Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation in the Digital Age
Item 2
1. Entrepreneurship
Projects and enterprises need leadership to meet objectives. This requires specific personality traits and technical skills, varying by project or business.
Entrepreneur: A person with initiative and risk-taking ability who creates a company, establishes its objectives, and directs efforts to achieve them.
1.1 The Entrepreneur Throughout History
Before 18th Century: Squire, Master Craftsman (early organizational work).
Mercantilism (18th Century): Sedentary Merchant; Management of large business enterprises (e.g., Indian companies).
Industrial Revolution (19th-20th Century): Industrial Capitalist; Factory owner, scientific management, seeking productivity.
From 20th Century: Modern managers (large companies) and entrepreneurs; Separation of ownership and control; Need for specialized training.
1.2 Legal Requirements for Becoming an Entrepreneur
Sole Trader: A natural person who carries on business as the owner.
Requirements: To be of age, have free disposal of assets, and exercise commercial activity regularly.
Procedures:
- Initial Obligations: Tax liability (Business Tax – IAE), census declaration (model 036), legal obligations by activity.
- Labor Obligations: Special self-employed social security registration (model TA.6), affiliation and registration of workers (models TA.1 and TA.2), accident and occupational disease protection.
1.3 The Business Strategy
Entrepreneurs must define objectives and establish a path to achieve them.
Strategy: Action plan for long-term competitive advantage.
Three Major Stages:
- Where are we? SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats).
- Where do we want to go? Vision, mission, objectives, resource acquisition (people, machinery, technology).
- How to get there? Strategic plan: Product decisions, target market, technology, organizational structure, direction, management, control.
Popular Strategies:
- Cost Leadership: Lowest production cost, offering lower prices.
- Differentiation: Unique product characteristics, perceived as special.
- Focus: Concentrating on a specific market segment.
2. The Entrepreneur and New Technologies
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have transformed the corporate landscape, leading to the new economy. Innovation and internet use are essential for information management.
2.1 Business Innovation
Innovate: To do something new, introduce advanced technology in products, services, or processes. Related to creativity (generating new ideas).
Business Innovation: Developing new products, services, production processes, and organizational forms for competitive advantage.
2.2 Impact of ICT on Business Innovation
Key ICT Advances:
- Computers: Revolutionized daily operations, saving time and money; advanced programs as competitive tools.
- Internet: Provides vast information; selecting relevant data is crucial; consider subscribing to filtering services.
- E-mail: Powerful tool for external and internal communication.
- User Certificates and Digital Signatures: Facilitate online procedures with digital certificates issued by entities like the Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre.
- Electronic Commerce: Websites offer products directly to customers; requires adequate promotion.