We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Dennis J. Ceru
What does it really mean to think entrepreneurially?
The entrepreneurial process isn’t only for start-ups, it’s a comprehensive mindset that will teach you to identify, assess, shape, and act on opportunities in a variety of contexts, settings and organizations. In this entrepreneurship course, you will learn to implement the method of Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® (ET&A™) – which will give you a roadmap to create and add value for stakeholders and society.
Read more
What does it really mean to think entrepreneurially?
The entrepreneurial process isn’t only for start-ups, it’s a comprehensive mindset that will teach you to identify, assess, shape, and act on opportunities in a variety of contexts, settings and organizations. In this entrepreneurship course, you will learn to implement the method of Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® (ET&A™) – which will give you a roadmap to create and add value for stakeholders and society.
Read more
What does it really mean to think entrepreneurially?
The entrepreneurial process isn’t only for start-ups, it’s a comprehensive mindset that will teach you to identify, assess, shape, and act on opportunities in a variety of contexts, settings and organizations. In this entrepreneurship course, you will learn to implement the method of Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® (ET&A™) – which will give you a roadmap to create and add value for stakeholders and society.
ET&A™ is a tactical, results-oriented process that may be applied to new venture creation as well as to promote innovation within existing organizations – large, small or family owned – and across profit, not for profit and social ventures.
The ability to ‘think like an entrepreneur’ and ‘act like an innovator’ are critical skills for success across industries and are proven tools to help distinguish you in the workplace and to accelerate your career.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/32z8bp/the
What's inside
Learning objectives
- Gain an understanding of how entrepreneurial thoughtand action® may be applied to opportunities of all kinds including new ventures as well as innovation within existing organizations.
- Understand the fundamental concepts and analytical tools that help assess opportunities and develop entrepreneurial ventures, and how these concepts and tools may be applied to real world business situations and opportunities.
- Learn and use a methodology to develop and assess new opportunities that are the critical first step in moving an idea from concept to launch and implementation.
- Develop, define and clearly communicate a new business concept or initiative in an efficient, effective and compelling manner.
- Gain an understanding of how entrepreneurial thoughtand action® may be applied to opportunities of all kinds including new ventures as well as innovation within existing organizations.
- Understand the fundamental concepts and analytical tools that help assess opportunities and develop entrepreneurial ventures, and how these concepts and tools may be applied to real world business situations and opportunities.
- Learn and use a methodology to develop and assess new opportunities that are the critical first step in moving an idea from concept to launch and implementation.
- Develop, define and clearly communicate a new business concept or initiative in an efficient, effective and compelling manner.
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause and
possible dealbreakers
Builds a strong foundation for beginners who wish to learn about the entrepreneurial process
Teaches the Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® (ET&A™) method, which is a tactical, results-oriented process that may be applied to new venture creation as well as to promote innovation within existing organizations
Explores opportunities of all kinds including new ventures as well as innovation within existing organizations
Develops fundamental concepts and analytical tools that help assess opportunities and develop entrepreneurial ventures
Taught by Dennis J. Ceru, who is recognized for their work in entrepreneurship
Examines concepts and tools that may be applied to real world business situations and opportunities
Save this course
Create your own learning path.
Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save
Save
Reviews summary
Cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset
According to learners, this course offers a valuable framework (positive) for thinking entrepreneurially, centered around the Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® (ET&A™) methodology (positive). Many students report a significant mindset shift (positive), helping them identify and act on opportunities. However, some reviewers note that the course focuses more on this mindset shift (neutral) and framework (neutral) than on practical, step-by-step instructions for starting a new business (warning), leading to criticism that it feels too theoretical (negative) or not deep enough (warning) for those seeking concrete implementation guidance. Overall, it is well-received for its intended purpose of fostering an entrepreneurial way of thinking applicable in various contexts.
Overview but some want more depth.
"Good overview but didn't go deep enough into financial modeling for new ventures. Felt a bit basic."
"Found it too abstract. Needed more concrete examples and exercises."
"Decent course but could benefit from going into more detail on certain topics."
"It gave me a solid foundation but I wish it had explored some areas in greater depth."
Lectures are clear and well-organized.
"The lectures were clear and engaging. I learned a lot about identifying opportunities."
"Really enjoyed this course. Instructor was knowledgeable and the content was well-structured."
"The material is presented in a logical and easy-to-follow manner."
"I found the course content to be well-organized and the lectures were easy to understand."
Helps shift perspective on opportunities.
"Excellent course! The mindset shift taught here is invaluable for anyone looking to innovate in their field."
"Highly recommend! Changed how I approach problems and opportunities."
"Truly transformative course for shifting my perspective on entrepreneurship. Highly recommended for innovation."
"I learned to identify opportunities and approach problems with a new perspective thanks to this course."
Provides a useful thinking process.
"The ET&A framework is quite useful and practical. I appreciated the real-world examples discussed."
"Provides a great mindset shift. The ET&A method is a valuable takeaway."
"Excellent framework (ET&A). Helped me think differently about opportunities in my existing company."
"The core ET&A model is incredibly insightful and a key takeaway for me from this course."
More mindset, less practical startup steps.
"Expected more actionable steps for starting a business. This felt too theoretical."
"Did not meet expectations. Very high-level, didn't provide the practical tools I was hoping for."
"Too much focus on mindset, not enough on practical business skills."
"This is more about thinking like an entrepreneur, less about the actual steps to launch a startup."
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in The Entrepreneurial Mindset with these
activities:
Read Innovation and Entrepreneurship by Peter Drucker
Show steps
Review key concepts of this book to prepare for the course.
Show steps
-
Identify the key concepts in each chapter
-
Summarize the main arguments of each chapter
-
Consider how these concepts apply to your own experiences
Review the course syllabus and readings
Show steps
Refresh your knowledge to prepare for the course.
Show steps
-
Read the course syllabus
-
Read the assigned readings
Attend a workshop on entrepreneurial thinking
Show steps
Attending a workshop will help you learn more about entrepreneurial thinking and meet other entrepreneurs.
Show steps
-
Find a workshop on entrepreneurial thinking
-
Register for the workshop
-
Attend the workshop
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Follow a tutorial on how to develop a business plan
Show steps
Following a tutorial will help you understand how to apply the ET&A™ method.
Show steps
-
Find a tutorial on how to develop a business plan
-
Follow the tutorial step-by-step
-
Apply the ET&A™ method to your own business plan
Join a study group
Show steps
Participating in a study group will help you connect with other students who are also interested in entrepreneurship.
Show steps
-
Find a study group or start one of your own
-
Meet regularly to discuss the course material
-
Work together on projects and assignments
Create a marketing plan for a new product or service
Show steps
Creating a marketing plan will help you apply the ET&A™ method to a real-world business problem.
Show steps
-
Identify a target market
-
Develop a marketing strategy
-
Create a marketing budget
-
Develop a marketing timeline
Write a blog post on entrepreneurial thinking
Show steps
Writing a blog post will help you solidify your understanding of the course concepts.
Show steps
-
Brainstorm ideas for a blog post
-
Outline your blog post
-
Write a draft of your blog post
-
Edit and revise your blog post
-
Publish your blog post
Participate in a business plan competition
Show steps
Participating in a business plan competition will give you a chance to gain feedback on your business plan and network with other entrepreneurs.
Show steps
-
Find a business plan competition that you are interested in
-
Develop a business plan
-
Submit your business plan to the competition
-
Present your business plan to a panel of judges
Read Innovation and Entrepreneurship by Peter Drucker
Show steps
Review key concepts of this book to prepare for the course.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify the key concepts in each chapter
- Summarize the main arguments of each chapter
- Consider how these concepts apply to your own experiences
Review the course syllabus and readings
Show steps
Refresh your knowledge to prepare for the course.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read the course syllabus
- Read the assigned readings
Attend a workshop on entrepreneurial thinking
Show steps
Attending a workshop will help you learn more about entrepreneurial thinking and meet other entrepreneurs.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find a workshop on entrepreneurial thinking
- Register for the workshop
- Attend the workshop
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Follow a tutorial on how to develop a business plan
Show steps
Following a tutorial will help you understand how to apply the ET&A™ method.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find a tutorial on how to develop a business plan
- Follow the tutorial step-by-step
- Apply the ET&A™ method to your own business plan
Join a study group
Show steps
Participating in a study group will help you connect with other students who are also interested in entrepreneurship.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find a study group or start one of your own
- Meet regularly to discuss the course material
- Work together on projects and assignments
Create a marketing plan for a new product or service
Show steps
Creating a marketing plan will help you apply the ET&A™ method to a real-world business problem.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify a target market
- Develop a marketing strategy
- Create a marketing budget
- Develop a marketing timeline
Write a blog post on entrepreneurial thinking
Show steps
Writing a blog post will help you solidify your understanding of the course concepts.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Brainstorm ideas for a blog post
- Outline your blog post
- Write a draft of your blog post
- Edit and revise your blog post
- Publish your blog post
Participate in a business plan competition
Show steps
Participating in a business plan competition will give you a chance to gain feedback on your business plan and network with other entrepreneurs.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find a business plan competition that you are interested in
- Develop a business plan
- Submit your business plan to the competition
- Present your business plan to a panel of judges
Career center
Learners who complete The Entrepreneurial Mindset will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs identify unmet needs and develop new solutions. The Entrepreneurial Mindset course can help you understand the entrepreneurial process, develop your venture, and launch your own business.
Consultant
Consultant
Consultants provide expert advice and guidance to businesses. The Entrepreneurial Mindset course can help equip you with the skills needed to identify opportunities, develop solutions, and communicate effectively for this role.
Business Development Manager
Business Development Manager
A Business Development Manager is responsible for identifying and developing new business opportunities. The Entrepreneurial Mindset course can help you become a successful Business Development Manager by teaching you how to assess opportunities, build relationships, and close deals.
Operations Manager
Operations Manager
An Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of a business. The Entrepreneurial Mindset course can help you develop the skills necessary to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase productivity.
Sales Manager
Sales Manager
A Sales Manager is accountable for leading a team of salespeople and driving revenue. The Entrepreneurial Mindset course can equip you with the skills needed to develop a sales strategy, motivate your team, and close deals.
Business Analyst
Business Analyst
A Business Analyst may be responsible for driving product development by conducting user research, collecting requirements, and defining functional specifications. The Entrepreneurial Mindset course can help you stand out in this career role by teaching you to identify and assess opportunities, develop innovative solutions, and communicate your ideas effectively.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Manager
A Marketing Manager typically develops and executes marketing campaigns to promote products or services. The Entrepreneurial Mindset course can help you develop the skills needed to identify target markets, create compelling messages, and measure the effectiveness of your campaigns.
Product Manager
Product Manager
A Product Manager is accountable from concept to launch for a product or feature. The Entrepreneurial Mindset course may be a useful stepping stone for gaining the skills to develop a roadmap, execute a product vision, and measure success.
Financial Analyst
Financial Analyst
A Financial Analyst analyzes financial data to make investment recommendations and inform business decisions. The Entrepreneurial Mindset course may be useful as it can help you develop the skills needed to understand financial statements, assess risk, and make sound investment decisions.
Research Analyst
Research Analyst
A Research Analyst conducts research on a variety of topics to provide insights and make recommendations. The Entrepreneurial Mindset course may be helpful as it can help you develop your research skills and your ability to communicate findings effectively.
Data Analyst
Data Analyst
A Data Analyst collects, analyzes, and interprets data to identify trends and patterns. The Entrepreneurial Mindset course may be helpful as it can help you develop your analytical skills and your ability to communicate insights effectively.
Strategy Consultant
Strategy Consultant
A Strategy Consultant develops and implements strategies to help businesses achieve their goals. The Entrepreneurial Mindset course may be useful as it can help you develop your strategic thinking skills and your ability to communicate your ideas effectively.
Teacher
Teacher
A Teacher develops and delivers lesson plans and instruction for students. A teacher may use concepts from The Entrepreneurial Mindset, such as opportunity assessment and innovation, to help students develop their own entrepreneurial skills.
Social Worker
Social Worker
A Social Worker provides support and resources to individuals and families facing challenges. A social worker may use Entrepreneurial Thought and Action® to assess the needs of their clients and develop innovative solutions to help them overcome obstacles.
Nonprofit Manager
Nonprofit Manager
A Nonprofit Manager oversees the operations of a nonprofit organization. A nonprofit manager may use Entrepreneurial Thought and Action® to develop and implement strategies to achieve the organization's mission and goals.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/32z8bp/the
Reading list
We've selected 20 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
The Entrepreneurial Mindset.
Explores the challenges faced by large, established companies in bringing new products and services to market. It provides insights into the disruptive innovation theory and how it can help companies stay ahead of the competition.
Provides a practical guide to building a successful startup. It covers topics such as customer development, agile development, and lean manufacturing.
Discusses the challenges of marketing and selling new products to mainstream customers. It provides a framework for understanding the different stages of the technology adoption lifecycle.
Save
Provides a simple and effective framework for developing and evaluating business strategies. It helps readers to identify the key elements of a good strategy and avoid the common pitfalls of bad strategy.
Challenges the conventional wisdom about entrepreneurship. It argues that the key to success is not to compete with existing businesses, but to create new products and services that don't exist yet.
Provides a candid and practical guide to the challenges of building and running a successful startup. It covers topics such as fundraising, hiring, and managing growth.
Save
Provides a practical guide to getting your startup off the ground. It covers topics such as developing a customer base, building a team, and raising capital.
This ancient Chinese military treatise provides insights into the principles of strategy and tactics. It can be helpful for entrepreneurs in understanding the competitive landscape and developing strategies for success.
Provides a comprehensive guide to starting and running a successful startup. It covers topics such as customer development, product development, and marketing.
Save
Provides a comprehensive guide to the venture capital process. It covers topics such as due diligence, term sheets, and exit strategies.
Save
Provides a step-by-step guide to getting traction for your startup. It covers topics such as marketing, sales, and customer development. It valuable resource for entrepreneurs who are looking to grow their businesses.
Provides a practical guide to building and launching successful products. It covers topics such as user research, product development, and marketing.
Provides a practical guide to developing and evaluating business models. It valuable resource for entrepreneurs who are looking to start or grow their own businesses.
Provides a comprehensive guide to starting and running a successful startup. It covers topics such as customer development, product development, and fundraising. It valuable resource for entrepreneurs who are looking to learn the basics of starting a business.
Save
This classic work of political philosophy provides insights into the nature of power and how to acquire and maintain it. It valuable read for entrepreneurs who are looking to understand the political dynamics of business and how to navigate them.
Provides a framework for personal and professional effectiveness. It valuable resource for entrepreneurs who are looking to develop their own leadership skills and become more effective in all areas of their lives.
Provides insights into the psychological biases that can affect our financial decisions. It valuable resource for entrepreneurs who are looking to make sound financial decisions for their businesses and their personal lives.
Save
Provides a simple and effective system for managing your startup's finances. It helps you to track your profits and make better financial decisions.
Save
Provides a financial education for people of all ages. It valuable resource for entrepreneurs who are looking to build wealth and financial independence.
Identifies the five key characteristics of successful innovators. It provides practical advice for developing these characteristics and becoming a more innovative leader.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/32z8bp/the
Share
Similar courses
Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Rating
3.0
Effort
4 to 6 hours per week for 6 weeks
Level
Introductory
Via
edX
Institution
Babson College
Instructor
Dennis J. Ceru
Language
English
Transcript
English
Our mission
OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.
Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.
Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.
Affiliate disclosure
We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.
Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.
Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.
© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser