Anita Leffel

Influencing entrepreneurial intent for new technology intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs in a university environment

Experiential learning is considered paramount to entrepreneurial education. For the U.S. the creation of technology entrepreneurs is an essential element of economic growth, job creation and global competitiveness. This study describes an intercollegiate entrepreneurial experience aimed at unlocking the inner technology entrepreneur in students. A model for Accelerating Collegiate Entrepreneurship (ACE) is proposed, linking theories of technology entrepreneurship creation with linkages to curricular and pedagogical inputs. A survey instrument is used to ascertain the level of entrepreneurial intent as well as a cluster personality assessment and an educational preparedness assessment. A biased sample of entrepreneurship in the College of Business students is introduced as a comparative measure for students in the College of Engineering. The preliminary data suggests that engineering students tend towards long-term entrepreneurial intent, yet traditionally the education system does little to encourage these tendencies, nor prepare them for the management of these technologies. A longitudinal study will follow this work to affect changes to the curriculum and pedagogy in a manner that helps accelerate the creation of successful technology entrepreneurs.

Identification of Temporal Construal Effects on Entrepreneurial Employment Desirability in STEM Students

As universities expand the influence entrepreneurial programmes have on science, engineering, technology and math (STEM) students, we investigate the impact Temporal Construal Theory has on measures of entrepreneurial employment desirability in identifying nascent entrepreneurs. This quasi-experiment sampled 464 undergraduate students over a five-year period, measuring the time construal influence in desirability to start a business between STEM students and an intentionally biased sample of entrepreneurship students. Our findings show that temporal construal significantly influences student entrepreneurial employment desirability in STEM students. The biased sample of entrepreneurship students validated the instrument with positive short-term and highly positive long-term entrepreneurial employment desirability (p < 0.001). Our study suggests the temporal construal effect on employment intention is a key consideration in identifying nascent entrepreneurs at a university, and can heavily influence who is targeted for exposure to entrepreneurship training.

Developing the Leadership Team in an Entrepreneurial Venture: A Case Focusing on the Importance of Styles

Abstract In todays competitive environment strongly influenced by increasingly new issues and perspectives, entrepreneurial business firms must be focused on leadership team-building. The purpose of this treatise is to present a conceptual case-based analysis of this team-building process, focusing on the importance of leadership styles within an entrepreneurship. Team-building implies mentoring and enhancement whereby members of a leadership team aze nurtured and developed in important ways. A key element of this process is the paradigm of individual leadership styles represented in the team which, in turn, reflects the many different ways by which the individuals involved behave, communicate, adjust, and respond to each other. Two interactive dimensions at the heart of an individuals behavior assertiveness and responsiveness are foundations of that persons leadership style. The basic interactive dimensions of assertiveness and responsiveness thereby form the two axes of the framework of the leadership styles paradigm, the four primazy quadrants of which represent the four styles Analyzer, Director, Creator and Connector. Having identified these four basic leadership styles, this analysis then focuses on the case situation within which the strengths and weaknesses of each of the styles are identified, communication preferences aze discussed, primary backup styles that come into focus due to high levels of stress are analyzed, and the all-important skill of style flex is described. It is not enough just to understand a persons leadership style or the style of others in an entrepreneurial leadership team; one must also seek to adapt the skills of style flex that can enable the pazties to function in a mutually beneficial situation congruent with the needs of the individuals and the organization. These dimensions are illustrated in association with the case of MedTech, Inc. (a pseudonym), along with observations relating to the authors experiences in several other arenas that have been encountered in entrepreneurial consulting activities.

Ethics and Decision‐Making in a Course Management System: instructor and learner development

Abstract This study examines teacher and student development over the course of a semester in a business ethics class in which a course management system (CMS) was used to support ethical decision‐making. Dual methods were used to analyze instructor and learner development. An action research approach facilitated changes in practice that can be mapped to learner behaviors. Argyris and Schon’s (1978) theory of congruence framed instructor analysis while student data were analyzed with Kavathatzopoulos’s (1993) heteronomous or autonomous typology. Findings indicate some change in the instructor’s governing values with changes in action strategies. Online student groups ranged in the degree of documented ethical reasoning development and a positive correlation exists between grades and discussion forum activities indicating shifts in reasoning abilities.

Enhancement of Entrepreneurial Leadership: A Case Focusing on a Model of Successful Conflict Management Skills.

The purpose of this paper is to present a case study focusing on a new technology start-up firm, founded by two graduate students, an engineer and a business major, who met during their university studies. The case is timely, in that only ten percent of new product introductions result in a profitable business. The causes of failure are numerous and include the following: the market may create failure; inadequate funding and capitalization; and competition from established enterprises. Several research studies also point to rising indications of interfunctional conflict in high technology companies. One reason may be that, today, management teams in such companies are typically comprised of greater levels of diversity in age, gender, ethnicity, education, and life experiences, all of which exacerbate conflicts. New venture teams, especially in a technology start-up, may be united because of the product innovation, but they may easily become disconnected and unrealistic when it comes to the management of the enterprise. The presentation and analysis of a conflict management process herein indicates that the way a start-up team manages its conflicts may have a permanent affect on the success of its entrepreneurial venture. Conflict management does not imply terminating conflict, but involves understanding strategies to minimize dysfunction and enhancing constructive effectiveness as a result of conflict. This case exposed the problems that arise due to the differences in the founders’ education, background, experience and understanding of the necessary entrepreneurial mindset for success. By using a model of conflict management that encompasses four negotiation skill sets, including assessment, intervention, resolution and maintenance, their conflicts were resolved quickly and their partnership re-engineered, increasing the chance of their firm’s long-term success.