Entrepreneurship is about coping with change. It has become so important in recent years is that the business world has become more competitive and more volatile. Faster technological change, greater international competition, the deregulation of markets, overcapacity in capital intensive industries, an unstable oil cartel, raiders with junk bonds and the changing demographics of the workforce are among the many factors that have contributed to the shift. More change always demand more entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship, the de facto barometer of overall economic, social and industrial growth, has brought revolutionary changes in the society. It is the sine quo non of a nation's progress. It has facilitated large-scale production and distribution. It has widened the area and scope of the marketing of goods and services. Perhaps, it is for these reasons that the small business sector has been given priority in our national development programmes, for entrepreneurship flourishes when the size of business remains relatively small and viable.
Modern business studies have a distinct entrepreneurial discipline. The approach to the study of entrepreneurship is multi-disciplinary. It images on such areas as demography, economic anthropology, business history, politics, sociology, psychology, marketing and finance. That is why, entrepreneurship development becomes an integral part of the overall economic, social and industrial development of a country. This is what makes the identification and management of entrepreneurial functions a highly complex exercise.
Entrepreneurial organisations transit to a suite of new learning, which combines innovative approaches and technologies. It is performance-driven as opposed to the traditional learning format which is compliance driven. It delivers just-in-time, point of need, byte sized learning through both time-tested and innovative new channels like on-the-job mentoring, coaching, collaboration tools, access to expert networks and learning delivery through front-end devices.
The purpose of the text is to enrich students with an understanding of the entrepreneurial process. There is no presumption, however, that entrepreneurship can be "taught", because entrepreneurs have their own peculiar way of doing things. Yet, it is possible to help them be better prepared for transforming dreams into realities. Consequently, the book is organised to explore the nature of entrepreneurship and describe ways to help entrepreneurs succeed.
Contents -
MODULE I – ENTREPRENEURSHIP
1. The Concept of Entrepreneurship
2. Intrapreneurs – Concept and Development of Intrapreneurship
3. Classification of Entrepreneurs
4. Nature and Importance of Entrepreneurs
5. Entrepreneurial Traits, Characteristics and Skills
6. Entrepreneurial Motivation
7. Entrepreneurial Achievement and Personality
MODULE II – ENTREPRENEURIAL ENVIRONMENT
8. Entrepreneurial Environment
9. Identification of Opportunities
10. Steps for Starting a Small Enterprise
11. Location Issues
12. Environmental Problems
13. Policies Governing Small-scale Industries
MODULE III – NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ACCOUNTING
14. Accounting and Book-Keeping
15. Working Capital Management
16. Marketing Management
17. Human Resource Management and Labour Laws
18. Institutions in Aid of Entrepreneurship Development
19. Incentives and Subsidies
MODULE IV – SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRIES
20. Sickness in Small-scale Industries – Reasons and Remedies
21. Role of Banks and Governments in Reviving Industries