High-tech businesses form a crucial part of entrepreneurial activity - in some ways representing very typical examples of entrepreneurship, yet in some ways representing quite different challenges. The uncertainty in innovation and advanced technology makes it difficult to use conventional economic planning models, and also means that the management skills used in this area must be more responsive to issues of risk, uncertainty and evaluation than in conventional business opportunities. Whilst entrepreneurial courses do reflect the importance of high-tech businesses, they often lack the resources needed to teach this in a way that goes beyond standard 'how to start up a business' courses whilst not focusing solely on theoretical models. This book specifically focuses on the mix of theory and practice needed to accurately inform students. Key topics covered include: uncertainty and innovation; entrepreneurial finance; marketing technological innovations; and high-tech incubation management. Including case studies to give practical insights into genuine business examples, this comprehensive book has a distinctly 'real-world' focus throughout. Edited by a multi-national team, it draws together leading writers and researchers from across Europe, and is therefore a must-read for all those involved in advanced entrepreneurship with specific interests in high-tech start-ups.
Part 1: The Processes of Entrepreneurial Development Introduction to Part 1 2. Are Engineers High-Tech Entrepreneurs 3. Management of Uncertainty and Innovation Monsted 4. Organisational Advantages of High-Tech SMEs 5. Technological Entrepreneurship as a Collective Creative Process 6. A New Venture as a Project: Overcoming the Strategy Formulation and the Implementation Dualism Part 2: The Strategic Development of Young High Tech Enterprises Introduction to Part 2 7. Models of Development of Young Innovative Technology Based Enterprises with a High Growth Potential 8. From Competitive Surveillance to Competitive Intelligence 9. Management and Networks by High-Tech Entrepreneurs 10. Marketing of Technological Innovations 11. Strategies of High-Tech Firms and National Values 12. Parks and Sophia Antipolis 13. High Tech Incubation Management 14. Entrepreneurial Finance 15. Business Model Selection in Nascent Academic Spin-Outs: Adapting to Shifting Opportunities 16. Auditing the Potential of a Technology 17. Knowledge Management as New Forms of Management in High Technology
