We live in a volatile world. Society has made its strides in various areas. Yet, there remains a myriad of social issues becoming more complex as each day of ignorance passes by. 

However, such burgeoning issues warrant innovative solutions, not traditional thinking. We require daring visionaries with bold objectives who can plan data-driven solutions. In the clearest words, entrepreneurship as a creative response to society’s problems is what we need.

What Is Entrepreneurship?

Entrepreneurship is about challenging the status quo rather than merely starting a new business. It involves inventing, generating, and creating new ideas and opportunities for humanity rather than rearranging the existing system. Entrepreneurship emerging from rural areas has played a huge role in building this landscape and adding so many other aspects to entrepreneurship besides business. 

What is the need for entrepreneurship? 

An entrepreneur can change the world that needs it. But having the zeal to stand and fight against these issues is not the only necessity. We need individuals who desire to embrace this with an entrepreneurial spirit. Within them lies the key to innovation, perseverance, and optimism. 

How Is Entrepreneurship A Creative Response To Society’s Problems?

Being an entrepreneur demands familiarity with the creative problem-solving process; that is, to utilize their creativity to adopt efficient solutions to current problems. Creativity is not a random process but one of the defined and rational factors affecting entrepreneurship that includes an assessment. An entrepreneur repeats the creative process until they find a successful solution. 

To do so, they learn and implement the following five steps:

1. Clarification

Clarification refers to identifying the gap between the existing state and the intended state. Entrepreneurs speak with people to gain a clear description of the situation and bring the nuances of the problem to light. It’s not about finding the cure for the symptom but the disease itself.

Let’s take the example of severe air pollution in a town. Clarification would involve identifying the root of the problem. It might be the case that the toxicity in the air is not limited to one town but also the nearby areas. The entrepreneur would have to identify the source and cause first, i.e., to gain a complete understanding and clarity of the situation before moving ahead.

2. Ideation

Ideation involves the entrepreneur brainstorming and defining ideas. You have done the groundwork and gathered data to list all the causes of the problem. Now, you need to present the most diverse ideas to approach and tackle the issue in the best way possible. 

In the previous example, the entrepreneur would ideate and list all the possible causes of air pollution – carbon footprint, mining operations, burning of fossil fuels, etc. Next, the entrepreneur should analyze each cause, eliminate those that don’t contribute to the situation, and ideate possible solutions.

3. Development

Next, the entrepreneur works on all the ideas brainstormed and scrutinizes every option. They must analyze the cost of each proposal and the barriers to execution as well as the advantages and downsides of such an idea.

For instance, urging people to adopt carpooling and public transportation might be a good start. But realistically, it is not possible. Thus, the entrepreneur has to develop a solution that is feasible and practical for everyone.

4. Implementation

Once you have your idea ready and the development plan sorted out, now is the time to get the ball rolling. Implementation involves testing out your idea and evaluating the immediate result. Routine follow-ups are done to ensure the workability of the solution.

In the air pollution example, planting trees, launching “green” vehicles, and installing smog towers would pave the right way forward. 

5. Evaluation

Evaluation is synonymous with taking a step back and assessing the entire situation and the effectiveness of your solution. It’s the most crucial step in the creative problem-solving process since it ensures the removal of errors or any loopholes in your idea and its implementation. 

Measuring AQI at regular intervals and determining whether the efforts have been successful is one way to evaluate the solution’s effectiveness in the air pollution example.

What Is Innovation In Entrepreneurship?

Innovation is what puts your creativity to use and turns it into a much-needed transformation. A lot of people might have ideas and different solutions to the same problem, but if you have a knack for applying that creativity in a unique way to any existing product or service, you’re innovating something. 

Innovation and entrepreneurship are intricately linked with each other. To innovate, one must be able to think in new ways and be prepared to take risks. Successful entrepreneurs are well-versed in each of these attributes. The definition shifts as a result of this. Entrepreneurship can be best described as a process that necessitates creativity to result in innovation.

How To Spur Creativity For Problem-Solving?

The scope of entrepreneurship is endless, which brings us to find a way for upskilling our personal creative departments. 

However, creativity is often regarded as an innate skill, something that people are born with. Yes, that’s true. But that shouldn’t stop you from refining your skills and becoming a master of creative problem-solving. So start on the right foot with the below three tips and march your way forward gradually.

1. Consider looking at a situation from the perspective of someone else. Empathy is an excellent technique for gaining new perspectives. You’ll be more inclined to come up with ideas that suit everyone.

2. Ask questions to yourself and to people around you. Try to come up with undiscovered and untouched ideas while fixing an issue. As an entrepreneur, you shouldn’t be afraid to step out of the box and your comfort zone to explore. 

3. Read, write, and interact as much as you can. Acquiring more knowledge motivates you to engage your brain.

Conclusion

Entrepreneurship as a creative response to society’s problems is not want anymore but a need. But, of course, it is an enormous responsibility. To change the world, improve the quality of life, help humanity, and serve. It’s tough, no doubt. But not impossible. 

You’ve got to start somewhere; that’s the only way to reach where you want to be. Had Thomas Edison thought his idea of inventing the bulb to illuminate the room was merely different instead of unique, we wouldn’t have had the privilege to light up our lives. The world is filled with possibilities, but it needs someone to turn them into beautiful happenings. 

Read these 5 guiding points to brave the current weather and wake up the entrepreneur in you. Have a passion that drives you to success to witness the world unraveling its magic in front of your eyes.