Short Course 2

Entrepreneurship Development

Advanced Information (subject to modification)

One day plus half day, either the next day or preferably one to two weeks later

Introduction

There are generally recognised two key attributes to being an Entrepreneur; being enterprising and being capable. This short course aims to strengthen those areas (examples given below) which are not so developed via traditional educational practice or work based experience. An essential aspect will be in questioning and sharing aspects of entrepreneurship and in being open to explore and participate in their practice. An outcome is enabling the development of a personal, work based, challenging, ‘initiative’ (which would otherwise not be undertaken), during the period between the two course days.

E.g., Professional Scientists, Engineers and Technical Managers are often:

EXCELLENT	POOR	For example:
Handling quantitative data	Handling qualitative (dubious or incomplete) data	analysing making decisions from
Seeing details	Seeing the whole picture	foresight –insight/creativity consolidating – prioritising & scheduling handling uncertainty/complexity/ change.
Communicating formally (e.g., reports/ formal meetings)	Communicating verbally/ ‘freely’	influencing/ persuading sharing ‘gut’ feelings listening & dialoguing
Self Management	People Management	empathy handling emotion political and social awareness

Course Aims

To explore the concept & practice of entrepreneurship
Identify personal & organisational challenges in these areas
Gain insights and techniques to support these areas
Participate in practical work in these areas
Undertake a personal challenge
Gain feedback, support and increased confidence
Be more enterprising and creative
Take back new ideas, approaches and potential to your company

Approach

This course is being offered with a two-week gap between the two course days. This rarely practiced but essential aspect of Active Learning, allows reflection and development relevant to the workplace environment (but not constrained by it!). The support and hopefully continuing friendship developed in the cohort, enables the potential of realistic, relevant, but transformative development, to take place. Experiencing the above process, is designed to stimulate attributes (for example of: decisiveness, creativity, openness, intuitiveness, self-directedness and high motivation), which are key to being an entrepreneur.

Tutor:

Dr. Paul Filmore, MBA, MInstP, CPhys, Department of Communication & Electronic Engineering, University of Plymouth

Paul has a background in contract research physics, before moving into electronic engineering at the University of Plymouth. He has developed an innovative course on research training and professional development for all engineering and computing postgraduate students. He has combined his practical MBA interests in organisational change, with those of aiding individuals and companies in creative and entrepreneurial development.

Support Tutor:

To be announced

To register, please contact:

The Science & Technology Short Course Unit

Faculty of Technology, University of Plymouth

Plymouth PL48AA.

Tel:01752 233304 Fax: 01752 233310

Email: scunit@plymouth.ac.uk

Course Fee £245

Course Fee includes course notes, lunches, refreshments, Course Dinner and course text:

‘A Manager’s Guide to Self-Development’, Pedler, Burgoyne & Boydell (2001), McGraw-Hill

Email: pfilmore@plymouth.ac.uk

Updated: 11/6/01