Chapter 1
Introduction to
Entrepreneurship
Bruce R. Barringer
R. Duane Ireland
1-1
What is Entrepreneurship?
• Academic Definition (Stevenson & Jarillo)
– Entrepreneurship is the process by which individuals pursue
opportunities without regard to resources they currently
control.
• Venture Capitalist (Fred Wilson)
– Entrepreneurship is the art of turning an idea into a
business.
• Explanation of What Entrepreneurs Do
– Entrepreneurs assemble and then integrate all the resources
needed –the money, the people, the business model, the
strategy—needed to transform an invention or an idea into a
viable business.
©2010 Pearson Education 1-2
Corporate Entrepreneurship
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• Corporate Entrepreneurship
– Is the conceptualization of entrepreneurship at the firm
level.
– All firms fall along a conceptual Frame that ranges from
highly conservative to highly entrepreneurial.
– The position of a firm on this Frame is referred to as its
entrepreneurial intensity.
©2010 Pearson Education 1-3
Corporate Entrepreneurship
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Entrepreneurial Firms Conservative Firms
• Proactive • Take a more “wait and see”
posture
• Innovative
• Less innovative
• Risk taking
• Risk adverse
©2010 Pearson Education 1-4
Why Become an Entrepreneur?
The three primary reasons that people become
entrepreneurs and start their own firms
Desire to be their own boss
Desire to pursue their
own ideas
Financial rewards
©2010 Pearson Education 1-5
Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs
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Four Primary Characteristics
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Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs
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• Passion for the Business
– The number one characteristic shared by successful
entrepreneurs is a passion for the business.
– This passion typically stems from the entrepreneur’s belief
that the business will positively influence people’s lives.
• Product/Customer Focus
– A second defining characteristic of successful
entrepreneurs is a product/customer focus.
– An entrepreneur’s keen focus on products and customers
typically stems from the fact that most entrepreneurs are, at
heart, craftspeople.
©2010 Pearson Education 1-7
Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs
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• Tenacity Despite Failure
– Because entrepreneurs are typically trying something new,
the failure rate is naturally high.
– A defining characteristic for successful entrepreneurs’ is
their ability to persevere through setbacks and failures.
• Execution Intelligence
– The ability to fashion a solid business idea into a viable
business is a key characteristic of successful entrepreneurs.
©2010 Pearson Education 1-8
Common Myths About Entrepreneurs
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• Myth 1: Entrepreneurs Are Born Not Made
– This myth is based on the mistaken belief that some people
are genetically predisposed to be entrepreneurs.
– The consensus of many studies is that no one is “born” to
be an entrepreneur; everyone has the potential to become
one.
– Whether someone does or doesn’t become an entrepreneur,
is a function of the environment, life experiences, and
personal choices.
©2010 Pearson Education 1-9
Common Myths About Entrepreneurs
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Although no one is “born” to be an entrepreneur, there are common traits and
characteristics of successful entrepreneurs
• Achievement motivated • Optimistic disposition
• Alert to opportunities • Persuasive
• Creative • Promoter
• Decisive • Resource assembler/leverager
• Energetic • Self-confident
• Has a strong work ethic • Self-starter
• Is a moderate risk taker • Tenacious
• Is a networker • Tolerant of ambiguity
• Lengthy attention span • Visionary
©2010 Pearson Education 1-10
Common Myths About Entrepreneurs
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• Myth 2: Entrepreneurs Are Gamblers
– Most entrepreneurs are moderate risk takers.
– The idea that entrepreneurs are gamblers originates from
two sources:
• Entrepreneurs typically have jobs that are less structured, and so
they face a more uncertain set of possibilities than people in
traditional jobs.
• Many entrepreneurs have a strong need to achieve and set
challenging goals, a behavior that is often equated with risk taking.
©2010 Pearson Education 1-11
Common Myths About Entrepreneurs
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• Myth 3: Entrepreneurs Are Motivated Primarily by
Money.
– While it is naïve to think that entrepreneurs don’t seek
financial rewards, money is rarely the reason entrepreneurs
start new firms.
– In fact, some entrepreneurs warn that the pursuit of money
can be distracting.
©2010 Pearson Education 1-12
Common Myths About Entrepreneurs
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• Myth 4: Entrepreneurs Should Be Young and
Energetic.
– The most active age for business ownership is 35 to 45
years old.
– While it is important to be energetic, investors often cite
the strength of the entrepreneur as their most important
criteria in making investment decisions.
• What makes an entrepreneur “strong” in the eyes of an investor is
experience, maturity, a solid reputation, and a track record of
success.
• These criteria favor older rather than younger entrepreneurs.
©2010 Pearson Education 1-13
Economic Impact of Entrepreneurial Firms
• Innovation
– Is the process of creating something new, which is central
to the entrepreneurial process.
– Small firms are twice as innovative per employee as large
firms.
• Job Creation
– In the past two decades, economic activity has moved in
the direction of smaller entrepreneurial firms, which may
be due to their unique ability to innovate and focus on
specialized tasks.
©2010 Pearson Education 1-14
Entrepreneurial Firms’ Impact on Society
and Larger Firms
• Impact on Society
– The innovations of entrepreneurial firms have a dramatic
impact on society.
– Think of all the new products and services that make our
lives easier, enhance our productivity at work, improve our
health, and entertain us in new ways.
• Impact on Larger Firms
– Many entrepreneurial firms have built their entire business
models around producing products and services that help
larger firms become more efficient and effective.
©2010 Pearson Education 1-15
The Entrepreneurial Process
The Entrepreneurial Process Consists of Four Steps
Step 1: Deciding to become an entrepreneur.
Step 2: Developing successful business ideas.
Step 3: Moving from an idea to an entrepreneurial firm.
Step 4: Managing and growing the entrepreneurial firm.
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Steps in the Entrepreneurial Process
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Step 1 Step 2
Developing Successful Business Ideas
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Steps in the Entrepreneurial Process
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Step 3 Step 4
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