21A - Required Reading No.2

I decided to choose “Innovation and Entrepreneurship” by Pete Drucker.

1.    What was the general theme or argument of the book?

The general theme of the book was the practice and application of entrepreneurship. Drucker defines innovation, focuses on managerial strategies, and examines practices and policies.

2.    How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003?

This book very much enhanced everything I have learned during ENT3003. The book also connected with my own entrepreneurship experiences, specifically my experiences consulting in South Africa. The book discussed consumer need a lot and also the value a service offers to a customer. Drucker also emphasizes the need for innovation and entrepreneurship within society. Dr. Pryor has done this throughout ENT3003 because it is the backbone of our communities.

3.    If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve?

An exercise for this book would be based off of innovation. Quite honestly, the exercises we already do in class represent the ideas in this book. A really great exercise would be to read a newspaper and find an innovation area in your community. This exercise would help the person to find a niche area to work in and analyze the opportunities.

4.    What was your biggest surprise or 'aha' moment when reading the book? In other words, what did you learn that differed most from your expectations?

The book is very similar to what I have learned in class. I was quite surprise how much Drucker focused on dominating an area. His strategies involve dominating a new market or existing market and changing the economic characteristics of it. I found that the most interesting.