UNSPECIFIED (2004) An assessment of a venture creation programme: the case of Shell LiveWIRE. ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 16 (2). pp. 145-159. doi:10.1080/08985620410001677853

Research output not available from this repository, contact author.

Request Changes to record.

Abstract

This paper examines the problems inherent in assessing the role of venture creation programmes. It suggests that there are, in particular, two areas to be considered. First, any assessment is contingent upon the evaluation context. In other words, not only are the objectives of any particular venture creation programme important, but also so are the objectives of the evaluation. Following on from this, it is also apparent that a simple input-output ('black-box') assessment is unlikely to fully capture the discontinuities or ambiguities inherent in the entrepreneurial process. To address these issues, an assessment instrument is developed to estimate the equivocal nature of the venture creation process. This 4-fold instrument suggests considering individuals in four states: individuals who use a programme but do not subsequently consider entrepreneurship to be appropriate (NO WISH); those who would countenance entrepreneurship in the future (POTENTIALS); those currently attempting to become entrepreneurs (NASCENTS); and those who are entrepreneurs (ACTUALS). Subsequently, this assessment instrument is used to consider the case of Shell LiveWIRE, which is a dedicated provider of enterprise support to young people in the UK. Based upon a sample of over 1000 young people, a probit and ordered probit analysis show that 'soft' forms of support (signposting and information provision) were of little value in moving individuals towards entrepreneurial activity. The research also found that the more likely an individual was to be engaged in entrepreneurial activity, the less their expressed value of LiveWIRE services.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HF Commerce H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor
Journal or Publication Title:	ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Publisher:	ROUTLEDGE TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
ISSN:	0898-5626
Official Date:	March 2004
Dates:	Date Event March 2004 UNSPECIFIED
Volume:	16
Number:	2
Number of Pages:	15
Page Range:	pp. 145-159
DOI:	10.1080/08985620410001677853
Publication Status:	Published

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Repository staff actions (login required)

View Item