business ventures grade 10 essay

Business Ventures: The Main Principles Essay

In the contemporary highly competitive business environment, business ventures should strive to create a relationship of trust with their existing customer base to retain and attract new clients. Companies with a reputation for being dependable and treating their customers and employees fairly have a substantial competitive advantage over their direct competitors. It can be argued that transparency, corporate citizenship and responsibility, and follow-through are the main principles a company should adhere to in order to become more trustable and successful.

Transparency in a venture’s business operations is key to creating trust with the customers and becoming efficient. According to Fraser and Van der Ven (2022), being transparent about their practices helps companies secure a more beneficial reputation. Furthermore, transparency can serve as means of reaching new target markets and increasing revenue and efficiency (Fraser & Van der Ven, 2022). For example, transparency in supply chain operations can help detect unnecessary expenditures through communication with the community, reduce costs, and improve the public image. In addition, customers trust companies that are actively involved in social issues and positively impact the economy, environment, and society. Yohn (2020) notes that corporate citizenship and responsibility are expected of modern businesses. It helps build a stronger organizational culture, create shared value, and manage the employee experience, resulting in a more effective organization (Yohn, 2020). Furthermore, the principle of follow-through is crucial in creating trust with the public. If a company fails to perform its obligations and follow through on its pledges, it is unlikely to build a strong relationship with its customers, partners, or employees.

In summary, business ventures should follow the principles of transparency, corporate citizenship and responsibility, as well as follow-through to secure the public’s trust and become successful in the modern competitive environment. By being honest about its operations and business practices, contributing to society in a meaningful way, and consistently following through on its promises to consumers, collaborators, and employees, any organization can create trust with the public.

Fraser, E., & Van der Ven, H. (2022). Increasing Transparency in Global Supply Chains: The Case of the Fast Fashion Industry . Sustainability , 14 (18), 1–24.

Yohn, D. L. (2020). Brand authenticity, employee experience and corporate citizenship priorities in the COVID-19 era and beyond. Strategy & Leadership , 48 (5), 33–39.

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IvyPanda. (2023, August 9). Business Ventures: The Main Principles. https://ivypanda.com/essays/business-ventures-the-main-principles/

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Business Studies, Grade 10 – 12, content is divided into four main topics, which are divided further into sub-topics as below. The amount of information that needs to be learned in Business Studies can feel overwhelming, especially to Grade 12 learners. Breaking it down into such categories makes it easier to digest.

The longer sections of the examination papers are also divided into these four topics, so it helps to familiarise yourself with them. Whenever you start a new topic in your Business Studies class, every term, find out which of the main topics it falls under. This will give you an idea of how your exam papers , including the final exam, will be structured.

The information provided here is according to the South African National Curriculum Statements (NCS) Grades R – 12 .

Table of Contents

The Four Main Topics of Business Studies

Business environment (weighting 25%).

• Micro, market and macro environments
• Business sectors
• Contemporary socioeconomic issues

Business Venture (Weighting 25%)

• Entrepreneurship
• Business opportunity and related factors
• Business Plan
• Management and Leadership
• Forms of ownership
• Setting up a business
• Business location
• Investment: securities and insurance
• Presentation of business information

Business Role (Weighting 25%)

• Creative thinking and problem-solving
• Self-management, professionalism and ethics
• Human rights, inclusivity and environmental issues
• Social Responsibility
• Stress, crisis, change and conflict management
• Relationship and team performance

Business Operation (Weighting 25%)

• Business functions
• Quality of performance

Other Useful Resources

• Grade 12 – Paper 1 – Business Studies – Topics and Core Notes
• Grade 12 – Paper 2 – Business Studies – Topics and Core Notes
• Exam Practice Questions | Grade 12
• South African Business Legislation
• Annual Teaching Plans | Business Studies

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10 Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs

• 07 Jul 2020

Multiple factors go into starting a successful business venture, including a strong concept and initial funding. But, perhaps the most important ingredient is the entrepreneur. These are individuals who must transform their ideas into a fully operational business.

If you’re thinking about launching your own venture, you might be wondering if you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur . But first, what’s an entrepreneur, and what do they do?

Access your free e-book today.

What Is Entrepreneurship?

While entrepreneurship is commonly thought of as the process of starting a business, there are several nuances to consider.

In the HBS Online course Entrepreneurship Essentials , entrepreneurship is defined as “the pursuit of opportunity beyond the resources currently controlled.” An opportunity can be a myriad of things, but the course describes it as "a proposed venture to sell a product or service for which customers are willing to pay more than the required investments and operating costs.”

Entrepreneurs —either as individuals or in teams—discover opportunities throughout their personal and professional lives. They form hypotheses on ways to deliver value to customers and perform structured tests to validate their ideas. This often involves recruiting teammates through networking and investing funds to determine how they’ll deliver a product or service at an acceptable cost.

Great entrepreneurs come from all walks of life. In Entrepreneurship Essentials, it’s noted that “there’s no single personality profile, and it’s important to pay attention to the entrepreneurial team, rather than focus on the individual.” And while that's true, there are certain characteristics and skills that are particularly important for entrepreneurs to have when starting and leading a venture.

Here are 10 characteristics shared by successful entrepreneurs.

1. Curiosity

Successful entrepreneurs have a distinct personality trait that sets them apart from other organizational leaders: a sense of curiosity. An entrepreneur's ability to remain curious allows them to continuously seek new opportunities. Rather than settling for what they think they know, entrepreneurs ask challenging questions and explore different avenues.

This is validated in the online course Entrepreneurship Essentials , where entrepreneurship is described as a “process of discovery." Without curiosity, entrepreneurs can’t achieve their main objective: discovering new opportunities.

The drive they have to continuously ask questions and challenge the status quo can lead them to valuable discoveries easily overlooked by other business professionals.

2. Willingness to Experiment

Along with curiosity, entrepreneurs require an understanding of structured experimentation, such as design thinking . With each new opportunity, an entrepreneur must run tests to determine if it’s worthwhile to pursue.

For example, if you have an idea for a new product or service that fulfills an underserved demand, you’ll have to ensure customers are willing to pay for it and it meets their needs . To do so, you’ll need to conduct thorough market research and run meaningful tests to validate your idea and determine its potential.

3. Adaptability

Entrepreneurship is an iterative process, and new challenges and opportunities present themselves at every turn. It’s nearly impossible to be prepared for every scenario, but successful business leaders must be adaptable.

This is especially true for entrepreneurs who need to evaluate situations and remain flexible to ensure their business keeps moving forward, no matter what unexpected changes occur.

4. Decisiveness

To be successful, an entrepreneur has to make difficult decisions and stand by them. As a leader, they’re responsible for guiding the trajectory of their business, including every aspect from funding and strategy to resource allocation.

Being decisive doesn’t always mean being correct. Entrepreneurs need the confidence to make challenging decisions and see them through to the end. If the outcome turns out to be less than favorable, the decision to take corrective action is just as important.

Check out our video on the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs below, and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more explainer content!

5. Self-Awareness

A great entrepreneur is aware of their strengths and weaknesses. Rather than letting shortcomings hold them back, they build well-rounded teams that complement their abilities.

In many cases, it’s the entrepreneurial team, rather than an individual, that drives a business venture toward success. When starting your own business, it’s critical to surround yourself with teammates who have complementary talents and contribute to a common goal.

Related: 10 Tips to Help You Boost Team Performance

6. Risk Tolerance

Entrepreneurship is often associated with risk. While it’s true that launching a venture requires an entrepreneur to take risks, they also need to take steps to minimize it.

While many things can go wrong when launching a new venture, many things can go right. According to Entrepreneurship Essentials , entrepreneurs who actively manage the relationship between risk and reward position their companies to “benefit from the upside.”

Successful entrepreneurs are comfortable with encountering some level of risk to reap the rewards of their efforts; however, their risk tolerance is tightly related to their efforts to mitigate it.

7. Comfort with Failure

In addition to risk-management and calculated decision-making , entrepreneurship requires a certain level of comfort with failure.

“Of startups that have more than one employee, 70 percent survive at least two years, half last at least five years, and a quarter last 15 years,” says Harvard Business School Professor William Sahlman in Entrepreneurship Essentials . “Even then, only a small fraction of the survivors get to be significant employers.”

The reasons for failure are vast and encompass everything from a lack of business scalability to low product-market fit . While many of these risks can be avoided, some are inevitable.

Despite this, entrepreneurs must prepare themselves for, and be comfortable with, failure. Rather than let fear hold them back, they maintain a positive attitude to allow the possibility of success to propel them forward.

8. Persistence

While many successful entrepreneurs are comfortable with the possibility of failing, it doesn’t mean they give up easily. Rather, they see failure as an opportunity to learn and grow.

Throughout the entrepreneurial process, many hypotheses turn out to be wrong, and some ventures fail altogether. Part of what makes an entrepreneur successful is their willingness to learn from mistakes, ask questions, and persist until they reach their goal.

Related: How to Become a More Resilient Leader

9. Innovative Thinking

Innovation often goes hand-in-hand with entrepreneurship. While innovation in business can be defined as an idea that’s both novel and useful, it doesn’t always involve creating an entirely new product or service. Some of the most successful startups have taken existing products or services and drastically improved them to meet the changing needs of the market.

Although innovation doesn’t come naturally to every entrepreneur, it’s a type of strategic mindset that can be cultivated. By developing your problem-solving skills , you’ll be well-equipped to spot innovative opportunities and position your venture for success.

10. Long-Term Focus

Most people associate entrepreneurship with starting a business. While the early stages of launching a venture, such as securing funding , are critical to its success, the process doesn’t end once the business is operational.

According to Entrepreneurship Essentials , “it’s easy to start a business, but hard to grow a sustainable and substantial one. Some of the greatest opportunities in history were discovered well after a venture launched.”

Entrepreneurship is a long-term endeavor, and entrepreneurs must focus on the process from beginning to end to ensure long-term success.

How to Develop the Qualities of an Entrepreneur

There’s no right or wrong way to be an entrepreneur. Characteristics and behaviors like experimentation, persistence, and innovation can be developed with time, experience, and training. As long as you possess the entrepreneurial spirit, you'll be able to seize opportunities and overcome challenges throughout your journey.

Are you interested in learning the ins and outs of entrepreneurship? Explore our four-week online course Entrepreneurship Essentials and our other entrepreneurship and innovation courses to learn to speak the language of the startup world. If you aren't sure which course is the right fit, download our free course flowchart to determine which best aligns with your goals.

This post was updated on August 14, 2023. It was originally published on July 7, 2020.

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Gr 10 Business Studies_Business Environments

The resource booklet includes content covered in Gr 10. Main Topic: Business Environments

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