Together with Pontus Bergh, I got a paper published with the (somewhat) provocative title, “Learn or Die”… but with the less provocative subtitle,  “The Development of an Assessment Framework for SME Entrepreneurial Learning Programmes”. The paper is based on material from Pontus’ thesis and published in International Journal of Management & Enterprise Development. A full version can be downloaded here.

Reference to the paper should be made as follows: Bergh, Pontus and Jacobsson, Mattias (2011),”Learn or die: the development of an assessment framework for SME entrepreneurial learning programmes”, International Journal of Management & Enterprise Development, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 92–109.

Abstract

Abstract: The unique features of entrepreneurial learning, which involves multiple dimensions, are not easily captured and today few appropriate assessment frameworks exist. The aim of this paper is, therefore, to develop an assessment framework for entrepreneurial learning and empirically illustrate its potential on a specific small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) learning programme. Based on a survey of owners/managers who took part in the government-supported learning programme, krAft, an exploratory factors analysis and a regression analysis were conducted. This paper proposes a two- dimensional framework of cognitive and social/emotional learning outcomes where both are strongly correlated to internal efficiency but only the social/emotional outcomes are correlated to external effectiveness. This paper, therefore, concludes that the mere focus on cognitive learning outcomes is not enough to successfully act upon business opportunities. Hence, the social/emotional learning dimension is of great importance, and should be utilised, in the development of arranged SME learning groups.

Keywords: entrepreneurial learning programmes; learning assessment; SME owner/manager; enterprise development; exploratory factor analysis; regression analysis.