Moving Beyond Entrepreneurship To Mark Lang Charter Partners Institute

Context  Success Ben Franklin Technology PArtners Northeastern Pennsylvania Created 282 companies Developed 420 new products & processes Created or retained over 21,000 jobs with salaries 45% higher than PA average Started one of first university-based incubators Developed one of the first entrepreneurial business networks 1983 – 2001 Results ©2010 Charter Partners Institute

Context  Question? BFP was helping specific entrepreneurs … The region was not becoming more entrepreneurial … But ©2010 Charter Partners Institute

Context  Question? BFP was helping a lot of entrepreneurs …. Why was the region not becoming more entrepreneurial? But 21 st Century Competition Rise of the rest Development of global innovation networks Companies must constantly renew, improve, and innovate to survive All employees must contribute to innovation, not just a few entrepreneurs ©2010 Charter Partners Institute

(1) Innovation Entrepreneurship Not enough natural entrepreneurs (2) Can we teach entrepreneurship? Yes, but – how to start a company business planning (Kaufman Study) (3) Can we teach innovation? Yes, but – discovery learning, practice ©2010 Charter Partners Institute

Traditional Business Development ©2010 Charter Partners Institute

Traditional Business Development with Creative Brainstorming ©2010 Charter Partners Institute

Innovative Business Development ©2010 Charter Partners Institute

Todd’s Challenge ©2010 Charter Partners Institute Todd’s Challenge

eVenture 2010 ©2010 Charter Partners Institute

Progression of Learning Innovative Project-based Learning Project-based Learning Learn then Do Project ©2010 Charter Partners Institute

Steve & Laurie Comments ©2010 Charter Partners Institute

Learning the Innovation Process Steps 1.Set the context (self directed in teams) Think, team, trust Work time and release time, physical environment Peer learning 2.Challenge students to “find a better way” Leverage collaboration, examples, games No “right” answers 3.Help students evaluate implementation steps Mini-business plan framework Research on internet and phone Ask good questions 4.Reach out to test ideas in the real marketplace Discovery or Self-directed Learning ©2010 Charter Partners Institute

Learning the Innovation Process Resources 1.Physical environment 2.Business mentors Ask good questions Avoid giving direction or analysis 3.Alumni mentors Learn more from others near one’s age 4.Games and tools Much more to be done ©2010 Charter Partners Institute

Learning the Innovation Process Barriers 1.Identify a practical idea that can be done better Find new solution, not report or fundraiser or recommendation to someone else 2.Determine how to proceed in face of ambiguity Need research, but it will not provide direction Develop your intuition How to determine what you don’t know you don’t know 3.Learn about yourself Test your persistence, confidence, vision, working style ©2010 Charter Partners Institute

eVenture 2009 Businesses ©2010 Charter Partners Institute

DeVante Abraham Comments ©2010 Charter Partners Institute

Next Steps Resources and tools Understand the 21 st Century competitive environment Videos, games, guides, etc. to help teach innovation Facilitate communities of practice Educators and students Connect to standards Teacher education programs Advocacy ©2010 Charter Partners Institute

The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it. --- Michelangelo ©2010 Charter Partners Institute