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Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Code: 104956
Credits: 3
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Tourism OP 4

Contact lecturer

Name :
Sebastián Aparicio Rincon
Email :
sebastian.aparicio@uab.cat

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites

Objectives

This subject is part of a series of courses taught in the Bachelor’s Degrees in Tourism and Hotel Management, which are related to business management. Nonetheless, this subject is transversal to the contents of entrepreneurship, and particularly of new business formation and innovation within the context of the tourism sector. The subject is more focused on practical issues, and it seeks to apply the theoretical contents of entrepreneurship and innovation through exercises, applied cases, as well as other complementary activities for entrepreneurship.

By the end of this course, the student will be able to:

1. To know the more relevant theoretical models and the key concepts of entrepreneurship, new business formation and innovation.

2. To know the new business creation process: from the idea identification through the entrepreneurial project.

3. To be able to identify and understand the different resources necessary for the development and progression of any business.

4. To know the characteristics of a successful entrepreneur and how to identify, acquire, and implement personal disciplines and behaviors.

5. To understand and apply knowledge acquired during the course to carry out an entrepreneurial project.

Learning outcomes

  1. Develop a capacity for independent learning.
  2. Use communication techniques at all levels.
  3. Take decisions in situations of uncertainty, taking into account potential consequences of these decisions in the short, medium and long term.
  4. Plan, organise and coordinate a work team, creating synergies and showing empathy.
  5. Work in a team.
  6. Have a business vision, pinpoint the customer's needs and pre-empt possible changes in the environment.
  7. Behave responsibly towards the environment.
  8. Discern the function, nature and scope of marketing in the organisation.
  9. Identify and evaluate new business opportunities in the sector.
  10. Identify the resources and capacities needed to develop new businesses.
  11. Make judgements and choices in the area of human resources, establishing suitable channels for implementing and monitoring strategies in this area.
  12. Develop skills in leadership and conflict management.
  13. Behave ethically and adapt to different intercultural contexts.
  14. Display a customer service orientation.

Contents

1. ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET AND ATTITUDES TOWARD ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY


The relevance of entrepreneurship nowadays


SMEs and new ventures in the economy. Business structure and demography.


Manifestations of entrepreneurship (women entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, etc.)


An approach to the research of entrepreneurship: GEM project


Entrepreneurship in the tourism sector




2. THE ENTREPRENEURIAL PROCESS


Phases and elements: entrepreneurship, the idea, the project and the resources


Conditioning factors for entrepreneurship. The institutional theory and the system thinking


The entrepreneurial planning and process


Myths and realities about entrepreneurial activity


Specific characteristics of entrepreneurial process in the tourism sector




3. ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS A PROTAGONIST OF THE ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY


The entrepreneur: in search of a definition


The entrepreneur and the entrepreneurial team


Entrepreneurial skills


The socio-demographic characteristics of entrepreneurs


The specialization of tourism entrepreneurs




4. FROM THE IDEA THROUGH THE ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITY. THE ROLE OF CREATIVITY


The creativity within new business formation


Innovation


The business idea


The business opportunity


Creativity and tourism




5. OTHER FORMS OF ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY: CORPORATE ENTREPRENEURSHIP


Relevance of corporate entrepreneurship

Corporate entrepreneurship vs independent entrepreneurship

Corporate entrepreneurship forms

Corporate entrepreneurship and innovation in the tourism business




6. THE BUSINESS PLAN


The utility of a business plan, contextual analysis, and the marketing plan


Production and operations plan


Organization, human resources and legal-fiscal plan


Financial-economic plan


The details of the business plan forthe case of tourism sector businesses





Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Theoretical lectures 12 0.48 3, 9, 10, 11, 12
Public presentation of assignments 3 0.12 2, 9, 10
Solving applied cases 4 0.16 9, 10
Assignments 10 0.4 1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Reading and class notes 8 0.32 1, 2, 5, 9, 10
Solving applied cases 4 0.16 1, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12
Advisory sessions 7 0.28 1, 9, 10

Teaching language

Tourism and Hospitality Management: English

Tourism in English: English

The subject is taught based on three teaching-learning methodologies:

a) Methodology of the theory:

Lecturer classes will be taught regarding the different topics of the subject. In some cases, media content will be used (i.e. videos supporting the theory, Power Point slides, etc.)

b) Methodology of the applied cases:

There will be presentation and implementation of exercises and applied cases (either individually or in group work) related to the theoretical explanations (some exercises will be out of class). Also, an entrepreneurial project within the context of the tourism sector will be developed.

c) Methodology online (Campus Virtual):

The Campus Virtual platform will be used as a complement of information and alternative way of communication between the Professor and students. Within the Campus Virtual will be found the summarized syllabus, theoretical complementary material in digital format, exercises and cases, website links, etc.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Exam 40 2 0.08 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13
Entrepreneurial projects and activities 45 10 0.4 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Presentations, homework, assignments, etc. 15 15 0.6 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

The assessment of this subject will be:

a) The realization and presentation/discussion of exercises and cases either individually or in group work, in attended class and out of class (online) during the course, and no later than the arranged date. These activities will be 15 % of the final grade.

b) The development of an entrepreneurial project and entrepreneurial activities within the context of the tourism and hospitality sector (for example: CIEU Award to the “most entrepreneurial idea”, “business plan”, “One day as an entrepreneur” project, “Entrepreneurial attitudes”, \"digital entrepreneurship\", among others). This activity will be 45 % of the final grade

c) The realization of an exam, which will be 40 % of the final grade, and will include both the theory and the applied exercises and cases taught in class (5% of the total of this part could be self-assessment by the student).

The grade for the subject will be NOT EVALUABLE when the student attends less than half of the assessment activities and/or does not attend the final exam.



Unique assessment: If this option is chosen, the student will have to present an exam, different from option c above.

The recovery of the subject by unique assessment will be the same as that of the rest of the students. To present themselves for the re-assessment it will be necessary to have obtained at least a 3.5 in all the evidence of those that include the unique assessment.


Plagiarism o academic dishonesty

In accordance with the current academic regulations, “in the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject”.

Use of AI

This subject entirely prohibits the use of AI technologies in all of its activities. Any submitted work that contains content generated using AI will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade will be awarded a zero.


Bibliography

FERNÁNDEZ, J. et al. (2000): Manual para la creación de empresas. Cómo emprender y consolidar un proyecto empresarial, Madrid: Edisofer.

GONZÁLEZ, F.J. (2000): Creación de empresas. Guía para el desarrollo de iniciativas empresariales, Madrid: Pirámide.

GUERRERO, M. & URBNAO, D. (2011): Las universidades emprendedoras en la economía del conocimiento. Pearson.

HISRICH, R. D., PETERS, M. P., & SHEPHERD, D. A. (2016): Entrepreneurship (10thEdition). McGraw-Hill Education.

KIRBY, D. (2002): Entrepreneurship. Maidenhead. MCGraw-Hill.

MAQUEDA, F.J. (1991): Creación y Dirección de Empresas, Edit. Ariel.

URBANO, D. (2005): La creació d'empreses a Catalunya: organismes de suport i actituds cap a l'activitat emprenedora. Col.lecció d'estudis CIDEM. Centre d'Innovació i Desenvolupament Empresarial.

URBANO, D., APARICIO, S., & AUDRETSCH, D. B. (2019): Institutions, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Performance. Switzerland, Springer International Publishing.

URBANO, D. & TOLEDANO, N. (2008): Invitación al emprendimiento: Una aproximación a la creación de empresas. Editorial UOC.

URBANO, D. & RODRIGUEZ, L. (2010): Guia per l'elaboració d'un pla d'empresa. Departament de Treball. Generalitat de Catalunya.

Other support material in digital format, as well as websites links will be posted at Campus Virtual.

Software

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Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 English first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 2 English first semester morning-mixed