The Batten Institute Introduces Powerful New Initiatives and Resources to Advance Entrepreneurship and Innovation Research

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Darden School of Business and its Batten Institute for entrepreneurship and innovation today announced a number of new initiatives and resources aimed to advance the scholarship and teaching of entrepreneurship, while giving managers and business practitioners some powerful new frameworks for driving and managing corporate growth.  

Society for Effectual Action and effectuation.org

Saras Sarasvathy, Isadore Horween Research Associate Professor of Business Administration, is author of Effectuation: Elements of Entrepreneurial Expertise, a 2009 Terry Book Award nominee. Sarasvathy, working with a tight core of scholars and entrepreneurs, has created the Society for Effectual Action and its new robust online community, effectuation.org, focused on the distinctive decision-making process of successful entrepreneurs, known as effectuation. Developed as a research tool for scholars and reference forum for educators, the website includes teaching notes, case studies, webcasts, events, articles and a range of additional tools. The portal also serves as the world's first and most complete aggregation of research and news about the study of entrepreneurship.

Coinciding with the launch of effectuation.org is the publication of Effectual Entrepreneurship, a textbook of techniques, exercises, activities, case studies, and other materials to promote the application of effectuation. The study of effectuation has become widely acclaimed as a framework for understanding the creation and growth of new organizations and markets. Many academics and business practitioners have also recognized that the principles of effectuation can be applied to solve some of the world's most pressing problems. Professor Sarasvathy's work in effectuation dates back to the late 1990's and since has helped shape this pioneering form of entrepreneurship research.  

Designing for Growth Book Release

Jeanne Liedtka, United Technologies Corporation Professor of Business Administration, is a driving force behind the concept of design thinking, specifically its role in business and higher education. Her newest book, Designing for Growth: A Design Tool Kit for Managers, is co-authored by Tim Ogilvie and slated for release this spring. With extensive expertise in corporate growth, strategy, innovation and design, Professor Liedtka has written and spoken extensively on the importance of using the principles of design in business management, tools she believes are essential for the future of corporate innovation. Designing for Growth complements Liedtka's previous work, including her recent book The Catalyst, named a "2009 Best Book on Innovation and Design" by Bloomberg BusinessWeek.

Smart Growth

Edward Hess, Professor of Business Administration and Batten Executive-in-Residence, continues to be regarded for his scholarship worldwide, including his recent book Smart Growth, which counteracts the commonly held Wall Street belief regarding linear corporate growth. Inc. Magazine named Smart Growth one of its top 25 books for business owners, and the Globe and Mail named Smart Growth one of the Top 10 Business Books of 2010. Hess also received the Wachovia Award for Research Excellence for Significant Publication Aimed Directly at the Practicing Manager. Smart Growth was one of the first books to challenge Wall Street's popular belief that all companies must "grow or die," as evidenced by ever-increasing quarterly earnings. The work of Hess, who has written eight books, has also appeared in top publications such as Fortune, JiJi Press, Financial Times, Investor's Business Daily, CFO Review, and Money magazine. Hess's ninth book, a textbook designed for business school courses that focus on managing small to medium sized enterprises, is titled Growing an Entrepreneurial Business: Concepts and Cases, and will be released later this week.

"As the start to 2011 demonstrates, we have yet another exciting year ahead of us," said Michael Lenox, Executive Director, Batten Institute, Darden School of Business.  "The work and contributions of Professors Sarasvathy, Liedtka, and Hess demonstrate the Institute's unparalleled commitment to entrepreneurship and innovation, and we are proud to support their illuminating, pioneering scholarship."

ABOUT THE BATTEN INSTITUTE

The Batten Institute advances knowledge about the transformative power of entrepreneurship and innovation and cultivates principled, entrepreneurial leaders. The Institute encompasses a leading academic research center and Darden's Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. The Institute was founded on the principle that entrepreneurship and innovation are powerful mechanisms for improving society by addressing its most pressing challenges. In bringing together scholars, students, alumni, business people, and the greater community, the Institute fosters a diverse and energetic collaborative community in support of its mission to foster knowledge and improve society.

ABOUT THE DARDEN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business is one of the world's leading business schools, offering MBA, Ph.D. and Executive Education programs. The unique Darden experience combines the case study method, acclaimed faculty whose research advances global managerial practice and business education, and a tight-knit learning community to develop principled and complete leaders who are ready to make an impact.

SOURCE The Batten Institute