Ask the Experts- Theme – Designing the Intervention
I asked my focus group of experts how I could include contributions from others, including entrepreneurs, when designing the intervention. This is what they said.
There Needs To Be An Individual Approach
Considering that entrepreneurship is so complex and their needs are so varied, there needs to be an individual approach, says entrepreneur Carl. “ It is difficult to have a generalised intervention.”
Cultural Aspects Must Be Considered
Carl adds that tailoring an intervention to different cultures and ways of doing things would be difficult. “ People in different cultures have their own way of doing things, there are so many factors that would affect the drive of the entrepreneur, so understanding and putting them all in one box is really difficult. It would need to be tailored to the specific requirements of the entrepreneur through a diagnostic assessment that takes into account the different factors, the general, barriers they encounter, the size of organisations etc.”
Any Intervention Would Need To Look At Sustainability
Entrepreneur Carl says any intervention should help entrepreneurs think about how their offerings could be sustainable. “ I would think about how I can help them think about their products and services, and how their business can have an effect on the local community through sustainability and equality.”
Immediate Problems Need To Be Addressed
Business adviser Sharon said the intervention should meet entrepreneurs where they are. “ It also depends on where people are in their experience. At the start we usually meet people who have one or two things that are puzzling them that they want an answer to and once they have the answer, they are very much up and running, and ready to get their business running as fast as they can.”
It Must Be Future-Focused
Sharon adds that the intervention needs to consider not just what entrepreneurs need at the start, but what they need on their ongoing journey. “ As the business develops, they obviously come across other situations which they do not necessarily have at the beginning, like employing people and so on. So they start to get involved in other forms of learning out of necessity.”
The Intervention Must Support The Ongoing Journey
Business adviser Sharon says that any intervention must support the entrepreneur’s ongoing journey. “ The learning and journey are ongoing, you never stop learning as an entrepreneur. It starts off more with the technical aspects of running a business, how to file your tax returns, how to access capital finance, working on the annual accounts, employment, and HR issues. As the business grows and becomes more successful, I think it then poses some fairly philosophical questions about what is the point of it all, once you are getting what you need from it? Then it is more questions about what is getting the business up and running and viable.”
Delivery of the Intervention Should Be Considered
Sharon adds that the most effective way of delivering the intervention must be considered. “ For example, Evolve Digital, which was launched by Department for Business, is aimed at family businesses. One group is dealt with entirely online while the other is being dealt with in small groups, with networking, meetings etc. What they are trying to figure out is what is the most effective way of delivering training for people who have a need for it.”
There Must Be an Element of Peer Support
Business network support leader Scott said that peer support is essential. “ Valuing peer-to-peer network is massive and we have seen that in our organisation. Put people with like-minded mentalities together and they work and grow together.”
The Intervention Should Contribute To Changing How Entrepreneurs Are Viewed
Commercial trainer Graham is keen that the intervention should go some way to changing how entrepreneurs are viewed. “ The way in which the notion of entrepreneurship is seen as a broad concept that also includes anthropology, sociology, politics, and has a global context.”
There’s A Need To Take The Human Condition Into Account
Graham adds that the intervention needs to consider the human aspect of entrepreneurship.
“ It should take into account the human condition in the ways that businesses are run.”
Any Intervention Should Acknowledge The Role Of Finance
Commercial trainer Graham says the intervention should consider the role of finance in the entrepreneurial journey. “ Having the finances to facilitate what entrepreneurs are wanting to do as the rationale, not just ‘making as much money as possible.’
The Skills Needed To Manage Entrepreneurship Should Be Included
Graham adds that the intervention must cover the development of the right skills and a balanced mindset. “ You’ve got to get some skills first in order to manage entrepreneurship in ways that are not necessarily profit-driven. For example, making money to help others and using profit for a good cause.”