Entrepreneurial Management in University

Introduction Policy-makers and managerial scientists argue that people, who are working in various organizations, should have the qualities that are typical of entrepreneurs. This paper is aimed at discussing why they emphasize these attributes of an individual. Furthermore, it is vital to show how educational institutions such as universities can prepare students for the role of entrepreneurial managers.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Entrepreneurial Management in University specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These are the issues that should be examined more closely. On the whole, one can say that entrepreneurship is essential for independent initiative of a person, and his/her ability to offer innovative solutions to existing problems. In turn, students should be encouraged to work on the tasks that can encourage them to focus on innovation and creativity. These are the main arguments that can be put forward. Th e importance of entrepreneurial qualities for individuals and organizations There are several reasons why entrepreneurial skills are valued by various organizations. First of all, an entrepreneur is able to identify the opportunity and exploit it (Minniti, 2006, p. 4). This quality of a person is of great importance to various institutions that can be public and private. Admittedly, one can speak mostly about companies that have to develop or improve their products and services in order to remain sustainable (Minniti, 2006, p. 4). Furthermore, this skill is essential for every individual who intends to open a start-up business (Minniti, 2006, p. 4). However, this issue is also essential for governmental organizations that should identify new methods of solving social problems such as crime, homelessness, inequality, and so forth. For example, contemporary school leadership is based on the idea that local authorities or school administrators should have an opportunity to change the p olicies of school in order to overcome various challenges (Reynolds, 2012, p. 150). Therefore, one should remember that the concept of entrepreneurship can be applied to various human activities. It can be relevant to commercial and non-commercial activities. This is one of the points that should be made.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There are other aspects that should be considered. For instance, an entrepreneurial individual is more likely to take initiatives and accept responsibilities for his/her actions (Bygrave Zacharakis, 2011, p. 225). One should take into account that start-up businesses managed by entrepreneurs fail, and these people are keenly aware about possible risks (Bygrave Zacharakis, 2011, p. 225). This attribute of an individual is also of great value to organizations. The problem is that in many cases, managers or executives are not willing to take d ecisions that require them to face risks and take responsibility for their actions. Very often organizations become too averse to risks, but this attitude often leads to detrimental consequences. In particular, such organizations become less able to adjust to the changes in external environment or crises. This argument is relevant to various organizations that can be private or public. For instance, public administrators have to take decisive steps in order to respond to some urgent problems such as natural disasters, economic crises, or threats to national security. This is another aspect that should be considered. Apart from that, entrepreneurs have such a quality as internal locus of control. In other words, these people believe the results or outcomes should be attributed to their actions, rather than some external circumstances (Davidson, 2005, p. 61). For example, they believe that their failures can be explained by their own mistakes, rather than some overwhelming forces (Dav idson, 2005, p. 61). In contrast, many people, who work in public or private organizations, tend to blame others for their failures. This is why many public and private institutions cannot function effectively. One can say that entrepreneurial mindset is much more productive. These examples suggest that entrepreneurial skills are vital for various institutions. This is why politicians and scientists can attach importance to these qualities of an individual. These professionals understand that they are vital for the sustainability of businesses, governmental organizations, and community in general. Entrepreneurship in universities There are several ways in which educational organizations such as universities can prepare students for the role of entrepreneurial managers. First of all, the students should work on the assignments which prompt them to seek new solutions to existing problems. For instance, those people, who study engineering, are encouraged to work on the development of n ew technologies that can be commercially successful.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Entrepreneurial Management in University specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As a rule, such assignments are closely related to project management because entrepreneurs should be able to manage the work of other people (Lowry, 2007, p. 106). This is one of the approaches that can be taken. Secondly, learners can be encouraged to work on various case studies which present a situation which enables learners to display their creativity. Apart from that, educators should attach importance to unconventional or counter-intuitive solutions offered by learners (Walzer 2007, p. 169). Finally, teachers should change the way in which learners look at the results of their actions. In particular, students should be prompted to be more initiative and responsible. These are some of strategies that colleges can take. On the whole, this question ha s attracted the attention of many educators. One of their arguments is that there is no single approach which can contribute to the development of entrepreneurial skills (Walzer 2007, p. 169). This is one of the issues that can be singled out. Discussion Nevertheless, there are certain barriers to the development of entrepreneurial skills in students. It is important to remember the efforts of educators can be successful in those cases when the culture of organizations supports entrepreneurship. For instance, various corporations lay stress on the empowerment of employees who should take initiatives (Bailey, 2009, p. 1). Normally, they achieve this goal by compensating those workers who can offer innovative solutions to problems. However, very often employees are closely supervised the managers. Furthermore, these people are extremely afraid of making even mistakes. This situation is widespread in those organizations where workers can be easily dismissed for any deviation from the e stablished rules. Under such circumstances, they are not likely to display entrepreneurial skills. Additionally, the development of these qualities should start at school while universities can facilitate this process. These are the main limitations that should not be overlooked. Conclusion On the whole, entrepreneurial management is essential for organizations. Much attention should be paid to the following aspects:Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More ability to identify opportunities; taking initiatives; accepting the responsibilities for one’s action. University educators can contribute to the development of these qualities by giving learners assignments that enable them to develop or display their creativity or administrative skills. Nevertheless, this goal can be attained if entrepreneurship is supported in schools. Moreover, the senior executives of organizations should support the initiatives of employees and managers. Reference List Bailey, T. (2009). Organizational Culture, Macro and Micro Empowerment  Dimensions, and Job Satisfaction: An Application of Concurrent Mixed and Multi-Level Methods in the Federal Sector. New York, NY: Universal-Publishers. Bygrave, W., Zacharakis, A. (2011). Entrepreneurship. Boston, MA: John Wiley and Sons. Davidson, P. (2005). Researching Entrepreneurship. New York, NY: Springer. Lowry, G. (2007). Information Systems and Technology Education: From the  University to the Workpla ce. Boston, MA: Idea Group Inc. Minniti, M. (2006). Entrepreneurship: The Engine of Growth. New York, NY: Greenwood Publishing Group. Reynolds, C. (2012). Women and School Leadership: International Perspectives. New York, NY: SUNY Press. Walzer, N. (2007). Entrepreneurship and Local Economic Development. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books. This essay on Entrepreneurial Management in University was written and submitted by user Brielle L. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Introduction to Human Settlements Essays

Introduction to Human Settlements Essays Introduction to Human Settlements Essay Introduction to Human Settlements Essay UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN SETTLEMENTS Why people build environments? In order to understand built environments, one should know how the human mind works. The human mind imposes an order on the world. The world is chaotic and disorderly which; the human mind classifies, orders and onto it, imposes cognitive schemata. Settlements, buildings and landscapes are results of this activity. Hence, built environments including settlements are one way of ordering the world. INTRODUCTION Vancouver Declaration on Human Settlements (1976) defined human settlements as â€Å"the totality of the human community whether city, town or village with all the social, material, organizational, spiritual and cultural elements that sustain it. The fabric of human settlements consists of physical elements and services to which these elements provide the material support†. The physical components comprise, Shelter, i. e. the superstructures of different shapes, size, type and materials erected by mankind for security, privacy and protection from the elements and for his singularity within a community; Infrastructure, i. . the complex networks designed to deliver to or remove from the shelter people, goods, energy or information; Services cover those required by a community for the fulfilment of its functions as a social body, such as education, health, culture, welfare, recreation and nutrition. All settlements essentially involve the making of places. Each place is a diffe rentiated portion of the earth’s surface of previously undifferentiated space, a portion that is distinguishable from other such portions and has a specific meaning. What makes a place is always some schema, some ordering principle, which varies in different cultures. In most traditional cultures these schemata are related to the sacred. The purpose of place is to create a space that is habitable and usable in terms acceptable to the culture. All settlements are ordered and organized. Settlements not only impose an order on the larger domain but also are themselves organized. There is an ordering system both in the settlement, ceremonial centre or whatever and at the larger scale; there are systems within systems. All settlements are designed. Settlements are designed in the sense that they embody human decisions, choices and specific ways of doing things. Designed environments include places that are cleared and planted, areas where rivers have been diverted and fields that have been fenced in certain patterns. In fact many apparently commonplace activities have a greater impact on the earth than design in the traditional sense. The way cities, regions and countries look depends in the final analysis on the design activity of many individuals and groups at different times. ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS Origin of settlements can be traced back to the caves where people gathered for protection against the natural forces or for defence against rival tribes. These places of communal living gave way to the village. The village was a by-product of the development of agriculture in areas where there was an adequate water supply and fertile soil. Many of these earliest villages arose adjacent to what are now the Mediterranean Sea and the Nile, Tigris, and Euphrates rivers. In addition to the role of providing shelter to its people, the village was also an appropriate sanctuary for the altar of their Deity, a meeting place for assembly, and a centre for trade. As this environment became increasingly populated, urbanization resulted. Communities larger than the village came as a result of the growth of crops and the breeding of stock on a more permanent basis than before. The production of hard grains that could be stored for a longer period of time offered stability, since it assured insurance against starvation. The ability of these urban areas to preserve food made it possible to diversify into other activities. With a development of diversified economy not totally dependent on food production, it became possible to attract people into a labour pool, thus providing employment in a variety of forms. This brought about the enlargement of villages or hamlets into towns and cities, which operated on different political and economic bases than had not been possible in the simpler forms. CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS The Influence of Geography Natural factors played an important part in the development and growth of settlements. The danger or fire and flood, extreme climatic conditions, the possibility of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, lack of natural resources or fertile soils – all influenced decisions either to settle in a given area or to move to a more favourable site. Moderate climates were always preferred to settle. Most of the settlements are located between the latitudes 60-degree North and 45-degree South. Although extreme temperatures are found within these boundaries, as the climate is favourable for habitation for major parts of the year. Geographic studies indicate that settlements seldom form where the topography is steep. Some cities are located at high altitudes, but the slope of the land is relatively level. For example, Denver, Colorado and Mexico City are around 5000 feet above sea level but the terrain at these sites is relatively flat. Accessibility to other settlements also plays a role in the location and development of settlements. Political and Social Organization The village brought something new to the lives of primitive people: the need for mutual responsibility and cooperation. Various social and political organizations emerged as a direct result. People did not adjust easily to the self-discipline that community life required. Personal rivalry flared within the village and the most powerful individual assumed the role of tribal leader. Rivalry between villages often resulted in armed conflict. Several villages might come under the domination of the victorious tribe with that tribe’s leader rising to the position of ruler. In time empires were created and rulers took the titles of king and emperor. What distinguishes the early city from the primitive village is its higher degree of political and social organization. The more sophisticated social structure allows people to live together in relative peace. Social, economic and political organization is essential to the growth and development of a city. As a result of the more advanced social structure, bold aesthetic changes took place. Temples and other structures of the ruling group became permanent. Tremendous amounts of energy were expended to produce great edifices, such as palaces and cathedrals, which became a source of pride to the public and the seat of power for its rulers. In the mean time, most of the people lived as slave labour in mud huts or worse where none of the basic amenities existed. Such situations still exist in many parts of the world today, where great numbers of people live in slums. Evolution of Physical Form Two basic forms of settlements are noticeable: the walled town and the open city. Within these basic forms a wide variety of patterns are woven. Each form and design is shaped by the character of the society at the time. Few cities that thrived with great cultures began with a plan. They developed by a process of accretion; the growth was irregular, responsive to the changes in the habits of people and dynamic in character. They began as free cities settled voluntarily. Their external form and the physical pattern were introduced according to the structure of the land itself or the manner in which the land was apportioned among the inhabitants. Cities have been subjected to the process of continuous remodelling through the ages and the variety of their forms is the result of the particular force or forces that were dominant during the successive periods of their history. In order to discern the characteristics of a civilization, attention cannot be confined only to the rulers but also to the affairs of the people. More than the great and the impressive structures, common dwellings of the people mark the culture of the cities.