Innovation and Entrepreneurship: A Competency Framework

This book presents a new model, the competency framework, for students, innovators, entrepreneurs, managers, and anyone who wants to better understand the dynamic world of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Focused on both the individual and strategic organizational level, this book is about people and the competencies each person needs to learn to be successful in creating a more dynamic future. The framework for innovation and entrepreneurship competencies empowers individuals to excel at innovation and new venture creation.

It provides a practical guide and clear and concise understanding of the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and experiences that are needed to increase imagination, creativity, innovation, and new venture creation capability. Innovation and Entrepreneurship will be attractive for students of entrepreneurship, innovation, management, and cross-disciplinary classes, such as design thinking.

Presented in a modular format, Innovation and Entrepreneurship informs the future direction of people and technology, as well as the educational systems producing the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.

Based on extensive academic research, this book is organized into two sections: 12 innovation elements and 12 competency categories. The elements are the foundation and the competency categories are the building blocks that inform our path toward a more precise understanding of how innovation and entrepreneurship play an important role in economic development and our daily lives.

Ralph F. Brueggemann is Adjunct Professor at the University of Cincinnati, USA. He has over 50 years of experience in all aspects of leadership, management, product management, quality improvement, and technology management in multiple business sectors. He has managed the development of commercial software products and applications, from mobile to high-end software systems.

Charles H. Matthews is Distinguished Teaching Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management, Founder and former Executive Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship Education & Research, and former Director of the Small Business Institute® at the University of Cincinnati, USA. He is an internationally recognized scholar and innovative teacher in the field of entrepreneurship.