5 Entrepreneurship Basics B-Schools Can Teach

I’ve been asked a lot lately about business schools and entrepreneurship, which is why I did this post, last Friday, about one thing wrong in that area; and then this one yesterday, on whether business schools can teach entrepreneurship. That’s become a very interesting discussion. I expect to post on it again, if only just to summarize some of those comments.

So, in the meantime, looking at Twitter and comment reactions to yesterday’s post, I sat down today and thought about what you can learn about entrepreneurship in a classroom, that will help you be a successful entrepreneur. Not that you can’t also learn all of this from books, websites, mentors, and advisors too; but learning it in class might be more efficient.

 

1. Cash flow

Cash flow is critical but not intuitive. Cash isn’t profits. That ebb and flow of cash related to accounts receivable and inventory management, collection days and payment days. This one by itself justifies studying entrepreneurship. Studying this in the classroom is way better than learning it the hard way. One cash flow disaster (running out of money) in business can cost you more than two years in business school. Easily.

2. Business planning

Yes, I really like business planning. I’ve liked it since I was first exposed to it in the middle 1970s. Don’t get bogged down in the formal academic full business plan, necessarily; but business planning is a great way to see a whole business, from strategic focus to objectives to specific milestones, tasks, responsibilities, management, sales, marketing, and finance. And it’s a great tool for teaching.

3. General business fundamentals

Never underestimate the fundamentals of strategy, marketing, data gathering, finance, and analytical thinking. There’s a lot to be said for learning how to translate concepts to numbers and back to concepts. Not to mention vocabulary, and analytical frameworks, and methodologies for isolating problems and layout out solutions. Disciplines and methodologies are good to know. And hey, buzzwords don’t hurt.

 

4. Communication skills

Writing — clear, simple communication, in practical English sentences — is so important. It is so often underestimated. And presentation skills, focusing on what’s most important and communicating that to others. My experience is that good business schools teach that.

 

5. Skepticism

A good education can teach you what not to believe, and why not. Enthusiasm is great, and you hear so much about passion and persistence and all, but not without a basis for reviewing what makes sense and what doesn’t.

Comments

  • Do You Really Want That MBA Degree? says:

    […] understanding of principles of finance and marketing and all. But not nitty-gritty. Background: this post on five things the b-schools can teach, and this one on five things they […]

  • Is Education Missing its Target or Just Aiming at the Wrong Target? says:

    […] at least, that’s what I hope. I’ve also posted on this blog my thoughts on what business schools can teach, what they don’t teach, and questions to ask before getting an […]

  • Dick Bendtzen says:

    Great post. If more people would read it and follow up with a little education maybe the failure rate of new businesses would not be so high, and far less people would be getting caught up in the hype (and scam) internet offerings (“make $18,900.00 per month working from home” – indeed!).

    Thanks Tim – like your approach and your site, & have added it to favorites.

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    […] other day I posted 5 Entrepreneurship Basics B-Schools Can Teach. It’s natural to follow that list here with the exact opposite: 5 other entrepreneurship basics […]

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    […] Business Education, Business Stories The other day I posted 5 Entrepreneurship Basics B-Schools Can Teach. It natural to follow that list here with the exact opposite: 5 other entrepreneurship basics the […]

  • Stas Antons says:

    Tim,
    Yes, this is a good curriculum; I would have loved to have a course like that when I was in school.
    Simple, fundamental topics, but a lot to explore and learn. What’s more – this gives a student a set of guidelines on how to choose additional courses.

    Question: can “Skepticism” be taught in some course format under a more traditional name (analytics, evaluation)?

    Thank you,
    -Stas Antons
    SmartSymbols

    • Tim Berry says:

      Stas: yes, “skepticism” could be taught in many different course formats under many different names; and under a lot of other banners besides entrepreneurship too. You asked it as a question, but you make a very good point as well. Tim.

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