Teaching Enterprise — Can it Be Done in Large Groups?

Abstract

This paper reports on work carried out in the School of Management at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. Following a wide-ranging review of the first-year management programme, a module on enterprise was introduced. As part of that module students had to compete in a game, the object of which was to come up with a business idea, conduct market research and present a business plan and proposal to a panel of judges. The number of students was 225 in year one but reached around 500 within five years. The module has generated many good ideas and has attracted sponsorship from commercial sources. As yet the university has been unable to take the ideas further. It is possible that enterprise can be learned by people in large numbers, but perhaps universities are not the places in which to attempt such work.