Page 67 - 1-Entrepreneurship and Local Economic Development by Norman Walzer (z-lib.org)

56 Ron Hustedde

welcoming for entrepreneurs. Culture is more than an attitude. It is about a
collective mind-set that influences behavior and actions; it shapes what is
acceptable and what is not.
An entrepreneurial culture is rooted in two premises: (1) shared learning
and (2) systems thinking. Shared learning is the ability to learn new knowl-
edge and insights and how to share this knowledge with the community to
influence change. Systems thinking is a way of viewing the community as a
type of ecosystem in which entrepreneurship is linked to other aspects of
community life. This living system perpetuates itself by adapting to the
changing context of entrepreneurship.
The concepts of shared learning and systems thinking are embedded
within seven major strategies for building an entrepreneurial culture: (1)
create opportunities to learn, question, and think differently about en-
trepreneurship; (2) welcome fresh voices and embrace diversity; (3) mo-
bilize resources for entrepreneurs; (4) cultivate networks for entrepre-
neurs to thrive; (5) focus on assets instead of deficits or problems; (6)
build a shared vision for entrepreneurship; and (7) foster entrepreneur-
ial leaders.
These seven strategies are ways to transform a community’s culture into
something that reflects the strengths of social and business entrepreneurs.
The strategies should not be viewed as mechanical but as living and flexible
approaches in which social and business entrepreneurs can prosper.

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