This course outline is intended as a guide to using the American Institute of Small Business' text entitled "How To Set Up Your Own Small Business." The outline, which is based on a 20- or 21-week course cycle, is organized around the following topics: the nature of small business and entrepreneurship; sources of information about entrepreneurship…

A consortium of universities has charged that research money has been concentrated in a small number of states that have already established close ties between higher education and small businesses. Some small-business advocates believe the consortium is trying to win money that has been earmarked for small businesses. (MLW)

Aimed at stimulating new jobs in Appalachia, especially through creation/expansion of small businesses, the 1986 workshop attracted 200 participants from throughout the region, including state and local officials and community and business leaders. Workshops addressed new developments in capital opportunities, market development strategies,…

All 54 marketing education state supervisors were surveyed to identify adult marketing education services provided for small business owners. It was apparent that data are lacking, services are limited, and the adult component is being deemphasized in marketing education. (JOW)

Researchers for small businesses, which may have no access to expensive databases or market research reports, must often rely on information found on the Internet, which can be difficult to find. Although current conventional Internet search engines are now able to index over on billion documents, there are many more documents existing in…

"Ideas Into Dollars," one in the Small Business Bibliography series of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), is described to be a resource guide for inventors and innovative small businesses which provides steps such as determination of technical feasibility, assessment of market demand, commercialization, and sales. (MC)

Three approaches to technology transfer are described: passive, stimulative, and active. A condition for successful technology transfer to small- and medium-sized industry is the availability of "receivers" in the industries. Stimulating young engineers to start their own small company can affect technology transfer positively. (MSE)

Six experts respond to a case study of a small business in transition by explaining their vision of leadership for organizing a small business and managing employees. (SK)

Addresses the following myths: manufacturers are all large businesses; services are the wave of the future; all manufacturers use new technologies; manufacturing jobs are low skill; manufacturing is unionized; manufacturers are resistant to change and care only about production. Suggests that advisors can help small businesses by serving as a…

Discusses the relevance of work-based learning to contemporary education and outlines changes that have occurred over the past few decades. Provides a case study of Adapt-University for Industry, a project that identified training needs and provided guidance on work-based learning opportunities for Scottish small and medium-sized businesses.…

In the late 1990s, the Czech government implemented policies to enhance the role of small/medium-sized enterprises in innovation, including grants, subsidies, and tax credits. Education and training have focused on information/communications technologies. Future policy developments must be guided by trends in the global knowledge-based economy as…

Five articles discuss the relationship between creativity and entrepreneurship, focusing on: measuring entrepreneurial success in ways other than monetary profit, developing an entrepreneurial culture in large organizations, creating a business based on development of a new software product, managing a fast-growing company, and evaluating business…

A sample of 400 Wisconsin business owners (69 percent response) and 200 potential entrepreneurs (27 percent response) identified the relationship of personal characteristics, motivational factors, and the decision to start a business, as well as perceived barriers to business ventures. Unsuccessful potential entrepreneurs differed from successful…

Describes the approach of the Economic and Employment Division of the Melbourne (Australia) City Council to creating jobs. The division started a business to recycle used lumber into furniture, providing training and jobs for several people. Following the success of that business, several new ventures were started with private funding. (CH)

Responses from 367 small businesses were used to formulate a four-step process audit: (1) business owner questionnaire; (2) interviews with owners and key personnel; (3) intensive observation; and (4) presentation of a detailed report. The process identifies areas of effectiveness/success and areas needing immediate or long-term action. (SK)