Entrepreneurship

by Alan L. Carsrud, Malin E. Brannback

Overview

Are entrepreneurs born or made? How do they recognize opportunity? How do they address the risks associated with designing, launching, and sustaining a new venture? There are many steps between having an idea and going public—this book explores the entrepreneurial process through all of its stages, a process in which some half a billion people are engaged worldwide every year. Illustrated through numerous real-life examples, the book is a map of the entrepreneurial jourbaney, exploring the wide variety of opportunities open to the entrepreneur and how to build upon them, including an overview of such essential principles as screening, market research, product development, financing, and marketing and sales strategies. It also covers legal issues, intellectual property protection, motivating employees, managing boards and investors, use of technology, and the international environment. Featuring examples of business plans and presentations, exercises and checklists, and a glossary of key terms, this volume provides a solid overview and introduction to the process of business creation that will appeal to students and educators, general readers, and budding entrepreneurs.

Nearly everyone recognizes iconic companies like Microsoft, Dell, and Ford. But what do we really know about the entrepreneurs (Bill Gates, Michael Dell, and Henry Ford, respectively) who founded these firms or the factors that influenced the birth and development of these corporate giants? How do entrepreneurs identify opportunity and how do they address the personal, social, and financial risks associated with designing, launching, and sustaining a new venture? There are many steps between having an idea and going public—this book explores the entrepreneurial process through all of its stages, a process in which some half a billion people are engaged worldwide every year.

Illustrated through numerous real-life examples, the book is a map of the entrepreneurial jourbaney, exploring the wide variety of opportunities open to the entrepreneur and how to build upon them, including an overview of such essential principles as screening, market research, product development, financing, and marketing and sales strategies. It also covers legal issues, intellectual property protection, motivating employees, managing boards and investors, use of technology, and the international environment. Featuring examples of business plans and presentations, exercises and checklists, and a glossary of key terms, this volume provides a solid introduction to the process of business creation that will appeal to students and educators, general readers, and budding entrepreneurs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313336898
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	03/30/2007
Series:	Greenwood Guides to Business and Economics
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Alan L. Carsrud is Executive Director, Global Enterpreneurship Center, Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Clinical Professor of Management at Florida International University. Previously, he served on the faculty at the Anderson School, UCLA, and directed the graduate programs in entrepreneurship at the University of Texas, Austin, and the University of Southern California. He has taught at Pepperdine University, Nangang Technological University in Singapore, Anahuac University in Mexico City, and the Australian Graduate School of Management in Sydney. He was on the start-up team at People Express Airlines and Founding Director of CytoSignal, a biotech firm, and has served as Vice-President for the International Council for Small Business, on the Board of Directors of the Family Firm Institute, and as Founding Associate Editor of the jourbanal, Entrepreneurship and Regional Development.

Malin E. Brannback is Professor of International Business at Abo Akademi University, Department of Business Studies, and Docent at the Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration and the Turku School of Ecomomics and Business Administration in Finland. She has held a variety of teaching and research positions in such fields as strategic management, international marketing, organizational processes, and pharmacy. She has served on the organizing committees of numerous international conferences and on the editorial board of the Jourbanal of Decision Systems, and has published widely on entrepreneurship, strategic management, biotechnology, and other topics in articles, monographs, and conference presentations.

Table of Contents

Illustrations
Series Foreword by Wesley B. Truitt
Preface
PART I ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND YOU1. What Is Entrepreneurship and Is It Right for You?
2. Entrepreneurs and Their World
PART II BUILDING THE BUSINESS3. Idea Generation and Creating the Concept Statement
4. Entrepreneurial Strategies: Defy Competition and Enter the Market
5. Creating New Products and Services
PART III THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT AND COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE6. Building a Strategy: Understand the Industry and Competition
7. The Market and Customer Groups
PART IV INTERNAL STRUCTURES AND PROCESSES8. Developing Internal Processes—Operations, Pricing, and Finance
9. Management and Human Capital
PART V SPECIAL ISSUES10. Growth and Entrepreneurial Family Firms
Appendix: Putting a Plan Together and Avoiding Pitfalls
Glossary
Further Resources
Index

What People are Saying About This

Jose' R. de la Torre

"Economic literacy is an essential condition for our democracy to work. Only an educated public can make sense of the myriad of economic issues that characterize our public debate, ranging from the collapse of private pensions to the impact of outsourcing on our job markets. This series constitutes a significant step towards the achievement of this goal. Written by eminent professionals and experienced practitioners, each of its seven volumes renders complex issues easy to assimilate without sacrificing nuance or controversy. Aimed at the general public, the authors succeed in bringing to everyday life the substance of most important economic agents and forces."

Jose' R. de la Torre

"Economic literacy is an essential condition for our democracy to work. Only an educated public can make sense of the myriad of economic issues that characterize our public debate, ranging from the collapse of private pensions to the impact of outsourcing on our job markets. This series constitutes a significant step towards the achievement of this goal. Written by eminent professionals and experienced practitioners, each of its seven volumes renders complex issues easy to assimilate without sacrificing nuance or controversy. Aimed at the general public, the authors succeed in bringing to everyday life the substance of most important economic agents and forces."

Editorial Reviews

Aimed particularly at those considering starting a business as well as students and researchers, this text defines entrepreneurship and describes its importance for economic systems. Carsrud and Brannback examine the various components of entrepreneurship, such as generating ideas, understanding the competition, and managing human capital. Issues relating to growth and entrepreneurial family firms are addressed in the final chapter.” —Reference & Research Book News

From the Publisher