Week 2 Reading Reflection

1) What was the biggest surprise for you in the reading? In other words, what did you read that stood out the most as different from your expectations? 

The biggest surprise in reading chapter one was the “Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report findings.  Specifically, the findings that 110 million people between 18 and 64 years old were actively engaged with starting a business, and the 140 million who were running new business they stated less than 3.5 years earlier.  I would not have guessed the numbers would be that high. I do take into count that this is a global figure, but it still seemed very high to me.  I was aware that the largest employer in the US belongs to small business, and these figures kind of put proverbial “teeth” to that statement.

2) Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.

The “Dynamic States Approach” was a little confusing to me.  The book describes this as a more process-oriented view, but it seems the “Integrative Approach” (IA) seems like a more well defined process approach.  The key elements are better defined in the IA approach and is a little easier to follow.

3) If you were able to ask two questions to the author, what would you ask? Why?

1. Why has there not been more research, or education on the entrepreneurial process until now?  The reason for this question is that entrepreneurs play such an important part to the economy, and also to innovations in products, services, and processes.

2. What is opportunity tension?  The book does not define this very well (unless if I missed it in the readings).

4) Was there anything you think the author was wrong about? Where do you disagree with what she or he said? How?

I did not agree with the author’s stance on free trade versus fair trade.  Specifically, I am not a fan of NAFTA, and think we should abandon that for fair trade.  Free trade is good when you are on the good side of free trade.  The only country benefiting from NAFT is Mexico.