Intentional Entrepreneur: Bringing Technology And Engineering To The Real New Economy.

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Summary: Review of The Intentional Entrepreneur by David L. Bodde
Review: Dave Bodde's The Intentional Entrepreneur illuminates a complex area of our economic system that is usually learned through experiences, rather than in the classroom - and all too frequently from the lessons of bad experiences. This book brings principles and structure to the subject of how to bring a new idea or technology into the competitive marketplace and succeed. What has always appeared to be more of an art, practiced with intuitive skills rather than a set of rules, becomes a discipline to be learned.

The Intentional Entrepreneur provides an excellent discussion of the relative importance of technology and business development for entrepreneurial success. Written with an appreciation and understanding for technology by an accomplished engineer, who went far beyond the practice of engineering during his life, it expertly relates how technical ideas only succeed when they are merged with an even more important understanding of the market and customer needs. The book emphasizes that success is driven more by understanding markets, customer development, and timing than the technology itself.

Particularly to its credit, the book succeeds by being extremely readable, teaching through real-life experiences and quotations that bring a general wisdom applicable to the broader world of private enterprise, as well as to the world of entrepreneurial ventures. The experiences that Dave Bodde selects show the value of team organization, energy, enthusiasm, and persistence. They show the overriding importance of considering what is to be needed in the future world as it moves dynamically forward. His basic thrust toward the markets of the future provides maxims common to private enterprise in general. As such, The Intentional Entrepreneur could be a textbook for a variety of courses. In addition to its obvious value as the main reference for a course dealing with technology development, Dave Bodde's collection of experiences could provide supplemental text material for planning, engineering, and general business courses. And as a refresher for the practicing professional, it has given this engineer, frequently fascinated by technical matters, a reminder to remain focused on the market and business development.


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Summary: Building Successful, High-value Enterprises with Technology
Review: I am using this book as the text for a one-semester course introducing undergraduate students of business and engineering to the skills needed and knowledge required for building successful, high-value enterprises with technology.

The book is ideal because it is guided by the view that entrepreneurship is a behavioral skill, and that we benefit most from opportunities to practice the behaviors and thinking of successful entrepreneurs. To accomplish this, the book is case oriented, thus affording readers the opportunity to try on these skills for comfort and fit.

As you start the book, for example, you will meet Kevin Bolin, founder of EnerTech Environmental and Maurice Gunderson co-founder (with Nancy Floyd) of Nth Power Technologies. Their stories are woven throughout the book so you become familiar with them and develop empathy for the way they respond to the challenges they face. As you progress through the chapters of the book, you continue to reflect on these stories, and ask yourself how well the behaviors practiced by the protagonists mesh with your own interests and character.

You will find in this book unique insights into the process of creating economic value with technology, both as an independent entrepreneur or as part of a team from an established company. If the former, this book should improve your chances for success. If the latter, the book should help you distinguish yourself with prospective employers.

By the end of the book, you should have accomplished the following:

Learned the basics of entrepreneurship within the context of the unique advantages and challenges posed by advanced technology;

Gained skills in the analysis of interesting business cases that continue throughout the book and build interest and build understanding as new subjects are addressed;

Enjoy the author's unique ability to communicate concisely and persuasively and provide interesting examples to illustrate key points;

Gained experience working through the issues facing entrepreneurs in the diverse multidisciplinary world they must master in order to succeed;

Developed sufficient understanding and insight to prepare a business model for an independent venture you might actually like to start or for a venture launched from an existing enterprise that you might like to lead.

Finally, this book is unique because it is so down to earth and interesting. By weaving the comprehensive case studies with the technical and theoretical content, the author captures your imagination and piques your curiosity so that you are curious to learn how Bolin and Gunderson were able to address the key topics that form the basis for each chapter.

This book is super!