The author examined the written business plans of 380 students who completed courses in entrepreneurship and small business management over an 11-year period. An analysis categorized the plans into five generic competitive strategy types, and the results found that 58% chose a traditional, focused differentiation approach. A large portion (28%)…

Ball State University's New Venture Creation is a capstone course in which class sessions simulate workshops for understanding and analyzing business plans. Students present the resulting business proposals to a board of consultants and entrepreneurs, which evaluates them for feasibility. (SK)

The author defines the term "entrepreneur" and discusses how business educators can train students to run a small business successfully. She notes the trend toward job growth in the service industry and states that this trend will influence the growth of entrepreneurship as an area of study. (CH)

Describes a study of small business owners conducted to discover if women entrepreneurs differ significantly from their male counterparts in the manner in which they operate their businesses. Results also revealed to what extent entrepreneurs assessed their own abilities in administrative and interpersonal skills and how this was related to their…

Business management students in a graduate entrepreneurship course diagnosed and researched problems for clients of the Small Business Development Center and presented findings to clients, the class, and evaluators. The model gives students conducting experience and develops closer ties to the business community. (SK)

Entrepreneurship programs and courses are offered by many business schools to support students who aspire to start, own, and operate businesses. Although these offerings are directed primarily toward business majors, based on data the authors collected from over 700 students, many nonbusiness majors also possess entrepreneurial characteristics and…

Before and after participating in the Small Business Institute programs, 220 students completed the Entrepreneurial Attitude Orientation. Students with high locus of control and younger students were more likely to form positive attitudes about entrepreneurship. (SK)

Describes the Onarga Project, in which a group of business students worked with the people of Onarga, Illinois, to revitalize a dying community, and how business teachers can incorporate some of the ideas to improve students' understanding of small business. Discusses preliminary planning, project activities, and specific learning activities to…

Describes Ball State University's "dual progression" curriculum for the small business management program. The program seeks to combine the best elements of entrepreneurial theory with the difficult facets of practical experience. The five major component courses (small business ventures, entrepreneurship, management information systems,…