1.0 Introduction
During the last number of year multiples business game models have been developed, even considering different business adaptations. Additionally, the training of entrepreneurs has been analyzed as one of the key points to improve the success of the projects started.
Different studies have considered that there are two important factors that determine the number of entrepreneurs. Training, the ability to manage a business knowing the key performance indicators of the business; and fear to fail in the project.
2.0 Objectives
The principal aim of this paper is to describe the development of the business games during the last years, the importance of the training in the entrepreneurship and to explore the idea of developing some kind of exclusive Course for this profile of students.
The target of this training would be two. In one side, to see the effectiveness of this tool for this kind of students that usually do not have a high knowledge of management skills. In the other side, to see how the students (actual or futures entrepreneurs), react during the decision taking process.
In order to get these objectives, a course specially defined for entrepreneurs, using a business game model, will be prepared.
3.0 Method
Considering that the target is to define a potential Course, a focus group will be held in order to recap information from the entrepreneurs, trying to include different profiles.
To develop this session, we will take profit of the Càtedra URV-Empresa, dedicated to the support of creation of new companies. This body, created in 2006, has the support of the University, unions, and other social Institutions of the influence area of the University.
Using this networking, it is expected to get a wide profile of entrepreneurs, with and without economic background, students/teachers coming from the University, entrepreneurs without university links; different typology projects, with and without new technology, etc.
Additionally, the idea would be to “commercialize” the project as a competition, offering some kind of reward (computer, for instance), in order to increase the awareness of the Càtedra, at the same that the targets of the research are developed
4.0 Expected Contributions
The expected contributions of the paper are to achieve some progress in adapting a business game model for its use by entrepreneurs. The main targets can be summarized as follows:
- Current situation of the business game for entrepreneurs.
- Identify goals and develop a timetable for a business game Course for entrepreneur.
- Analyze which would be the best indicator to define who would be the winner, in case that the Course was focused as a competition.
- Prepare a questionnaire in order to get the related data that allows us to manage the information and prepare some conclusions.
- Try to categorize the results considering the typology of the entrepreneur and the projected that they want to develop.
- Give real advise to the entrepreneurs during the training period, answering questions related with the game and, why not, with their business project they have on hands