Empowering the Next Generation: The Role of Experienced Business Owners as Mentors

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In the dynamic world of business, success often depends not just on individual brilliance but on the guidance and wisdom of those who have traveled the entrepreneurial path before us. Experienced business owners, with their wealth of knowledge and hard-earned expertise, possess a unique opportunity to shape the future of entrepreneurship by becoming mentors. Mentoring … Read more

Business Planning Tools: A Systems Perspective

There are different tools for business planning, and each has different requirements and different valued applications in the planning process. Let’s delve into these concepts with a systems thinking perspective: Business Model: Business Model Canvas: Business Case: Strategic Plan: Business Plan: In essence, systems thinking is relevant to each of these concepts as it encourages … Read more

The Law of Requisite Variety: Navigating Small Business Success through Environmental Scanning and Strategic Planning

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Introduction: Small businesses, often likened to David against the corporate Goliaths, possess unique advantages in their agility, innovation, and close customer relationships. However, in today’s dynamic and ever-changing business environment, these advantages can only be harnessed if small businesses understand the Law of Requisite Variety and how it underpins their journey to success. In this … Read more

Navigating Global Trends: How Small Businesses Adapt for Success

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In today’s dynamic and interconnected world, small businesses face a multitude of global trends that shape the way they operate, compete, and grow. These trends represent both challenges and opportunities, and understanding them is essential for small businesses to thrive in the ever-evolving business landscape. In this introduction, using environmental scanning, we’ll explore these key … Read more

Business Education and Training

Continuing education and training are crucial for small business entrepreneurs for several reasons: Popular subjects for small business entrepreneurs in continuing education and training include: Entrepreneurs access education and training through various means: The specific choice of subjects and educational methods may vary depending on an entrepreneur’s industry, goals, and preferences. The key is to … Read more

The Practice Makes Perfect

We are creatures of habit. Whatever we do, we get better at. Practise makes perfect. “The path to mastery is through repetition.” “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not really an act, but a habit.” Plato In systems science there is a concept of path dependence. In the realm of practices, such … Read more

Matching Our Human Condition

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Navigating Complexity: Systems Thinking and ADKAR Approach in a Changing World We live in a complex civilization of eight billion people, the majority of whom are connected by the internet and global supply chains. The past 150 to 200 years, just two or three lifetimes, have changed the human condition dramatically, with introduction of stock … Read more

Embracing New Perspectives: Navigating Business Complexity

Introduction In today’s dynamic and uncertain business environment, entrepreneurs face a rapidly changing landscape filled with complexities and challenges. To thrive in this ever-evolving business ecosystem, entrepreneurs must explore new ways of thinking and doing business. This article discusses the importance of holistic thinking, connectedness, systems thinking, community economic development, collective intelligence, and artificial intelligence … Read more

Unlocking Success in Small Business: Harnessing Collective Intelligence

In the world of entrepreneurship and small business, success often hinges on your ability to tap into the collective intelligence of your team, network or community. Collective intelligence is the concept that the combined knowledge, skills, and insights of a group are often greater than what any single individual can achieve alone. Think “hive-mind”. It’s … Read more