Detailed Programme Fall 2009
[Creativity Talks] [Planning Fall 2009] [Speakers]
Session 1. Entrepreneurship policy in Flanders
Wednesday 21 October 2009
Prof Dr Roy Thurik (Erasmus University Rotterdam) - Entrepreneurship Policy over the Cycle
Detailed research shows that entrepreneurship is a leading indicator of the business cycle. In other words: first entrepreneurship moves up and later the business cycle. Before the business cycle reaches its peak, the entrepreneurship cycle goes down again. This new and fascinating result has many policy implications, in particular in the current vehement downward turn of the cycle. Countries and regions can take advantage of the current extreme economic situation.
Prof Dr David Storey (Warwick Business School) - What works and what does not work in Entrepreneurship Policy: Evidence from OECD countries
David Storey will report his work for OECD "A Framework for the Evaluation of SME and Entrepreneurship Policies and Programmes". He will set out his views on how such programmes should be assessed and will draw on his multi-country experience of programme areas that are the most, and the least, effective.
Grasp this unique opportunity to discuss the topic with international top experts on Entrepreneurship Policy! Ample time will be provided for Q&A.
Session 2. Managing Uncertainty: Lessons from Expert Entrepreneurs
Prof Dr Stuart Read (IMD)
Thursday 12 November 2009
Professionals who work closely with them and researchers who study them have often speculated about what makes entrepreneurs “entrepreneurial”. Of course, entrepreneurs also love to hold forth on this topic. But while there are as many war stories and pet theories as there are entrepreneurs and researchers, gathering together a coherent theory of entrepreneurial expertise has thus far eluded academics and practitioners alike.
What are the characteristics, habits, and behaviors of the species entrepreneur? Is there a learnable and teachable “core” to entrepreneurship? In other words, what can today’s entrepreneurs such as Rob Glaser and Jeff Bezos learn from old stalwarts such as Josiah Wedgwood and Leonard Shoen? Or even within the same period in history, what are the common elements that entrepreneurs across a wide variety of industries share with each other? In sum, is there such a thing as “entrepreneurial thinking” that can be applied across space, time and technology?
Session 3. Downstream Innovation: A Novel Idea
Prof Dr Niraj Dawar (Richard Ivey School of Business)
Wednesday 9 December 2009
Beyond the laboratory, beyond better products, there is still plenty of room to innovate. Indeed, firms often leave large value-creating opportunities untapped by not innovating in their downstream activities. While R&D and new Product Development are assigned budgets and timelines, and have developed systematic processes that yield reliable results over time, there are few systematic approaches to innovating in downstream activities. This two-hour seminar provides an introduction to the possibilities of Innovation beyond Better Products, and demonstrates how we can identify and capture value in downstream activities.
Business speaker:
Katrien Lescrenier, Managing Director of Pink Stripes, will present a business case where downstream activities were used to adapt the business model to the needs of today’s B2B and B2C customers, without changing the core product.
