Author Archive

Greener Entrepreneurial Pastures

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

A Kauffman Foundation report, “The Grass is Indeed Greener in India and China for Returnee Entrepreneurs,” concludes that Indian and Chinese students in America are more likely to return home to pursue their career goals as those economies  improve. “Most returnees now say the entrepreneurial advantages are better in their home countries, where they can benefit from lower operating costs, heightened professional recognition, greater access to local markets and a better quality of life than they could attain in the United States,” the report states. While this “reverse brain drain” will impact entrepreneurship in America, as many entrepreneurs are Chinese and Indian immigrants, most returnees still maintain their American contacts, which could create more international business opportunities.

Read the full article here.

Video about the Extreme Entrepeneurship Event in Rockford

Monday, April 25th, 2011

McGill Original Films, a local video production company, created a short video about the recent Extreme Entrepreneurship event at Rock Valley College. CEE’s Executive Director, Dr. Stephen Hicks, was on a discussion panel at the event, and makes an appearance in the video below.

Dilbert Creator Scott Adams on Getting a Real Education

Monday, April 18th, 2011

In a humorous and inspiring piece in The Wall Street Journal, Scott Adams (creator of the popular Dilbert comic strip) writes that most college students should learn the skills needed to run a business, which will prepare them for post-graduate life. Mr. Adams touches on several of his clever entrepreneurial ideas as a student that allowed him to master “the strange art of transforming nothing into something,” and he gives some excellent advice to burgeoning entrepreneurs.

Read the article here.

Interview with Jack Stack

Monday, April 11th, 2011

Jack Stack is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of SRC Holdings Corporation, an award-winning, employee-owned organization based in Springfield, Missouri. Springfield Remanufacturing Corporation and its 22 subsidiaries provide a wide range of products and services, including engine remanufacturing, packing and distribution, business consulting and banking. SRC employs 1,600 people and generates annual revenues of about $400 million.

Kaizen: Where did you grow up?

Stack: I was born in Chicago in 1948. My father bought a house in Elmhurst, Illinois, and I lived in Elmhurst from the time that I was about three years old to about 30. Then I was transferred to Springfield, Missouri, where I’ve spent the last 31 years of my life.

Kaizen: It sounds like you were a wild card as a youth—you were kicked out of college and seminary and fired from a job at General Motors?

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Spring 2011 CEE Essay Contests

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

The Center for Ethics and Entrepreneurship is sponsoring two essay contests for Rockford College students this semester.

Introduction to Philosophy students were given the topic (Due April 14): What is independence, and is it a good thing? [Contest flyer pdf]

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Business and Economic Ethics students were given the topic (Due April 18): What essential character traits and business skills lead individuals and organizations to succeed? [Contest flyer pdf]

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The winners will receive cash prizes and be featured in upcoming issues of Kaizen.

Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour comes to Rock Valley College

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

On Friday, April 15 Rock Valley College will host the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour, which takes place from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Student Center Atrium. The RVC website states: “The Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour – the first ever collegiate entrepreneur tour – includes keynotes, exhibits, workshops, and question-and-answer sessions with young entrepreneurs. Students will brainstorm with business professionals and meet like-minded students through networking events.” CEE’s Executive Director, Dr. Stephen Hicks, will be a panelist at the event.

Click here to find out more about the event.

Click here to sign up for free.

The Impact of Social Media on Organizations

Monday, April 4th, 2011

The new generation of workers wants to be a part of organizations that are structured more like the bottom-up social media environment than the typical top-down corporation, says Gary Hamel. Watch the video below to learn more.

Ethics of the Profit Motive

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

Chris Macdonald, at his Business Ethics Blog, explores the ethics of the profit motive. The profit motive is often blamed for the unethical and illegal actions of businesspeople that we read about in the news every day. But does the profit motive necessarily lead to wrongdoing? And aren’t businesspeople, like everyone else, motivated by much more than just a desire to profit?

Read the article here.

Also, check out this excellent list of 50 ethics blogs.

The Vanishing Entrepreneur

Monday, March 21st, 2011

Professor Donna Matias of the University of San Diego School of Law describes some of the regulatory obstacles that entrepreneurs — especially those with low income —face:

CEE Interview with Jeffrey van Davis

Friday, March 18th, 2011

Jeffrey van Davis talks with Dr. Stephen Hicks about the inspirations for making his documentary Only A God Can Save Us, which explores Martin Heidegger’s involvement with the National Socialist movement. Mr. van Davis also discusses the process of making the film and its public reception. Parts I-IV are embedded below.