Role of entrepreneur in the economic development:

The entrepreneur who is a business leader looks for ideas and puts them into effect in fostering economic growth and development. Entrepreneurship is one of the most important input in the economic development of a country. The entrepreneur acts as a trigger head to give spark to economic activities by his entrepreneurial decisions. He plays a pivotal role not only in the development of industrial sector of a country but also in the development of farm and service sector. The major roles played by an entrepreneur in the economic development of an economy is discussed in a systematic and orderly manner as follows. (1) Promotes Capital Formation: Entrepreneurs promote capital formation by mobilising the idle savings of public. They employ their own as well as borrowed resources for setting up their enterprises. Such type of entrepreneurial activities lead to value addition and creation of wealth, which is very essential for the industrial and economic development of the country. (2) Creates Large-Scale Employment Opportunities: Entrepreneurs provide immediate large-scale employment to the unemployed which is a chronic problem of underdeveloped nations. With the setting up.of more and more units by entrepreneurs, both on small and large-scale numerous job opportunities are created for others. As time passes, these enterprises grow, providing direct and indirect employment opportunities to many more. In this way, entrepreneurs play an effective role in reducing the problem of unemployment in the country which in turn clears the path towards economic development of the nation. (3) Promotes Balanced Regional Development: Entrepreneurs help to remove regional disparities through setting up of industries in less developed and backward areas. The growth of industries and business in these areas lead to a large number of public benefits like road transport, health, education, entertainment, etc. Setting up of more industries lead to more development of backward regions and thereby promotes balanced regional development. (4) Reduces Concentration of Economic Power: Economic power is the natural outcome of industrial and business activity. Industrial development normally lead to concentration of economic power in the hands of a few individuals which results in the growth of monopolies. In order to redress this problem a large number of entrepreneurs need to be developed, which will help reduce the concentration of economic power amongst the population.

(5) Wealth Creation and Distribution: It stimulates equitable redistribution of wealth and income in the interest of the country to more people and geographic areas, thus giving benefit to larger sections of the society. Entrepreneurial activities also generate more activities and give a multiplier effect in the economy. (6) Increasing Gross National Product and Per Capita Income: Entrepreneurs are always on the look out for opportunities. They explore and exploit opportunities,, encourage effective resource mobilisation of capital and skill, bring in new products and services and develops markets for growth of the economy. In this way, they help increasing gross national product as well as per capita income of the people in a country. Increase in gross national product and per capita income of the people in a country, is a sign of economic growth. (6) Improvement in the Standard of Living: Increase in the standard of living of the people is a characteristic feature of economic development of the country. Entrepreneurs play a key role in increasing the standard of living of the people by adopting latest innovations in the production of wide variety of goods and services in large scale that too at a lower cost. This enables the people to avail better quality goods at lower prices which results in the improvement of their standard of living. (7) Promotes Country's Export Trade: Entrepreneurs help in promoting a country's export-trade, which is an important ingredient of economic development. They produce goods and services in large scale for the purpose earning huge amount of foreign exchange from export in order to combat the import dues requirement. Hence import substitution and export promotion ensure economic independence and development. (8) Induces Backward and Forward Linkages: Entrepreneurs like to work in an environment of change and try to maximise profits by innovation. When an enterprise is established in accordance with the changing technology, it induces backward and forward linkages which stimulate the process of economic development in the country. (9) Facilitates Overall Development: Entrepreneurs act as catalytic agent for change which results in chain reaction. Once an enterprise is established, the process of industrialisation is set in motion. This unit will generate demand for various types of units required by it and there will be so many other units which require the output of this unit. This leads to overall development of an area due to increase in demand and setting up of more and more units. In this way, the entrepreneurs multiply their

entrepreneurial activities, thus creating an environment of enthusiasm and conveying an impetus for overall development of the area.

Sources of Business Ideas

There are millions of entrepreneurs throughout the world and their testimonies suggest that there are many potential sources of business ideas. Some of the more useful ones are outlined below. Hobbies/Interests A hobby is a favorite leisure-time activity or occupation. Many people, in pursuit of their hobbies or interests, have founded businesses. If, for example, you enjoy playing with computers, cooking, music, traveling, sport or performing, to name but a few, you may be able to develop it into a business. To illustrate this, if you enjoy traveling, performing and/or hospitality, you may consider going into tourism which is one of the biggest industries in the world.

Personal Skills and Experience Over half of the ideas for successful businesses come from experiences in the work place, e.g. a mechanic with experience in working for a large garage who eventually sets up his/her own car repair or a used car business. Thus, the background of potential entrepreneurs plays a crucial role in the decision to go into business as well as the type of venture to be created. Your skills and experience are probably your most important resource, not only in generating ideas but also in capitalizing on them. Franchises A franchise is an arrangement whereby the manufacturer or sole distributor of a trademark, product or service gives exclusive rights for local distribution to independent retailers in return for their payment of royalties and conformity to standardized operating procedures. Franchising may take several forms, but the one of interest is the type that offers a name, image, method of doing business and operating procedures. In the 1980s and early franchising experienced tremendous growth, becoming a much- used method of going into business for the millions of enterprises that were starting up in the USA

and Europe. In the USA alone, there are over 2,000 types of franchise businesses, accounting for over US$300 billion in annual sales revenue and about a third of all retail sales. Apart from buying a franchise, one can also develop and sell a franchise concept. There are many directories and handbooks as well as associations, including the International Franchise Association, which can provide further information. Mass Media The mass media is a great source of information, ideas and often opportunity. Newspapers, magazines, television, and nowadays the Internet are all examples of mass media. Take a careful look, for example, at the commercial advertisements in newspaper or magazine and you may well find businesses for sale. Well, one way to become an entrepreneur is to respond to such an offer. Articles in the printed press or on the Internet or documentaries on television may report on changes in fashions or consumer needs. For example, you may read or hear that people are now increasingly interested in healthy eating or physical fitness. You may also find advertisements calling for the provision of certain services based on skills, for example accounting, catering or security. Or you may discover a new concept for which investors are required, such as a franchise.

Exhibitions Another way to find the ideas for a business is to attend exhibitions and trade fairs. These are usually advertised on the radio or in newspapers; by visiting such events regularly, you will not only discover new products and services, but you will also meet sales representatives, manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and franchisers. These are often excellent sources of business ideas, information and help in getting started. Some of them may also be looking for someone just like you. Surveys The focal point for a new business idea should be the customer. The needs and wants of the customer, which provide the rational for a product or service, can be ascertained through a survey. Such a survey might be conducted informally or formally by talking to people usually using a questionnaire or through interviews and/or through observation. You may start by talking to your family and friends to find out what they think is needed or wanted that is not available. Or, for example, whether they are dissatisfied with an existing product or service and what improvements or changes they would like to see. You can then move on and talk to people who are part of the distribution chain that is manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, agents and retailers. It would be useful to prepare beforehand a set of questions which might be put on a questionnaire or used in an interview. Given their close contact with customers, channel members have a good sense of what is required and what will not sell. Finally, you should talk to as many customers as possible both existing and potential customers. The more information you can get from them, the better. Besides talking to people, you could also get information through observation. For example, in deciding whether to open a shop on a particular street, you can observe and count the number of people going past on given days and besides talking to people, you can also get information

through observation. For example, in deciding whether to open a shop on a particular street, you can observe and count the number of people going past on given days and compare these to other sites. Or, if you are interested in an area frequented by tourists, you ma be able to set up or market products from a craft business. Or you may have noticed that there is no decent restaurant or hotel on a tourist route or in a given town. One way of ensuring that you are not negligent in this area is to be alert at all times to needs and opportunities to do business. One entrepreneur apparently went round at every cocktail party asking if anyone was using a product that did not adequately fulfill its intended purpose. Another monitored the toys of a relatives children looking for ideas for a market ruche. Complaints Complaints and frustrations on the part of customers have led to many a new product or service. Whenever consumers complain bitterly about a product or service, or when you hear someone say I wish there was or If only there were a product/service that could , you have the potential for a business idea. The idea could be to set up a rival firm offering a better product or service, or it might be a new product or service which could be sold to the firm in question and/or to others. Brainstorming Brainstorming is a technique or creative problem-solving as well as for generating ideas. The object is to come up with as many ideas as possible. It usually starts with a question or problem statement. For example, you may ask What are the products and services needed in the home today which are not available? Each idea leads to one or more additional ideas, resulting in a good number. When using this method, you need to follow these four rules: Dont criticize or judge the ideas of others Freewheeling is encouraged ideas that seem to be wild or crazy are welcome Quantity is desirable the greater the number of ideas, the better Combine and improve upon the ideas of others Reasons for generating business ideas: Business idea generation is a sine-qua-non (inevitable) for business. Ideas are generated to respond to market needs Ideas are also generated to respond to changing fashions and requirements. In order to stay ahead of competition To be in tune with latest technology so as to do things better. In response to product life cycle In order to spread risk and allow for failure. Thank you for taking time to read through our post your contributions through comments would be greatly appreciated. Kindly share with others by inviting them to our website and also share using the social networking icons below. In our next post, we would be examining How To Discover Business Opportunities