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Entrepreneurial Learning and Critical Reflection 449 at PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV on March 3, 2016mlq.sagepub.comDownloaded from
, 1998
"... Abstract The importance of ‘learning events ’ has become an emergent theme within theorizing on how entrepreneurs learn. This article builds a deeper understanding of the learning outcomes triggered by significant, discontinuous events during the entrepreneur-ial process. It suggests that the domain ..."
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Abstract The importance of ‘learning events ’ has become an emergent theme within theorizing on how entrepreneurs learn. This article builds a deeper understanding of the learning outcomes triggered by significant, discontinuous events during the entrepreneur-ial process. It suggests that the domain of entrepreneurship represents a special and unique context in which to study management learning. It is argued that there is more to learning from discontinuous events than the incremental accumulation of more routinized, habitual, ‘lower-level ’ learning. This article illustrates that these events have the capacity to stimulate distinctive forms of ‘higher-level ’ learning—learning that is fundamental to the entrepreneur in both personal and business terms. It goes on to explore the concept of critical reflection and suggests that these learning outcomes are the result of what can be described most precisely as ‘inward ’ critical self-reflection. Key Words: critical self-reflection; discontinuous events; entrepreneurial learning; higher-level learning The Nature and Process of Entrepreneurial Learning The aim of this article is to develop a deeper understanding of the learning experienced by entrepreneurs during the management of a small enterprise. Such a focus represents part of a wider, emerging study of the learning outcomes of entrepreneurial activity within numerous contexts, such as corporate entrepreneur-ship, for example (see Gibb, 2000). Concurrently, a body of theory is emerging regarding organizational learning in smaller firms (Anderson and Skinner, 1999; Penn et al., 1998; Sadler-Smith et al., 1999). The study of how entrepreneurs negotiate the successful growth of a small business represents an unusual and special domain for the study of management learning. Of particular interest is the recognition that during the early stages of business growth the entrepreneur and the business are inextricably linked and ‘the owner is still synonymous with the business ’ (Churchill and Lewis, 1983: 34). Over
It's all action, it's all learning. Action Learning in SME's’.
- Journal of European Industrial Training,
, 2006
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An empirical analysis of a private company‘s corporate social investment
- in SMME development in South Africa. Southern African Business Review
, 2010
"... South Africa has a very high unemployment rate, low economic ..."
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South Africa has a very high unemployment rate, low economic
Competition and management issues of SME entrepreneurs in laos: Evidence from empirical studies in vientiane municipality, savannaketh, and luang prabang.
- Asian J. Bus. Manage.,
, 2010
"... Abstract: This study analyses competition and management issues of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs in three provinces of Laos: Vientiane Municipality (the capital city), Savannakhet (an important economic development zone) and Luang Prabang province (a famous historical site and tou ..."
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Abstract: This study analyses competition and management issues of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs in three provinces of Laos: Vientiane Municipality (the capital city), Savannakhet (an important economic development zone) and Luang Prabang province (a famous historical site and tourist destination). Competition and management have changed dramatically after the introduction of the New Economic Mechanism in 1986, which moved the economy from central planning to market-based economic management. Qualitative research was used, with 52 in-depth personal interviews conducted and combined with behavioural observation and content analysis of secondary sources of data. Results indicate the importance of SM Es in the Lao economy, with some 74% of total enterprises being family-owned SMEs. These concentrate on food processing, garment production, construction materials, wooden furniture, tourism, education, trading, transportation, internet services and others. Increases in the SM E sector have contributed to job growth and overall GDP growth. Findings also showed increased competition in the sector as substitute products are introduced, with significant bargaining power for buyers and a high rate of new entrants into a limited range of product/service markets, without much competition in terms of price and quality of goods and services. Entrepreneurs find it difficult to access modern technology and finance, have limited resources in terms of capital and skill and must also negotiate unfair treatment by officials. Management styles usually focused on short-term day-to-day objectives and few were able to consider longer-term considerations or business sustainability. Skills management and capacity building in these SMEs were narrowly conceived and required to be profit-based. Training and development of human resources was seen as a cost rather than an investment. Recommendations are made for enhancement of SME productivity and capacity.
Mentoring Entrepreneurial Networks: mapping conceptions of participants in technological-based business incubators in Brazil
"... La agenda de la investigación reciente sobre emprendedores incluye el análisis de las estructuras cognitivas de los empresarios de éxito, revelándose como una herramienta importante a la hora de examinar una trayectoria emprendedora. Mediante técnicas de mapas cognitivos, este estudio explora los co ..."
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La agenda de la investigación reciente sobre emprendedores incluye el análisis de las estructuras cognitivas de los empresarios de éxito, revelándose como una herramienta importante a la hora de examinar una trayectoria emprendedora. Mediante técnicas de mapas cognitivos, este estudio explora los conceptos de una trayectoria de éxito y la red en sí misma como un todo, para el desarrollo de esta carrera. Fueron estudiados 53 empresarios en siete viveros tecnológicos de la ciudad de Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil. El objetivo específico de este estudio era situar los significados comunes de los emprendedores del vivero teniendo en cuenta las redes de apoyo informal. Este tipo de redes ofrecen apoyo a la carrera empresarial, y el presente estudio examina tanto las características como el modelo conceptual que subyace bajo éstas. La recolección de datos fue realizada por medio de entrevistas a través de la técnica de evocación libre. Los significados comunes indican la existencia de categorías de pensamiento inherentes que fomentan el contexto de la red en el entorno del vivero, especialmente en las redes-mentor. Los resultados refuerzan la interpretación de un modelo mentor informal que emerge
Studying the Evolution of Knowledge Within Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: A Systematic Review
- International Journal of Management Reviews
, 2005
"... This review has been funded with the ..."
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Women Entrepreneurs: Informal Learning and the Internet
"... ABSTRACT. Women entrepreneurs are one of the fastest growing groups of informal learners in Canada. Although the Internet presents extensive opportunities for informal learning, it remains an understudied area and little is known of the true nature of the learning that takes place in this mode. In t ..."
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ABSTRACT. Women entrepreneurs are one of the fastest growing groups of informal learners in Canada. Although the Internet presents extensive opportunities for informal learning, it remains an understudied area and little is known of the true nature of the learning that takes place in this mode. In this qualitative study, semi-structured e-mail interviews were used to explore the experiences of four Western Canadian women entrepreneurs who used the Internet for informal business-related learning. A sociocultural perspective was found to be helpful in understanding the nature of their informal learning. Results showed that perceived value of the Internet for informal learning included its capability to provide learner control for access to informational capital via the World Wide Web, and connectivity to social capital via e-mail. A taxonomy of informal learning using the Internet suggests that women entrepreneurs ’ learning exists on a continuum of self-direction, ranging from autonomous (for independent seeking of external learning resources) to relational (for e-mail communication with colleagues as a support), but also includes incidental and social (tacit) learning. Implications for practice and questions for further research are presented. SOMMAIRE. Les femmes entrepreneurs présentent l’une des croissances les plus rapides parmi les groupes d’apprenants informels du Canada. Bien que l’Internet offre des opportunités considérables pour l’apprentissage informel, il demeure un domaine sous-étudié, et on sait peu de choses sur ce qui est appris de cette façon.
LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE IN THE SMALL BUSINESS: POTENTIAL PITFALLS IN THE PROCESS
"... How do small business owners learn from experience? Using a cognitive framework, we examine potential impediments to the experiential learning process of small business owner/managers. Supplementing this theory-building exercise, we present illustrative cases and suggest propositions for testing the ..."
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How do small business owners learn from experience? Using a cognitive framework, we examine potential impediments to the experiential learning process of small business owner/managers. Supplementing this theory-building exercise, we present illustrative cases and suggest propositions for testing the framework, and perhaps increasing the efficiency of experiential learning among small business owners. It is often said that learning is a key source of sustainable competitive advantage for business organizations (Crossan, Lane & White, 1999; Easterby-Smith, 1997). Organizations exist in a complex, information-dense and constantly changing environment, and their capability to learn is crucial for adaptation, long-term survival and success. Much scholarly attention on organizational learning has focussed on large firms, but in recent years, the learning that occurs in small, entrepreneurial firms has increasingly been studied (Cope & Watts, 2000; Deakins & Freel, 1998; Rae, 2000). There are a variety of ways in which owner/operators of a small business may learn. Learning may occur in formal education programs that pre-date the entrepreneurial venture. They may learn in continuing education and training programs specifically targeted to owner/managers
Means of Knowledge Acquisition of Entrepreneurs and Their Success
"... The goal of this paper is to analyze different approaches to acquir-ing new knowledge. We analyze what means of knowledge acquisi-tion are used by entrepreneurs, such as formal education process, one andmore day professional development workshops, professional coun-selors, professional literature an ..."
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The goal of this paper is to analyze different approaches to acquir-ing new knowledge. We analyze what means of knowledge acquisi-tion are used by entrepreneurs, such as formal education process, one andmore day professional development workshops, professional coun-selors, professional literature and information on the world wide web. When making a decision on what means to use in order to increase one’s knowledge, entrepreneurs employ different assessment criteria: time and money investment as well as pedagogical techniques used. Time shortage is the most frequently cited reason that entrepreneurs do not invest more personal resources into knowledge acquisition pro-cesses. The main hypothesis we test, postulates that entrepreneurs who invest more time and money into knowledge acquisition processes are more successful. Success is measured with an average annual degree of growth of sale, profits and number of employees in the last four years and with entrepreneur’s opinion concerning success of the company’s business. Finally, we develop the implication for public policy and ed-ucational institutions on the means that need to be employed so that entrepreneurs would invest more resources in knowledge acquisition processes.
Entrepreneurship Education in South Africa
, 2014
"... This paper discusses entrepreneurship education in South Africa. The objectives of the paper are to give an overview of entrepreneurship education in South Africa, to identify and discuss the objectives of entrepreneurship education. The target audience for entrepreneurship education, benefits of en ..."
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This paper discusses entrepreneurship education in South Africa. The objectives of the paper are to give an overview of entrepreneurship education in South Africa, to identify and discuss the objectives of entrepreneurship education. The target audience for entrepreneurship education, benefits of entrepreneurship education, challenging confronting entrepreneurship education, the assessment of entrepreneurship education and the support for entrepreneurship education in South Africa were also discussed in this paper. This paper also discusses the relationship between entrepreneurship education and the performance of SMMEs in South Africa. Since this is a literature study, various research papers in line with entrepreneurship education were reviewed.
