Title: Management training of technological entrepreneurs

Authors: Prof. Pier A. Abetti, Roger Savoy

Addresses: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180-3590, USA. ' Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180-3590, USA

Abstract: The majority of new technological ventures are started by entrepreneurs, who are leaders in their chosen technological fields, but lack business and management experience. Thus, of the companies that fail, about two-thirds fail for management reasons, and one-third for technical reasons. This paper describes the innovative approach developed at Rensselaer to give management training to technological entrepreneurs and, at the same time to offer management assistance to new ventures in the Rensselaer Incubator and Technology Park. Two new courses |Principles of Entrepreneurship| and |Technological Entrepreneurship| are described and case histories are presented. Surveys of the 95 students and 29 companies that have participated in the program to date show high degrees of satisfaction and concrete results. Finally, guidelines are offered for universities and business development organisations intending to offer similar training programs to their communities.

Keywords: management education; management training; technological entrepreneurship; management assistance; new ventures; technopreneurship; technoentrepreneurship.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.1991.030370

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 1991 Vol.1 No.4, pp.364 - 376

Published online: 15 Dec 2009 *

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