Enterprise Education This resume explains that Enterprise Education or Learning is about developing skills, attitudes and attributes of enterprising people and is delivered through learner-centred approaches to teaching and learning, generally with a market focus. This forms the foundation which hopefully equips all people to contribute to work and society in an enterprising way, and on the basis of which some individuals may chose to become self-employed, or indeed become entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship education is presented as a sub-set of Enterprise Education, or the 'next-step', and relates specifically to business start-up. Being enterprising and being an entrepreneur A helpful definition is provided in an early OECD document Towards an 'Enterprising' Culture: A Challenge for Education and Training (1989). "Enterprise learning may be defined as a project- or task-centred process: - which is entirely (from conception to completion) defined by the learner(s)
- which is centred on real (not simulated or second-hand) projects or tasks of a problem-solving, need-meeting, responsibility discharging or opportunity-seizing nature
- which is supported and facilitated by teachers/trainers/others and not organised or directed by them
- which produces outcomes additional to the gaining of academic and/or vocational knowledge and/or experience, for example, in the form of greater understanding of the values and benefits of being enterprising, for the individual and/or society more generally
- which if it is to address the changes (required in society), must pervade, over a long period, the whole culture of schooling and education and training more generally" (p40).
Enterprise learning encourages the development of skills in problem-solving, independent and collaborative decision making, evaluating risk and risk taking, using initiative, and working with others. It is seen as encouraging positive attitudes towards creativity, confidence, self-esteem, self-reliance and respect for others. Entrepreneurship, on the other hand, is defined quite specifically as setting up and successfully running a business; entrepreneurship education deals with the mechanics and issues around that. Entrepreneurship education is considered to be a subset of, or the next stage in, the broader matter of being enterprising. The skills and attitudes which underpin entrepreneurship are, not unexpectedly, similar to those required for being enterprising. There is greater emphasis given to calculated risk-taking combined with strong management skills. Such skills include sales and marketing know-how (persuading, influencing and negotiating), planning and goal setting, time and task management and financial management. The attributes and attitudes of entrepreneurs are again similar but tend to be qualified in ways which suggest a more driven approach, for example: commitment and determination; drive to excel; obsession with opportunity; strong desire to achieve; the ability to make quick decisions; the ability to cope with setbacks; and the ability to see themselves "in their customers' shoes" (Weaver 1999 p378; Wicksteed 1999). Self-employment and entrepreneurship The above implies that running your own business or self-employment and being an entrepreneur are the same thing. Some literature does equate self-employment and entrepreneurship (OECD 2001a p 23). However, other writers make a distinction between them, suggesting that entrepreneurship requires "combining and carrying out a new combination of business elements". Business start-up or self-employment may simply involve reproducing or acquiring an existing business (Brown 2000). A mark of entrepreneurship is innovation. It is broadly held that it is innovation, be it new products, processes or delivery, which drives forward the economy. The issue becomes even more complex when we consider the importance of individuals who will 'grow' their businesses, as high growth business is seen as key in contributing to economic growth. Such entrepreneurial spirit is of value, of course, not just to drive forward growing new business, but from the inside of larger businesses and indeed public sector organisations, to see the opportunity to create and take forward new ideas. How do people become entrepreneurs Studies into entrepreneurs have suggested that entrepreneurialism is mediated by an atmosphere that fosters innovation and change and provides appropriate mentors and role models. The information cues about what is the norm in a given culture are important sources of informal education. Therefore, if the dominant environment or culture in a person's life encourages risk, learning from mistakes, trying again, being different, and both rewards success and encourages independence, then there is greater potential for developing entrepreneurial attitudes. However, a culture or environment which eschews risk, and punishes/makes fun of failure, and encourages conformity is less likely to produce the entrepreneurial spirit (Faris 1999). |