Educating for an entrepreneurial career : developing opportunity-recognition ability

• Published in: Australian journal of career development Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 47 - 55
• Main Authors: Sardeshmukh, Shruti R., Smith-Nelson, Ronda M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.10.2011; Australian Council for Educational Research; Sage Publications Ltd. (UK)
• Subjects: Business; Career development; Career education; Careers; Classroom Techniques; College Students; Economic opportunities; Entrepreneurship; Experiential Learning; Higher Education; Learning; Methods; Planning; Self Management; Study and teaching; Teaching Methods; Theory practice relationship; Australia
• ISSN: 1038-4162; 2200-6974
• DOI: 10.1177/103841621102000308

Entrepreneurship as a career option has become increasingly desirable, and there is a real need to develop an opportunity-oriented entrepreneurial mindset among tertiary students. Current entrepreneurship education heavily relies on the linear process of business planning and rarely encourages the complex and non-linear thinking patterns necessary for entrepreneurial careers. Based on a theory-driven understanding of the nature of opportunity recognition, this article proposes a two-pronged approach combining classroom exercises with experiential exercises to enhance opportunity-recognition ability. The model is not limited to new business creation, and it lends itself easily to self-managed, opportunity driven, entrepreneurial approaches to careers. Links between entrepreneurship and self managed careers are discussed. [Author abstract, ed]