Starting a business can feel like stepping into a maze filled with excitement and endless possibilities. For many entrepreneurs, it’s like entering a haunted house where each corner holds potential “treats” or “tricks.” While some entrepreneurs might stumble upon early success, others may face unforeseen challenges that threaten to derail their business before it even gets off the ground. The key difference between the two? A well-thought-out business plan.
A business plan serves as a roadmap for entrepreneurs, guiding them through the twists and turns of launching and growing their business. Without one, you’re essentially entering the entrepreneurial maze blindfolded, hoping to find success without a clear sense of direction. Here, we will explore the tricks and treats entrepreneurs encounter when they don’t have a business plan and why attending our upcoming Unlock Your Business Planning Workshop on Nov. 13, 2024 at the Entrepreneur Network Center is a critical step toward entrepreneurial success.
Southwest and TSBDC team up to offer small business advice to young entrepreneurs
Since the COVID-19 shutdown in March 2020, many have turned to entrepreneurship due to rising unemployment, which reached 13 percent in Shelby County. To support this trend, the Tennessee Small Business Development Center has relaunched the Spark the Dream series, showcasing local entrepreneurs to inspire students and the community. Professor Joan McGrory highlights the goal of encouraging aspiring business owners through shared success stories. This year’s featured speaker is Taiwo Stanback, co-founder of Youdle, a mobile app that helps shoppers locate local products, initially started as a Facebook group during the pandemic. Read More: https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/inno/stories/partner-content/2022/02/04/tsbdc-reignites-spark-the-dream-series-featuring-m.html
Telecommunications Entrepreneurial Orientation (TELEO): An Empirical Study Measuring the Significance of Entrepreneurial Orientation on Business Performance of Small-to-Medium Enterprises (SME) in the Telecommunications Industry
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to study the significance of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) on business performance of small to medium enterprises (SME) in the telecommunications industry. This study utilized the EO scales with a web-based survey to question executives in the telecommunications industry. The test results with the variables pro-activeness and risk-taking did not show significance. No levels of innovativeness were significant for evaluating business performance. The results demonstrate evidence that testing for pro-activeness and risk taking may be an indicator for testing for entrepreneurial success for small to medium businesses in the telecommunications industry. The key findings suggest trends for utilizing EO scales for testing entrepreneurial ventures in the telecommunications industry. This research proves beneficial to industry practitioners, board members, and venture capitalists seeking tools for evaluating the success of telecommunications companies.
Introduction To The Study Since 1939, the telecommunications industry has held a key role in the American business economy through its technological innovations. These businesses classify as Standard Industrial Class (SIC) code 48 or North American Industry Code (NAIC) codes beginning with 517 classified in Sector 23, Construction. They consist of radio communications, telephone communications, telegraph communications, cable and pay television providers, and all other communications services. The official definition for industries in the telecommunications subsector include establishments providing telecommunications and the services related to that activity (NAICS Search, nd).
Small to medium enterprises (SME) in the Telecommunications industry are of special interest to Venture Capitalists (VC) and Investors. Venture Capitalists are a major form of financing for SME’s in the telecommunications industry, accounting for 50% of the world’s funding activities for SME’s (Icon venture capitalists predictions for 2010, n.d.). Telecommunications companies make major contributions in technology that influence the receipt of information in the 21st century. Major technical contributions include wireless services, broadcast television, broadband internet, and landline telephone services.
In 2008, the telecommunications industry represented the top three industries that received over $256 million in venture funding (Icon venture capitalists predictions for 2010, n.d.). The total revenue (see Table 1) by venture-backed companies was over $500 million, with VCs owning over 51% of the revenues (Icon venture capitalists predictions for 2010, n.d.). This high volume of VC backing demonstrates the large contributing influence of VC financing. It also suggests a demand of identifying potentially profitable businesses in the telecommunications industry.
Additionally, there is a resurgence of new entrepreneur projects and social media websites. For example, Google, the world’s leading search engine, is investing $170 billion dollars in this industry (Asay, 2010). Applications for wireless products and the convergence of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) have made it conducive for entrepreneurs entering into this market. Given the demand for the industry and its immediate link to technology, entrepreneurs have the ability to aid in opening new markets, categories, and solutions across the world using telecommunications venture capital firms.
Along with technology, telecommunications has been integral to business, culture, economic development, and worldwide communication. Not only is this industry vital to the United States, but it has also played a large role in globalization. Worldwide revenue of the telecommunications industry was more than $3 trillion in 2008 and is expected to grow over the next few years (FindVenture.com, 2011). Therefore, testing Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) analyzing the significance of innovation, pro-activeness, and risk-taking amongst executives in the telecommunications industry can potentially serve as an invaluable tool in this new global communications market for determining the success of new ventures.Top
History Of Entrepreneurial Research
Currently, entrepreneurial research is still developing as a management science. In the short history of managerial science, entrepreneurship research has spawned from the study of existing businesses research. Entrepreneurship research uses concepts garnered from diverse disciplines, which requires consideration of the central questions and the appropriate tools with which to study them. Originally the study developed from businesses seeking answers and venture initiation (Vesper, 1971). Economists studying social-economic aspects of business also played a huge role in entrepreneurship theory (Schumpeter, 1934).
