Moving Beyond Entrepreneurship To

Mark Lang Charter Partners Institute

Context

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Success

Ben Franklin Technology PArtners Northeastern Pennsylvania 1983 – 2001 Results Created 282 companies Developed 420 new products & processes Created or retained over 21,000 jobs with salaries 45% higher than PA average Started one of first university-based incubators Developed one of the first entrepreneurial business networks

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Context

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Question?

BFP was helping specific entrepreneurs … But The region was not becoming more entrepreneurial …

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21

st

Century Competition

BFP was helping a lot of entrepreneurs ….

Rise of the rest But Development of global innovation networks All employees must contribute to innovation, not just a few entrepreneurs

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(1) Innovation Entrepreneurship

Not enough natural entrepreneurs

(2) Can we teach entrepreneurship?

Yes, but – how to start a company business planning (Kaufman Study)

(3) Can we teach innovation?

Yes, but – discovery learning, practice

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Traditional Business Development

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Traditional Business Development with Creative Brainstorming

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Innovative Business Development

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Todd’s Challenge Todd’s Challenge

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eVenture 2010

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Progression of Learning Learn then Do Project Project-based Learning Innovative Project-based Learning

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Steve & Laurie Comments

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Learning the Innovation Process

Steps 1. Set the context (self directed in teams) Think, team, trust Work time and release time, physical environment Peer learning 2.

Challenge students to “find a better way” Leverage collaboration, examples, games No “right” answers 3. Help students evaluate implementation steps Mini-business plan framework Research on internet and phone Ask good questions 4. Reach out to test ideas in the real marketplace Discovery or Self-directed Learning

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Learning the Innovation Process

Resources 1. Physical environment 2. Business mentors Ask good questions Avoid giving direction or analysis 3. Alumni mentors Learn more from others near one’s age 4. Games and tools Much more to be done

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Learning the Innovation Process

Barriers 1. Identify a practical idea that can be done better Find new solution, not report or fundraiser or recommendation to someone else 2. Determine how to proceed in face of ambiguity Need research, but it will not provide direction Develop your intuition How to determine what you don’t know you don’t know 3. Learn about yourself Test your persistence, confidence, vision, working style

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eVenture 2009 Businesses

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DeVante Abraham Comments

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Next Steps

Resources and tools Understand the 21 st Century competitive environment Videos, games, guides, etc. to help teach innovation Facilitate communities of practice Educators and students Connect to standards Teacher education programs Advocacy

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The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.

--- Michelangelo ©2010 Charter Partners Institute