Please be aware that this workshop is being video recorded for promotional purposes. Copyright University of Plymouth. For permission to distribute or disseminate this information, other than for personal use, please request permission from ideaschallenge@plymouth.ac.uk www.businessideaschallenege.co.uk www.plymouth.ac.uk/bpchallenge Business Idea Recognition Taster Workshop Presented by Bernard Curren Knowledge and Innovation Manager www.businessideaschallenege.co.uk www.plymouth.ac.uk/bpchallenge Knight (1921) suggested that entrepreneurs were concerned with the ‘efficiency’ in economic factors by continually reducing waste, increasing savings and thereby creating value, implicitly understanding the opportunity-risk-reward relationship Alertness Discovery Entrepreneurs Judgement Action Drucker (1974) attributed to entrepreneurs a sense to ‘foresee’ market trends and make a timely response www.businessideaschallenege.co.uk www.plymouth.ac.uk/bpchallenge Creativity, Invention, Opportunity and Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurial Environment Invention Ability to be creative Innovation Success www.businessideaschallenege.co.uk www.plymouth.ac.uk/bpchallenge Ability to spot opportunities Drucker’s Five Stage to Innovation Analyse opportunities, internal and external. Innovate for NOW - timing is everything Innovation is conceptual and perceptual, so look at financial implications and analyse whether it meets the opportunity Keep innovation simple - KISS! Start small, take an incremental approach Aim at leadership and dominate the competition as soon as possible www.businessideaschallenege.co.uk www.plymouth.ac.uk/bpchallenge Why do we go into Self Employment / Business www.businessideaschallenege.co.uk www.plymouth.ac.uk/bpchallenge Why do we go into Self Employment? For Money Working hours Flexibility Choice Independence Achievement Power Control Status Against Failure Long hours 24/7 Greater responsibility Stress Insecurity Hard work Lonely Risk Money Relationships Lack of Business knowledge Nothing else exists www.businessideaschallenege.co.uk www.plymouth.ac.uk/bpchallenge What it Takes to Run a Business… Skill and Vision Knowledge Experience Luck, Drive and Enthusiasm www.businessideaschallenege.co.uk www.plymouth.ac.uk/bpchallenge Right Place at the Right Time Sense of Humour Is there a Business out there? Who said? www.businessideaschallenege.co.uk www.plymouth.ac.uk/bpchallenge Small Business Start-up Flow Chart The 3 C’s Customers Product/Services Competitors Environment Capabilities Marketing Mix Context Niche Target Potential Price Feasibility Distribution Promotion Financial Plan Cash On-hand Cash Flow Protection Operations Do Investors Tools Check Loans Suppliers Training Act Work Incentives Contingencies Breakeven Analysis Production Plan www.businessideaschallenege.co.uk www.plymouth.ac.uk/bpchallenge Best Idea/Product or Service in the World No Customers No Sales No Business www.businessideaschallenege.co.uk www.plymouth.ac.uk/bpchallenge Key Questions to Consider… What is the business idea, exactly? How will the product/service be produced/bought and sold? How will the business be resourced? How will the product/service be marketed? How will the business be organised? www.businessideaschallenege.co.uk www.plymouth.ac.uk/bpchallenge Market Research Finding out whether there is a gap in the market and what demand there might be? Will you be able to sell the product/service you are offering and who will buy? Market research will provide you with basic information to make informed decisions www.plymouth.ac.uk/bpchallenge www.businessideaschallenege.co.uk Business Idea SWOT analysis Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats www.plymouth.ac.uk/bpchallenge www.businessideaschallenege.co.uk To find out more about the Business Ideas Challenge 2009/10 or to view the video recording of this presentation visit www.plymouth.ac.uk/bpchallenge or if you have an enquiry please contact ideaschallenge@plymouth.ac.uk www.plymouth.ac.uk/bpchallenge www.businessideaschallenege.co.uk