The Incident Process: A Case in Reverse

The incident process is intended to develop problem-solving skills through a procedure in which knowledge about the problem is revealed only by an active process of inquiry. Unlike typical case methodology, the student is not initially provided with nearly enough information to adequately address the problem. Often, the case will be initiated by a single question or statement. The case unfolds only as participants ask relevant questions. Though this method was developed by Paul Pigors in his teaching at M.I.T. during the 1950s, our review of the literature covering the past ten years found no references to Pigor’s work on this or to the process itself

Immigration, Education and Entrepreneurship in Developed Countries

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a country-level consideration of the relationship between entrepreneurship, immigration and education. In contrast to studies that report on immigration and entrepreneurship in a region or single country, the authors seek to determine whether levels of immigration, and the level of education obtained by the immigrants, are predictive of levels of entrepreneurship activity. A common set of variables and data from developed countries are used to test the hypothesized relationships. Design/methodology/approach – Using data on 21 OECD countries and five measures of entrepreneurship from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor project, the authors assess the significance of immigration and education level on entrepreneurial activity using regression analysis. Findings – The stock of immigrants in a country was found to be predictive of the proportion of that country’s population involved in starting and managing a new business (early stage entrepreneurship), as well as the growth expectations held by those early-stage entrepreneurs. Also, levels of high growth and high growth expectation entrepreneurship were predicted by the proportion of more highly-educated immigrants. Originality/value – This study provides national-level comparative evidence linking entrepreneurial activity to immigration and to the level of education obtained by those immigrants, thereby adding to our understanding of immigration, education and entrepreneurship. The results have implications for the immigration policies of countries seeking to add to their economic base by encouraging entrepreneurship and job creation

Patent Laws and the Public Good: IPR Protection in Japan and the United States

Focuses on unprecedented growth in technological sophistication around the world that has led to an escalation in both the supply of and demand for intellectual property. Development of patent law in the United States and Japan; Comparing United States and Japanese patent systems; Cultural dimensions and patent law; Historical foundations of intellectual property protection in Japan; Forces leading to harmonization of intellectual property protection.

Unemployment and New Firm Formation During the Great Recession: The Impact of Prior Levels of Entrepreneurship

This study examines the relationships between levels of new business activity in the states of the U.S. and the high levels of unemployment arising from the Great Recession of 2007-2009. The findings indicate an interaction effect between prior levels of entrepreneurship and the effect of unemployment rates on contemporaneous entrepreneurship rates. Such an interaction effect is implied but not tested in prior research that support both a positive, necessity-based relationship between unemployment and entrepreneurship, and a negative, opportunity-based relationship. The results of this study qualify and quantify the interaction effect, indicating that states with higher levels of entrepreneurship prior to the Great Recession not only had higher levels coming out of it, but also showed levels of subsequent entrepreneurship that were more sensitive to relative rates of unemployment. These effects are also seen when controlling for other contextual variables, including the significant impact of economic freedom on entrepreneurship during the period of high unemployment associated with the recession

Teaching Design Thinking in Business Schools

Incorporating design thinking in the business curriculum can provide students and instructors with a framework for dealing with unstructured problems and for managing the innovation process. However, many business students, like many business professionals, experience confusion and frustrations when engaging in design thinking projects for the first time. This paper provides guidance for faculty who are considering incorporating design thinking projects into their business classes. For such projects, the complex, iterative process of design thinking is structured to include six phases: problem finding, observation, visualization and sense making, ideation, prototyping and testing, and the design of a business model enacting the innovation. Guidance is provided to the instructor for managing the activities and challenges faced in each of these phases. The Appendix summarizes this information in a practical format for the instructor

Domestic Migration and New Business Creation in the United States

While an extensive line of research links international migration to entrepreneurship, less attention has been devoted to mobility within a country. This study examines the relationship between new business creation and migration between states in the United States, building on prior research associating education and entrepreneurship. In addition to tracking general migration patterns among the states, the study focuses on young, single and college-educated segment of the population. This segment may be less risk averse and more geographically mobile, and brings knowledge resources to the geographic areas where they choose to live. While overall levels of net migration did not predict new business creation, prior net migration of the young, single, college-educated was a statistically significant predictor. States that are attracting young, single, highly educated people are more entrepreneurially dynamic than would be indicated by overall levels of migration