Entrepreneurs: Talent, Temperament, Technique

by Thompson, John; Bolton, Bill

• ISBN13: 9780750646239
• ISBN10: 0750646233
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-07-01
• Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann

Summary

We all know an entrepreneur when we see one. This ground-breaking book reviews more than a hundred entrepreneurs from all walks of life and backgrounds, and sets their stories within a rigorous analytical framework, in order to give a critical insight into: * What entrepreneurs do and achieve * How they go about it * How they could be better supported The key point though is whether there are more people "out there" with the potential to be successful entrepreneurs, and, if so, how they might be identified and fostered. This book opens up this subject using for the first time the themes of talent, temperament and technique, which, in the correct mix, produce outstanding entrepreneurs. Using the ideas presented, it should be possible to tap more effectively the well of entrepreneurial talent that the authors identify. The release of this entrepreneurial talent could transform the numerous programmes for promoting business start-up and growth. It is the missing ingredient in many of these initiatives. Entrepreneurs: Talent, Temperament, Technique is therefore ideal for both students and those with a non-academic background who have a keen interest in business start-up and growth. Case studies include: James Dyson, Charles Dunstone (CarPhone Warehouse), Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream, Brian Souter (Stagecoach), Archie Norman (Asda), Paul Sykes, Steve Jobs (Apple), Warren Buffet, David Rhodes (Filtronic), Ricardo Semler, Elliott Tepper (Betel), Julian Richer, Walt Disney, Cameron Mackintosh, Jeff Bezos (Amazon.com), Herb Kelleher (SouthWest Air), Bernie Ecclestone, Mark McCormack, John de Lorean, Mozart and Al Capone. Identifies the range of intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship segments Gives a framework to running successful entrepreneurship programmes or accessing your own capabilities Contains a readable introduction with valuable case studies for specialist entrepreneurship and SME courses

Author Biography

Dr Bolton is an international consultant in enterprise development and entrepreneurship. He has held a personal UNITWIN (UNESCO) chair in Innovation and Technology Transfer. Dr Bolton was the founding director of the St John's Innovation Centre in Cambridge and taught engineering at Cambridge University. He has more than twenty-five years' experience in business and industry and is currently a non-executive director of several companies. Dr Bolton is a Visiting Professor at the universities of Huddersfield and Middlesex. His other publications include The University Handbook on Enterprise Development (1997). John Thompson is Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Huddersfield and a Visiting Professor in Finland and New Zealand. Prior to this post he was Head of the Department of Management at the same university and he has held management posts in retailing and the steel industry. He has written a number of books and articles on strategic management and acts as a consultant to both profit-seeking and not-for-profit organizations. He has raised funding to open a business generator for creative businesses in Huddersfield and has started a number of entrepreneurial ventures for charitable causes.

Table of Contents

About the authors	vii
List of figures	ix
List of tables	xi
Introduction: defining the entrepreneur	1	(8)
Part One: Entrepreneurs	9	(66)
Identifying the entrepreneur	11	(37)
Entrepreneurs and strategy	48	(27)
Part Two: Entrepreneurs in action	75	(162)
Legendary entrepreneurs	77	(18)
Business entrepreneurs	95	(27)
Social and environmental entrepreneurs	122	(25)
Artistic and aesthetic entrepreneurs	147	(26)
Entrepreneurs in the shadows	173	(25)
The entrepreneurs of Silicon Valley	198	(19)
The new Internet entrepreneurs	217	(20)
Part Three: Entrepreneurs and enterprise	237	(126)
The entrepreneur's world	245	(24)
How the entrepreneur operates	269	(29)
How the entrepreneur can be helped and supported	298	(30)
How the entrepreneur survives and wins	328	(16)
Techniques for the entrepreneur	344	(19)
Concluding comment	361	(2)
Index	363