Hi Guys... Well you know me, crazy early adopter I am I went and got an invite to branch, so I thought I would use it to have some fun and ask an interesting question.

As part of my work at UEA I'm currently working on the key hypotheses we are building our new strategy on, this got me thinking... what are the elephants in the room; the great un/under tested hypotheses in Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Eduction?

So, invite in hand, I though what better way to explore that question than to play with this new network and examine peoples responses.

So there it is, views, opinions conjecture an plenty please, lets test this thing out and see what breaks... invite others open the discussion, lets go!

Matt

Currently very focussed on trying to "practise what we preach", by that I mean conducting market research with our customers prior to their purchasing of our services... current curriculum design appears to address what "we" think the customer needs - not what the customer "thinks" they want...

In business we would advise to find a gap, talk to the market, fill the gap... too often in academia we do not understand the gap at all, we either follow the crowd or construct a product hoping we can shoe-horn it into a gap... how do we identify these gaps? Then understand the gaps? Then explore the customers attitudes & needs within that gap? Then develop, validate, approve and deliver a gap-filler within a realistic timeframe?

Food for thought.

Thinking that we need to develop a curriculum for EE that is explicitly located outside the classroom. One that is open to the unlimited use of technology and student interactions across spatial boundaries.

It's really interesting that you guys have both flagged these points, the core of my new plan at UEA is based on testable hypotheses surrounding attitudes/understanding in regards to students understanding of 'enterprise', 'eduction' and 'employability' and the events / delivery methods they are interested in, including on-line.

Great idea Matthew!
Two factors that concern me:
1) Increasing the number of women applying for & joining Venture Creation Programmes (See VCPlist.com) at UK universities (Buckingham, Coventry & Huddersfield), as currently only 20-25% are women.
Joan Lockyer (@chinacups) & I are using @EEUK Research Fund to find out why & what we can do about it. First results will be presented @IEEC2012 next month.
2) The high drop-out rate of @Buckingham_BBE students. e.g. 11 started in Jan 2011, but only 5 expected to graduate in Dec 2012. However, one has returned after temporarily leaving to start a business, which earned him enough money to pay all his fees. Main reasons for drop-out seems to be finance & personal reasons, not academic failure!

...... two technical points!
I have added Doan Winkel to the group, but then found that I was not allowed to add any more people. I thought Branch's mission was supposed to be "to empower people to talk about the world around them." Difficult if I can only add one person to the list!!!!
When I first saw the name "Branch", I thought it was "BranchOut", Facebook's Career Network! Very confusing!

So far that means we've covered:

1) Methodology in relation to student feedback
2) Online Tools
3) Increasing the number of women applying for & joining Venture Creation Programmes
4) The high drop-out rate of some courses

There must be more views out there...

Here are my assumptions to share with everyone:

mdraycott.com

Have added an idea on mdraycott.com to help you with your "Evil Plan" - Part 1.

I want to create a collaboration where one of my classes works with 2 or 3 other classes from different countries on a business idea - probably more of a feasibility study sort of project. I use Quipu in my classes - perfect platform. Interested? Contact me at dwinkel@ilstu.edu to discuss more

Thanks Doan... I might be interested for one, although I'm at the very early stage of a new project so it might take some time for me. Do you have anything to add re:

" what are the elephants in the room; the great un/under tested hypotheses in Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Eduction?"

OK, good - so what do I do next...?!?

Just add your view Harry for others to comment on / debate

Matthew -
One gigantic elephant is the business plan focus of many curricula. It's a tremendous mistake (IMHO) and missed opportunity to encourage students to engage in entrepreneurship within the safety of a course.

Thanks Doan... I agree with you, I know I've talked before about this and had some feedback from people involved in this debate but here it is if you missed it:

mdraycott.com

So guys, any more views?

Colin Jones just published his "Provocation Video" for @IEEC2012 and I think it is relevant to the debate you have started here.
I have commented on Col's video on You Tube (youtube.com) and to spread the debate, here is my response to Col's video:
Hi Col,
Excellent provocation.
I will be pleased to discuss with you my approach at Buckingham and how I am constantly looking for ways to improve our approach.
We have data about our assessment methods that I would like to discuss with you.
I also want to talk with you and Matthew Draycott about the way we use Business Plans in our BBE programme, as I know that Matthew had strong views on this.
I claim first slot for talks with you in Plymouth.
Best regards,
Nigel

I've really enjoyed both Colin and Steve's provocations... but I can't believe that these are the only views out there.

"what are the elephants in the room; the great un/under tested hypotheses in Enterprise and Entrepreneurial Eduction?"

We've now added business planning vs. modelling and lean start ideas along side Colin point's regarding articulation of teaching philosophy and methodology but there must be more? what about the student perspective?

Enterprise - to act boldly. We need it in many domains of human activity. How come we only focus on 'business'?

Good question Mike, I think it's partly about societies postioning of 'entrepreneurship' as related to economic activity and also as a result of the naive thinking in business schools where business too often only means 'business'

I'd like to see less focus on 'creating' enterprise, and more on 'connecting' with and 'understanding' enterprise. Our students are surrounded by enterprising activity in society everyday, yet too often we assume they have create more of it too learn it. Why don't we get them to connect to what's already happening more often?

Hey Col, it's great to hear you say that mate, exactly what I want to do at UEA connecting activities across the university and focusing on how students can articulate these skills and ideas for their future.

Hi Guys,

The provocation video's sneek preview is over for the time being, the guys at IEEC will circulate it again shortly so as to sync it with the others they have organized.

Col

Matt, getting your students to audit their resource profiles relative to their ideas and the success others current have in their local community is one way to develop such articulation skills

Matthew, I tried to use Branch to add the following for our discussions, but I couldn't get it to work, so am posting it manually!!

"What Entrepreneurs Can Learn About Team Training From NASA's Mission to Mars." entm.ag @entmagazine by @nadiagoodman

Thought this article could be useful for #ented students, especially as many of them only want to work on their own!!
This could also be another topic for our debate!

How do we persuade our students that "(the right) teams are likely to be more successful"!

Good find Nigel, what does everyone think of this?

I think it links to powerful messages echoed in this video by Derek Sivers:

ted.com

I recently listened to Derek's "anything you want" audio book, superb stuff

I keep meaning to read the hard copy but might grab the audio version now :D

Colleagues, something for your consideration

youtube.com

Regards

Col

Where have you guys all gone? Can't that long to tidy yourselves up for @IEEC2012 ... Can it?

Sorry Col, but have been a "bit busy" with my #ented students!
Yesterday was last day of our 9 week Summer Term @UniOfBuckingham & at 18:30 we finally finished listening to & assessing our @Buckingham_BBE students' presentations on their business action plans for the next quarter!!
One new BBE business had to completely change their business strategy after a Skype discussion with their suppliers in China last Monday. They also had their first meeting with a industrial Purchasing Director yesterday morning & included in their afternoon presentation what they had learned from the Purchasing Director in the morning! Many of the students had not slept for 48 hours (not good), preparing for their business meetings & yesterday's Presentations!

Hi Nigel, sounds like you need a rest too! Come on down to Plymouth and I'll buy you a cold one

......I might need to be 2 beers!

Before I catch the trains to Plymouth on Tuesday, Joan Lockyer and I have to finalise our #IEEC2012 workshop on the first results of our @EEUK Research Project to attract more women to Venture Creation Programmes and I will also be giving a talk on @UniOfBuckingham & @Buckingham_BBE to about 200 14-16 year olds at a local school!!

It keeps me young!!!!

When r u arriving in Plymouth?

I get into Paddington around 7.30, so depending on the schedule southwards, should be in Plymouth around lunch time

FYI trains to Plymouth depart Paddington @ 07:30, 09:06, 10:06 and take about 3.5 hours. Suggest you reserve a seat as they are usually very busy!
Joan & I plan to arrive at Plymouth stn @ 17:42 on Tuesday.
Look forward to those beers.

After 24hrs sitting on my arse, I wouldn't be upset standing in the aisle for a few hours :-)

Beers will be waiting - u staying at Jury's Inn?

I get in on Wednesday just before the kick off... trains from here are a pain, I'm staying at the same hotel as floppy :D

I will scout the joint for u on Tuesday and let u know where all the seedy bars and other such necessities are

We still chatting here? Or did we run out of puff?

Seems to have run out of Puff... seems a shame that other people didn't join in more...

Well I tried!!
I don't think it's lack of puff, but perhaps too many other opportunities to chat & discuss or that we are all involved in other things!!
Don't know what to suggest.

Wow....it seems i'm late to the party as usual!

Better late than never :-)

In Lyon tonight Simon - first beer was a warm one! Lets hope that doesn't become a trend :-)

Better late than never. However, despite Matthew's efforts we are not getting much interaction here.

Just saw that Col and I said the same words. Great minds etc. However, he at least has a warm French beer, whereas I have some work to do in Buckingham! ;-(

"At least"?? Loving your sense of humor

Col & Simon, Now you are going to laugh. I am completing a Personnel Development Review form prior to a meeting with our Dean tomorrow. At my age, i should know better!

Do you need any advice with that Nigel? ;-) Good to see you back in EU Col. Do you ever do any real work?

...So I start this Branch to talk work and it turns into beer :P

Work - Life balance Matt! ;-)

I want to talk about pink fluffy bunnies.

Only joking, Matt I judged on Shelllivewire too, I've asked Stu if they normalise the marks, because I know I mark high. But then there were some stonking businesses - and some dozies

Nice ones, Simon and Jenny. That's what I like about Enterprise Educators!!