Entrepreneurial Skill Development Through Digital Prototyping in Australian Entrepreneurship Education

Abstract

This study examines the entrepreneurial skills business undergraduates develop through digital prototyping tools in an experiential learning environment, addressing the limited understanding of what specific entrepreneurial skills are cultivated and how they are developed in entrepreneurship education. Thematic analysis of 57 student reflections from a Lean Startup methodology unit within a business degree program at an Australian university identified specific entrepreneurial skills and mapped them to Kolb’s experiential learning cycle. The findings reveal three core entrepreneurial skills: strategic thinking and decision-making, resourcefulness and adaptability, and innovation and problem-solving. These skills are supported by six skill pillars and 37 specific skill attributes. Reflective Observation aligns with all three core skills, while Abstract Conceptualization supports strategic thinking and resourcefulness, as students apply theoretical insights to refine strategies and make data-driven decisions. Concrete Experience and Active Experimentation primarily drive innovation and problem-solving, fostering hands-on and iterative engagement through digital prototyping. The alignment of entrepreneurial skills with Kolb’s experiential learning cycle provides a framework for designing targeted, practical learning activities. Higher education institutions can use these insights to enhance entrepreneurship curricula by integrating digital tools that bridge the gap between theory and practice and cultivate industry-relevant entrepreneurial skills.