Exploring Entrepreneurship: Practices and Perspectives - Softcover

Blundel, Richard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0199211558 ISBN 13: 9780199211555

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2011

Synopsis

Exploring Entrepreneurship examines the nature of entrepreneurial activity in the 21st century, and aims to help students develop the skills and knowledge required by commercial and social entrepreneurs. Readers of this text will gain a deeper insight into the activities of entrepreneurs in both the commercial and social sectors and be able to reflect critically on the nature of entrepreneurship and its role in the creation of new commercial and social ventures.

The book opens with a scene-setting chapter, which considers the many faces of entrepreneurship. The remainder of the book is divided into two distinct, but inter-related, sections that cover practical issues related to the creation of an entrepreneurial venture, together with reviews of related research evidence and more theoretical discussion about entrepreneurship. Part One covers the main practical activities involved in developing a new entrepreneurial venture and Part Two explores entrepreneurship from several different perspectives. Each chapter draws on the latest research evidence, along with the voices of entrepreneurs, researchers and policy makers.

The text makes considerable use of case-based examples, so that students can learn from the experiences of real entrepreneurs as they struggle to create and to develop their ventures. It provides detailed coverage of many different types of entrepreneurship - from commercial, primarily profit-oriented ventures and what are often termed 'social' enterprises, where the primary aim is to address a social or environmental challenge, rather than simply to secure a profit. In contrast to most other texts, it also addresses 'anti-social' forms of entrepreneurship, with examples that range from the unethical and environmentally-destructive behaviour of legitimate firms to the shady world of organised crime.

Exploring Entrepreneurship offers a fresh and contemporary approach to this popular subject area, combining academic rigour and critical reflection with practical relevance.

Online Resource Centre:
Student Resources:
Learning objectives
Web-based exercises
Weblinks, including links to business plans
Multiple choice questions
Revision tips
Glossary

Lecturer Resources:
Additional mini cases
Outline solutions for the additional mini cases
PowerPoint slides
Testbank of questions

About this title

Review

This entrepreneurship text is unique. There are many books on entrepreneurship, but none that combine theory and practice as well as this. The book examines the links between entrepreneurship and innovation, and between the entrepreneurs behaviour and their success. There is a great deal of wisdom in the book, and it contains many instructive and entertaining case studies. (Mark Casson, Professor of Economics, University of Reading, and editor of The Oxford Handbook of Entrepreneurship)

The writing style of Exploring Entrepreneurship is modern and there is a sense of humour here illustrated in the choice of examples. The content of the book is good, as is the nature of the supporting features. (Frank Martin, University of Stirling)

Exploring Entrepreneurship is more detailed and offers a completely different perspective to any of the texts I use. I think the text is more comprehensive and would make a strong compulsory textbook. (Dr Spinder Dhaliwal, University of Surrey)

Exploring Entrepreneurship is up to date, comprehensive, current, well designed and relevant to the contemporary entrepreneurship and small business development debate. (Harry Matlay, Birmingham City University)

Exploring Entrepreneurship compares very favourably with the materials currently being used. It is far more up-to-date and the contemporary nature of the material is an important differentiator. The utilisation of the latest case studies, examples and reference sources and the extensive use of case studies using successful entrepreneurs are strong selling points. (Nigel Walton, the Open University)

About the Author

Dr Richard Blundel is Senior Lecturer in Enterprise Development and a member of the Management of 'Knowledge & Innovation Research Unit' and 'Public Leadership & Social Enterprise Research Unit' at the Open University. Dr Nigel Lockett is Professor of Enterprise at the University of Leeds

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0199211558
• ISBN 13: 9780199211555
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 462