1. The Science of Start
Bird-in-the-hand
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scientific business strategy

2. William Kamkwamba (Video)

3. 27 entrepreneurs 3 40 to start ups
$200 million to $6 billion
1 IPO
Source: Sarasvathy (2007)
Interview with 27 expert entrepreneurs

4. Bird-in-the-hand
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scientific business strategy

5. (Selecting between given means to achieve a pre-determined goal)
Market
Research
Knowledge
Market
People Gap
Plan
Resources
Causal thinking

6. (Imaging a possible new end using a given set of means)
Outcome
Opportunities
Outcome
Resources
Outcome
Knowledge Outcome
Outcome
People
Outcome
Source: Sarasvathy (2007)
Effectual thinking

7. Gum trees
Bicycle pump
Piping
Library
books
Motivation to
help
William Kamkwamba

8. William Kamkwamba

9. In groups of 3 – 4:
* List all the advantages of being means driven
rather than goals driven.
* Work with what you have rather than focus on doing
it perfectly.
* Time: 10 minutes
Means driven vs. Goal driven

10. • You are not chasing investors.
AMAR BHIDE
• You are not waiting for the perfect opportunity or perfect set of
resources.
• You are working with your strengths without having to
overcome your weaknesses first.
• Good stakeholders want to shape goals, not just provide
means.
• You are increasing the possible stakeholder who can self-
select in your venture.
• You are increasing the probability of innovative surprises.
• You are increasing the likelihood of finding or creating
opportunities that are a better fit for you.
• You are increasing the likelihood of even failures being
learning experiences that you can recover form faster and
build on when you are ready to try again.
• You are forcing yourself to get creative with meager resources
including slack resources and even waste.
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scientific business strategy

11. When are goals useful and when are
goals harmful?
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scientific business strategy

12. Inventory your means
Who you Who you What you What you Who you Who you
know know know know Are Are
Your rolodex Your prior Tastes, value
knowledge s and
preferences
Classmates Knowledge Passions
from your
job
Serendipitous Knowledge Hobbies
encounters from life
The strangers Informal Interests
in your life learning, ho
bbies
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scientific business strategy

13. Inventory your means
AMAR BHIDE
What means did you acquire or build:
• As a teenager.
• At school.
• At university.
• In your first, second, etc…. Job
• In your private life.
• With your hobbies, activities, etc.
• From your parents.
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scientific business strategy

14. In groups of 3 – 4:
* For each person:
* Create a list of all your things, knowledge, people,
money & contacts
* Whom do I know? What things do I have?
* What do I know? What money do I have?
* Time: 20 mins
Inventory your resources