Business Case Studies & Business Publications

What Makes Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurial...

Sarasvathy, Saras ...

Technical Note

What Makes Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurial?

Sarasvathy, Saras D.

ENT-0065 | Published September 13, 2005 | 9 pages Technical Note

Collection: Darden School of Business

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This case is designed to train students to recognize the characteristics of entrepreneurial thinking. The author studied the problem-solving process of 30 entrepreneurs from a variety of industries whose companies ranged in value from $200 million to $6.5 billion. Careful analysis revealed a distinct thought process which has been termed "effectual reasoning." The way in which entrepreneurs factor in affordable loss, strategic partnerships, and leveraging contingencies are delineated. Thinking entrepreneurially means believing in a yet-to-be-made future that can be shaped by human action, and realizing that to the extent that such action can control the future, one need not expend energies trying to predict it. It is much more useful to understand and work with the people who are engaged in the decisions and actions that bring it into existence.

This case is designed to train students to recognize the characteristics of entrepreneurial thinking.