Beyond the Business Plan

SIMON BRIDGE is a practitioner and academic, and has worked in the enterprise field for nearly 30 years, first in LEDU (Northern Ireland's small business agency) and then in his own business as a consultant and facilitator. He is Visiting Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Ulster and co-author of Understanding Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Small Business - a leading enterprise text book, the fourth edition of which is now in preparation - and has also written on social enterprise and enterprise policy. Simon speaks at business and entrepreneurship conferences worldwide and consults with organizations on manager training and development in entrepreneurship.CECILIA HEGARTY is an active contributor to the national strategy for entrepreneurship education in Ireland and has worked in entrepreneurship higher education for over 10 years in programme development and delivery from undergraduate to post-doctoral level. She is also a consultant working directly with SMEs on entrepreneurship and training. Dr Hegarty sits on a number of international journal review boards and has published widely in the field of entrepreneurship and enterprise including journal articles, book chapters and textbooks. Cecilia's current research interests relate to entrepreneurship education, family SME growth and succession and applied enterprise research. Cecilia is also a regular conference speaker and regularly presents papers and new research to these key networks.

• PART I – WHY LOOK BEYOND THE BUSINESS PLAN 1. The purpose of this book 2. Business plans - why are they advocated? 3. Are business plans appropriate? 4. Business plans are not the only option 5. Enterprise and exploration 6. A guide for explorers? PART II – THE TEN PRINCIPLES 7. The starting point: understanding how to explore 8. Principle 1 - An enterprise is a means not an end 9. Principle 2 - Don't commit more than you can afford to lose 10. Principle 3 - Start from where you are 11. Principle 4 - Carry out reality checks and make appropriate plans 12. Principle 5 - The only reliable test is a real one 13. Principle 6 - Get started and get some momentum 14. Principle 7 - Accept uncertainty 15. Principle 8 - Look for opportunities 16. Principle 9 - Build and use social capital 17. Principle 10 - Acquire the relevant skills 18. Following the Principles PART III – SEEKING A BALANCED PERSPECTIVE 19. Striking a balance 20. Comparing approaches 21. Some reflections and implications 22. Postscript - The relevance of exploring PART IV - FURTHER INFORMATION