Teaching Entrepreneurship through Christian Virtues

About Teaching Entrepreneurship through Christian Virtues

Abstract

The literature on entrepreneurship has moved from early analysis of the characteristics of the entrepreneur to a broader understanding of the interactions of the individual with his or her environment. That is, success depends not only on the personality and skills of the entrepreneurs themselves, but also on the social network in which they find themselves. A new enterprise flourishes or fails depending on a complex array of factors. Engineering and business educators who are Christians can use a faith-based pedagogical approach that links individual and community characteristics in a way that naturally relates to our students: through virtues. This approach can attract students to entrepreneurship who want to make a difference in the world as followers of Christ (as opposed to the more stereotypical reasons for entrepreneurship, such as the chance to create something new or the chance to get rich). First, we begin with an overview of the relationship between the individual and the community, including a review of the literature, focusing on the transition from personal characteristics of entrepreneurs to the broader understanding of the entrepreneur in situ. Second, we propose a new way to think of the product and technology innovation cycle, based on the virtues of creativity, diligence, and wisdom, which are informed by other virtues, such as compassion, justice, and stewardship. Third, we consider practical pedagogy to teach entrepreneurship using the virtues, which may help faculty to move beyond simple teaching of skills towards a positive influence on actual student entrepreneurial behavior. Finally, we explore Christian entrepreneurs as transformative agents, addressing the difficulty students face in bringing virtues to bear in a world sometimes hostile to faith.