Jean Pierre Segers a a Small Business Research Institute, Brussels, To link to this article:

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1 This article was downloaded by: [Jean-Pierre Segers] On: 05 January 2014, At: 14:08 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: Registered office: Mortimer House, Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: THE SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE IN BELGIUM CURRENT TRENDS Jean Pierre Segers a a Small Business Research Institute, Brussels, Belgium Published online: 02 Jan To cite this article: Jean Pierre Segers (1989) THE SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE IN BELGIUM CURRENT TRENDS, Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, 7:1, 54-57, DOI: / To link to this article: PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the Content ) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan,

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3 THE SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE IN BELGIUM CURRENT TRENDS Jean Pierre Segers Small Business Research Institute, Brussels, Belgium Downloaded by [Jean-Pierre Segers] at 14:08 05 January 2014 ABSTRACT There is a perceived need to clearly identify the major types of entrepreneurship education and training and their target populations. A wide range of activities have been undertaken recently to develop enterprise in youth in Belgium. However, up to this moment, there seems to be a lack of total coherence. SOMMAIRE II y a un besoin reel d 'identifier de faron claire et precise les principaux types de programmes de sensibilisation et de formation a /'esprit d'entreprise de cerner les populations cibles. Une vaste gamme d 'activites a ete lancee recemment pour developper I' esprit d 'entreprise chez Ia jeunesse beige. Toutefois, a l'heure actuelle, il semble y a voir un manque total de coherence. SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP Spirit of Enterprise is a concept that has not in the past been clearly defined. Gibb (1) defines it in terms of "sets of values, attitudes and beliefs in society which support the concept of, and rewards from, individual and collective enterprising efforts''. According to Gibb, the following act as key influences on Enterprise Spirit: Positive role images of successful independent business Opportunity for familiarization with small-business tasks, especially during youth Opportunity to practice entrepreneurial attributes during formative years Network of independent business/family contacts reinforcing familiarity and providing market-entry opportunities The provision of knowledge and insight into the process of independent business management. It is clear that a number of potential influences during the formative years of youth will encourage the widespread adoption of enterprising attitudes and beliefs. Gibb (2) defines the concept of Entrepreneurship by considering the entrepreneur as a person with a certain set of attributes and then relating these to the relevant task structure of the small-business owner/manager. The attributes commonly associated with the "entrepreneur" include creativity, initiative, high achievement, risk taking (moderate), leadership, autonomy and independence, analytical ability, hard work and good communication skills. In this approach, there are no absolutes: different people will embody different mixes of these entrepreneurial attributes. THE SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE IN BELGIUM: THE STATE OF THE ART Up to now, most educational activities in Belgium have had little to do with promoting entrepreneurship. (3) Traditionally, students are oriented towards a career as employee, rather than as employer or entrepreneur. Almost no efforts have been undertaken to promote independent entrepreneurship as a viable career alternative. This does not mean that the educational system does not provide students with some of the entrepreneurial attributes as described above, which could be of importance to the start-up of an independent business 54

4 Downloaded by [Jean-Pierre Segers] at 14:08 05 January 2014 venture. However, the main focus has for too long been on the interaction between Education and Enterprise, instead of on the relationship between Education and Entrepreneurship. It can be argued that the development of entrepreneurial attributes, alongside knowledge, is one of the major objectives of the education process as a whole. The educational system can support the development of independent entrepreneurship in many ways. One approach is to promote entrepreneurship within the educational system. A second approach is to improve those educational activities which directly promote entrepreneurship. Attitude-building and direct support for people with a firm and valid business idea are two ways by which entrepreneurship can be promoted within the educational system. There is a perceived need to clearly identify the major types of entrepreneurship education and training and their target populations. Recent research on this issue has been carried out by Curran and Stanworth (4) and (1). In our empirical analysis of the state of the art for Belgium, we distinguish between two broad customer groups. The first group is that of the pre-business start-ups. Programs and initiatives aimed at this group focus on Small Business Awareness Education and on the development of an enterprise spirit. The second customer group is that of business start-ups and existing businesses. Programs here are directed at supporting the start-up, survival and growth of the independent business. As is clear from Figure I, each customer group has different educational needs and is supported by different (socio-economic) network provisions. Figure 1 Education and Entrepreneurship Major Forms and Target Populations Network provisions Customer Group 1: Customer Group 2: Pre-business start-ups Business start-ups and existing businesses Spirit of Enterprise SMALL BUSINESS AWARENESS EDUCATION Start-up, survival and growth.education FOR SMALL BUSINESS & SELF- EMPLOYMENT continuing SMALL BUSINESS EDUCATION Network provisions Figure 2 (5), reflects the state of the art as to the spirit of enterprise in Belgium. In the matrix of Figure 2, we distinguish between three types of education and training: the ''ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP'' type considers any provision that informs young people about the nature of large and small business, and their economic significance. Within the small-business area, particular attention is given to independent entrepreneurship. The role of the risk-taking entrepreneur is accentuated here. This approach is usually 55

5 very factual and descriptive. It can include measures such as transfer of experience and or ideas, influencing career choices, developing entrepreneurial attributes, etc. It can also include measures such as work experience, placements or programs to enhance "economic awareness", or transition to work and all activities which are a direct incentive to starting an independent business. the "ABOUT ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT" type of education and training focuses onto the development of necessary knowledge and management techniques, and on managerial competence. the "THROUGH ENTERPRISE" type deals with any provision which develops the enterprise competencies or attributes. This type of education and training for enterprise makes use of business simulations and youth enterprises within the sheltered educational environment. It may also consist of a series of specific modules aimed at each of the identified enterprise competencies. Downloaded by [Jean-Pierre Segers] at 14:08 05 January 2014 Target Group Type "About Entrepreneurship" Figure 2 The Spirit of Enterprise in Belgium State of the Art Pre-business start-ups Small Business Awareness Education Apprenticeships 1 Schools-Enterprise Link Program Business Counsellors Young Entrepreneurs Fund Education for Small Business & Self-employment Enterprise into education 2 Be your own employer Business Counsellors Young Entrepreneurs Fund Business start-ups & Existing businesses Continuing Small Business Education Enterprise into education Continued and remedial education' Be your own employer Business Counsellors "About Enterprise management" Small business or enterprise courses within business management curricula Graduate business start-up programs Graduate business start -up programs "Through Enterprise" Young Enterprise Small business simulation Parent firm scheme Parent firm scheme 1 This is a part of the vocational training system in Belgium, which provides a major national focus for Enterprise Training. 2 Ibid. I 3 1bid. 56

6 Downloaded by [Jean-Pierre Segers] at 14:08 05 January 2014 CONCLUSIONS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS The current trend as to the spirit of enterprise in Belgium is that there is a wide range of activity without yet a total coherence. A great deal of what has been achieved has been at local rather than national level. Up to now, the spirit of enterprise has been best served by the vocational training system, which provides a major national focus for Enterprise Training. The wide variety of initiatives range from apprenticeships through enterprise into education to continued and remedial education. There are many local initiatives of the "Be your own employer" kind. There is a major potential for the development of Enterprise within schools, through initiatives such as Young Enterprise and business simulations. In universities and business schools, there is an emergent understanding of starting an independent business as a valid career alternative. The whole educational system at the different levels should be imbued with the Spirit of Enterprise. There needs to be a change in attitude among policymakers in general, and among educationalists in particular, so that they actively encourage the option of independent entrepreneurship as a viable career alternative. This may not be considered an isolated issue. On the contrary, it should be part of a wider policy framework for the development of the small-business sector. REFERENCES I. Gibb, A.A., (Ed.), A study of the spirit of enterprise in Europe, Final report to the SME Task Force of the European Economic Community. The report for Belgium was edited by Segers, J.P. [Segers, J.P., 1988, National and major regional initiatives to develop enterprise in youth in Belgium, Small Business Research Institute, Brussels.], Gibb, A.A., Education and Enterprise: Training for Small Business Initiation- Some contrasts, in KAO, R.W.Y., (Ed.), Readings in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, Toronto, Donckels, R. and J.P. Segers, Education and Entrepreneurship (in Dutch: Onderwjs and Ondernemerschap, Mist Vlaanderen een kans?), Small Business Research Institute, Brussels, Curran, J. and J. Stanworth, Education and training for enterprise: some problems of classification, evaluation, policy and research, International Small Business Journal, Vol. 7, No. 2, Segers, J.P., National and major regional initiatives to develop enterprise in youth in Belgium, Small Business Research Institute, Brussels,