Sociology 110 Professor Aldrich & Ms. Davis
September 1st 1998, Summary
1. Define the concept of nascent entreprenur
Adult Population->Nascant Entrepreneurs->Fledging Organization->Established Organization
Definition of Nascent Entrepreneur: someone who initiates serious business activities intended to culminate in a viable business activity.
Things that they do: (1) Idea
(2) Act on it: inquire about a license or a space, hire employees, apply for/ take out loans, save money, buy equipment, do research in the library, observe similar businesses
2. How many entrepreneurs are there in Chapel Hill?
We decided that we could either use the average of between 4 and 6 percent of the adult population OR a lower estimate (taking into account the youthful, inexperienced, and non-wealthy population, AND multiply that percent by the estimated populatin of Chapel Hill
Variation in a college town:
Lower rate? lack of experience, money, and time
Local rates may vary by population characteristics.
We did not answer this question, but an answer can be found in the Aldrich reading.
Fish Ladder example: Nascent entrepreneurs must pass through a series of steps or obstacles before they have a fledging business. Some survive and arrive to the top; others do not.
Innovators introduce a new product or service or a new way to conduct business. They may start a new industry. They are a source of variation.
1. When determining whether a new business is an innovator or a reproducer, context matters. While the sports bar and smoothie store are new to the area, they are not entirely new ideas because these businesses existed in other regions of the country.
2. When determining whether a new business is an innovator or a reproducer, one needs to consider the issue of continuity and discontinuity. How different is this business?
3. New organizations rather than established organizations typically develop the innovations.
1. Reproducers reinforce the status quo. Innovators add variation and prevent stagnation.
2. Why is there so much continuity? Because most new organizations are reproducers.
The entire world's population = 8,000,000,000
1. Overlapping ties: My friends know some of my other friends. There are overlaps in the 100 people we know.
2. Boundaries and barriers inhibit networking: There are language, economic, cultural, social, religious, and geographical barriers that limit access to people who differ from me in these respects.
3. Uncertainty & ignorance: It is difficult to know which of my 100 people knows the person I am looking for. It is difficult to make connections. If I speak directly to someone who knows someone, who knows someone, who knows someone, who knows someone I know; it is the same as talking to a stranger.
4. Entropy: If a message is passed through all of those chain links, some of the content can be lost.