
system. This is an online system that is used to administer, document and deliver educational
material to you and support engagement with you.
•
Look out for information from your lecturer as well as other Unisa platforms to determine how
to access the virtual myUnisa module site.
•
Information on the tools that will be available to engage with the lecturer and fellow students
to support your learning will also be communicated via various platforms.
•
The university undertakes to communicate as clearly and as frequently as is necessary to
ensure optimum advantage in the use of the new learning management system.
•
Additional information on the use of the myUnisa site for the module, as well as features to
engage and communicate with your lecturer and other students will also be made available
via the online site for the module.
•
Therefore, log on to the myUnisa site for your module to gain more information on where to
complete and/or upload your assignments and how to communicate with your lecturer.
9.5
The assignments
As indicated in section 9.2, information regarding assignments will be available on the myUnisa
platform.
9.6
Other assessment methods
There are no other assessment methods.
9.7
The examination
Assessment information and details on the format of the assignments will be made available to
you online via the myUnisa site. Look out for information that will be shared with you by your
lecturer and e-tutors (where relevant) and for communication from the university.
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ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
10.1
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of taking the words, ideas and thoughts of others and presenting them as
your own. It is a form of theft which involves several dishonest academic activities, such as the
following:
•
•
Cutting and pasting from any source without acknowledging the source.
Not including or using incorrect references.
11
•
10.2
Paraphrasing without acknowledging the original source of the information.
Cheating
Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following:
•
•
•
•
10.3
Completing assessments on behalf of another student, copying from another student
during an assessment or allowing a student to copy from you.
Using social media (e.g., WhatsApp, Telegram) or other platforms to disseminate
assessment information.
Submitting corrupt or irrelevant files.
Buying completed answers from “tutors” or internet sites (contract cheating).
More information about plagiarism can be downloaded on the link below
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Study-@-Unisa/Student-values-and-rules
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STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
The Advocacy and Resource Centre for Students with Disabilities ARCSWiD) provides an
opportunity for staff to interact with new and returning students with disabilities.
•
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If you are a student with a disability and would like additional support or need additional time
for assessments, you are invited to contact the lecturer, Mr SJ Chiromo, email
echirosj@unisa.ac.za
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The Study @ Unisa brochure contains an A–Z guide of the most relevant study information. Visit
Unisa’s website www.unisa.ac.za and click on the Search/Ask us icon.
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SOURCES CONSULTED
Source consulted is Longenecker, JG, Petty, JW, Palich, LE, Hoy, F, Radipere, S & Phillips, M.
2017. Small Business Management: Launching and Growing Entrepreneurial Ventures. SA
edition. Cengage Learning.
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IN CLOSING
We strongly advise you to begin studying immediately. The first assignment is due early in the
semester. Do not hesitate to contact your lecturer by email if you are experiencing problems with
the content of this tutorial letter or any aspect of the module.
I wish you all the best and a successful academic year. We hope that you find this module
interesting and helpful, and that it will make a positive contribution to both your personal
development and your career.
Enjoy the journey!
Kind regards
Mr SJ Chiromo.
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MNE3701/101/3/2022
Section: Entrepreneurship
Department of Applied Management
College of Economic and Management Sciences
Unisa
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