What is enterprise?

What is enterprise capability?

What is an entrepreneur?

Burning questions that can exercise debate for hours and drive academics to distraction when those of us who are more interested in practical application play with definitions! In any institution looking to develop and embed an enterprise culture it is vital that there is shared understanding and language.

However, people can get too hung up about having very precise definitions. The process of defining enterprise and what being enterprising means is vital for all those in an enterprising school (as it is with any other underpinning value in a school). I have had many debates about what it means to be enterprising, and often faced people who think enterprise is only about business.

Alongside these debates have been the heated discussions about the difference between being an enterprising person and being an entrepreneur.

For me, the key difference is simple and related to risk. Entrepreneurs have a vision and risk their own money, as well as their reputation (are willing to go out on a limb), to make things happen and realize that vision: enterprising people have the vision (but it may be more limited), and can risk their reputation to make things happen but generally risk other people’s money to do so.

Filed under: Enterprise by Beverley
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