Dba 403-1 Enterpreneurship
Dba 403-1 Enterpreneurship
Dba 403-1 Enterpreneurship
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
In collaboration with
CENTRE FOR OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
DBA 403: ENTREPRENEURSHIP
AUTHOR
JACKSON K. MAALU
REVIEWER
Lecture series: DBA 403: Entrepreneurship
Published by University of Nairobi Council, P. O. Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya
Printed by College of Education and External Studies, University of Nairobi,
P. O. Box 30197, Nairobi, 2009
© University of Nairobi Council, 2009, all rights reserved. No part of this
Module may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission
in writing from the Publisher.
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Objectives
1.3.1 Definition
1.5 Summary
1.1 Introduction
There is a lot of emphasis being placed on entrepreneurship today as a
solution to many societal problems. Research on entrepreneurship has also
grown in leaps and bounds so that today there is immense literature on the
subject of entrepreneurship. In this introductory lecture, we shall introduce
the concept of entrepreneurship and give a brief historical overview
covering the various theoretical views that have emerged so far.
1.2 Objectives
1.2 Objectives
By the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
Another modern school of thought claims that the role of the entrepreneur
is that of an innovator; however, the definition of innovation is still widely
debatable. Kirzner suggests that the process of innovation is actually that of
spontaneous "undeliberate learning" (Kirzner, 1985). Thus, the necessary
characteristic of the entrepreneur is alertness, and no intrinsic skills-other
than that of recognizing opportunities-are necessary. Other economists in
the innovation school side more with Mill and Marshall than with Kirzner;
they claim that entrepreneurs have special skills that enable them to
participate in the process of innovation.
Entrepreneurship as a process
Take Note
Entrepreneurship has also been viewed variously as:
A Philosophy of Life
● A way of thinking
● A way of acting
● Failure is learning
Entrepreneurship as a behavior:
● Pursuing opportunity
● Innovating
● Perseverance
● Risk management
1.4 Summary
Summary
This lecture introduced the concept of entrepreneurship in
its various forms. It views entrepreneurship as a multi
dimensional concept. It is a social and an economic
phenomenon, entrepreneurs are economic agents, as an
approach to wealth creation, and involve individuals who
have a unique psychology/personality.
Intext Question
i. Explain the major characteristics of entrepreneurs
Activity 1.1
1. Using Google facility on the internet, search the various
definitions of the term "entrepreneur"
1.5 References
1.5 References
1. Gartner, W. B. (1988), Who is an Entrepreneur? Is the wrong
question, American Journal of Small Business, 13(1), 11-32.
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Objectives
2.7 Summary
2.1 Introduction
In the previous lecture, we discussed the various contributions that have
been made in attempting to define entrepreneurship. It was observed that
behind every entrepreneurial venture, there is the person. The psychologists
particularly emphasize this personal dimension of entrepreneurship. The
success of the entrepreneurship venture will be greatly influenced by the
personality traits. In this lecture, we discuss the entrepreneurial personality
and how this personality develops in people, the role of the environment
and culture in this process.
2.2 Objectives
2.2 Objectives
At the end of this lecture, you will be able to:
ii) Education
iv) Age
Studies have shown that 22-45 age bracket has been found to be most
entrepreneurial
Most people start enterprises within this age. What do you think is the role
of age in entrepreneurship?
v) Work history
May differ in reasons and type of businesses started. Women tend to start
businesses to support family welfare and that are related to their roles in
the family like child rearing, home organization, beauty and health,
education among others. Gender can also be used to explain the differences
in start up financing. Women mainly prefer to use informal sources with
minimal risk exposure. It is thanks to women that the innovative MFI group
guarantee mechanisms have been discovered. Women start businesses when
a little older than men. This could be explained by the family
responsibilities. Other gender issues:
i) Use of role models and mentors - Role models and mentors are
individuals influencing an entrepreneur's career choice and style. Provides
support capacity as a mentor during launch and after. They also provide
information, advice and guidance. There is need for a close role model who
is available as needed.
Summary
The entrepreneurial personality is composed of three classic
entrepreneurial characteristics. Locus of control, N-Ach, and
Risk taking. These three aspects have been subject of debate
in entrepreneurship for many decades.
Intext Question
a) What is the influence of gender on entrepreneurship?
Activity 2.1
i. From your immediate community, interview at least five
persons that you believe are entrepreneurs and document
their views on what led them to become entrepreneurs.
ii. Compare the list you develop with the various theories
discussed in this lecture
The first question you should answer when you are thinking of going into
business is "Am I the type?" You will be your most important employee. It is
more important that you rate yourself objectively than how you rate any
prospective employee. Appraise your strengths and your weaknesses. As a
prospective operator of your own business, acknowledge that you are weak
in certain areas and cover the deficiency by either retraining yourself or
hiring someone with the necessary skill. The questions in this test indicate
to what extent you have the personal traits important to a business
proprietor.
c) Easy does it. I don't put myself out until I have to.
a) I'll take over if I have to, but I'd rather let someone else be responsible.
b) There's always some eager beaver around waiting to show off. I say, let
him.
a) I like to have a plan before I start. I'm usually the one who lines things
up.
b) I do all right unless things get too complicated. Then I may cop out.
b) I'll work hard for a time, but when I've had enough, that's it.
c) I don't like to be the one who decides things. I'd probably blow it.
c) What's the sweat if the other fellow doesn't know the difference?
b) If a job doesn't go right, I turn off. Why beat your brains out?
c) I usually finish what I start.
b) I can, but it's more important to get the work out than to shuffle
numbers.
c) Since they are needed I'll keep records even though I don't want to.
Q1. b Q2. b Q3. b Q4. c Q5. a Q6. c Q7. b Q8. b Q9. a Q10.c
Grading
Score 100
Excellent! A perfect score. You are a born entrepreneur. If you are not
presently running your own business you should definitely start one -- the
sooner the better. You are on the way to fame and riches.
Score 91 – 99
Very good. You definitely have what it takes to succeed in a business of your
own. Don't hesitate, your way to business success is wide open.
Score 72 - 90
Good. You have the qualities of a successful entrepreneur with some weak
spots. Read the interpretation below to identify your deficiency. You should
be able to cover that deficiency by either retraining yourself or hiring
someone with the necessary skill.
Score 40 - 71
Unsatisfactory. Forget your dreams of being your own boss, it's not for you.
You'd better keep your comfortable and secure job. Why bother with all the
risks and hustles of starting a business.
LECTURE THREE: CREATIVITY, INNOVATION AND IDEA
GENERATIONS
Lecture Outline
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Objectives
3.3 Creativity
3.4 Innovation
3.5 Summary
3.2 Objectives
3.2 Objectives
By the end of this lecture, you should be able to
3.3 Creativity
Create: Bringing forth that which never existed. Synonyms for create:
conceive, discover, design, father, imagine, initiate, invent set up, produce,
etc. Creativity (or creativeness) is a mental process involving the
generation of new ideas or concepts, or new associations between existing
ideas or concepts.
Creativity is the ability to bring forth something new into existence while
Innovation is the process of doing new things. Innovation is the
transformation of creative ideas into useful applications. Creativity is then a
prerequisite to innovation
3.5 Summary
3.5 Summary
Creativity and innovation are cornerstones of
entrepreneurship. Creativity is prerequisite to innovation
and that innovation is a critical skill opportunity
recognition.
Intext Question
i. Distinguish between creativity and innovation
Activity 3.1
i. Using the example of a used tyre, identify up to 50
different useful applications that you can put a used tyre.
ii. Repeat this activity with about five of your friends and
observe the difference.
3.6 References
3.6 References
1. Jeffry A. Timmons and Stephen Spinelli, Jr. New Venture
Creation: Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century 6th ed.
Boston: Irwin/McGraw-Hill, 2004.
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Objectives
4.6 Summary
4.2 Objectives
4.2 Objectives
By the end of this lecture, you will be able to
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs
An unsatisfied need is an opportunity waiting to be exploited. Opportunities
may arise from the physiological needs like food, drink, sex etc. May also
arise at safety level, belongingness needs, esteem or even at the self
actualization levels.
Take Note
Be careful of Fads
Feasibility Dimensions
b) Market feasibility - does the market exist and is it large enough to sustain
a meaningful business
g) Legal and political feasibility - does it meet the legal and political
threshold for acceptability and sustainability in case of change of legal or
political regimes?
h) Financial feasibility - what resources does it require and how can they be
accessed?
4.5 Methods of Opportunity Analysis
4.5.1 Qualitative Methods
Relate to questions of who, what and why?. Examples: Who are the
customers? How are they defined as a group? What are their needs? What do
they buy? How do they buy? What are their attitudes towards current
offering? Methods of collecting such data include actively listening to the
customers, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, usage and
awareness studies, product trials.
Summary
In this lecture, we have covered the various sources of
business opportunities. The lecture identified human needs
as key source of business opportunities.
Intext Question
i. Distinguish between an idea and an opportunity
Activity 4.1
1. Develop a profile of Human needs for your immediate
community based on the Maslow's framework and identify at
least five business opportunities implied by the needs at each
level of the hierarchy.
4.7 Feferences
4.7 Feferences
1. Hisrich Robert D., Michael P Peters. And Dean A
ShepherdEntrepreneurship. 6th Edition. McGraw Hill. 2007
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Objectives
5.9 Summary
5.2 Objectives
5.2 Objectives
By the end of this lecture, you should be able to
● It articulates vision
● Acts as a checklist for ensuring enterprise heading right direction
● Inculcates discipline in gathering information by entrepreneur
4. As a call to action
Beyond the broad roles of a business plan, it can serve the enterprise in
more specific ways.
There are no hard and fast rules about what should be included, but the
contents should be tailored to reflect the needs of the venture it
represents. There are a number of websites that can facilitate the
preparation of a business plan. These sites carry templates, toolkits and
sample business plans that one can use to structure and develop their own.
Examples include: www.sba.com, www.sme-solutions-
center.com, www.bplans.com.
A well prepared business plan considers both the content as well as the
outlay of the plan. It would include the following components.
Cover page - which carries the title, name, address, date, purpose
1. Business Description
2. Market analysis
The purpose of this section is to estimate the market share and sales level
for the business. A good beginning point is to describe the market in terms
of customer characteristics.
You also need to describe the total market size and trends - nature of
market; size, number and buying capacity. Describe the competition in
terms of their numbers, strength and their plans. Based on the data on
market size and competitor share, you estimate your own market share and
sales including a justification why you think you will gain the share.
3. Marketing plan
In this section you describe the overall marketing strategy including pricing
strategy and policies, sales tactics - personal selling; retailers; distributors
etc, Service and warranty policies, advertising and promotion as well as
distribution plan.
Development status and tasks - how the product works or how service is
used. Included in this section are development difficulties and risks, product
improvements and new products. If new, describe tests done and results
etc., costs, proprietary issues.
6. Management team
7. Financial analysis
8. Financial plans
a) Lists of assets
c) Photos of products
d) Suppliers agreements
e) Customer agreements
A business plan is rarely right first time. Many times you will go over the
document several times before it is ready for sharing with other people. You
may give someone else to critique the ideas and flow of your plan.
Whichever style employed, determine the priority issues in each area of the
plan (success factors) and emphasize on them. Include as much of
supporting material as possible. These are necessary to enable you to
support your statements in the document. Do not make unsupported
statements.
Presentation of the document is very crucial. Look for ways of making your
plan to stand out. Make it business like - neatly typed, bound, etc.. Tend to
details e.g. proof read to ensure no typographical errors and limit access. It
is advisable to get a professional reader or editor to attend to the
communication aspects of the plan.
5.9 Summary
Summary
In this lecture, we have explored the meaning and contents
of a business plan. We have outlined the basic and the
substantive contents of a business plan that would ensure
that the plan is exhaustive enough. It is emphasized that
the contents of a business plan must be tailored to the
needs of the business. These need include financing
decisions, valuation of the business, attracting key
stakeholders and managing the enterprise successfully. Also
outlined are tips on writing and presenting a business plan.
How can you cater for all the varied interests in one business
plan?
Activity 5.1
Identify a business of your choice and develop an outline of
a business plan for it.
LECTURE SIX: FINANCING A BUSINESS VENTURE
Lecture Outline
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Objectives
1.10 Summary
6.2 Objectives
6.2 Objectives
By the end of this lecture, you should be able to
Additionally, capital decisions and the use of debt and equity at start up
have been shown to have important implications for the operations of the
business, risk of failure, firm performance and the potential of the
business to expand in the future.
The interest rate usually reflects the level of risk the investor is undertaking
by lending you money. Investors will charge you lower interest rates if they
feel there is a low risk of debt's not being repaid. Investors will raise
interest rates if they are concerned about your ability to repay the debt or
if you have a history of slow payments to lenders as shown on your personal
or business credit reports.
Do you have enough equity in the business? Equity provides what lenders call
a cushion for creditors. Do you have a reasonable amount of collateral
(assets to be acquired, residential property equity, etc)?
6.10 Summary
Summary
This chapter examined the challenges of raising finances for
a business. It discusses the dual concepts of debt and equity
as well as the possible sources of finances for a business. It
examines the issues that entrepreneurs need to consider
before making a choice of a particular form of financing.
Intext Question
i. Distinguish between debt and equity financing
Activity 6.1
Collect a brochure on and SME financing product from one of
the financial institution in your local township. Identify the
conditions indicated and discuss with two to five
entrepreneurs on their comments about the product.
6.11 References
6.11 References
1. Walker, E.W. & William Petty. 1996. Financial
Management of the small Firm. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Objectives
7.2 Objectives
7.2 Objectives
To overcome the liabilities and successfully enter the market, the firm must
craft a strategy. Critical components of strategy for a new venture include
entrepreneur's vision, business mission and choice of market entry
strategies. These are discussed in details below.
2. Mission Statement
Is a formal statement defining the purpose of the business and what it aims
to achieve.
It defines the nature of business, what it is aimed at, and how it aims to
achieve it.
● Product/service scope
● Customer groups served
● Benefits offered to customers
● Innovation on which business competitive advantage is built.
● Aspirations of the business.
The entrepreneur must select the product domain in which to establish their
venture. This defines the scope of the product they wish to offer to what
market segments. May be:
iv. Broad or scattered entry - wide product range to a wide customer base.
2. Competitive approach
How the venture will attract customers and give value beyond the
competitors offering. This is defined by:
Summary
In this lecture, we have examined the challenges that are
facing new and small businesses in developing their
strategies. These challenges are referred to as "liabilities".
The new firm need to craft a powerful market entry
strategy either based on product - market domain or based
on developing a competitive environment.
Intext Question
i. Discuss the key challenges facing start-ups and small firms
in Kenya today.
Activity 7.1
Identify a small firm in the nearby township to you and conduct an
interview with them to establish the strategies they use for their
business.
7.7 References
5. Wickham, A. Philip. Strategic
Entrepreneurship. 4th Edition. FT-Prentice Hall 2006
LECTURE EIGHT : MANAGING GROWTH OF A BUSINESS
Lecture Outline
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Objectives
8.3 Overview of Business Growth
8.4 Business Growth Stages
8.5 Why Entrepreneurs Fail as Managers of Growth
8.6 Entrepreneurial vs. Professional Management
8.7 Summary
8.8 Further Reading
8.1 Introduction
Having discussed the strategies that entrepreneurs use to overcome the
liabilities of newness and growth in Lecture 7, this lecture advances the
discussion to look at the management of growth after survival at the early
stages. The lecture focuses on the stages and the transitions that are
necessary to sustain growth of the business.
8.2 Objectives
8.2 Objectives
By the end of this lecture, you should be able to
Growth of a business can take many forms. Opening branches, new lines of
business, merging with another firm, buying other business are all examples
of business growth strategies. Growth requires very careful thought and
research. If not properly managed, it can lead to demise of the business.
Growth leads to strain on the resources; staff, finances, supplies, equipment
etc. Growth can also lead to emergence of competition and changes in the
market conditions.
The very traits that lead people to start the business i.e.
ambition, creativity, self-confidence, obsession, etc. can lead
to problems for the business at the growth stage. Growth
requires a radical shift in management style.
Intext Question
i. Explain the meaning of growth of a business
Activity 8.1
Use research to identify three examples of founding
entrepreneurs that stepped aside once the firm had grown to
a certain size and brought in professional manager. What
relationship did the entrepreneur continue to have with the
firm after transition?
8.8 References
8.8 References
Wickham, A. Philip. Strategic
Entrepreneurship. 4th Edition. FT-Prentice Hall 2006
LECTURE NINE: NEGOTIATION AND DEAL
STRUCTURING
Lecture Outline
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Objectives
9.7 Summary
9.2 Objectives
9.2 Objectives
By the end of this lecture, you should be able to
● Financing
● Premises and facilities
● Orders
● Human resources
● Contracts/tenders
● Acquisitions/mergers
Negotiating
Position
ZOPA
BATNA
Is the course of action you would take if proposed agreement were not
possible e.g. walk away and source alternatives or even do without. It sets
the value threshold in terms of your interests. Also sets the negotiating
base.
1. Responding that the offer is too high "without disclosing your position
2. Bluffing offers - e.g. " this is really my last offer"
3. Use of commitment to 3rd parties e.g. bosses etc
4. Alternative offers - higher or others are interested
5. Company policy
6. Precedence - last time the deal was better.
Subtle verbal and body language can make a difference in how your
negotiation progresses. Use the word "and" instead of "but". This helps to
send the signal that you are interested in other party and are seeking
common ground. A lack of facial expressions, vocal intonation, and other
cues can result in a negotiation breakdown. Constantly reiterate your
interest in the other side's concerns and your determination to find a
mutually satisfactory resolution.
Summary
Negotiation may be defined as process of bringing about
agreement via conference, discussion. Negotiating is best
understood as a means of advancing the full set of your
interests by jointly decided action
Intext Question
i. Distinguish between bargaining and negotiating
Activity 9.1
Identify an occasion when you are involved in negotiating and
note down the parties involved, and the process followed.
Did the process follow the stages we discussed in this
lecture?
9.7 References
9.7 References
1. Craver CB: The Intelligent Negotiator. Roseville, CA,
Prima Lifestyles, 2002
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Objectives
10.6 Summary
10.2 Objectives
By the end of this lecture, you should be able to
1. It may not be able to obtain the most talented persons for positions
within the company. It is hard to find experts in all the fields of
business within the family.
2. With growth in size the success for family business tend to be
undermined as the business becomes more complex and therefore
needs to hire more outsiders. In the long run family businesses have
more outsiders and changes to become a professional company.
3. During the initial stages, the goals of the family and the goals of the
venture are the same, survival and growth of the venture. When the
venture grows it leads to the needs of acquiring managerial and
technical expertise, which must be recruited from outside hence
introducing non-family members into the venture.
4. Family business have paternalistic cultural patterns that produces an
over reliance of the founder who may be risk averse and inward
looking such that the firm is often slow to adapt to the changing
environment.
Take Note
Take note of the possible Role Conflicts
FAMILY BUSINESS
ROLES
10.4 Complex Nature of Family Business
Recognition of the family as a dual system is not enough to understand the
issues involved. Actually there are three systems instead of two namely the
family, ownership and business management. The three systems interact
and influence each other in many ways. The figure below illustrates the
three systems interaction.
While this model is very elegant and illustrates the complexity in a family
business, it is more of a static picture of the situation. It does not capture
the dynamics in each of the systems over time. Each of the three systems
overlaps and goes through transition over time.
Participation - who can join the family management, what are the entry
requirements, how are assignments determined, what are the titles and
ranks in the business. How to do away with incompetent members, what is
the role of non-family members in the business, how will you maintain
fairness?
Lack of transition planning. Many of them do not plan for the transition.
This possibly emanate from little desire on the part of the owner to transfer
the firm. Other cases due to lack of viability of the firm. In addition
reluctance of the off springs to join the firm and difficulties in choosing a
successor.
i. Fear of death
Summary
In this lecture, we defined a family business and
indicated the complex nature of a family business. The
overlapping roles and responsibilities for the players in a
family business present a challenge in managing a family
business.
Intext Question
i. Define a family business and indicate the uniqueness of such
businesses.
Activity 10.1
Carry out a brief survey of family firms in your location and
document the characteristics of these firms
10.7 References
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Objectives
11.6 Summary
11.2 Objectives
11.2 Objectives
By the end of this lecture, you should be able to
Licensing services will be decentralized to cut down on time and cost that
entrepreneurs incur to acquire the licenses. Licensing fee structure will be
reviewed to make it affordable and supportive to MSE operator.
Business registration
Land laws
The Act will provide the legal and institutional framework for
implementation of MSE policies.
Business linkages
Weak business linkages are one of the causes of poor market access by MSEs.
Government will therefore provide incentives to the private sector to invest
in areas that enhance development of business linkages between MSEs and
large enterprises. Ministry of finance will work out modalities for providing
appropriate incentives to both large and small firms to encourage
market/supply linkages with MSEs
Financial Services
Infrastructure development
Gender equity
In order to ensure gender equity the MSE policy will be gender responsive as
it is pro-poor. The policy framework will galvanize the creative and
productive potential of women who constitute the bulk of the country‘s
labour force.
To address this problem the government will work closely with the private
sector and other stakeholders to ensure promotion of good governance,
ethical trading and rule of law.
It has been argued that the social role of government would not allow it to
carry out business successfully. This has been evidenced by the involvement
of the political system in the operations of the government institutions. This
presents therefore that the government should facilitate and not implement
entrepreneurship.
11.6 Summary
Summary
This lecture identified the role of government as one of
facilitation and not implementation. The government should
provide an enabling environment for entrepreneurs to
innovate and create wealth. Their role should policy
development and not implementation. Specific policy
interventions by the Kenya government in the recent past
have been outlined.
Intext Question
i. Explain the role of government in entrepreneurship
Activity 11.1
Access the Sessional Paper No. 2 of 2007 and critically
examine the policy environment covered therein.
11.7 References
11.7 References
1. McCormick, D. Alila P.and Omosa M.(eds)
(2007). Business in Kenya:Institutions and
Interactions. University of Nairobi Press. Nairobi.
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Objectives
12.5 Summary
12.2 Objectives
12.2 Objectives
By the end of this lecture, you should be able to
Protection prevents anyone from using that property unless they have
permission. Violation of such rights (infringement could lead to prosecution
by owner). A copy right protects original works of authorship. The
protection in a copy right does not protect the idea itself, and thus it allows
someone else to use the idea or concept in a different manner.
Kenya has enacted the Counterfeit Act 2008 which prohibits trade in
counterfeit products as a measure of reinforcing intellectual property rights
and creates the anti counterfeit agency whose functions include
enlightening and informing the public on matters relating to counterfeiting,
combating counterfeiting, trade and other dealings in counterfeit goods in
Kenya and coordinating with other national, regional and international
organizations involved in combating counterfeiting. It defines intellectual
property rights to include any right protected under the Copyright Act, any
plant breeders right granted under the seeds and plant varieties Act, any
right protected under the trademarks Act and any right protected under the
industrial property Act.
e) Run a patents documentation center for innovations from all over the
world.
Those who oppose the idea of IPP present counter arguments that IPP is
costly. The registration and enforcement may cost amounts that are beyond
the benefits of the idea. They also argue that innovation is a natural
curiosity process - pure science and therefore does not require any
protection. Others have further argued that innovations are for the benefit
of humanity and hence restriction compromise human welfare. In addition,
it has been argued that open access encourages generation for new
knowledge as is the case with the internet which is open and has led to
generation of immense innovations based on it.
There are also some natural protection mechanism which exist that can be
useful instead of protection e.g. Imitation lag - time lag between innovation
and limitation, reputational advantage associated with being the innovator
where consumers associate you with quality and existence of natural
advantage associated with learning curve (racing down the "learning
curves").
In very simple terms Ethics are -"Standards of conduct that guide decisions
and actions, and hence tell us how to act in ways that meet the standard set
based on duties derived from core values." Therefore, ethics is basically
what is good and just. There are three main branches of Ethics: The Meta
ethics; Normative ethics and Descriptive ethics.
Business ethics is broken down into corporate ethics, labour ethics, and
ethics of economic systems, trade ethics, consumer ethics and professional
ethics.
Ethical Challenge:
Another ethical challenge is that of fair pay which aims at safeguarding the
people's existence. When, a recipient of a salary in full employment
receives income either in monetary terms or otherwise that person is able
to safe guard his interests and that of his/her dependants. Questions have
been raised as to what is adequate minimum wage. The available literature,
qualifies minimum wages if it can satisfy the following dimensions. Food
stuffs, clothing, housing, education and access to information, health, and
relationships and security. In Kenya, minimum wage has been benchmarked
at US $ 1 per day or approximately Sh.75. However, given that 56% of the
Kenyan population which is approximated 34 million as per 1999 census,
lives below poverty line is a clear indicator that the subsistence minimum
threshold does not hold.
Fair Profit
Most of the economic units are established with the notion of making a
profit. As such, profit is neither good nor bad. However, four questions are
ethically significant. How profit is made? What does it consist of? How high
is it? What is it used for? The fairness of the profit will therefore be
determined on how the above questions elicit answers.
Fair Trade
Fair trade has generally been defined as the organization of trade according
to the fundamental values, particularly justice, freedom, sustainability and
peace. It is a more equitable distribution of revenues generated by
international trade relations. People working in economically disadvantaged
regions such as Kenya ought to have product offered to them at fair
condition. Fair trade activities promote sustainable development, which call
for social justice, economic development, the protection of the
environment and the preservation of cultural diversity and which if at all
possible, strengthen trades in and in between countries. The social and
environmental standards aimed at fair trade are compatible with national
Law and the connections and whatever possible, transcend those. Fair trade
is inspirited by the active participative and shared responsibility of everyone
involved in the trading chain.
12.5 Summary
Summary
Intellectual property protection has elicited a lot of
debate regarding its role in promoting entrepreneurship in
developing countries. Some scholars have argued that
continued enforcement works more to the disadvantage of
the developing countries and to the advantage of those
who have the capacity to continue developing and
enforcing IP. This lecture has examined the various types
of IP and its role in entrepreneurship.
Intext Question
What do you understand by IPP?
Activity 12.1
Visit a region where there is a heavy concentration of
entrepreneurs like Gikomba market in the city and interview
at least 10 entrepreneurs to assess their level of awareness
of the need intellectual property protection.
12.6: References
12.6 References
1. Hisrich Robert D., Michael P Peters. And Dean A
ShepherdEntrepreneurship. 6th Edition. McGraw Hill. 2007.
3 Wickham, A. Philip. Strategic
Entrepreneurship. 4th Edition. FT-Prentice Hall 2006