Module 3 – Idea Development

Creativity is a great motivator because it makes people interested in what they are doing. Creativity gives hope that there can be a worthwhile idea. Creativity gives the possibility of some sort of achievement to everyone. Creativity makes life more fun and more interesting.

― Edward de Bono

Short Description

In Module 2 you learned about what entrepreneurship is and about the different types of entrepreneurship, in particular, community-based entrepreneurship. We also looked at the role of entrepreneurs in society, and you have discovered where your motivations and passions lie. We also looked at how to analyze your community and to identify what the issues and problems are but also where potential resources, partners or opportunities can be found.

In Module 3 we will look at how to further deepen this analysis and conduct proper market research, how to identify needs or problems to be solved, how to come up with community-based entrepreneurial ideas and how to further develop them.

Analyzing existing players in the community through tools like asking the right questions and the SWOT analysis are important elements in Module 3. Idea development skills, how to set SMART objectives for your idea and prototyping are tools you will also experiment with.

Learning Objectives

• Learn how to ask the right questions when conducting market research
• Analyze existing businesses in your community by asking the right questions
• Explore techniques such mind mapping to generate ideas
• Learn about the differences between an idea and an opportunity and how to identify an opportunity in the market
• Gain new skills and get new tools such as SWOT analysis, setting SMART objectives or prototyping